HIS RECITATION
OF THE HOLY QURAN
Ibrahim bin Abbas has
reported that the conversations of Imam Ali ibn Musa ar-Ridha (as)
and the examples he (as) gave were all based upon the teachings of
the Holy Quran. Imam (as) used to complete the recitation of the
Holy Quran in every three days time and has also said,
“If I wish,
I can complete the recitation of the Holy Quran in less than three
days. However, I do not recite any verse except that I ponder over
its in-depth meanings and see as to when and why that verse was
revealed? It is for this reason that I complete the recitation of
the Quran in three days time”.
(‘Uyoon Akhbaar ar-Ridha)
Raja bin Abi al-Dhahhak
has narrated
that when Imam
Ali ibn Musa ar-Ridha (as) was travelling to Khurasan, he (as)
continuously engaged himself in the recitation of the Holy Quran
throughout the journey. Whenever the Imam (as) came across verses,
which talked about Paradise or Hell-fire, he (as) paused and wept;
and then either prayed to Allah (SWT) for attaining success in
Paradise or sought His protection from Hell-fire. And
whenever the Imam (as) said his prayer, during day or night, he (as)
recited
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
loudly.
(‘Uyoon Akhbaar ar-Ridha)
Di’bal Khuzaa’ee was a
great poet of Ahlul-Bayt (as) in the days of Imam ar-Ridha (as). It
is reported that he visited the Imam (as) with his brother
Abul-Hasan and stayed near him for two years. Thereafter, as Di’bal
was preparing to depart for
Qum, Imam (as) presented him with a shirt, some
Radhawi dirhams and a silver ring that contained the stone of ‘Aqeeq
(agate). Imam (as) said,
“O Di’bal!
You are going to Qum and these
dirhams will be of help to you. Take care of the shirt, which I have
given to you because I have prayed 1000 units of prayers in 1000
nights wearing this (same) shirt and I have also completed
recitation of the Holy Quran 1000 times in it”.
(Aamaali of Shaykh
al-Toosi)
Ma’mar bin Jallaad has
reported that whenever Imam ar-Ridha (as) sat to eat, a big plate
was placed before him. He (as) would look towards the best of the
dishes and pick little from each and put in his plate. He (as) would
then instruct that the plate is taken and the food is distributed
among the poor and needy. He (as) would then recite:
“Yet he has
not embarked upon the uphill task”.
(90:11)
And say:
“Allah (SWT)
is aware that not every person has the power of freeing a slave
therefore He (SWT) has guided them to ways that lead to Paradise”.
(Bihar al-Anwaar)
There is a very good but difficult act, which
Allah (SWT) has considered it as a way of expressing His gratitude
and that act is of freeing a slave. He (SWT) says:
“Yet he
has not embarked upon the uphill task. And what will show you what
is the uphill task? (It is) freeing of a slave, or feeding (the
needy) on a day of starvation…”
(90:11-14)
It is for this reason that Imam (as)
mentioned about freeing of a slave, as a difficult act for some
therefore such people should then resort to feeding the needy.
mulla@almahdi.org.uk