Al-Ma'mun's Signature
It has been mentioned in it: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Commander of the faithful (i.e. al-Ma'mu`n) has made it incumbent on himself (to fulfill) all that which is in this letter, to call Allah to witness and to make Him as a Summoner and Surety for it." He wrote it in his own handwriting in (the month of) Safar, (in the) year 202, (as a sign of) honoring
al-Haba (praise) and confirming
al-Shart (the condition).
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1. Qur'an, 16, 91.
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Imam al-Rida's Signature
It has been mentioned in the signature of the Ima`m, peace be on him: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 'Ali b. Mu`sa` al-Rida` has made it incumbent on himself (to fulfill) all that which is in this letter, to what he has confirmed wherein on his day and tomorrow as long as he is alive and to make Allah, the Exalted, as a Summoner and Surety for it; and enough for a witness is Allah." He wrote it in his own handwriting in this month (of Safar), in this year (202). Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, may Allah bless him and his family,
Allah is sufficient for us and Most excellent is the Protector.1 "
This document has come to an end. It gives an account of the terrible pictures of the political disturbance by which Islamic country was afflicted, for popular revolts spread in it and discords became general wherein. Some sources emphasize that the time of al-Ma'mu`n was the time of discords and disorders, that these revolts were suppressed and uprooted by al-Fadl b. Sahl, who was expert in suppressing revolts, while rivers of blood flowed, sadness and mourning spread in most Islamic countries. Of course, those revolts resulted from the oppression and tyranny which dominated that time at the hands of the 'Abba`sids, who ruled Islamic world with a policy void of just and fairness. Any how, both the parts of the document do not belong to the composition of Ima`m al-Rida`, peace be on him; rather they belong to the organ of government and its helpers; and they have attributed them to Ima`m al-Rida`, that they might be religious and unbroken; this can be supported by the following:
Firstly, this document grants millions of properties to al-Fadl b. Sahl and enormous wealth as a reward for the services he rendered to al-Ma'mu`n and his suppressing the revolts against him. Of course, these properties belong to the central treasury of all Muslims. Without doubt it is not permissible to misuse even the least property of the Muslims or to give it as a reward or the like to any person; rather it is
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1. 'Uyun Akhbar al-Rida, p. 2, 154-159.
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obligatory to spend it on the interests of the Muslims, improving their standard of living, refreshing them, and spreading welfare among them. So how was it possible for the Ima`m to make that permissible and to decide giving these properties to al-Fadl?
Secondly, this document contains signs of praise and laudation toward al-Fadl b. Sahl, and, in the meantime, it defames the revolt of Abu al-Saraya` and of Ja'far b. Mohammed, the two Ta`libi ones. Such a praise does not belong to the morals of Ima`m al-Rida`, peace be on him, for he did not praise anyone unless he was worthy of praise and laudation; nor did he dispraise anyone unless he was entitled to dispraise and slander; this was his behavior and method in life. So how did he give this praise to al-Ma'mu`n? And how did he laud al-Fadl with this laudation? It is worth mentioning that he harbored hatred and detest against them, for he was aware that they had wicked and spiteful souls. Generally speaking, al-M'mu`n honored the Ima`m and appointed him as a heir apparent after him for a political maneuver of which the Ima`m was fully aware.
Thirdly, this document contradicts what the Ima`m, peace be on him, made as a condition on al-Ma'mu`n when he agreed to assume the position of heir apparent. In other words he agreed to assume the position of heir apparent on the condition that he would not interfere in any of the affairs of the state and would be far from all political events. So how did he interfere in the affair of al-Fadl and reward him for his loyalty to al-Ma'mu`n?
These are some criticisms which face ascribing this document to Ima`m al-Rida`, peace be on him.
With his Brother Zayd
Zayd joined the revolt declared by Abu` al-Sara`ya`, the summoner to Mohammed b. Ibra`him al-Hasani. He was appointed by Abu` al-Sara`ya` as a governor over the province of al-Ahwa`z, so he went to it in order to undertake the tasks of his job. When he passed through Basrah, which was under the domination of the 'Abba`sid government, he burnt the houses of the 'Abbasids, so he was given the nickname of
Zayd al-Nar (the Zayd of fire). When the revolt of Abu` al-Saraya was
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suppressed, Zayd disappeared. However, al-Hasan b. Sahl, looked for him, found him, and imprisoned him. He was still in prison until Ibra`him, the Shaykh of the singers, better known as Ibn Shakkla, took the reins of government. Then the inhabitants of Baghdad broke into the prison and released Zayd. As a result he went to Medina (Yathrib), summoned the people there to pledge allegiance to Mohammed b. Ja'far. But al-Ma'mu`n sent an army and the army could suppress the revolt, captured Zayd, and brought him to al-Ma'mu`n, who said to him: "O Zayd, you revolted (against us) in Basrah and refused to start with the houses of our enemies from among the Umayyads, Thaqï~f, Ghina`, Ba`hila, and the family of Ziya`d, and you intended (to burn) the houses of the children of your uncle (i.e. the 'Abba`sids)."
So Zayd said to him with joy: "O Commander of the faithful, I made a mistake in all the situations; if I return to revolt, I will start with our enemies."
Al-Ma'mu`n smiled at him, sent him to Ima`m al-Rida`, peace be on him, and said to him: "I have entrusted you with his crime, so educate him in a good manner.
1 "
Zayd was brought before the Ima`m, and he said to him: "Woe unto you Zayd! You did toward the Muslims in Basrah what you did, while you claim that you are the son of Fa`tima, daughter of Allah' Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family. By Allah, Allah' Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family, will be the severest of all people toward you! O Zayd, he who takes through Allah's Messenger should give through him."
When al-Ma'mu`n heard of the Ima`m's statement, he wept and said: "The Household of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, must follow this manner.
2"
With His Sister Fatima
When Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, was in Khurasa`n, he wrote to the pure lady Fa`tima, better known as lady Ma'suma; he
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1. Tanqih al-Maqqal, vol. 1, p. 471.
2. Mir'at al-Jinan, vol. 2, p. 13.
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asked her to come to him, for she was a favorite with him and dear to him.
1When the letter came to her, she prepared herself and traveled to him. When she arrived at Sa`wa, she fell ill. So she asked about the distance between Sawa and Qum, and it was said to her: "Ten leagues." So she ordered the people to carry her to Qum, and they carried her to it. She stopped at the house of Mu`sa` b. Khazzrajj while she was holding the reins of her she-camel. He brought her to his house, and she stayed in it for seventeen days. Then she died, and Mu`sa` prepared her for burial. He buried her in his own land and built over her holy grave a shelter of reed mats. (Such was her grave) until a dome was built over it by lady Zaynab, daughter of Mohammed b. 'Ali al-Jawad.
2 Her Holy Shrine have become one of the dearest places of worship and one of the Holy Shrines in Islam; likewise, that Sacred City has become one of the universities of knowledge and among the cultural centers in Islam.
Al-Hasan b. Mohammed al-Qummi says: "I was (sitting) with Imam al-Sadiq, peace be on him, and he said: 'Surely Allah has a sacred city, and it is Mecca; His Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family, has a sacred city, and it is Medina; the Commander of the faithful has a sacred city, and it is Kufa; we have a sacred city, and it is Qum wherein a woman called Fatima from among my children will be buried; whoever visits her, the Garden is obligatory for him.
3" Imam al-Sadiq had announced that before she was born.
The 'Id Prayer
Al-Ma'mun asked Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, to say the 'Id prayer before the people and to deliver a sermon after the prayer, that the hearts of the populace might become assured through that and recognize his excellence, but the Ima`m refused to respond to him and said to him: "You have come to know about the conditions made between us; I do not interfere in this affair; therefore, exempt me from saying the prayer before the people."
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1. Jawharat al-Kalam, p. 146.
2. Hayat al-Imam Musa b. Ja'far, vol. 2, p. 439.
3. Tuhfat al-'Alam, p. 36. Al-Bihar.
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"I only intend by that that the people's heart should be assured and that they should know your great merit," replied al-Ma'mun.
Al-Ma'mu`n insisted on that, so the Ima`m was forced to respond to him, but he made it a condition that he should go out just as Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, and his grandfather the Commander of the faithful, 'Ali b. Abu Ta`lib, peace be on him, did.
"Go out as you wish," replied al-Ma'mun. Then he ordered the military commanders and the rest of the people to receive Imam al-Rida, peace be on him.
The people went out waiting for the Imam in the roads and on roof-tops. As for the military commanders, they were ready and wore the best uniform. When the sun rose, the Ima`m washed and put on a white turban. One end of it he made hang on his holy breast and the other between his shoulders. He took his staff in his hand and said to his retainers: "Do whatever I do." Then he went out in that humble state, raised his head towards heaven, and exclaimed four times: "Allah is great (
Allahu akbar)!" Then he stood at the door and exclaimed four times: "Allah is great (
Allahu akbar)!" Then he said: "Allah is great, for He has guided us! Allah is great, for He has given to us of the cattle quadrupeds! Praise belongs to Allah, for He has tried us!"
The earth shook with saying 'Allah is great!' The people walked like waves and said at the top of their voices: "Allah is great!" The appearance of the Ima`m, peace be on him, reminded them of that of his grandfather the Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family, who developed the intellectual life on earth. So they understood the deviation of those kings who ruled them with oppression and tyranny.
The great Ima`m, the peace of Allah be on him, walked bare-foot, stopped after each ten steps, and said four times: "Allah is great!" The people imagined that the sky, the earth, and the walls were answering him. As for Maru`, it shook with weeping and clamor. Al-Ma'mu`n heard of that and he became frightened and terrified. So al-Fadl b. Sahl hurried to him and said to him: "O Commander of the faithful, if al-Rida` reaches the place of prayer for the festival, the people will break out in rebellion. So send instructions to him to go back."
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Accordingly, al-Ma'mu`n sent one of his policemen to the Ima`m to ask him to go back, so he, peace be on him, called for his boots and put them on. Then he went back without saying the prayer before the people.
1 This action demonstrates the spirituality of the Ima`m, his renouncing the world, his rejecting the pleasures of the kingdom and authority. Al-Bahri has described the coming out of the Ima`m, peace be on him, in this way, saying:
When you came out of the ranks, they mentioned the Prophet, said, "There is no god except Allah," and exclaimed: "Allah is Great," till you reached the place of prayer wearing the light of guidance appearing and manifesting on you.
You walked with the walking of one submissive and humble before Allah, does not show pride nor haughtiness.
If a longing one affected other than what he could do, then the pulpit would walk toward you.
2
The narrators have said: "Surely the going out of the Ima`m in this way was one of the most important factors which motivated al-Ma'mu`n to harbor malice against the Ima`m and then to assassinate him."
The Imam's Supplication in Asking for Water
Rain was withheld from the people, so some of those who harbored malice against the Ima`m, peace be on him, ascribed that to his assuming the position of heir apparent. They began announcing and spreading that among the popular circles in order to defame the personality of the Ima`m, peace be on him. Al-Ma'mu`n heard of that and became displeased with it. Then he told the Ima`m about that, asked him to supplicate Allah for sending down rain to the people. The Ima`m answered him, saying: "Surely, I will do that on Monday."
"Why?" asked al-Ma'mu`n.
He, peace be on him, replied: "Surely, Allah's Messenger, may
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1. Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 189-190. 'Uyun al-Akhbar al-Rida, vol. 2, pp. 150-151. Al-Manaqib, vol. 4, pp. 371-372. Kashf al-Ghumma.
2. Al-Manaqib, vol. 4, p. 372.
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Allah bless him and his family, came to me yesterday nigh, and there was along with him the Commander of the faithful, 'Ali, peace be on him, and he said to me: 'My son, wait until Monday (comes). Go to the desert and ask for water, for surely Allah shall water them (with rain), and tell them of what will Allah make you see of what they do not know of their state, that they may be increased in knowledge of your excellence and position with your Lord, the Great and Almighty."
So al-Ma'mu`n and the rest of his personal entourage waited until Monday came. Meanwhile he ordered all the popular classes to go to the desert on Monday. When this day came, the people went in a hurry to the desert. The Ima`m, who was in the appearance of the prophets, went to the desert. When he arrived in the desert, a pulpit had been installed for him. The people surrounded him and said at the top of their voices: "There is no god but Allah! Allah is great!"
The Imam's Supplication
The Ima`m ascended the pulpit, praised and lauded Allah, and then he said: "O Allah! O Lord! It is You who have magnified our right, the Ahl al-Bayt! So they have sought access through us (to You) as You have commanded, hoped for Your bounty and mercy, expected Your kindness and favor. So give them water with a watering which is useful, general, neither slow nor harmful! And let their rain start after their leaving this view of them to their houses and their abodes!"
The Imam added, saying: "So by Him who sent Mohammed with the Truth as prophet, the wind wove clouds in the air, and it thundered and lightened."
When the people heard of the Imam's statement, they intended to go to their houses, lest the rain should befall them. So he, peace be on him, said: "That cloud which has towered over you is not for you; rather it is for another city." And he mentioned to them the name of the city.
Then ten successive clouds towered over the people, and the Ima`m told them that each cloud would rain in a certain city, and he mentioned the names of the cities. As a result the eleventh cloud
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towered over them, so he, peace be on him, said: "O People, that is the cloud which Allah, the Great and Almighty, has sent for you, so thank Allah for His favor toward you; go to your abodes and houses, for it has been sent for you. It has been prevented from raining on your heads until your enter your abodes. Then some good suitable for the munificence of Allah, the Great and Almighty, will come to you."
Then he descended the pulpit, and the people went in a hurry to their houses. When they arrived at their houses, it began raining heavily. So the valleys, the basins, the streams, and the deserts were filled with water.
The people believed in the miracles of the members of the House (
ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, and their remarkable rank with Allah, the Most High, and said: "We congratulate the children of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, on the miracles of Allah, the Great and Almighty, toward them."
The Imam's Sermon
In the wake of the miracle, the Ima`m, peace be on him, delivered a sermon before a large crowd of people, saying: "O men, fear Allah with respect to the favors of Allah toward you, so repel them not from you through disobeying Him; rather make them continue through obeying Him and thanking Him for His blessings and favors. And know that you do not thank Allah for a thing after faith in Him, and after professing the rights of the friends of Allah from among the family of Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family¾more lovable to Him than helping your believing brethren with their world, which is a bridge for them to the Gardens of their Lords. So surely, he who does that is among the special friends of Allah, the Blessed and Exalted; Allah's Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family, already said concerning that a statement. The believer should not turn away from Allah's bounty toward him in the statement if he carefully considers it and put it into practice.
"It was said: 'O Allah's Messenger, so-and-so has perished, for he has committed sins so-and-so.' So Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said: 'Rather, he has saved himself (from
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Allah's punishment), and Allah will not end his work except with a good final result; He will erase his evil deeds and change them into good ones. Surely, one day he passed through a road and found a believer's pudenda uncovered while the believer was not aware (of that). He covered it on his behalf without telling him (of that) lest he (the believer) should be ashamed. Then that believer recognized him in a valley and said to him: 'May Allah reward you generously, honor your return, and He may not discuss with you on the Day of Resurrection.' So Allah has responded to him concerning him; therefore, Allah will not end (the work of) this servant except with a good final result because of the supplication of that believer. This man heard of the statement of Allah's Messenger, so he repented, turned to Allah in repentance, and practiced the acts of obedience to Allah, the Great and Almighty. Only seven days ago, Median was attacked, so Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, sent a group of people to war against them (the attackers). This man was among them, so he died a martyr."
The Ima`m's sermon has ended; it flows with summons to fear of Allah, the Most High, cooperation and friendship among the Muslims. The Ima`m has regarded that as the best act of obedience and nearness to Allah, the Exalted.
Admonition and Warning
The clubs and the assemblies talked about the Ima`m's supplication in asking for water and the heavy rain because of his supplication. The 'Abba`sids and their hirelings were so displeased with this miracle which showed the excellence of the 'Alawides and their great rank with Allah, the Exalted, that a wicked one of them admonished al-Ma'mu`n and warned him against entrusting regency to the Ima`m and against the appearance of this miracle, saying: "O Commander of the faithful, I seek refuge for you with Allah from that you will be the history of the caliphs
1 through your taking this general
____________
His statement 'that you will be the his tory of the caliphs ' is an allussion to the greatest event, namely entrusting regency to Imam al-Rida, and that it will be the
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honor and great pride out of the house of the sons of al-'Abba`s (and handing it over ) to the house of the sons of 'Ali.
"You have helped (the 'Alawides) against your own soul and your own family. You have brought this magician, the son of the magicians. He was unknown, but you have made him known. He was weak, but you have exalted him. He was forgotten, but you have reminded (men) of him. He was hidden, but you have hinted at him. He has filled the world with sorcery and longing through this rain which came down during his supplication. So I fear that this man (i.e. Ima`m al-Rida`) will take this authority out of the sons of al-'Abba`s (and hand it over) to the sons of 'Ali. I fear that he will through his magic be able to remove your blessing and to dominate your kingdom. Has anyone harmed himself and his kingdom as you have done?"
This statement gives an account of the foolish logic of those people who lived before Islam and claimed that the greatest Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, was a magician because of the miracles and the signs which happened through his hand. Accordingly, such a kind of people claimed that the grandson of the Prophet was a magician. Now, let us listen to al-Ma'mu`n's answer:
"This man (i.e. Imam al-Rida`) was hidden from us and was summoning (the people) to himself. So we have intended to make him our heir apparent, that he may summon (men) to us, admit that the kingdom and the caliphate belong to us, those who have admired him may believe that he has not been truthful in what he has claimed, and that this authority belongs to us apart from him. We feared that if we had left him in that state, we would have faced unbearable difficulties. Now, if we have done toward him what we did, made a mistake in his affair, and we are about to be destroyed out of honoring (him), then it is not permissible to neglect his affair. But we must disparage him gradually, that we may picture him in the picture of him who is not worthy of this affair. Then we will scheme against him to turn his tribulation away from us.
1"
____________
point of history for the People. Perhaps he wanted to say that you would be the last caliph.
1. 'Uyun Akbar al-Rida, vol. 2, pp. 169-170
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Al-Ma'mu`n has uncovered the motives which prompted him to appoint the Ima`m as a heir apparent after him as follows:
1. The Ima`m secretly summoned the people to himself, so if al-Ma'mu`n had entrusted regency to him, he would have summoned the people to him, recognized his kingdom and his caliphate.
2. Al-Ma'mu`n intended to show the people that the Ima`m, peace be on him, did not renounce authority; nor did he seek the next world.
Any how, he finally admitted that he made a mistake when he nominated the Ima`m for this office and asked him to supplicate in asking for water and the like which displayed his spirituality and his great rank with Allah, the Most High. Accordingly, he decided to seek evil deeds and scheme against him in order to put an end to him.
Al-Ma'mun fears the Imam
Al-Ma'mu`n feared the Ima`m, was terrified by the surrounding of the people around him, and feared for his kingdom from disappearance, for the people came to know that the Ima`m, peace be on him, was virtuous and spiritual, that he would be able to establish political and social justice in their regions, and that the 'Abba`sids were not entitled to the leadership of the community and the authority over the Muslims.
Important Decisions
Al-Ma'mu`n reflected for a long time on (this affair) and summoned his advisers in order to get rid of the Ima`m, so he took the following decisions:
Firstly, he held scientific conferences which included the greatest scholars of the world in order to test the Ima`m and to render him incapable of answering their questions, that he might use that as means to defame the personality of the Ima`m and disprove the creed of the Shï'ites who maintained that the Ima`m should be the most learned of the people of his time. Meanwhile, if the Ima`m had been unable to answer their questions, al-Ma'mu`n would have able to remove him from regency.
But this plan came to nothing, for the Imam answered all the
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questions of the scholars who afterwards admitted his huge scientific abilities and his excellence over them.
Secondly, he surrounded him by dense forces of security in order to keep an eye on him. This task was entrusted to Hisham b. Ibrahim al-Rashidi al-Hamada`ni. The narrators say: "Ibra`him was a scholar and an author. He undertook all the affairs of al-Rida, peace be on him, before he was sent to Khurasan. He received all the properties which were sent to the Imam. When the Ima`m was sent to Khurasa`n, Ibra`him communicated with Dhu al-Riyasatayn. Dhu al-Riyasatayn enticed Ibrahim with an office and money. So Ibrahim followed his caprice, abandoned his religion, deviated from the truth, and spied on the Ima`m. He transmitted all the stories and affairs of the Imam to al-Fadl and al-Ma'mun. He was appointed by al-Ma'mu`n as a chamberlain for al-Rida. So he thoroughly straitened the Ima`m, prevented all the people from reaching him except those whom he loved, and reported all his words to al-Ma'mu`n and his minister al-Fadl.
1"
Thirdly, he prevented the Shï'ites from attending the assemblies of the Ima`m and listening to his talks. He entrusted this task to his chamberlain Mohammed b. 'Amru` al-Tusi, and he prevented them from meeting the Ima`m. He treated the Imam rudely, and he, peace be on him, became angry with him. So the Imam rose, performed two
rak'as, and said in his personal prayer (
qunut): "O Allah! O Possessor of inclusive power, wide mercy, uninterrupted kindnesses, successive boons, beautiful benefits, and overflow grants! O He who is not described by description; nor is compared to any like! O He who creates (men) and provides (them), inspires (them) and makes (them) speak, originates and legislates, has risen high and become lofty, ordains and does well, shapes and masters, provides arguments and makes them conclusive, grants and bestows lavishly upon (men)! O He who is exalted in might, so He escapes swift eyes! O He who is close in subtlety, so He passes through thoughts! O He who takes care of the kingdom by Himself, so there is no rival in the kingdom of His
____________
1. Ibid., p. 153.
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authority! (O He who) is One in magnificence, so there is no opposite in the invincibility of His station! O He by whose magnificence of awe the intricacies of the subtlest of imaginations are bewildered, before whose tremendousness the swift eyes of mankind fail! O He who knows the thoughts of the hearts of those knowers and sees the glances of beholders' eyes! Faces are humble in awe of Him; necks are lowly before His majesty; hearts are afraid out of fear of Him; limbs shake with fright of Him! O Originator! O Innovator! O Powerful! O Invincible! O All-high! O Exalter! Bless him through whom prayer is honorable when blessing is called down upon him (i.e. the Prophet)! Take vengeance upon him who has wronged me, made little of me, and dismissed the Shï'ites from my own door! Let him taste the bitterness of abasement and disgrace; make him ousted among the dirty and homeless among the unclean!
1"
Allah responded to the Ima`m's supplications, for the mobs revolted against al-Ma'mu`n and were about to put an end to him, and he faced terror and disgrace which none can describe.
Al-Ma'mu`n dismissed the Shï'ites again and tried to annoy the Imam. When the Imam came to know of that, he washed, performed two rak'as, and said in his personal prayer (
qunut): "O Allah! You are Allah, the Living, the Self-subsistent, the Creator, the Provider, the One who gives life (to the dead), the One who makes (men) die, the Originator, and the Innovator. To You belongs munificence; to You belongs praise; to You belongs kindness; and to You belongs the command. You are One with no associate with You. O One, O Unique, O Single, O Eternal Refuge! O He who has not begotten; nor has been begotten, and equal to Him is not any one! Bless Mohammed and the family of Mohammed!"
Then he supplicated Allah to drive away that which concerned him, and He removed from him al-Ma'mu`n's trickery and oppression.
2
____________
1. Ibid., pp. 172-173.
2. Hamish al-Musbah, p. 293.
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The Imam does not praise al-Ma'mun
The Ima`m, peace be on him, did not praise al-Ma'mu`n; nor did he flatter him. Rather he adopted toward him an attitude distinguished by earnestness, frankness, and bitter criticism for some of his works. As for al-Ma'mu`n, he burst with anger and hid that in order to follow the Ima`m, peace be on him. The following are some of the Ima`m's attitudes toward al-Ma'mu`n:
1. When al-Ma'mu`n presented the caliphate to the Ima`m and said to him: "I want to rid myself of the caliphate, vest the office in you, and pledge allegiance to you."
Now, reflect on this frankness of the Ima`m in his response to al-Ma'mu`n. He, peace be on him, said to him: "If this caliphate belongs to you and Allah has made you possess it, then it is no permissible for you to take off the garment in which Allah has clothed you and to give it to other than you. If the caliphate does not belong to you, then it is not permissible for to give me that which does not belong to you.
1"
Have you reflected on this profluent logic and undeniable argument which flows with truth and truthfulness? So al-Ma'mu`n lost his mind; he did not know what to say, and then he sought refuge with silence.
2. When the Ima`m refused to accept the caliphate, al-Ma'mu`n presented regency to him, so he answered him with this decisive answer, saying: "Through that you want the people to say: 'Surely 'Ali b. Mu`sa` (al-Rida`) has not renounced the world; rather it is the world which has renounced him. Do you not see that he has accepted regency and craved for the caliphate?'"
As a result al-Ma'mu`n was indignant with the Ima`m and shouted at him, saying: "You always face me with what I hate! You have felt safe from my penalty! I swear by Allah, you should accept regency or I will force you to (accept) it! You should do that; otherwise, I will strike off your head!
2"
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1. 'Uyun Akhbar al-Rida, vol. 2, p. 139.
2. Ibid., p. 140.
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Through all his steps and works, the Ima`m, peace be on him, preferred Allah's good pleasure (to the worldly pleasures); he did not praise anyone; nor did he flatter any creature. If he had flattered al-Ma'mu`n, sought nearness to him, and satisfied his feelings, al-Ma'mu`n would not have assassinated him.
3. Yet another example of that the Ima`m, peace be on him, was frank with al-Ma'mu`n and did not praise him is that al-Ma'mu`n said to him: "O Abu` al-Hasan I though a bout a thing and concluded correctness from it. I thought about our ancestry and your ancestry, so I have found that they have the same excellence and that our Shï'ites have differed over that because of caprice and fanaticism."
So the Imam said to him: "There is an answer to this statement. If you like (it), I will mention it to you; if you dislike (it), I will keep silent."
"I did not say it except to know what you have regarding it," retorted Al-Ma'mu`n.
The Ima`m established an argument that the 'Alawides were more entitled to the Prophet than the 'Abba`sids and nearer to him than them, saying: "O Commander of the faithful, I adjure you before Allah! If Allah, the Exalted, resurrected His Prophet Mohammed, and he came out to us from behind one of those hills and asked you for your daughter's hand, would you marry her to him?"
"Glory belongs to Allah!" replied al-Ma'mu`n, "is there anyone who turns away from Allah's Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family?"
"Do you think that it is permissible for him to ask me for my daughter's hand?" asked al-Rida`.
Al-Ma'mu`n kept silent and did not find any way to justify his closeness to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family. That is because the Ima`m established an undeniable argument which is that he was among the children of Fa`tima al-Zahra`', peace be on her. Accordingly, al-Ma'mu`n said: "By Allah, you are closer to Allah' Messenger (than us).
1"
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1. Kanz al-Fawa'id, p. 166.
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The members of the House (
ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, were entitled to the caliphate not because of their nearness to Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, but because of their abilities, their talents, and their knowledge of what the community needed in administrative and economic fields.
