ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā

4 - 37 حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى بْنِ المُتَوَكِّل رَضِىَ اللهُعَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبُو الحُسَيْن مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَر الأَسَدِي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الحُسَيْن الصُّوليُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا يُوسِف بْنِ عقيل عَنْ إِسْحاق بْنِ راهْوَيْه لَمَّا وَافَى أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ نَيْسَابُورَ وَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ مِنْهَا إِلَى الْمَأْمُونِ اجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ أَصْحَابُ الْحَدِيثِ فَقَالُوا لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ تَرْحَلُ عَنَّا وَلا تُحَدِّثُنَا بِحَدِيثٍ فَنَسْتَفِيدُهُ مِنْكَ وَكَانَ قَدْ قَعَدَ فِي الْعَمَّارِيَّةِ فَأَطْلَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ يَقُولُ:ِسَمِعْتُ أَبِي جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ أَبِي مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ يَقُـولُ: سَمِعْتُ أَبِي عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ يَقُـولُ: سَمِعْتُ أَبِي الْحُسَيْنَ بْنَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ يَقُـولُ: سَمِعْتُ أَبِي أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُـولُ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُـولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ جَبْرَئِيلَ يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ اللَّهَ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ يَقُولُ: لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ حِصْنِي فَمَنْ دَخَلَ حِصْنِي أَمِنَ عَذَابِي قَالَ فَلَمَّا مَرَّتِ الرَّاحِلَةُ نَادَانَا بِشُرُوطِهَا وَأَنَا مِنْ شُرُوطِهَا. قالَ مُصَنِّفُ هذا الْكِتاب‏رحمه الله من شُرُوطِها الإقرار لِلرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِأَنَّهُ إِمام من قبل اللَّه عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى العِبادِ مفترض الطَّاعَة عَلَيْهِم وَيُقالُ إِنَّ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لَمَّا دَخَلَ نَيْسَابُورَ نَزَلَ فِي مَحَلَّةٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ الفرويني فِيهَا حَمَّامٌ وَهُوَ الْحَمَّامُ الْمَعْرُوفُ الْيَوْمَ بِحَمَّامِ الرِّضَا وَكَانَتْ هُنَاكَ عَيْنٌ قَدْ قَلَّ مَاؤُهَا فَأَقَامَ عَلَيْهَا مَنْ أَخْرَجَ مَاءَهَا حَتَّى تَوَفَّرَ وَكَثُرَ وَاتَّخَذَ خَارِجَ الدَّرْبِ حَوْضاً يُنْزَلُ إِلَيْهِ بِالْمَرَاقِي إِلَى هَذِهِ الْعَيْنِ فَدَخَلَهُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَاغْتَسَلَ فِيهِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ مِنْهُ فَصَلَّى عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ وَالنَّاسُ يَنْتَابُونَ ذَلِكَ الْحَوْضَ وَيَغْتَسِلُونَ فِيهِ وَيَشْرَبُونَ مِنْهُ الِْتمَاساً لِلْبَرَكَةِ وَيُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ وَيَدْعُونَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي حَوَائِجِهِمْ فَتُقْضَى لَهُمْ وَهِيَ الْعَيْنُ الْمَعْرُوفَةُ بِعَيْنِ كهلان يَقْصِدُهَا النَّاسُ إِلَى يَوْمِنَا هَذَا.

37-4 Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Abul Husayn Muhammad ibn Ja’far al-Asadi quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn al-Sowli, on the authority of Yusif ibn Aqil, on the authority of Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, “When Abul Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) was leaving Neishaboor to go to Al-Ma’mun, the scholars of traditions gathered around him and said, “O son of the Prophet of God (a.s.)! You are leaving us and you will not inform us of any traditions to benefit us?” He was sitting in a carriage. Then he brought his head out and said, “I heard my father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) say that his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.) quoted on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), on the authority of his father Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.), on the authority of the Prophet (S) thathe had heard Gabriel say that God the Honorable the Exalted said, “There is no god but God” is My Stronghold. Whoever enters My Stronghold is secure from My Punishment.” When they moved on, he loudly said, “There are certain conditions for this. And I am one of these conditions.”The author of this book (a.s.heikh Sadooq) - may God forgive him - said, “One of the conditions of confessing to “there is no god but God” is confessing to the Trusteeship of Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) that has been established by God the Exalted the Honorable over the servants. Obeying him is incumbent upon them.” It is also said that when Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) entered Neishaboor he went to take a bath in a part of town called Al-Farwini where there was a bath that is nowadays known as “the bath of Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.).” There was a well which was about to dry up. He appointed someone to go in the well and clean it out until the water in the well increased. A pond was built outside the gate of the well. There were several stairs to climb down to fill the pond with water from the well. They filled the pond with water, and Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) bathed in it. Then he came out and prayed outside the pond. The people took turns, entered the pond, performed their ritual ablutions, came out and prayed. They drank a few drops of that water seeking its blessings, praised God the Exalted the Honorable and asked Him to fulfill their needs. This is the same pond that exists today and is known as the Kahlan. People go there from all places.

1 - حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ الحَسَن القَطَّانُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَبْدُالرَّحْمن بْنِ مُحَمَّد الحُسَيْنِيِّ قالَ‏مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد الفَزارِيِّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمن بْنِ بحر الأهوازي قالَ حَدَّثَني‏الحَسَن عَلِىِّ بْنِ عمرو قالَ: حَدَّثَنا الحَسَن بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جمهور قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ بلال، عَن عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ، عَن آبائِهِ، عَن عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِب‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن النَّبِي‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، عَن جَبْرَئِيلَ، عَن مِيكَائِيلَ، عَن إِسْرَافِيلَ، عَن اللَّوْحِ، عَن الْقَلَمِ قَالَ: يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلايَةُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ حِصْنِي فَمَنْ دَخَلَ حِصْنِي أَمِنَ مِنْ عَذَابِي.

38-1 Ahmad ibn Al-Hassan al-Qattan narrated that Abdul Rahman ibn Muhammad Al-Husayni quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Fazari, on the authority of Abdul Rahman ibn Bahr al-Ahwazi, on the authority of Abul Hassan Ali ibn Amr, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Jomhoor, on the authority of Ali ibn Bilal, on the authority of Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), on the authority of his father (a.s.), on the authority of his forefathers (a.s.), on the authority of Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.), on the authority of the Prophet (S), on the authority of Gabriel, on the authority of Michael, on the authority of Israfil, on the authority of the Tablet, on the authority of the Pen that God the Exalted the Honorable said, “The friendship with Ali ibn Abi Talib is My Stronghold. Whoever enters My Stronghold is secure from My punishment.”

1 - حَدَّثَنا تَمِيمُ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ تَمِيمُ القُرَشِي رَضِىَاللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ عَلِى الأَنْصارِي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَبْد السَّلامُ بْنِ صالِح الهَرَوِيِّ قالَ لَمَّا خَرَجَ الرِّضَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِنْ نَيْسَابُورَ إِلَى الْمَأْمُونِ فَبَلَغَ قُرْبَ الْقَرْيَةِ الْحَمْرَاءِ قِيلَ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ قَدْ زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ أَفَلا تُصَلِّي فَنَزَلَ‏فَقَالَ ائْتُونِي بِمَاءٍ فَقِيلَ مَا مَعَنَا مَاءٌ فَبَحَثَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِيَدِهِ الأَرْضَ فَنَبَعَ مِنَ الْمَاءِ مَا تَوَضَّأَ بِهِ هُوَ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ وَأَثَرُهُ بَاقٍ إِلَى الْيَوْمِ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ سَنَابَادَ أسند [اسْتَنَدَ] إِلَى الْجَبَلِ الَّذِي يُنْحَتُ مِنْهُ الْقُدُورُ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ انْفَعْ بِهِ وَبَارِكْ فِيَما يُجْعَلُ فِيَما يُنْحَتُ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَنُحِتَ لَهُ قُدُورٌ مِنَ الْجَبَلِ وَقَالَ لا يُطْبَخُ مَا آكُلُهُ إِلا فِيهَا وَكَانَ‏خَفِيفَ الأَكْلِ قَلِيلَ الطَّعْمِ فَاهْتَدَى النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَظَهَرَتْ بَرَكَةُ دُعَائِهِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِيهِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ دَارَ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ قَحْطَبَةَ الطَّائِيِّ وَدَخَلَ الْقُبَّةَ الَّتِي فِيهَا قَبْرُ هَارُونَ الرَّشِيدِ ثُمَّ خَطَّ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى جَانِبِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: هَذِهِ تُرْبَتِي وَفِيهَا أُدْفَنُ وَسَيَجْعَلُ اللَّهُ هَذَا الْمَكَانَ مُخْتَلَفَ شِيعَتِي وَأَهْلِ مَحَبَّتِي وَاللَّهِ مَا يَزُورُنِي مِنْهُمْ زَائِرٌ وَلا يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيَّ مِنْهُمْ مُسَلِّمٌ إِلا وَجَبَ لَهُ غُفْرَانُ اللَّهِ وَرَحْمَتُهُ بِشَفَاعَتِنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ ثُمَّ اسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ وَصَلَّى رَكَعَاتٍ وَدَعَا بِدَعَوَاتٍ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ سَجَدَ سَجْدَةً طَالَ مَكْثُهُ فَأَحْصَيْتُ لَهُ فِيهَا خَمْسَمِائَةَ تَسْبِيحَةٍ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ.

39-1 Tamim ibn Abdullah ibn Tamim al-Qurashi - may God be pleased with him - narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Ahmed ibn Ali Al-Ansari, on the authority of Abdul Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi, “When Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) was going to see Al-Ma’mun, they reached a village called al-Hamra. He was told, “O son of the Prophet of God (a.s.)! It is noon. Will you pray?” He got off (his mule) and said, “Bring me some water.” They said, “We have no water.” He (a.s.) dug the ground with his hands and water started to flow out. He and those with him all made their ablutions with that water. The water is still there today. When they entered Sanabad he faced the hill from which they make stone pots and said, “O God! Please grant benefits by it. Bless whatever they place there and whatever they build from it.”Then he ordered a few stone pots to be built from that hill for him and said, “Please do not make any food for me unless you cook it in these pots.” He (a.s.) used to eat very little. He also ate simple food. The people were thus guided towards him and the blessing of his prayers became apparent from that hill. Then he went to the house of Hamid ibn Qahtaba al-Ta’ee. He went to the grave in which Harun Al-Rashid was buried. Then he drew a line next to it and said, “This is my grave. I will be buried here. God will establish this place to be the place where my followers and friends will come and go. By God, whoever visits me and sends greetings upon me will be certainly forgiven by God. He will benefit from God’s Mercy due to our intercession - the intercession of the Members of the Holy Household.” Then he turned towards the Qibla and said prayers and supplications. Then he prostrated for a long time. I counted. He praised the Glory of God for five hundred times. Then he stopped.

2 - حَدَّثَنا أَبُو نَصْرِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِعُبِيْد الضبي قالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبي الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ جَدِّي يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ أَبي يَقُولُ لَمَّا قَدِمَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى الرِّضَا بِنَيْسَابُورَ أَيَّامَ الْمَأْمُونِ قُمْتُ فِي حَوَائِجِهِ وَالتَّصَرُّفِ فِي أَمْرِهِ مَا دَامَ بِهَا فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ إِلَى مَرْوَ شَيَّعْتُهُ إِلَى سَرَخْسَ فَلَمَّـا خَرَجَ مِنْ سَرَخْسَ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أُشَيِّعَهُ إِلَى مَرْوَ فَلَمَّـا سَـارَمَرْحَلَةً أَخْرَجَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الْعَمَّارِيَّةِ وَقَالَ لِي يَا بَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ انْصَرِفْ رَاشِداً فَقَدْ قُمْتَ بِالْوَاجِبِ وَلَيْسَ لِلتَّشْيِيعِ غَايَةٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ بِحَقِّ الْمُصْطَفَى وَالْمُرْتَضَى وَالزَّهْرَاءِ لَمَّا حَدَّثْتَنِي بِحَدِيثٍ تَشْفِينِي بِهِ حَتَّى أَرْجِعَ فَقَالَ تَسْأَلُنِي الْحَدِيثَ وَقَدْ أُخْرِجْتُ مِنْ جِوَارِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لا أَدْرِي إِلَى مَا يَصِيرُ أَمْرِي قَالَ قُلْتُ بِحَقِّ الْمُصْطَفَى وَالْمُرْتَضَى وَالزَّهْرَاءِ لَمَّا حَدَّثْتَنِي بِحَدِيثٍ تَشْفِينِي بِهِ حَتَّى أَرْجِعَ فَقَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَن جَدِّي أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَاهُ يَذْكُرُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَاهُ يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ أَبِي عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ‏يَذْكُرُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَقُولُ: قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ اسْمِي مَنْ قَالَهُ مُخْلِصاً مِنْ قَلْبِهِ دَخَلَ حِصْنِي وَمَنْ دَخَلَ حِصْنِي أَمِنَ عَذَابِي.قالَ مُصَنِّفُ هذا الْكِتاب رَحْمَةُ اللَّه أَن يحجزه هذا القَوْلُ، عَن ما حَرَّمَ اللَّه عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

39-2 Abu Nasr Ahmad ibn Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Obayd al-Dhabbi narrated that he had heard that Abul Husayn ibn Ahmad quote on the authority of his grandfather, on the authority of his father, “When Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) entered Neishaboor at the time of Al-Ma’mun, I was at his service and took care of his needs as long as he was there until he departed towards Sarakhs. I accompanied him. I accompanied him when he wanted to leave Sarakhs to go to Marv. But as soon as we passed through one way-station, he brought out his head from his carriage andsaid, “O Aba Abdullah! Return. May you be successful. You have performed what is incumbent upon you. You need not accompany me anymore.” I said, “I swear by al-Mustafa (the Prophet), al-Mortadha (Imam Ali) and az-Zahra (Fatima). Please tell me one tradition to heal me so that I may return.” He said, “Are you asking me for traditions? I have left the neighborhood of my grandfather - the Prophet of God (a.s.) - not knowing what will happen to my affairs.” I said, “I swear by al-Mustafa, al-Mortadha and az-Zahra. Please tell me one tradition to heal me so that I may return.” Then he said, “My father (a.s.) narrated that his father (a.s.) quoted on the authority of his father (a.s.) that he had heard his forefathers (a.s.) say that they heard their forefathers (a.s.) say that they heard Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) say that he had heard the Prophet (S) say that God - the Exalted the Magnificent - said, There is no god but God is My Name. Whoever says it sincerely and whole-heartedly will enter My Stronghold. Whoever enters My Stronghold is secure from My punishment.”The author of this book (a.s.heikh Sadooq) - may God forgive him - said, “Sincerity here means that these words should protect him from saying what God the Exalted the Honorable has forbidden.

3 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى المُتَوَكِّل رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُقالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَن أَبيهِ، عَن ياسر الخادِم قالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَصْرَ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ قَحْطَبَةَ نَزَعَ ثِيَابَهُ وَنَاوَلَهَا حُمَيْداً فَاحْتَمَلَهَا وَنَاوَلَهَا جَارِيَةً لَهُ لِتَغْسِلَهَا فَمَا لَبِثَتْ إِذْ جَاءَتْ وَمَعَهَا رُقْعَةٌ فَنَاوَلَتْهَا حُمَيْداً وَقَالَتْ وَجَدْتُهَا فِي جَيْبِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَالَ حُمَيْدٌ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ الْجَارِيَةَ وَجَدَتْ رُقْعَةً فِي جَيْبِ قَمِيصِكَ فَمَا هِيَ قَالَ يَا حُمَيْدُ هَذِهِ عُوذَةٌ لا نُفَارِقُهَا فَقَالَ لَوْ شَرَّفْتَنِي بِهَا قَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ هَذِهِ عُوذَةٌ مَنْ أَمْسَكَهَا فِي جَيْبِهِ كَانَ مَدْفُوعاً عَنْهُ وَكَانَتْ لَهُ حِرْزاً مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ ثُمَّ أَمْلَى عَلَى حُمَيْدٍ الْعُوذَةَ وَهِيَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمنِ مِنْكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَقِيّاً أَوْ غَيْرَ تَقِيٍّ أَخَذْتُ بِاللَّهِ السَّمِيعِ الْبَصِيرِ عَلَى سَمْعِكَ وَبَصَرِكَ لا سُلْطَانَ لَكَ عَلَيَّ وَلا عَلَى سَمْعِي وَلا عَلَى بَصَرِي وَلا عَلَى شَعْرِي وَلا عَلَى بَشَرِي وَلا عَلَى لَحْمِـي وَلا عَلَى دَمِي وَلا عَلَى مُخِّي وَلا عَلَى عَصَبِي وَلا عَلَى عِظَامِي وَلا عَلَى مَالِي وَلا عَلَى أَهْلِي وَلا عَلَى مَا رَزَقَنِي رَبِّي سَتَرْتُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ بِسِتْرِ النُّبُوَّةِ الَّذِي اسْتَتَرَ بِهِ أَنْبِيَاءُ اللَّهِ مِنْ سُلْطَانِ الْفَرَاعِنَةِ جَبْرَئِيلُ، عَن يَمِينِي وَمِيكَائِيلُ، عَن يَسَارِي وَإِسْرَافِيلُ مِنْ وَرَائِي وَمُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَمَامِي وَاللَّهُ مُطَّلِعٌ عَلَيَّ يَمْنَعُكَ مِنِّي وَيَمْنَعُ الشَّيْطَانَ مِنِّي اللَّهُمَّ لا يَغْلِبُ جَهْلُهُ أَنَاتَكَ أَنْ يَسْتَفِزَّنِي وَيَسْتَخِفَّنِي اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ الْتَجَأْتُ اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ الْتَجَأْتُ اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ الْتَجَأْتُ.

39-3 Muhammad ibn Musa al-Mutawakkil - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Yasir - the servant, “When Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) entered the palace of Hamid ibn Qahtaba he took off his clothes and handed them to Hamid. Hamid handed them to his maid to wash. Shortly later the maid returned with a sheet of paper and said that she had found it in Abil Hassan Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’’s attire. She handed it to Hamid. Hamid said, “May I be your ransom! The maid found this paper in the pocket of your shirt. What is it?” He said, “O Hamid! This is a charm which I never separate from myself.” I said, “Could you honor me with it?” He (a.s.) said, “This is a charm. Calamities will be warded off from whoever has it in his pocket. He will be secured from all calamities. It is a protection for him against the evils of the damned Satan (and from the King).” He then dictated the charm to Hamid. It is as follows, “In the Name of God the Beneficent, the Merciful. In the Name of God. I take refuge in the Merciful from you - whether you are pious or not. By God - the One who hears and sees all - I shut off your ears and eyes. You have no power over me, my ears, my eyes, my hair, my skin, my meat, my blood, my brain, my nerves, mybones, my family, my property, and the daily bread that God bestows upon me. I draw a veil between me and you - a veil of the Prophets by which God’s Prophets protected themselves from the Kings of the Pharaoh. Gabriel is on my right side, Michael is on my left side. Israfil is behind me. And Muhammad (a.s.) is in front of me. God is informed about me, and will protect me from you and from Satan. O my Lord! May not Satan’s ignorance overcome Thy Patience so as to make me frightened and belittled. O my Lord! I take refuge in Thee. O my Lord! I take refuge in Thee. O my Lord! I take refuge in Thee.”

1 - حَدَّثَنا المُظَفَّر بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ المُظَفَّر العَلَوِيالسَمَرْقَنْدِيُّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَسْعُود العَيَّاشِيُّ، عَن أَبيهِ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ نصير، عَن الحَسَن بْنِ مُوسَى قالَ رَوى‏ أَصْحابُنا عَنِ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ كَيْفَ صِرْتَ إِلَى مَا صِرْتَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَأْمُونِ وَكَأَنَّهُ أَنْكَرَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَا هَذَا أَيُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ النَّبِيُّ أَوِ الْوَصِيُّ قَالَ لا بَلِ النَّبِيُّ قَالَ فَأَيُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ مُسْلِمٌ أَوْ مُشْرِكٌ قَالَ لا بَلْ مُسْلِمٌ قَالَ فَإِنَّ الْعَزِيزَ عَزِيزَ مِصْرَ كَانَ مُشْرِكاً وَكَانَ يُوسُفُ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ نَبِيّاً وَإِنَّ الْمَأْمُونَ مسلما [مُسْلِمٌ] وَأَنَا وَصِيٌّ وَيُوسُفُ سَأَلَ الْعَزِيزَ أَنْ يُوَلِّيَهُ حِينَ قَالَ اجْعَلْنِي عَلى‏ خَزائِنِ الأَرْضِ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ وَأَنَا أُجْبِرْتُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ.وَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي قَوْلِهِ اجْعَلْنِي عَلى‏ خَزائِنِ الأَرْضِ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ قَالَ حَافِظٌ لِمَا فِي يَدَيَّ عَالِمٌ بِكُلِّ لِسَانٍ.

40-1 Al-Mudhaffar ibn Ja’far ibn Al-Mudhaffar al-Alawi al-Samarqandi - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Mas’ood al-Ayyashi quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Nosayr, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Musa (al-Khashshab) that his companions quoted on the authority of Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) that a man asked him, “May God settle your affairs! Why did you accept this affair and go to Al-Ma’mun? He was somehow blaming the Imam (a.s.) for this. However, Abul Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) asked him, “Hey you! Please tell me whether a Prophet is nobler or a Trustee?” The man said, “Certainly a Prophet.” He (a.s.) asked, “Is a Muslim nobler or an atheist?” He replied, “Certainly a Muslim.” He (a.s.) said, “Indeed al-Aziz - the king of Egypt - was an atheist while Joseph (a.s.) was a Prophet. And Al-Ma’mun is a Muslim and I am a Trustee. Joseph (a.s.) asked al-Aziz to establish him as a leader when he asked the king of Egypt, “Set me over the store-houses of the land: I will indeed guard them, as one that knows (their importance)” But I was forced to do so. And when he (a.s.) said God’s words, ‘Set me over the store-houses of the land: I will indeed guard them, as one that knows (their importance).’ He said that since he knew well how to take care of it and knew all the languages.

2 - حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ زِيادِ بْنِ جَعْفَر الْهَمَذانيّ رَضِىَاللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم‏عَنْ الرَّيانِ بْنِ الصَّلْتِ قالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّكَ قَبِلْتَ وِلايَةَ الْعَهْدِ مَعَ إِظْهَارِكَ الزُّهْدَ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَدْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ كَرَاهَتِي لِذَلِكَ فَلَمَّا خُيِّرْتُ بَيْنَ قَبُولِ ذَلِكَ وَبَيْنَ الْقَتْلِ اخْتَرْتُ الْقَبُولَ عَلَى الْقَتْلِ وَيْحَهُمْ أَمَا عَلِمُوا أَنَّ يُوسُفَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ كَانَ نَبِيّاً رَسُولاً فَلَمَّا دَفَعَتْهُ الضَّرُورَةُ إِلَى تَوَلِّي خَزَائِنِ الْعَزِيزِ قَالَ لَهُ اجْعَلْنِي عَلى‏ خَزائِنِ الأَرْضِ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ وَدَفَعَتْنِي الضَّرُورَةُ إِلَى قَبُولِ ذَلِكَ عَلَى إِكْرَاهٍ وَإِجْبَارٍ بَعْدَ الإِشْرَافِ عَلَى الْهَلاكِ عَلَى أَنِّي مَا دَخَلْتُ فِي هَذَا الأَمْرِ إِلا دُخُولَ خَارِجٍ مِنْهُ فَإِلَى اللَّهِ الْمُشْتَكَى وَهُوَ الْمُسْتَعَانُ.

40-2 Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja’far al-Hamadani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of al-Rayyan ibn al-Salt, “I went to see Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) and told him, “O son of the Prophet! The people say that although you show asceticism, you have accepted the succession to the throne.” He (a.s.) replied, “Indeed God knows how much I hated this. However when I was only given the choice to either accept this or be killed, I chose this (the acceptance of the succession to the throne) over being killed. Woe be to them! Do they not know that Joseph (a.s.), who was a Prophet, said the following to the King of Egypt when it was necessary to do so, ‘Set me over the store-houses of the land: I will indeed guard them, as one that knows (their importance).’I was also forced to accept this (the acceptance of the succession to the throne) even though I did not like to. I unwillingly accepted it when I was about to be killed. I accepted this affair like one who has no interest in it. And I will take my complaint to God on this issue and seek His Assistance.

3 - حَدَّثَنا الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ ناتانَةَ رَضِىَ اللهُعَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم‏إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ هاشِم عَنْ أَبي الصَّلْتِ الهَرَوِيِّ قالَ إِنَّ الْمَأْمُونَ قَالَ لِلرِّضَا عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ قَدْ عَرَفْتُ فَضْلَكَ وَعِلْمَكَ وَزُهْدَكَ وَوَرَعَكَ وَعِبَادَتَكَ وَأَرَاكَ أَحَقَّ بِالْخِلافَةِ مِنِّي فَقَالَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِالْعُبُودِيَّةِ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَفْتَخِرُ وَبِالزُّهْدِ فِي الدُّنْيَا أَرْجُو النَّجَاةَ مِنْ شَرِّ الدُّنْيَا وَبِالْوَرَعِ عَنِ الَْمحَارِمِ أَرْجُو الْفَوْزَ بِالْمَغَانِمِ وَبِالتَّوَاضُعِ فِي الدُّنْيَا أَرْجُو الرِّفْعَةَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ فَإِنِّي قَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَنْ أَعْزِلَ نَفْسِي عَنِ الْخِلافَةِ وَأَجْعَلَهَا لَكَ وَأُبَايِعَكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِنْ كَانَتْ هَذِهِ الْخِلافَةُ لَكَ وَجَعَلَهَا اللَّهُ لَكَ فَلا يَجُوزُ أَنْ تَخْلَعَ لِبَاساً أَلْبَسَكَهُ اللَّهُ وَتَجْعَلَهُ لِغَيْرِكَ وَإِنْ كَانَتِ الْخِلافَةُ لَيْسَتْ لَكَ فَلا يَجُوزُ لَكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ لِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ لا بُدَّ لَكَ مِنْ قَبُولِ هَذَا الأَمْرِ فَقَـالَ لَسْتُ أَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ طَائِعاً أَبَداًفَمَا زَالَ يُجْهِدُ بِهِ أَيَّاماً حَتَّى يَئِسَ مِنْ قَبُولِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَقْبَلِ الْخِلافَةَ وَلَمْ تُحِبَّ مُبَايَعَتِي لَكَ فَكُنْ وَلِيَّ عَهْدِي لِتَكُونَ لَكَ الْخِلافَةُ بَعْدِي فَقَالَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَن آبَائِهِ، عَن أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، عَن رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَنِّي أَخْرُجُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا قَبْلَكَ مَقْتُولاً بِالسَّمِّ مَظْلُوماً تَبْكِي عَلَيَّ مَلائِكَةُ السَّمَاءِ وَمَلائِكَةُ الأَرْضِ وَأُدْفَنُ فِي أَرْضِ غُرْبَةٍ إِلَى جَنْبِ هَارُونَ الرَّشِيدِ فَبَكَى الْمَأْمُونُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ: يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَمَنِ الَّذِي يَقْتُلُكَ أَوْ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الإِسَاءَةِ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا حَيٌّ فَقَالَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَمَا إِنِّي لَوْ أَشَاءُ أَنْ أَقُولَ مَنِ الَّذِي يَقْتُلُنِي لَقُلْتُ فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا تُرِيدُ بِقَوْلِكَ هَذَا التَّخْفِيفَ عَنْ نَفْسِكَ وَدَفْعِ هَذَا الأَمْرِ عَنْكَ لِيَقُولَ النَّاسُ أَنَّكَ زَاهِدٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَاللَّهِ مَا كَذَبْتُ مُنْذُ خَلَقَنِي رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَا زَهِدْتُ فِي الدُّنْيَا لِلدُّنْيَا وَإِنِّي لاعْلَمُ مَا تُرِيدُ فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ وَمَا أُرِيدُ قَالَ الأَمَانُ عَلَى الصِّدْقِ قَالَ لَكَ الأَمَانُ قَالَ تُرِيدُ بِذَلِكَ أَنْ يَقُولَ النَّاسُ إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُوسَى لَمْ يَزْهَدْ فِي الدُّنْيَا بَلْ زَهِدَتِ الدُّنْيَا فِيهِ أَلا تَرَوْنَ كَيْفَ قَبِلَ وِلايَةَ الْعَهْدِ طَمَعاً فِي الْخِلافَةِ فَغَضِبَ الْمَأْمُونُ ثُمَّ قَالَ: إِنَّكَ تَتَلَقَّانِي أَبَداً بِمَا أَكْرَهُهُ وَقَدْ آمَنْتَ سَطْوَتِي فَبِاللَّهِ أُقْسِمُ لَئِنْ قَبِلْتَ وِلايَةَ الْعَهْدِ وَإِلا أَجْبَرْتُكَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَإِنْ فَعَلْتَ وَإِلا ضَرَبْتُ عُنُقَكَ فَقَالَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَدْ نَهَانِيَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ أُلْقِيَ بِيَدِي إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ فَإِنْ كَانَ الأَمْرُ عَلَى هَذَا فَافْعَلْ مَا بَدَا لَكَ وَأَنَا أَقْبَلُ ذَلِكَ عَلَى أَنِّي لا أُوَلِّي أَحَداً وَلا أَعْزِلُ أَحَداً وَلا أَنْقُضُ رَسْماً وَلا سُنَّةً وَأَكُونُ فِي الأَمْرِ مِنْ بَعِيدٍ مُشِيراً فَرَضِيَ مِنْهُ بِذَلِكَ وَجَعَلَهُ وَلِيَّ عَهْدِهِ عَلَى كَرَاهَةٍ مِنْهُ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لِذَلِكَ.

40-3 Al-Husayn ibn Ibrahim ibn Tatana - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father Ibrahim ibn Hashem, on the authority of Abi Salt al-Harawi, “Indeed Al-Ma’mun told Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘O son of the Prophet of God! I recognized your knowledge, nobility, abstinence, piety and servitude. I have realized that you deserve to be the Caliph more than I do.’ Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told him, ‘I am proud of servitude to God the Honorable the Exalted. I seek protection against the evils of this world through abstinence. I hope to attain prosperity and Divine Profit by practicing piety regarding the forbidden things. I hope to attain a high rank before God the Honorable the Exalted by being humble in this world.’ Al-Ma’mun told him, ‘I am planning to dismiss myself from the post of the Caliphate and assign you to that post and pledge allegiance to you.’ Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told him, ‘If this Caliphate is yours, then God has established it for you and it is not proper for you to relieve yourself of it and place someone else in that position. But if it is not yours, you are not authorized to give what is not yours to me.’Al-Ma’mun told him, ‘O son of the Prophet! You are forced to accept this order.’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘I will never accept this willingly.’ Al-Ma’mun kept insisting on this issue day after day until he lost all hope. Then he said, ‘Now that you do not accept the Caliphate and do not let me pledge allegiance to you as the Caliph, you must accept the succession to the throne (to be the caliph after me).’ Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told him, ‘I swear by God that my father (a.s.) narrated that his forefathers (a.s.) quoted on the authority of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.), on the authority of God’s Prophet (S) that I will leave this world before you by being oppressively poisoned. The angels of the heavens and the Earth will cry for me. I will be buried in the land of loneliness next to Harun Al-Rashid.’ Then Al-Ma’mun cried. Then he asked, ‘O son of the Prophet of God! Who will kill you? Who will be able to or dare do such a thing to you for as long as I live?’ Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘I will only introduce my murderer if I please.’ Al-Ma’mun said, ‘O son of the Prophet of God! Do you want to relieve yourself from accepting the succession to the throne with these words, so that the people say to themselves how greatly you abstain from the world?’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘By God, I have never lied from the day God the Honorable the Exalted created me. I have not abstained from the world to attain this world. I know very well what it is that you are after.’ Al-Ma’mun asked, ‘What am I after?’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, ‘Will you grant immunity for an honest answer?’ Al-Ma’mun said, ‘You are immune.’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘You wish for the people to say: Ali ibn Musa (ar-Ridha’) (a.s.) has not abstained from the world. Rather it is the world that has abstained from him. Don’t you see how he accepted the succession to the throne in greed for the post of Caliphate?’ Then Al-Ma’mun became angry and said, ‘You constantly treat me in the way that I do not like, as if you are immune from my power. I swear by God that you must accept the succession to the throne yourself, or else I will force you to do so. If you accept it yourself it is fine. However, if you do not, I will chop off your head.’ Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘Indeed God the Highest has admonished me against getting myself killed. If the situation is as you say, then do as you please. I will accept it under the condition that I do not interfere in dismissals or appointments, nor change any practices or traditions. I will just be a distant advisor.’ Al-Ma’mun accepted these conditions and established Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) as the successor to the throne, even though the Imam (a.s.) disliked it.

4 - حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْرانالدَّقَّاق رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبي‏الكُوفِي عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيل البرمكي، عَن مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عرفة قالَ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى الدُّخُولِ فِي وِلايَةِ الْعَهْدِ فَقَالَ مَا حَمَلَ جَدِّي أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى الدُّخُولِ فِي الشُّورَى.

40-4 Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Imran al-Daqqaq - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Abi Abdullah al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isma’il al-Barmaki, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Arafat that he asked Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “O son of the Prophet of God! What forced you to accept the succession to the throne?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “The same thing which forced my grandfather the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) to join the arbItraion council.”

5 - حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه الوَرَّاقُ رَضِىَ اللهُعَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَن أَبيهِ، عَن عَبْد السَّلامُ بْنِ صالِح الهَرَوِيِّ قالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا دَخَلَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي هَذَا الأَمْرِ طَائِعاً وَقَدْ حُمِلَ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ مُكْرَهاً ثُمَّ أُشْخِصَ مِنْهَا عَلَى طَرِيقِ الْبَصْرَةِ وَفَارِسَ إِلَى مَرْوَ.

40-5 Ali ibn Abdullah al-Var’raq - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abdil Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi, “By God! Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) did not accept this affair willingly. He was unwillingly taken to Kufa, then he was taken to Marv by way of Basra and Fars.”