ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā

12 - حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدِ بْنِعَبْدِ اللَّه عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبِيْد عَنْ بشار قالَ: قالَ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ يَقْتُلُ مُحَمَّداً فَقُلْتُ لَهُ وَعَبْدُاللَّهِ بْنُ هَارُونَ يَقْتُلُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ هَارُونَ فَقَالَ لِي: نَعَمْ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي بِخُرَاسَانَ يَقْتُلُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ زُبَيْدَةَ الَّذِي هُوَ بِبَغْدَادَ فَقَتَلَه.

47-12 (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isa ibn Obayd, on the authority of Al-Husayn ibn Bashshar, “Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘Abdullah will kill Muhammad.’ I asked, ‘Will Abdullah ibn Harun kill Muhammad ibn Harun?’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘Yes. Now Abdullah who is in Khorasan will kill Muhammad ibn Zobayda who is in Baghdad.’ In fact, Al-Ma’mun killed Al-Amin.”

13 - حَدَّثَنا حَمْزَة بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيْد بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحُسَيْن بْنِ‏أَبي طالِب‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بقم فِي رَجَب سِنَةَ تِسْعَ وَثَلاثِينَ وَثَلاثِمائَةٍ قالَ أَخْبَرنِي عَلِىِّ بْنِ‏هاشِم فِيما كتب إِلى‏ سِنَةِ سبع وَثَلاثِمائَةٍ قالَ حَدَّثَني مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبِيْد عَنْ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمن بْنِ أَبي نَجْرانَ وَصَفْوانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى قالا حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ قِيَامَا وَكَانَ مِنْ رُؤَسَاءِ الْوَاقِفَةِ فَسَأَلَنَا أَنْ نَسْتَأْذِنَ لَهُ عَلَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَفَعَلْنَا فَلَمَّا صَارَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ قَالَ لَهُ أَنْتَ إِمَامٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ إِنِّي أُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ أَنَّكَ لَسْتَ بِإِمَامٍ قَالَ فَنَكَتَ طَوِيلاً فِي الأَرْضِ مُنَكِّسَ الرَّأْسِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَـالَ لَهُ مَـا عِلْمُكَ أَنِّي لَسْتُ بِإِمَـامٍ قَـالَ لأنَّارُوِّينَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَنَّ الإِمَامَ لا يَكُونُ عَقِيماً وَأَنْتَ قَدْ بَلَغْتَ هَذَا السِّنَّ وَلَيْسَ لَكَ وَلَدٌ قَالَ فَنَكَسَ رَأْسَهُ أَطْوَلَ مِنَ الْمَرَّةِ الأُولَى ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ أُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ أَنَّهُ لا تَمْضِي الأَيَّامُ وَاللَّيَالِي حَتَّى يَرْزُقَنِيَ اللَّهُ وَلَداً مِنِّي قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ فَعَدَدْنَا الشُّهُورَ مِنَ الْوَقْتِ الَّذِي قَالَ فَوَهَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ سَنَةٍ قَالَ وَكَانَ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ قِيَامَا هَذَا وَاقِفاً فِي الطَّوَافِ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الأَوَّلُ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا لَكَ حَيَّرَكَ اللَّهُ فَوَقَفَ عَلَيْهِ بَعْدَ الدَّعْوَةِ.

47-13 In the month of Rajab of the year 339 A.H. (950 A.D.) Hamza ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Zayd ibn Ali ibn Al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) in Qum narrated that Ali ibn Abraham ibn Hashem in the year 307 A.H. (918 A.D.) in a letter to me quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isa ibn Obayd, on the authority of Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Najran and Safvan ibn Yahya, “Al-Husayn ibn Qiama, who was one of the heads of the Waqafites asked us to ask for an appointment for him with Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). We made an appointment for him. When he faced the Imam (a.s.), he asked, ‘Are you the Divine Leader?’ The Imam (a.s.) said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘I take God to bear witness that you are not the Divine Leader.’ The Imam (a.s.) looked down for a while. Then he (a.s.) raised his head up and asked, ‘How do you know that I am not the Divine Leader?’ Al-Husayn ibn Qiama said, ‘It has been narrated for us upon the authority of Abi Abdullah as-Sadiq (a.s.)that the Divine Leader is not infertile. You are old but do not have any children.’ The Imam (a.s.) looked down again for a while. This time it lasted longer than before. Then he (a.s.) raised his head up and said, ‘I take God to bear witness that in a while the Merciful God will grant me a son.’” Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Najran added, “No more than one year after that passed and God granted Imam Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) Aba Ja’far (a.s.).”The narrator added, “Al-Husayn ibn Qiama was amazed and standing somewhere while Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (a.s.) was circumambulating around the Kaaba. When Abul Hassan the first (a.s.) passed by him, the Imam (a.s.) asked him, ‘Why are you standing here? What is wrong with you? May the Sublime God surprise you!’ After this he became one of the Waqafites.”

14 - حَدَّثَنا أَبي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه عَنْمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبِيْد عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبي يعقوب عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ هارُون قالَ رَأَيْتُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَقَدْ نَظَرَ إِلَى هَرْثَمَةَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ كَأَنِّي بِهِ وَقَدْ حُمِلَ إِلَى هَارُونَ فَضُرِبَتْ عُنُقُهُ فَكَانَ كَمَا قَالَ.

47-14 (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isa ibn Obayd, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abi Yaqoob, on the authority of Musa ibn Harun, “I saw that Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) looked at Harthamat ibn A’ayan and said, ‘It is as if I see that he is taken to Marv and is beheaded.’ That’s exactly what happened.”

15 - حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ زِيادِ بْنِ جَعْفَر الْهَمَذانيّ قالَ:حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَبي حَبِيبٍ البناجي أَنَّهُ قالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فِي الْمَنَامِ وَقَدْ وَافَى النِّبَاجَ وَنَزَلَ بِهَا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الَّذِي يَنْزِلُهُ الْحَاجُّ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ وَكَأَنِّي مَضَيْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَوَقَفْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَوَجَدْتُ عِنْدَهُ طَبَقاً مِنْ خُوصِ نَخْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ فِيهِ تَمْرٌ صَيْحَانِيٌّ فَكَأَنَّهُ قَبَضَ قَبْضَةً مِنْ ذَلِكَ الَّتمْرِ فَنَاوَلَنِي فَعَدَدْتُهُ فَكَانَ ثَمَانِيَ عَشْرَةَ تَمْرَةً فَتَأَوَّلْتُ أَنِّي أَعِيشُ بِعَدَدِ كُلِّ تَمْرَةٍ سَنَةً فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً كُنْتُ فِي أَرْضٍ بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ تُعْمَرُ لِلزِّرَاعَةِ حَتَّى جَاءَنِي مَنْ أَخْبَرَنِي بِقُدُومِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ وَنُزُولِهِ ذَلِكَ الْمَسْجِدَ وَرَأَيْتُ النَّاسَ يَسْعَوْنَ إِلَيْهِ فَمَضَيْتُ نَحْوَهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْمَوْضِعِ الَّذِي كُنْتُ رَأَيْتُ فِيهِ النَّبِيَ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَتَحْتَهُ حَصِيرٌ مِثْلُ مَاكَانَ تَحْتَهُ وَبَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ طَبَقُ خُوصٍ فِيهِ تَمْرٌ صَيْحَانِيٌّ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَرَدَّ السَّلامَ عَلَيَّ وَاسْتَدْنَانِي فَنَاوَلَنِي قَبْضَةً مِنْ ذَلِكَ الَّتمْرِ فَعَدَدْتُهُ فَإِذَا عَدَدُهُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ الْعَدَدِ الَّذِي نَاوَلَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ زِدْنِي مِنْهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ لَوْ زَادَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لَزِدْنَاكَقالَ مُصَنِّفُ هذا الْكِتاب رَحْمَةُ اللَّه للصادق‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ دِلالَة مثل هذِهِ الدلالة وَقَدْ ذكرتها الدَّلائِلُ.

47-15 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 Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Abi Habib an-Benaji, “I saw God’s Prophet (S) in my dreams. I saw him (a.s.) reach Benaj and then go to the mosque in which the Hajj pilgrims go every year. It was as if I had gone to visit God’s Prophet (S). I greeted him and stood in front of him. I found a woven tray full of dates from Medina in front of him which included some especial Sayhani dates. He picked a bunch of those dates for us and gave them to me. I counted them and there were eighteen dates. I woke up and interpreted that dream to mean that I will live one more year for each of those dates. Twenty days later I was working on the farm and the farmers were cultivating the ground. Suddenly someone came and informed us that Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) has come from Medina, has stopped over in that very same mosque, and the people are rushing there from everywhere. I quit work and went to see him. I saw that Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) was sitting exactly in the same place that the Prophet of God (a.s.) sat in my dreams. There was a straw mat beneath Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) just as I had seen beneath the Prophet (S). There was a woven tray full ofdates in front of him in which there were Sayhani dates. I stepped forward and greeted Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). The Imam (a.s.) greeted me back and said, “Come forward.” I stepped forward and Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) handed me a bunch of dates. I counted the dates and they were exactly as many as his grandfather (a.s.) had given me. I said, “O son of the Prophet of God! Please give me some more.” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “We would have given you more, if God’s Prophet (S) had given you more.”The author of the book - may God have Mercy upon him - said, “There is a similar proof in a narration for As-Sadiq (a.s.) which I have mentioned in Ad-Dala’el.”

16 - حَدَّثَنا أَبُو حامد أَحْمَدِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحُسَيْنالثعالبي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبُو أحْمَد عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ عَبْد الرَّحْمن المَعْرُوف بالصفوانِي قالَ قَدْ خَرَجَتْ قَافِلَةٌ مِنْ خُرَاسَانَ إِلَى كِرْمَانَ فَقَطَعَ اللُّصُوصُ عَلَيْهِمُ الطَّرِيقَ وَأَخَذُوا مِنْهُمْ رَجُلاً اتَّهَمُوهُ بِكَثْرَةِ الْمَالِ فَبَقِيَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ مُدَّةً يُعَذِّبُونَهُ لِيَفْتَدِيَ مِنْهُمْ نَفْسَهُ وَأَقَامُوهُ فِي الثَّلْجِ فَشَدُّوهُ وَمَلَئُوا فَاهُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الثَّلْجِ فَرَحِمَتْهُ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ فَأَطْلَقَتْهُ وَهَرَبَ فَانْفَسَدَ فَمُهُ وَلِسَانُهُ حَتَّى لَمْ يَقْدِرْ عَلَى الْكَلامِ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى خُرَاسَانَ وَسَمِعَ بِخَبَرِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَأَنَّهُ بِنَيْسَابُورَ فَرَأَى فِيَما رَأَى النَّائِمُ كَأَنَّ قَائِلاً يَقُولُ لَهُ: إِنَّ ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ قَدْ وَرَدَ خُرَاسَانَ فَسَلْهُ عَنْ عِلَّتِكَ فَرُبَّمَا يُعَلِّمُكَ دَوَاءً مَا تَنْتَفِعُ بِهِ قَالَ فَرَأَيْتُ كَأَنِّي قَدْ قَصَدْتُهُ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَشَكَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ مَا كُنْتُ دُفِعْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِعِلَّتِي فَقَالَ خُذِ الْكَمُّونَ وَالسَّعْتَرَ وَالْمِلْحَ وَدُقَّهُ وَخُذْ مِنْهُ فِي فَمِكَ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاثاً فَإِنَّكَ تُعَافَى فَانْتَبَهَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ مَنَامِهِ وَلَمْ يُفَكِّرْ فِيَما كَانَ رَأَى فِي مَنَامِهِ وَلا اعْتَدَّ بِهِ حَتَّى وَرَدَ بَابَ نَيْسَابُورَ فَقِيلَ إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُوسَى الرِّضَاقَدِ ارْتَحَلَ مِنْ نَيْسَابُورَ وَهُوَ بِرِبَاطِ سَعْدٍ فَوَقَعَ فِي نَفْسِ الرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَقْصِدَهُ وَيَصِفَ لَهُ أَمْرَهُ لِيَصِفَ لَهُ مَا يَنْتَفِعُ بِهِ مِنَ الدَّوَاءِ فَقَصَدَهُ إِلَى رِبَاطِ سَعْدٍ فَدَخَلَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِي كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ وَقَدِ انْفَسَدَ عَلَيَّ فَمِي وَلِسَانِي حَتَّى لا أَقْدِرُعَلَى الْكَلامِ إِلا بِجُهْدٍ فَعَلِّمْنِي دَوَاءً أَنْتَفِعُ بِهِ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَلَمْ أُعَلِّمْكَ اذْهَبْ فَاسْتَعْمِلْ مَا وَصَفْتُهُ لَكَ فِي مَنَامِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِنْ رَأَيْتَ أَنْ تُعِيدَهُ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لِي خُذْ مِنَ الْكَمُّونِ وَالسَّعْتَرِ وَالْمِلْحِ فَدُقَّهُ وَخُذْ مِنْهُ فِي فَمِكَ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاثاً فَإِنَّكَ سَتُعَافَى قَالَ الرَّجُلُ فَاسْتَعْمَلْتُ مَا وَصَفَهُ لِي فَعُوفِيتُ.قالَ أَبُو حامد أَحْمَدِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحُسَيْن الثعالبي سَمِعْتُ أَبَا أحْمَد عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمن المَعْرُوف بالصفوانِي يَقُولُ رَأَيْت هذا الرَّجُل وَسَمِعْتُ مِنْهُ هذِهِ الحكاية.

47-16 Abu Hamid Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Al-Husayn As-Tha’alibi narrated that Abu Ahmad Abdullah ibn Abdul Rahman - known as as-Safwani - said, “There was a caravan going from the province of Khorasan to Kerman. Some highway robbers attacked it along the way and captured a man who was thought to have a lot of wealth. He was in their hands for sometime. They tortured him so that he would give them something, and then they freed him. They kept him on a block of ice and filled up his mouth with ice. They tied up his hands and feet. One of the women from the same tribe felt sorry for him and freed him without anyone knowing about it. He fled, but his mouth and tongue were wounded so much that he was unable to talk. He went back to Khorasan and heard that Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) had gone to the town of Neishaboor. One night he dreamt that someone told him, ‘The son of God’s Prophet (S) has come to Khorasan. Ask him for your cure. He may suggest to you a medicine to treat you.’ The man said, ‘I dreamt that I went to Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) and reported to the Imam (a.s.) what had happened to me. Then the Imam (a.s.) told me, ‘Grind some cumin seed, thyme and salt. Wash out your mouth with it two or three times. Then you will be cured.’ He woke up and did not pay any attention to his dream. He did not even think about it. He went until he reached the gates of Neishaboor. He was told that Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) had left Neishaboor and gone to ‘Ribat Sa’d. The man decided to go there to tell the Imam (a.s.) about his problem and get some medication for his ailment. Then he set out for ‘Ribat Sa’d. Upon seeing the Imam (a.s.), the man made an effort and described his problem saying, ‘O son of the Prophet of God! This is my problem. My mouth has been injured and my tongue does not work. I can hardly talk. Please give me some medicine.’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) asked him, ‘Did I not teach you what to doin your dream?’ Go and do what I taught you to do and you will be treated.’ The man said, ‘O son of the Prophet of God! Please tell me again if you deem it proper.’ The Imam (a.s.) said, ‘Grind some cumin seed, thyme and salt. Wash your mouth with it two or three times. Then you will be cured.’ The man added, “I did just as Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) had said and got cured.” Abu Hamid Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Al-Husayn As-Tha’alibi said, “I heard Aba Ahmad Abdullah ibn Abdul Rahman known as As-Safwani say that he had heard that man say this himself.”

17 - حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ زِيادِ بْنِ جَعْفَر الْهَمَذانيّ قالَ:حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم حَدَّثَني الرَّيانِ بْنِ الصَّلْتِ قالَ لَمَّا أَرَدْتُ الْخُرُوجَ إِلَى الْعِرَاقِ عَزَمْتُ عَلَى تَوْدِيعِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي إِذَا وَدَّعْتُهُ سَأَلْتُهُ قَمِيصاً مِنْ ثِيَابِ جَسَدِهِ لاكَفِّنَ بِهِ وَدَرَاهِمَ مِنْ مَالِهِ أَصُوغُ بِهَا لِبَنَاتِي خَوَاتِيمَ فَلَمَّا وَدَّعْتُهُ شَغَلَنِي الْبُكَاءُ وَالأَسَى عَلَى فِرَاقِهِ عَنْ مَسْأَلَتِهِ ذَلِكَ فَلَمَّا خَرَجْتُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ صَاحَ بِي يَا رَيَّانُ ارْجِعْ فَرَجَعْتُ فَقَالَ لِي أَمَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ أَدْفَعَ إِلَيْكَ قَمِيصاً مِنْ ثِيَابِ جَسَدِي تُكَفَّنُ فِيهِ إِذَا فَنِيَ أَجَلُكَ أَوَمَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ أَدْفَعَ إِلَيْكَ دَرَاهِمَ تَصُوغُ بِهَا لِبَنَاتِكَ خَوَاتِيمَ فَقُلْتُ يَا سَيِّدِي قَدْ كَانَ فِي نَفْسِي أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ ذَلِكَ فَمَنَعَنِي الْغَمُّ بِفِرَاقِكَ فَرَفَعَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ الْوِسَادَةَ وَأَخْرَجَ قَمِيصاً فَدَفَعَهُ إِلَيَّ وَرَفَعَ جَانِبَ الْمُصَلَّى فَأَخْرَجَ دَرَاهِمَ فَدَفَعَهَا إِلَيَّ فَعَدَدْتُهَا فَكَانَتْ ثَلاثِينَ دِرْهَماً

47-17 Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja’far al-Hamadani narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of Ar-Rayyan ibn As-Salt, “When I decided to go to Iraq and went to bid farewell to Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), I told myself, ‘When I say farewell to him (a.s.), I will ask him (a.s.) to give me some of his own shirts to use as my shroud and ask him for some money with which to buy my daughter a ring.’ When I said farewell, I was so upset about leaving him that I totally forgot to tell him what I wanted. Once I went out, Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) called out to me in a loud voice and said, ‘O Ryan! Come back.’ When I returned, Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) asked me, ‘Would you like me to give you one of my own shirts to keep as your shroud until your death arrives? Do you want me to give a few Dirhams to you to buy a ring for your daughter?’ I said, ‘O my Master! I had told myself to ask you for these things, but the sorrow of leaving you made me totally forget to ask you.’ The Imam (a.s.) pushed aside his couch, picked up a shirt and gave it to me. Then he (a.s.) lifted up his prayer rug, picked up a few Dirhams and handed them to me. I counted them. They were thirty Dirhams in all.”

18 - حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدِ بْنِعَبْدِ اللَّه قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبي نَصْرِ البِزَنْطِيِّ قالَ كُنْتُ شَاكّاً فِي أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ وَسَلامُهُ عَلَيْهِ فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ كِتَاباً أَسْأَلُهُ فِيهِ الإِذْنَ عَلَيْهِ وَقَدْ أَضْمَرْتُ فِي نَفْسِي أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ إِذَا دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ عَنْ ثَلاثِ آيَاتٍ قَدْ عَقَدْتُ قَلْبِي عَلَيْهَا قَالَ فَأَتَانِي جَوَابُ مَا كَتَبْتُ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ عَافَانَا اللَّهُ وَإِيَّاكَ أَمَّا مَا طَلَبْتَ مِنَ الإِذْنِ عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّ الدُّخُولَ عَلَيَّ صَعْبٌ وَهَؤُلاءِ قَدْ ضَيَّقُوا عَلَيَّ ذَلِكَ فَلَسْتَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ الآْنَ وَسَيَكُونُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَكَتَبَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِجَوَابِ مَا أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ عَنِ الآْيَاتِ الثَّـلاثِ فِي الْكِتَـابِوَلا وَاللَّهِ مَا ذَكَرْتُ لَهُ مِنْهُنَّ شَيْئاً وَلَقَدْ بَقِيتُ مُتَعَجِّباً لَمَّا ذَكَرَ مَا فِي الْكِتَابِ وَلَمْ أَدْرِ أَنَّهُ جَوَابِي إِلا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَوَقَفْتُ عَلَى مَعْنَى مَا كَتَبَ بِهِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ

47-18 (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr al-Bezanti, “I was in doubt about Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). I wrote him a letter seeking permission to visit him. I wanted to ask him about three Qur’anic verses. I had set my mind on that. The reply came as such, ‘May God grant you and us health. You have asked permission to visit me. This is hard to do these days, since they have placed strict control over the people coming to visit me. It is a cause of hardship. You cannot get such a permission now. God willing these restrictions will be removed later and I will grant you permission to visit me.’ Then the answer to the questions which I had intended to askthe Imam (a.s.) concerning the three Qur’anic verses was written. I swear by God that I had made no mention of them in my letter. I was really amazed about the material about the verses. Later I realized that what the Imam (a.s.) had written in reply to me meant to inform me of the Divine status of the Imam (a.s.).”

19 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الحَسَن بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ الوَلِيدرَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ حَدَّثَني مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الحَسَن الصَفَّار عَنْ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبي نَصْرِ البِزَنْطِيِّ قالَ بَعَثَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِلَيَّ بِحِمَارٍ فَرَكِبْتُهُ وَأَتَيْتُهُ وَأَقَمْتُ عِنْدَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ إِلَى أَنْ مَضَى مِنْهُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَلَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَنْهَضَ قَالَ لا أَرَاكَ أَنْ تَقْدِرَ عَلَى الرُّجُوعِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ قُلْتُ أَجَلْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ فَبِتْ عِنْدَنَا اللَّيْلَةَ وَاغْدُ عَلَى بَرَكَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قُلْتُ أَفْعَلُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ يَا جَارِيَةُ افْرُشِي لَهُ فِرَاشِي وَاطْرَحِي عَلَيْهِ مِلْحَفَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنَامُ فِيهَا وَضَعِي تَحْتَ رَأْسِهِ مَخَادِّي قَالَ قُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي مَنْ أَصَابَ مَا أَصَبْتُ فِي لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ لَقَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِي مِنَ الْمَنْزِلَةِ عِنْدَهُ وَأَعْطَانِي مِنَ الْفَخْرِ مَا لَمْ يُعْطِهِ أَحَداً مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ بِحِمَارِهِ فَرَكِبْتُهُ وَفَرَشَ لِي فِرَاشَهُ وَبِتُّ فِي مِلْحَفَتِهِ وَوُضِعَتْ لِي مَخَادُّهُ مَا أَصَابَ مِثْلَ هَذَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ مَعِي وَأَنَا أُحَدِّثُ فِي نَفْسِي فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَا أَحْمَدُ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَتَى زَيْدَ بْنَ صُوحَانَ فِي مَرَضِهِ يَعُودُهُ فَافْتَخَرَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِذَلِكَ فَلا تَذْهَبَنَّ نَفْسَكَ إِلَى الْفَخْرِ وَتَذَلَّلْ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَاعْتَمَدَ عَلَى يَدِهِ فَقَامَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.

47-19 Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Waleed - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan al-Saffar quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr al-Bezanti, “Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) sent a horse for me to ride on to go to see him. I rode it and went to see him. I stayed there until the night arrived. When the Imam (a.s.) wanted to stand up, he (a.s.) told me, ‘I do not think that you can return to Medina now.’ I said, ‘May I be your ransom! Yes.’ The Imam (a.s.) said, ‘Then spend the night with us and set out in the morning with the help of the Honorable the Exalted God.’ I said, ‘May I be your ransom! Fine. I will do that.’ The Imam (a.s.) ordered his maid: ‘Spread my futon out for him. Put my sheet on it and place my pillow for him.’ I asked myself, ‘Who has achieved this much honor and rank that I have? God has granted me a rank near Him which He has not granted to anyone else. Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) sent me his horse to ride, spread his own futon out for me to sleep on with his own sheet and pillow. None of my friends have ever been in such a position.’ I was thinking and Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) was next to me. Then suddenly Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘O Ahmad! When Zayd ibn Sohan was ill, Ali - the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) went to visit him. Zayd considered this to be a source of pride for him and was haughty with the people because of that. Do not do what Zayd did then, and be humble for the sake of God.’ Then the Imam (a.s.) put his hands on the ground and got up.”

20 - حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْرانالدَّقَّاق رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبي‏الكُوفِي قالَ حَدَّثَني جَرِيرٌ بْنِ حازم عَنْ أَبي مَسْرُوقِ قالَ دَخَلَ عَلَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنَ الْوَاقِفَةِ فِيهِمْ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الْبَطَائِنِيُّ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ وَالْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عِمْرَانَ وَالْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمُكَارِي فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ أَبِيكَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَا حَالُهُ فَقَالَ قَدْ مَضَى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ فَإِلَى مَنْ عَهِدَ فَقَالَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّكَ لَتَقُولُ قَوْلاً مَا قَالَهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْ آبَائِـكَ عَـلِيُّ بْـنُ أَبِـيطَالِبٍ فَمَنْ دُونَهُ قَالَ لَكِنْ قَدْ قَالَهُ خَيْرُ آبَائِي وَأَفْضَلُهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمَا تَخَافُ هَؤُلاءِ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ فَقَالَ لَوْ خِفْتُ عَلَيْهَا كُنْتُ عَلَيْهَا مُعِيناً إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَتَاهُ أَبُو لَهَبٍ فَتَهَدَّدَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ إِنْ خُدِشْتُ مِنْ قِبَلِكَ خَدْشَةً فَأَنَا كَذَّابٌ فَكَانَتْ أَوَّلَ آيَةٍ نَزَعَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَهِيَ أَوَّلُ آيَةٍ أَنْزِعُ بِهَا لَكُمْ إِنْ خُدِشْتُ خَدْشاً مِنْ قِبَلِ هَارُونَ فَأَنَا كَذَّابٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ قَدْ أَتَانَا مَا نَطْلُبُ إِنْ أَظْهَرْتَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ قَالَ فَتُرِيدُ مَا ذَا أَتُرِيدُ أَنْ أَذْهَبَ إِلَى هَارُونَ فَأَقُولَ لَهُ إِنِّي إِمَامٌ وَأَنْتَ لَسْتَ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ لَيْسَ هَكَذَا صَنَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فِي أَوَّلِ أَمْرِهِ إِنَّمَا قَالَ ذَلِكَ لاهْلِهِ وَمَوَالِيهِ وَمَنْ يَثِقُ بِهِ فَقَدْ خَصَّهُمْ بِهِ دُونَ النَّاسِ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْتَقِدُونَ الإِمَامَةَ لِمَنْ كَانَ قَبْلِي مِنْ آبَائِي وَتَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ إِنَّمَا يَمْنَعُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُوسَى أَنْ يُخْبِرَ أَنَّ أَبَاهُ حَيٌّ تَقِيَّةٌ فَإِنِّي لا أَتَّقِيكُمْ فِي أَنْ أَقُولَ إِنِّي إِمَامٌ فَكَيْفَ أَتَّقِيكُمْ فِي أَنْ أَدَّعِيَ أَنَّهُ حَيٌّ لَوْ كَانَ حَيّاًقالَ مُصَنِّفُ هذا الْكِتاب‏رحمه الله إِنَّما لَمْ يخش الرَّشِيد لانَّهُ قَدْ كانَ عَهْد إِلَيْهِ أَن صاحِبِهِ الْمَأمُون دُونَهُ.

47-20 Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Imran ad-Daqqaq - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Abi Abdullah al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Jareer ibn Hazim, on the authority of Abi Masrooq, “A group of the waqafites went to see Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). Ali ibn Hamza al-Bata’ini, Ibn Ishaq ibn Ammar, Al-Husayn ibn Mihran, Al-Hassan ibn Abi Sa’eed al-Mokari were amongst them. Ali ibn Hamza asked the Imam (a.s.), ‘May I be your ransom! What do you know about your father? How is his health?’ The Imam (a.s.) said, ‘In fact, he (a.s.) has died.’ Ali ibn Hamza asked, ‘Who has your father (a.s.) introduced to succeed him?’ The Imam (a.s.) replied, ‘Me.’ Ali ibn Hamza said, ‘You aresaying what none of your forefathers starting with Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) and those who came after him have said.’ The Imam (a.s.) said, ‘But the best and the noblest of my forefathers who is the Prophet of God (a.s.) has said that.’ Ali ibn Hamza said, ‘Don’t you feel threatened by this tribe (the Abbasids) and aren’t you afraid of them?’ The Imam (a.s.) said, ‘If I fear them, I have assisted them against me. Abu Lahab went to the Prophet of God (a.s.) and threatened him. God’s Prophet (S) told him, ‘If I should fear you in the least, I have lied. I have lied about my Prophethood.’ This was the first sign of the Prophet of God (a.s.). This is also my first sign for you. I have lied if Harun harms me in the least.’ Al-Husayn ibn Mihran said, ‘You have done what we want when you publicly announce your Divine Leadership.’ The Imam (a.s.) asked that man, ‘Do you want me to go to Harun in person and tell him that I am the do this in the beginning of his call. The Prophet (S) only Divine Leader and he is nothing? The Prophet of God (a.s.) did not inform his near relatives, friends and trusted friends about his Prophethood, and invited them to accept Islam. The Prophet (S) did not invite all the people. You have accepted the Divine Leadership of my forefathers and think that Ali ibn Musa (a.s.) is denying his father being alive due to the concealment of faith. But how is it that I announce my Divine Leadership to you without any concealment of faith, and openly declare that I am the Divine Leader? If my father (a.s.) was alive, how could I hide it from you and tell you that he (a.s.) has passed away?’”The author of this book (a.s.heikh Sadooq) - may God have Mercy upon him - said, “The reason why the Imam (a.s.) did not fear (Harun) Ar-Rashid was due to the Covenant he had in which his murderer was declared to be Al-Ma’mun and no one else.”

21 - حَدَّثَنا الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ هِشامِالمكتب رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ‏هاشِم عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ شار قالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بَعْدَ مُضِيِّ أَبِيهِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَجَعَلْتُ أَسْتَفْهِمُهُ بَعْضَ مَا كَلَّمَنِي بِهِ فَقَالَ لِي نَعَمْ يَا سَمَاعُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كُنْتُ وَاللَّهِ أُلَقَّبُ بِهَذَا فِي صَبَايَ وَأَنَا فِي الْكُتَّابِ قَالَ فَتَبَسَّمَ فِي وَجْهِي.

47-21 Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Ibrahim ibn Hisham al-Mokattib - 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-Husayn ibn Bashshar, “I went to see Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) after the demise of his father (a.s.), and asked for explanation of some of the words which Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) had told me. The Imam (a.s.) told me, ‘O Sama’! Fine.’ I said, ‘May I be your ransom! I swear by God that this was my nickname when I attended school in my childhood.’ The Imam (a.s.) just smiled at me.”