I M A M  A L I  A L  R I D H A   (a s)

After a string of revolts following the tragedy of Kerbala, the world was still under the grip of Umayyad rule.  The Umayyad oppressors were living in the luxury of palaces and gardens, at the expense of the taxes of the Muslim community, many of whom suffered great hardship.  The Ahlul Bayt (as) continued to oppose this and shared the lifestyle of the masses, and were continuously oppressed by the rulers over fear of their increasing support amongst the people.

In his will, the tyrant Haroon al Rashid (la) split the government between his three sons.  A power struggle ensued between them, with each of them trying to gain total control for himself.  The Ummayad government was greatly weakened by this internal strife, and the atmosphere of high support for the Ahlul Bayt (as) was a very real threat to the government.  The followers of the Ahlul Bayt (as) revolted against the government repeatedly, and with increasing victories against the Ummayads in their weakened state.  The atmosphere of confusion gave an ideal opportunity to act to establish the rule of the Imam (as), from Baghdad, which had become the centre of independence from the Umayyad rule.

Ma'mun, son of Haroon al Rashid, having murdered his two brothers and siezed rule of the Islamic nations, was aware of the great threat posed by imam Al Ridha (as) as the legitimate candidate to rule.  To placate the followers of the Ahlul Bayt (as) and prevent any bids to overthrow the government, Ma'mun publicly named imam al Ridha (as) his heir and successor to rule, but with the alterior motive of smearing Imam al Ridha's (as) good character to lessen his public support.  The Imam (as) was forced to accept the successorship on threat of death, and was summoned to the palace in Marw via a long journey mapped out very carefully by Ma'mun, that would keep the Imam (as) away from Baghdad and any other major settlement at which he might gain support.  It was during this journey the Imam (as) narrated the famous hadeeth of the Golden Chain.

Imam Ali al Ridha (as) was a beacon of Islamic guidance through the challenging golden era of Islamic thought, where the Muslim world was introduced to many external sciences, ideas and philosophies.  A regular guest at the court of Al Ma'mun, Imam al Ridha (as) participated in many debates and discussions with prominent scholars, who Al Ma'mun had brought to try to make the Imam (as) appear ignorant.  Following these varied discussions, there was an explosion of interest in outside concepts and the idea of rational proof, which was often misapplied to justify flawed beliefs.  The Imam was known as the Scholar of the Ahlul Bayt (as), as he knew the depths of ilm in all its branches, and guided his listeners to the straight path, through the tangled and alluring calls of misleading ideas from all forms of thought.  Imam al-Ridha (as) was a master of Philosophy, with a speciality in Tawhid (Oneness of God), and expertly foiled all of the arguments of opposing scholars Ma'mun had pitted against him.

Unable to catch the Imam (as) out in debate, Ma'mun set about to prove the Imam (as) was an active part of the Umayyad government.  He asked the Imam (as) to lead the Eid prayer, and threatened him into accepting.  The Imam (as) wore a white dress, a white turban with one end of the fabric loose and hanging over his shoulder, barefoot and calling "Allahu Akbar!" just as the Messenger of Allah (saw) had done.  The people were dumbstruck by this sight, being greatly impressed by the Imam's (as) lack of luxury and self-importance, and recognised this call as a return to the truth of Islam.  The people followed him in throngs, running out of their houses and shops, soldiers jumping from their horses and throwing down their weapons to follow, all crying and repeating the Imam's (as) words.  He led the enthralled followers to a place in the desert to begin the prayer, but was summoned back by Al Ma'mun before he could proceed.  Al Ma'mun was aware of the irreperable damage that had been done to his rule on this day, and attempted to curb it by cancelling the prayer.  Instead this angered and confused the followers, who showed even more support for Imam al Ridha (as).

Al Ma'mun realised there was no way to lessen public support of the Imam (as) and neutralise the threat of a revolution, and poisoned Imam al Ridha (as) with a bunch of grapes not long after.  Imam al Ridha (as) died a martyr in a land far from his home, and was buried in Mashhad, Iran.

 

BIOGRAPHIES (external links)

•  The Life of Imam al Ridha (as)- By Baqir Shareef al Qureishi.  Inredibly detailed book describing all aspects of the Imam's (as) life story.  Another of the excellent series of books about the Imams (as) by this brilliant author and historian.
•  Imam Al Ridha (as) - by Sheikh Muhammad Jawad Fadlallah.  A discussion of his lineage, history, characteristics, works, and selected hadeeths.  A translation of the arabic by Yasin T. Jibouri.
•  Imam Ridha (as) and the Heir Apparency - a discussion of the issues surrounding the Imam's (as) nomination as heir to the caliph Ma'mun.

 

RELATED RESOURCES

•  Lady Masuma of Qum (as)- by Massuma Jaffer.  The life of the sister of Imam al Ridha (as), a great lady who lived her life for Islam, and died tragically following a masacre of her caravan en route to visit her brother in Iran.