Imam Reza (A.S.) Praised by his Contemporaries

Imam Reza (A.S.) Praised by his Contemporaries

Imam Abu Mohammed al-Rida, peace be on him, is famous for his outstanding merits and talents. He has dominated the minds of religious scholars throughout generations and times, and they have expressed their own beautiful laudation and glorification regarding his own character. The following are some of them:

1. Imam al-KazimImam al-Kazim, peace be on him, praised his son Imam al-Rida and preferred him to the great Sayyids from among his sons. He ordered them to serve him and to refer to him in the affairs of their religion. Concerning him, he said to them: “This is your brother ‘Ali b. Musa, who is the scholar of the Household of Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his Household. Question him about your beliefs and memorize what he says to you, for I heard my father Ja‘far say: ‘The scholar of the Household of Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his Household, is in your loins. Would that I met him, for he is thenamesake of (Imam‘Ali), the Commander of the faithful.’[1]”Imam al-Kazim announced that his great son would be the scholar ofthe Household of Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his Household. This was the greatest medal which he gave to him, for the family of Mohammed were the origin of knowledge and wisdom in Islam; and the Imam (al-Rida) was their master in this noble quality. We will mention some other words reported from Imam al-Kazim regarding the qualities of his son.

2. Al-Ma’munAl-Ma’mun, the ‘Abbasid King, announced the excellence and exalted position of Imam al-Rida, on several occasions of which are following:A. He said to al-Fadal b. Sahl and his brother: “I do not know anyone more meritorious (afdal) than this man (i.e. ‘Ali b. Musa)on the face of earth.[2]” According to this statement of al-Ma’mun, the Imam was the most learned and meritorious of the scholars in the world in all sciences and knowledge.B. He praised Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, in the letter which he sent to the ‘Abbasids who were displeased with him when he intended to entrust the office of the caliphate to the Imam. The letter says: “Al-Ma’mun did not pledge allegiance to him (i.e. Imam al-Rida) but discerning of his affair, knowing that none on the face of earth is clearer than him in merit, more manifest than him in chastity, more pious than him in piety, more ascetic than him in renouncing the world, freer than him in soul, more pleasing than him to the special associates and the general populace, and firmer than him in Divine essence. The pledge of allegiance to him confirms with the good pleasure of the Lord.[3]”These words specify some of the exalted qualities which were in the Imam, peace be on him, and which distinguished him from the rest of the people. They are as follows:A. The Imam was the clearest of the people in merit and knowledge..B. He was the most chaste of the people on the face ofearth.C. He was the most ascetic of the people in renouncing the pleasures and embellishment of life.D. He was the most generous of the people toward the deprived.E. The special associates and the general populace acknowledged that he was the most meritorious person, and that none had qualities similar to those of him.F. He was the firmest of the people in Divine essence, for he did not fear the blame of a blamer regarding Allah.G. The pledge of allegiance of al-Ma’mun to him confirmed with the good pleasure of Allah, the Blessed and Exalted.H. In the document in which he pledged allegiance to Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, al-Ma’mun has said: “His (al-Ma’mun’s) choosing ‘Ali b. Musa b. Ja‘far b. Mohammed b. ‘Ali b. al-Husayn b. ‘Ali b. Abu Talib was afterasking Allah for the best and exerting himself in accomplishing His right toward His servants and His earth concerning the two houses in general (i.e., the ‘Abbasid House and the ‘Alawide Family, may Allah increase it in honor). That is because he (al-Ma’mun) has seen his (the Imam’s) brilliant excellence, his plain knowledge, his manifest piety, his pure asceticism, his renouncing the world, and his being safe from the people. It has become clear for him that reports, tongues, and words have unanimously agreed upon him. Besides, he is still know his excellence when young and adult, so he has appointed him as his successor after him.[4]”These words praise the noble qualities which distinguished Imamal-Rida, peace be on him, from the rest of the ‘Alawide and the ‘Abbasid family. These qualities are as follows:1. Brilliant excellence and plain knowledge.2. Refraining from what Allah, the Exalted, prohibited.3. He never wronged anyone, for he was the source of good and mercy for mankind.4. Renouncing the world.5. The Muslims agreed unanimously on him.Al-Ma’mun realized these exalted qualities of the Imam, and it was they which urged him to appoint the Imam as his successor, just as he has said in the above mentioned statement.

3. Ibrahïm Bin al-‘Abbas al-Sawli(Ibrahïm b. al-‘Abbas al-Sawli), a creative writer and famous poet, has said: “I have never seen nor have I heard that anyone is more meritorious than Abu al-Hasan al-Rida. Do not believe him who claims that he has seen the like of him in his excellence.[5]”The Imam was the model of outstanding merits and talents. There was none like him in his time, for he was among the pillars of thought and virtue in the world of Islam.

4. Abu al-Salt al-HarawiAbu al-Salt, ‘Abd al-Salam al-Harawi, who was among the great figures of his time, has said: “I have never seen anyone more learned than ‘Ali b. Musa al-Rida. When a (religious) scholar sees him, he bear witness for him just as I do. Al-Ma’mun gathered for him a number of the scholars of religions, the jurists of Islamic law, and the theologians. However, he (al-Rida) overcame them, to the extent that they acknowledged his excellence over them.[6]”These words give an account of the great scientific abilities of the Imam, peace be on him, for he was the most knowledgeable and meritorious of the people of his time. This can clearly be seen in the debates which al-Ma’mun held in his palace in order to test the Imam. Al-Ma’mun had gathered the scholars of the countries and cities, and they tested the Imam with the most difficult questions; yet he answered them skillfully. So the scholars admired him, confessed their feebleness before him, and acknowledged his excellence over them.

5. Al-Raja’ Bin Abu al-DhhakAl-Raja’ Bin Abu al-Dhhak, a military commander, has said: “By Allah, I have never seen anyone more devout to Allah than him, praised Allah throughout his times more than he did, and feared Allah, the Great and Almighty, more than he did.[7]”These words show the spiritual side in the Imam’s character, for he was the most religious of all the people; he praised Allah and feared Him more than they did.

6. Al-Shaykh al-MufïdThe leader of the Shï‘a, Mohammed b. Mohammed al-Nu‘man al-‘Ukkburi al-Baghdadi, better known as al-Shaykh al-Mufïd, has said: “The Imamwho undertook (the office) (qa’im) after Abu al-Hasan Musa b. Ja‘far, peace be on them, was his son Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali b. Musa al-Rida, peace be on them, because of his merit over all his brothers and the members of his House (ahl baytihi), because of the knowledge, forbearance and pity which he showed, and which the Shï‘a (khasa) and the non-Shï‘a (amma) agreed on with regard to him and recognized him for.[8]”Al-Shaykh al-Mufïd has mentioned some qualities which distinguished Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, from the rest of his brothers and the members of his House. These noble qualities and peculiarities are as follows:1. Knowledge.2. Forbearance.3. Piety

7. Al-WaqidiAl-Waqidi has said: “‘Ali (al-Rida) heard the hadith from his father, his uncles, and others. He was trustworthy and gave religious precepts in the Mosque of Allah’s Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family, at the age of more than twenty. He belonged to the eighth class of the next generation from among the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt).[9]”Al-Waqidi has mentioned two of the Imam’s qualities which are as follows:1. Trustworthiness.2. His giving religious decisions at the age of over twenty.

8. Jamal al-DïnJamal al-Dïn Ahmed b. ‘Ali, a genealogist, better known as b. ‘Anba, has said: “Imamal-Rida was given the kunya of Abu al-Hasan. None of the Talibiyyïn of his time was like him. Al-Ma’mun pledged allegiance to him, minted dirhams and dinars in his name, and ordered his name to be mentioned on the pulpits.[10]”Al-Sayyid Jamal al-Dïn has mentioned that none was like the Imam in his time; he was unique in his time due to his talents and geniuses.

9. Yousif b. Taghri BardiJamal al-Dïn Abu al-Mahasin Yousif b. Taghri has said: “ImamAbu al-Hasan al-Hashimi, al-‘Alawi, al-Husayni was a learned Imam. He was the chief of the Hashimites of his time and was the greatest of them. Al-Ma’mun magnified him, honored him, yielded to him and extremely mentioned him, to the extent that he made him his successor.[11]”These words shed light on some qualities of the personality of the Imam , peace be on him, which are: He was learned. He was the chief of the Hashimites and was the greatest of them. As he had a great character, al-Ma’mun appointed him as his successor.

10. Ibn MajaIbn Maja has said: “He (Imam al-Rida) was the chief of the Hashimites.. Al-Ma’mun magnified and honored him. He designated him as his successor and took the Pledge of allegiance to him (from the people).[12]”Ibn Maja took care of one of the Imam’s qualities, which is that he was the chief of the Hashimites. Of course, the Imam was the master of the people of his time, for the Hashimites were the master of the people because oftheir good manners, their exalted ethics, and their excellent behavior.

11. Ibn HajarIbn Hajar has said: “Al-Rida was among the men of knowledge and merits; he had noble lineage.[13]”

12. Al-Yafi‘iAl-Yafi‘i has said: “The great, magnified Imam, the descendant of the noble Sayyids, ‘Ali b. Musa al-Rida, was one of the twelve Imams, the possessors of the laudable deeds; the Imami Shï‘ahave followed them and adopted their doctrine.[14]”Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, was the most brilliant star in the world of Islam. He was among the Imams of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, who enlightened intellectual life and strengthened the pillars of truth and justice on earth. The Shi‘ites proudly follow them, and adopt their traditions on religious precepts. They follow them not because of bigotry or blind imitation; rather, it is incumbent on them to follow them because of the definite arguments and decisive proofs. For example, the Holy Qur’an has made it obligatory on men to show love for them; (Allah) has purified them from uncleanness and deviation from the right path; the Prophet has regarded them as ships of deliverance and security for mankind and associated them with the Firm Revelation (the Qur’an).. If religious proofs permitted the Shi‘ites to follow other than their doctrine, they would do.