Preface

Introduction

Brief History of Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Life

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Social Sira and his Good Conduct towards People

The Greatness of Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Personality in the Words of Dignitaries

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Scholarly Status and Personality

Some Examples of Imam al-Ridha‘s (a.s.) Wise Answers

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Knowledge of Various Languages

Imam al- Ridha‘s (a.s.) Cultural Measures

Major Problems of His Holiness Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) in the Time of his Imamate

Plot to Assassinate Imam al-Ridha (a.s.)

Report about the Tablet and the Names of the Purified Imams (a.s.)

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Historical Emigration

The Issue of Heir Apparency

Fulfillment of Pledge

The Abbasid Ma’mun and his Ominous Objectives

Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Martyrdom

A Review of the most Important Events during the Imamate of Imam al-Ridha (a.s.)

The High Excellence of Visitation (Ziyara) to Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Holy Shrine

Some of Imam al-Ridha’s (a.s.) Words of Wisdom

A brief account on the life and attributes of Eighth Holy Imam: ‘Ali Ibn
Musa al-Ridha (as)


Story of the Sun: A Look at Imam al-Ridha Life

Fulfillment of Pledge
=====================

Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) said, “One day Ma’mun told me: ‘O Abu al-Hasan! I
would like you to write a letter to some of your devotees in this region
who have rebelled against us. (Meaning: ‘You would ask your followers
among the rebels to give up their revolting.’)

I told him: ‘O Amir! If you fulfill the pledge by which I entered this
task – that I may not command, nor install or dismiss anyone – I will
fulfill [your request], too.

This heir apparency did not bring me any blessings; I was in Medina and
my handwriting (command) was influential in the East and West; I would
ride on my steed and pass through the alleys and no one was more
respected there than I was. No one would ask me a favor that I was able
to do, unless I would do it. Ma’mun said, ‘I will fulfill that
pledge.”[^1]

[^1]: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 49, p. 155 from al-Kafi.


