Uyun Akhbar Al-reza the Source of Traditions On Imam Reza (a.s.)

Translator’s Foreword

I thank God the Almighty for the opportunity granted to me to undertake the preparation of this two volume book - The Source Of Traditions On Imam Reza (s) or Uyun Akhbar Al-Reza - after the successful completion of An Anthology Of Islamic Poetry Vol.1; Imam Reza’s Pilgrimage Procedures And Prayers; A Divine Perspective On Rights; The Complete Edition Of The Treatise On Rights; Mishkat Ul-Anwar Fi Ghurar Il-Akhbar and The Islamic Family Structure.  The present work has been compiled by Sheikh Sadooq and covers the major traditions about the life, the decrees, the arguments, the writings and the sayings of Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (s) and Imam Ali ibn Musa Al-Reza (s) . The book mainly focuses on Imam Ali ibn Musa Al-Reza (s) . However, it covers much of what happened to his father (s), as that affected him. I have translated this work from Arabic into English for the interested readers. Regarding the references to the Holy Quran's verses, I have exactly cited them for coherency using an available translation of the Quran into English by Mr. Abdullah Yusuf Ali - may God reward him. The translation of the Holy Quran that I used is the following:

THE HOLY QURAN

Text, Translation, Commentary and Notes Large Size (1 Volume)

Abdullah Yusuf Ali (English & Arabic).

First of all, I thank God for His help in granting the health, the strength, and the sustenance to undertake and complete this tremendously difficult task. May He accept it as a minor service.

I have relied on many sources of reference materials in completing this tremendous task. I am indebted to all those sources which I cannot name one by one. I am also indebted to my dear wife for her careful editing of the work which has added a lot of value to it. I am also indebted to Ansariyan Publications for patiently supporting this work and completing the final typesetting of the book.

I warmly welcome any suggestions made by the readers that might help me become informed about my errors and shortcomings, and help me improve future works.

As there are many refernces to the names of the Divine Leaders in this book, I have listed them in order here so that the reader can refer to this list whenever needed:

1- Imam Ali (s): The Commander of the Faithful - Ali ibn Abi Talib (s)

2- Imam Al-Hassan (s): Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s)

3- Imam Al-Hussein (s): Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s)

4- Imam As-Sajjad (s): Ali ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s)

5- Imam Al-Baqir (s): Muhammad bin Ali ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s)

6- Imam As-Sadiq (s): Ja’far ibn Muhammad bin Ali ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s)

7- Imam Al-Kazim (s): Musa ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad bin Ali ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s)

8- Imam Al-Reza (s): Ali ibn Musa ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad bin Ali ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s)

9- Imam Al-Javad (s): Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Musa ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad bin Ali ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s)

10- Imam Al-Naqi (s): Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Musa ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad bin Ali ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s)

11- Imam At-Taqi (s): Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Musa ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad bin Ali ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s)

12- Imam Al-Mahdi (s): Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Musa ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad bin Ali ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s).

I have also listed them in order in the form they appear in Tradition No. 6-1 recorded on a silvery-white pearl brilliant sheet of paper in the hands of the Blessed Lady Fatima (s):

1- Abul Hassan Ali ibn Abi Talib al-Morteza (Imam Ali) whose mother is Fatima - the daughter of Asad ibn Hashem ibn Abd Manaf

2- Abu Muhammad Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Barr, whose mother is (the Blessed Lady) Fatima - the daughter of Muhammad

3- Abu Abdullah Al-Hussein ibn Ali At-Taqi whose mother is (the Blessed Lady) Fatima - the daughter of Muhammad

4- Abu Muhammad Ali ibn Al-Hussein al-Adl whose mother is Shahr Banu - the daughter of Yazd Gird

5- Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir whose mother is Umm Abdullah - the daughter of Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib

6- Abu Abdullah Ja’far ibn Muhammad As-Sadiq whose mother is Umm Farwa - the daughter of Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr

7- Abu Ibrahim Musa ibn Ja’far whose mother is a slave maid called Hamidah al-Mosaf’fat

8- Abul Hassan Ali ibn Musa Al-Reza (s) whose mother is a slave maid called Najma

9- Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Ali al-Zak’ki whose mother is a slave maid called Khayzaran

10- Abul Hassan Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Amin whose mother is a slave maid called Susan

11- Abu Muhammad Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Rafiq whose mother is a slave maid called Samanah and whose nickname is Ummul Hassan

12- Abul Qasim Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan (s) who is the Riser - the Proof of God - whose mother is a slave maid called Narjis.

May God’s Blessings be upon them all.

Dr. Ali Peiravi
Ali_peiravi@yahoo.com