Uyun Akhbar Ar-Ridha Volume 2

Chapter 46: On What has been Narrated by Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) Regarding the Proofs for the Divine Leaders (a.s.), and the Rejection of the Boasters and Those who Believe in God Turning Over the Affairs - May God Damn Them

46-1 Tamim ibn Abdullah ibn Tamim al-Qurashi - may God be pleased with him - narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Ali Al-Ansari, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Al-Jahm, “One day I attended a meeting with Al-Ma’mun and Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) was also present there. The theologians and rhetoricians from various sects had gathered there. One of them asked the Imam (a.s.), “O son of the Prophet of God! What is the proof of Divine Leadership which proves the validity of one who claims it?”

The Imam (a.s.) replied, “(Divine Leadership of one who claims it is proved) by what has been written and by the proofs.”

The man asked, “What is the proof of a Divine Leader?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is knowledge and the fulfillment of our prayers.”

The man asked, “How can you tell what is going to happen in the future?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is due to the Trusted Covenant which we have inherited from God’s Prophet (S).[^1]”

The man asked, “How do you become aware of the people’s secret intentions?” The Imam (a.s.) asked, “Have you not been told about the saying of the Messenger (a.s.)?: ‘Fear the insight of the believer since he looks through a God-given light.’” The man replied, “Yes.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “All believers have an insight with which they look through a God-given light according to the degree of their faith, insight and knowledge. God has given us - the Divine Leaders - as much insight as He has bestowed upon all the believers. And in His Mighty Book, the Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘Behold! In this are Signs for those who by tokens do understand.’[^2] And the first of ‘those who by tokens do understand’ was God’s Prophet (S). Then the next one after him (a.s.) was Ali - the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.). The succeeding ones were Al-Hassan (a.s.), Al-Husayn (a.s.) and the rest of the Divine Leaders from the progeny of Al-Husayn (a.s.) up until the Resurrection Day.”

46

1 - حَدَّثَنا تَمِيمُ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ تَمِيمُ القُرَشِي رَضِىَ

Al-Hassan ibn Al-Jahm added, “Then Al-Ma’mun looked at Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) and said, ‘O Abal Hassan (Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.))! Tell us more about what God has granted to you - the Members of the Holy Household.”

Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “In fact, the Honorable the Exalted God has assisted us with a Sanctified and Purified Spirit from Himself which is not an angel and with whom He has assisted no one in the past. That Spirit is with the Divine Leaders assisting them and making them succeed. It is a Column of Light between us and the Honorable the Exalted God.”

Al-Ma’mun told him (a.s.), “O Abal Hassan (Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.))! I have been told that there are some people who boast about you and transgress beyond bounds.” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “My father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) narrated that his father (a.s.) quoted on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), on the authority of his father Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) that God’s Prophet (S) said, “Do not raise me up to a position higher than I deserve. In fact, firstly the Blessed the Sublime God first made me a servant (i.e. a person) before making me a Prophet. And the Blessed the Sublime God says, “It is not (possible) that a man, to whom is given the Book, and Wisdom, and the Prophetic office, should say to people: ‘Be ye my worshippers rather than Allah’s’: on the contrary (He would say) ‘Be ye worshippers of Him Who is truly the Cherisher of all: For ye have taught the Book and ye have studied it earnestly. Nor would he instruct you to take angels and Prophets for Lords and patrons. What! would he bid you to unbelief after ye have bowed your will (to Allah in Islam)?’[^3] Ali (a.s.) said, “Two groups of people have ruined themselves because of me and I am not to blame for that: those who love me to the extreme, and those who hate me to the extreme. I take refuge in the Blessed the Sublime God from those who boast about us and raise us up too high above our own true rank, just as Jesus (a.s.) - the son of (the Blessed Lady) Mary (a.s.) took refuge in God from the Christians. The Sublime God says, ‘And behold! Allah will say, ‘O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah?’ Jesus (a.s.) will say, ‘Glory be to Thee! Never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, though I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all

that is hidden. Never said I to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say, 'worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didst take me up Thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thou art a witness to all things.’[^4] The Honorable the Exalted God also says, ‘Christ disdaineth nor to serve and worship God, nor do the angels, those nearest (to God): those who disdain His worship and are arrogant, He will gather them all together unto Himself to (answer).’[^5] And the Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘Christ the son of Mary was no more than an apostle; many were the apostles that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They both had to eat their (daily) food…’[^6] This means that they had to defecate.

Therefore, we despise whoever considers divinity for the Prophets or the Divine Leaders, or considers that Prophethood belongs to the Divine Leaders, or considers people other than the Divine Leaders to be Divine Leaders. We despise him in this world and in the Hereafter.

Then Al-Ma’mun asked, “O Abal Hassan (Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.))! What do you think about the return (of Jesus).”

Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “Whenever Al-Mahdi (a.s.) rises up from my progeny, Jesus (a.s.) - the son of (the Blessed Lady) Mary (a.s.) will descend and pray behind him.”

The Imam (a.s.) added, “Islam started out being a stranger and it will return to that state. Blessed be the strangers.”

Al-Ma’mun asked, “O son of God’s Prophet (S)! What will happen next?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The right will be returned to its true possessor.” Al-Ma’mun asked, “O Abal Hassan (Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.))! What is your viewpoint about those who believe in transmigration[^7]?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “Whoever believes in transmigration has indeed disbelieved in the Exalted God and denied heaven and Hell.” Al-Ma’mun questioned, “What do you say about those who were perverted?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “They were a tribe whom God became angry with and perverted. Then they lived for three more days and died. They did not have any babies during that time either. However, what you can see in the world of monkeys, pigs and similar animals are those animals who were named after the perverted ones. They are similar to those animals whom we are not allowed to eat or use otherwise.” Al-Ma’mun said, “O Abal Hassan

(Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.))! May God not let me outlive you! I swear by God that correct knowledge cannot be found except with you Members of the Holy Household. You have inherited all the knowledge of your forefathers. May God reward you well for Islam and its people.”

Al-Hassan ibn Al-Jahm said, “When Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) stood up, I followed him. He (a.s.) went home and I went to see him and told him, “O son of the Prophet of God! Praise be to God who directed the positive attention of the Commander of the Faithful (al-Ma’mun) towards you to the extent that he honors you.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “O Ibn Al-Jahm! Do not be deceived by seeing him honor me and listening to me. Soon he will kill me with poison. He will oppress me. I know this through the trusted covenant[^8] which has been passed down to me from God’s Prophet (S) by my forefathers (a.s.). However, keep this a secret for as long as I am alive.”

Al-Hassan ibn Al-Jahm said, “I did not tell this to anyone until Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) was murdered in Toos with poison. He (a.s.) was buried in the house of Hameed ibn Qahtaba al-Ta’ee in the same shrine in which Harun Ar-Rashid was buried, and was buried next to Harun Ar-Rashid.

46-2 Muhammad ibn Musa al-Mutawakkil - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ali ibn Ma’bad, on the authority of Al-Husayn ibn Khalid As-Sayrafi, “Abul Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘Whoever believes in transmigration is an unbeliever.’ Then he (a.s.) added: ‘May God damn the boasters. I wish they were Jews![^9] I wish they were Magi! I wish they were Christians! I wish they were of the Qadarites![^10] I wish they were of the Marja’ites![^11] I wish they were of the Harawies![^12]’ The Imam (a.s.) then added, ‘Do not associate with or be friends with the boasters. Despise them as God has.’”

46-3 Muhammad ibn Ali Majilawayh - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Yasir - the servant: I asked Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “What do you think about turning over the affairs?”[^13] He (a.s.) answered, “The Blessed the Sublime God has turned over the affairs of His Religion to His Prophet (S) and said, ‘…So take what the Apostle assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you..’[^14] God, however, will not turn over the affairs of Creation and provision of the sustenance

2 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى المُتَوَكِّل رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ

3 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى ماجِيلوَيْه رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ

to the Prophet (S).” Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) added, “In fact, the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘…Allah is the Creator of all things…’[^15] God also said, ‘It is Allah Who has created you: further, He has provided for your sustenance; then He will cause you to die; and again He will give you life. Are there any of your (false) ‘partners’ who can do any single one of these things? Glory be to Him! and high is He above the partners they attribute (to him)!’”[^16]

46-4 Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abi Bashshar - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Abul Faraj al-Mudhaffar ibn Ahmad ibn Al-Hassan al-Qazvini quoted on the authority of Al-Abbas ibn Muhammad ibn Qasim ibn Hamza ibn Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.), on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Sahl al-Qummi, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Khalid, on the authority of Abi Hashem al-Ja’fari that he had asked Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) about the boasters and those who believed in (God) turning over (all) the affairs. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “The boasters are unbelievers and those who believe in (God) turning over (all) the affairs (to the Prophet (S)) are polytheists. Whoever associates with them; visits them; eats or drinks with them; becomes related to them; gives a daughter in marriage to or marries with one of their daughters; grants them immunity; considers them honest in keeping what they are entrusted with; or acknowledges what they say or assists them in what they say has exited from the circle of the Mastery of the Honorable the Exalted God, the Mastery of God’s Prophet (S) and the Mastery of us - the Members of the Holy Household.”

46-5 Tamim ibn Abdullah ibn Tamim al-Qurashi - may God have Mercy upon him - narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Ali Al-Ansari, on the authority of Abi Salt al-Harawi that he told Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “O son of the Prophet of God! There are people in the vicinity of Kufa who think that the Prophet (S) never made any mistakes when saying his prayers.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “May God damn them! They lie. The Only One who makes no mistakes is God - the One and Only.” Abi Salt al-Harawi added, “O son of the Prophet of God! There are people among them who think that Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) was not killed and God made someone else called Handhala ibn As’ad ash-Shami look like him (and be killed). And He raised Jesus (a.s.) - the son of (the Blessed Lady) Mary (a.s.) and the reason they present is by using the following verse, ‘…And never will God grant to the unbelievers a way (to triumphs)

4 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ بَشَّاررحمه الله قالَ:

5 - حَدَّثَنا تَمِيمُ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ تَمِيمُ القُرَشِي قالَ

over the believers.’[^17]” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “They are lying. God’s Wrath and Curse be upon them! They have disbelieved in God by denying what the Prophet (S) has said about Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) being killed, ‘I swear by God that Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) will be killed.’ There is no doubt that Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) has been killed. Even the ones better than Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) - that is (Ali) the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) and Al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.) were killed. There is no one of us who does not get killed. I swear by God that I will also be killed by being poisoned by a tricky unmanly person. I know this from the Trusted Covenant which we have inherited from God’s Prophet (S) that Gabriel delivered to him (a.s.) on behalf of the Lord of the Two Worlds. And the verse stated by the Honorable the Exalted God, ‘…And never will God grant to the unbelievers a way (to triumphs) over the believers’[^18] provides the proof. This means that God has not granted the unbelievers any proofs superior to those of the believers. There is no doubt that the Honorable the Exalted God has informed us that the unbelievers have unrightfully killed the Divine Prophets without having any proofs or reasons. Thus God has not left any ways for them to have any proofs against His Prophets (a.s.).”

The author of this book (a.s.heikh Sadooq) said, “I have recorded whatever has been narrated on the subjects of boasters and those who believe in turning over the affairs in the book Ibtal al-Ghuluw wal Tafweedh.”

[^1]: Refering to the book Al-Jame’a

[^2]: Qur’an, 15:75

[^3]: Qur’an, 3:79-80

[^4]: Qur’an, 5:116-117

[^5]: Qur’an, 4:172

[^6]: Qur’an, 5:75

[^7]: (of the soul) passing into a different body, esp. at or after death; undergoing metempsychosis.

[^8]: The Book of Jame’a

[^9]: This implies that they are much worse than any of these mentioned groups.

[^10]: The Qadarites believed that all their deeds and actions are created by themselves and God has no control over them.

[^11]: The Marja’ites believed that once you have faith committing any sins will not harm you, just as no acts of obedience are of any use when you are an unbeliever.

[^12]: The Harawites are some of the Kharajites who denounced Ali (a.s.) and testified to his being an unbeliever.

[^13]: Of God over to God’s Prophet (S)

[^14]: Qur’an, 59:7

[^15]: Qur’an, 3:16

[^16]: Qur’an, 30:40

[^17]: Qur’an, 4:141

[^18]: Qur’an, isaa 4:141