Uyun Akhbar Ar-Ridha Volume 2

Chapter 37: On What Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said Upon Leaving Marba’at Neishaboor to See Al-Ma’mun

37-1 In Neishaboor Abu Sa’eed Muhammad ibn Al-Fadhl ibn Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Mothakkir al-Neishaboori narrated that Abu Ali Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Khazraji Al-Ansari al-Sa’di quoted on the authority of Abdul Salam ibn Salih Abu Salt al-Harawi, “I was with Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) when he was leaving Neishaboor. He was riding in a carriage pulled by a grayish mule. Then Muhammad ibn Rafe’a, Ahmad ibn al-Harith, Yahya ibn Yahya, Ishaq ibn Rahovayeh and some of the scholars grabbed the mule’s harness at Marba’at and said, ‘By your forefathers, the Pure! Please narrate a tradition for us from your father.’ Then he brought his head out of the carriage.

He was wearing a double-sided fur cloak. He (a.s.) said, ‘My father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) - the good-doing servant -narrated that his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad As-Sadiq (a.s.) quoted on the authority of his father Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.) - the analyzer of the Knowledge of the Prophets - on the authority of his father Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.) - the Master of the Worshippers - on the authority of his father Al-Husayn (a.s.) - the Master of Youth in Paradise - on the authority of his father Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.), on the authority of God’s Prophet (S) that he had heard Gabriel say that God - the Exalted the Magnificent - say, “I am God. There is no god but Me. Worship Me then. Whoever of you sincerely witnesses to “there is no god but God” can enter My Stronghold. And whoever enters My Stronghold is secure from My punishment.”

37-2 Abu Husayn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Shah - the Marvrood jurist in his house in Marvrood narrated that Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Neishaboori quoted on the authority of Abul Qasim Abdullah ibn Al-Aamir Al-Ta’ee at Basra, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.), 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

37

1 - حَدَّثَنا أَبُو سَعِيدُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الفَضْلِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ

2 - حَدَّثَنا أَبُو الحُسَيْن مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ ِلشاه الفقيه

father Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.), on the authority of God’s Prophet (S) that God the Honorable the Exalted said, “There is no god but God” is My Stronghold. Whoever enters it is secure from My punishment.”

37-3 Abu Nasr Ahmad ibn Al-Husayn ibn Ahmed ibn Obayd al-Dhabbi narrated that Abul Qasim Muhammad ibn Ubaydillah ibn Babawayh - the good man - quoted on the authority of Abu Muhammad Ahmad ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Musa ibn Ja’far Abul Sayyid al-Mahjoob (a.s.) who was the leader of his time in Mecca quoted on the authority of his father Ali ibn Muhammad al-Naghi (a.s.), on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali al-Taqi (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far Al-Kazim (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad As-Sadiq (a.s.), on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Al-Husayn As-Sajjad (a.s.) - the Ornament of the Worshippers - on the authority of his father Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) - the Master of Youth in Paradise - on the authority of his father Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) - the Master of the Trustees - on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abdullah (a.s.) - the Master of the Prophets - that Gabriel - the Master of the Angels - narrated that God the Master of the Masters and the Honorable the Exalted said, “I am God. There is no god but Me. Whoever confesses to My Unity will enter My Stronghold. And whoever enters My Stronghold is secure from My punishment.”

37-4 Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Abul Husayn Muhammad ibn Ja’far al-Asadi quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn al-Sowli, on the authority of Yusif ibn Aqil, on the authority of Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, “When Abul Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) was leaving Neishaboor to go to Al-Ma’mun, the scholars of traditions gathered around him and said, “O son of the Prophet of God (a.s.)! You are leaving us and you will not inform us of any traditions to benefit us?” He was sitting in a carriage. Then he brought his head out and said, “I heard my father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) say that his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (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.), on the authority of the Prophet (S) that

3 - حَدَّثَنا أَبُو نَصْرِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ

4 - 37 حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى بْنِ المُتَوَكِّل رَضِىَ اللهُ

he had heard Gabriel say that God the Honorable the Exalted said, “There is no god but God” is My Stronghold. Whoever enters My Stronghold is secure from My Punishment.” When they moved on, he loudly said, “There are certain conditions for this. And I am one of these conditions.”

The author of this book (a.s.heikh Sadooq) - may God forgive him - said, “One of the conditions of confessing to “there is no god but God” is confessing to the Trusteeship of Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) that has been established by God the Exalted the Honorable over the servants. Obeying him is incumbent upon them.” It is also said that when Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) entered Neishaboor he went to take a bath in a part of town called Al-Farwini where there was a bath that is nowadays known as “the bath of Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.).” There was a well which was about to dry up. He appointed someone to go in the well and clean it out until the water in the well increased. A pond was built outside the gate of the well. There were several stairs to climb down to fill the pond with water from the well. They filled the pond with water, and Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) bathed in it. Then he came out and prayed outside the pond. The people took turns, entered the pond, performed their ritual ablutions, came out and prayed. They drank a few drops of that water seeking its blessings, praised God the Exalted the Honorable and asked Him to fulfill their needs. This is the same pond that exists today and is known as the Kahlan. People go there from all places.