Imam Rida

A sound analysis of various measures taken by the dignitaries in different eras requires an accurate knowledge of the prevailing conditions of the time and their goals. Without this knowledge, no theory and conjecture will ever enjoy the necessary precision and soundness, especially in relation to the purified Imams (A.S.), who, besides the hidden issues and Divine inspirations, enjoy profound intelligence and insight and are among the most knowledgeable human beings. For one thing, the extant historical reports of the circumstances prevailing in those eras are insufficient and incomplete in various aspects so that a researcher cannot depend on them for a reliable and accurate analysis. However, fortunately there is no need for historical reports concerning the Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.), since we believe that, as it is expedient to the status of Imamate which connects them to Divine science and wisdom, they enjoy inspirations and even codified programs and always make the best and most appropriate decisions in various circumstances. But all this should not prevent us from touching upon some instances mentioned in his era in order to familiarize ourselves in more details with them. Among those we can point out the circumstances prevailing Imam al-Reza (A.S.) era which led to the widespread promulgation of the Islamic teachings and truths. With reference to the works left behind by Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.), we would find out that after Imam ‘Alī (A.S.), Imam al-Bāqir (A.S.), and Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) most of these teachings and truths have been left behind by Imam al-Reza(A.S.) because of the special circumstances and a good chance that appeared in his time. Although the enemy tried to falsify the Imam’s vast knowledge and cut down his popularity, his period of Imamate, in particular his heir apparency, provided a great chance for his holiness to proceed with the dissemination of Islamic sciences and the truths of the Ahl al-Bayt’s (A.S.) school of thought. Some of these endeavors are as follows: 1. Confrontation with Zealotry and the Zealots Of the great evils among the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) have been and are those who regard them much higher in rank than their true status and hyperbolize them, believing in their lordship, Holy Prophethood, or some other divine features. This group of people have always been rejected from among the Shi'as and the Imams (A.S.). Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) said, “Take heeds of your youths lest the zealots should corrupt them, as the zealots are the worst of God’s creatures; they belittle God’s majesty and claim Lordship for God’s servants. By God, the zealots are worse than the Jews, the Christians, the Magi, and the polytheists.” Therefore, Imam al-Reza(A.S.) proceeded to battle against this group, who were active in the time of his holiness. In a hadīth, Imam al-Reza(A.S.) relates a tradition with its chain of transmission from his father and forefathers from the Apostle of Allāh who said, “Do not raise me above what I deserve; verily, the Almighty Allāh made me His servant before appointing me as a Holy Prophet.” Then his holiness recited āyas 79 and 80 of Sūrat Āl-i Imrān. He went on to quote Imam ‘Alī (A.S.) as saying: “Two (persons) will perish because of me while I am not to be blamed: an extreme lover and an extreme hater.” Then, Imam al-Reza said, “By God, we are averse to the one who hyperbolizes us and raises us above what we really are, just as Jesus, son of Mary, was averse to the Christians.” After reciting some verses of the Qur’ān, his holiness said, “Whoever claims Lordship for the Holy Prophets, Holy Prophethood for the Imams and Imamate for the non-Imams, we are averse to him both in this world and Hereafter.” That is to say, the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) are to be careful neither belittles the status of the Imams as impressed by the adversaries, nor raise them to the level of Lordship or Holy Prophethood out of undue love and prejudice; rather, they should follow intellect and religious law and what they themselves have stated. In another tradition, Imam al-Reza(A.S.) said, “Allāh’s curse be upon the zealots (ghālīs)! Why did they not become Jew?! Why did they not become Magus?! Why did they not become Christian?! Why did they not become Qādarī?! Why did they not become Murj’īte?! Why did they not become Khārijite?” (Meaning, why have they attributed themselves to us?) Then, the Imam (A.S.) said, “Do not associate with them do not confirm them, be averse to them; may God be averse to them.” And when Abū Hāshim Ja‘farī asked Imam al-Reza(A.S.) concerning the zealots and the people believing in free-will (Ahl al-tafwīḍ), his holiness said, “Zealots are unbelievers and Ahl al-tafwīḍ are polytheists; whoever associates with them, eats and drinks with them, helps them, gets married to them, transacts with them, believes in them, regards them trustworthy, confirms their sayings, or helps them even with the fewest words, will be estranged from friendship with the Almighty and Glorious Allāh, friendship with the Apostle of Allāh (S.A.W.), and the friendship with us the Ahl al-Bayt.” When we refer to the narrations regarding the condemnation of the zealots, we find out that many of those narrations have been quoted from Imam al-Reza(A.S.) , which imply that the zealots were widely active in that era. One of the zealots told Imam al-Reza(A.S.): “Yūnus b. Zabyān – from among those accused of zealotry – has said, ‘One night I was circumambulating [around Ka‘ba] when I heard a voice from above telling me O Yūnus, I am Allāh and there is no god but me; worship me and perform prayers to remember me. When I raised my head, all of a sudden Abū al-Ḥasan appeared to me.’ Upon hearing such words, Imam al-Reza(A.S.) got so disturbed that he said to that man: ‘get away from me! May God curse you and everyone who has told you this and Yūnus b. Zabyān with a thousand curses followed by a thousand more curses and may every curse take you deep down into Hell. I bear witness that it was no one but the Satan who called him.” When they told Imam al-Reza(A.S.) that some of those who regard themselves as his followers suppose that these – Divine – attributes belong to ‘Alī (A.S.) and that he is Allāh, the Lord of the two worlds, the Imam began to shake in utter agitation and sweat profusely and said, “Subhān Allāh! Exalted is Allāh from what the tyrants and wrong-doers say! Was it not that ‘Alī who ate like other eaters, who drank like among other drinkers, who got married like other ones who got married, etc.? Was he not the one who stood humbly and subserviently in prayer before his Lord and whispered supplications to Him? Is the person who has such features God?” Nowadays that the adversaries are harder than ever seeking pretexts to assault on the school of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.), it is incumbent upon any Shī‘a, in particular, the notable scholars – may the Exalted Allāh be pleased with them – to stand up against the extremist and exaggerating proclaims, especially the unrighteous poems, and defend the Ahl al-Bayt’s (A.S.) sanctuary. Similarly, the committed poets and eulogists are to stay away from the zealots and the deviants, and the people should watchfully warn such individuals. 2. Imam al-Reza's (A.S.) Struggles against Sufis One of the sects created by a man named Abū Hāshim Kūfī in Islamic community in the first/seventh century was Sufism, which, under the cover of asceticism and renouncing the world, created innovations in religion and had specific beliefs and practices. From the very beginning they deviated from the school of the Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.); and the Imams (A.S.) strongly fought against them and warned their followers of approaching them. Similarly, Imam al-Reza(A.S.) cautioned the Shi'as against the dangers of this group and said, “No one will believe in Sufism except for deceiving or misleading or out of foolishness; and it is likely that some may have all three.” He also said, “Those to whom Sufis are mentioned and do not deny them by their tongues or in their hearts, are not from us; and those who deny them are like the ones who fought against the infidels in the company of the Apostle of Allāh (S.A.W.).” There are plenty of traditions from the Holy Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and the purified Imams (A.S.) condemning this deviated group. Since the time of the Infallible Imams (A.S.), the Imāmī Shi'as have always been unanimous about the invalidity of Sufism and have written many refutations against them. Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) called Sufis as enemies of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) and regarded those inclined toward them as to be resurrected with them and said, “Soon a group of people who claim to love us will incline toward the Sufis, assimilate to them, name themselves after them, and justify their sayings; whoever is inclined towards them is not from us and I am averse to them.” Unfortunately, misusing the spiritual circumstances of the society and due to the negligence of some of the cultural officials and the silence of some scholars after the magnificent Islamic revolution of Iran, this misguided sect has expanded its activities. It is the duty of people from all walks of life, especially the leaders of the society and the notable scholars, to prevent this great deviation and innovation and fulfill their responsibilities in protecting the spiritual boundaries of religion and people’s beliefs and beware of propagation of their leaders, books, and words, because in the country which belongs to the Lord of Time (may Allāh subhānahū wa ta‘āla hasten his noble reappearance) and using his holiness’ assets and properties to propagate for his adversaries would lead to deprivation from Divine bounties and the Imam’s favors. Reference: Story of the Sun A Look at Imam al-Reza's Life Author: Sayyid Muhammad Najafi Yazdi Translated by: Ahmad Rezwani Published by: Islamic Research Foundation, Astan Quds Razavi, Mashhad - I.R. Iran