An introduction to tenth infallible Hazrat
Imam Ali Reza (AS)

Birth

On
11th of Zi-Qada, 148 Hijrah,
a son was born in the house of Imam Musa Ibn-e-Jaffar (A.S.) who took over the position of the
Imam of Islam, after his father. He was named Ali and titled Reza. The
honorable and gracious mother of the Imam (A.S.) was Najmiyya,
who was considered to be the most notable and distinguished lady in the
realm of wisdom and faith.

Right
from the childhood period, he accompanied his father. Imam Musa Kazim (A.S.) who
repeatedly told his friends that, "He is the Imam following him."

As
such, Makhzoomi says one day Imam Musa Ibn-e-Jaffar (A.S.)
summoned and gathered us and said, "I invited you to be witnesses that
this child (son) is my executor, and successor."

Since
an extreme choking atmosphere and pressure prevailed in the period of Imam
(A.S.) he said in the end of his words, "What I said must remain
(restricted) up to you and do not reproduce it to anybody unless that you
know he is one of our friends and companions."

The
Features of Imam's (A.S.) Morality

The
infallible Imams were the selected ones of the God and outstanding,
distinguished and superior to all the people. They used to become the
practical example for others during their lives. They taught the lesson of
life to the people. They did not segregate and separate themselves from
them and did not lead their lives on the style and pattern of the tyrants
and oppressors. They did not overlook or show heedlessness and disrespect
to anyone.

Sheikh
Saduk narrates through the words of Ibrahim bin Abbas that,
"I never saw Imam Reza (A.S.) committing excess over anyone in talking
and interrupting anybody's speech before its coming to the end. He did not
stretch his legs in the presence of others. When the meal table was laid he
invited the servants to it, and took his meals with them. After taking rest
in the nights he got up and made himself busy with the prayers to God.
Similar to his fore fathers he carried food to the houses of the afflicted
ones at the mid of nights."

"Mohammad
bin Abi Ebad" says
about Imam (A.S.) "He used mats of palm date leaves, straws and marsh
reed in the summer season, and woolen carpets in the winter."

He led
a simple life in his home, but when he went out he used to decorate himself
and put on new and clean dress. He respected and honored the guests to the
extent that one night a lamp of the house went out of order, the guest got
to his feet to put it right. Imam (A.S.) made him sit and himself set the lamp right, and said, "We do not
employ our guests (exploit) upon work."

Yasir, the servant of Imam (A.S.) says, Imam (A.S.) said to
us, "Whenever you are busy taking your meal, if I call you, do not get
up till you have finished up eating." Another friend of Imam (A.S.)
says, "One day a stranger came to Imam's (A.S.) house and said, I am
one of your friends and am also not a poor man but my money has finished up
and I do not have the expanses to return. You give me an amount and when I
return to my city I will give it out as alms on you behalf." Imam
(A.S.) got up and went to another room, brought an amount of two hundred dirhams and gave it to him from upside the door and
said, "Take this and go and it is not necessary to give it away as
alms on my behalf."

They
asked the Imam (A.S.), "Why did you do it this way that he may not see
you."

He
said, "So that he does not catch my sight and get ashamed
(embarrassed)."

"Suleman", one of the friends of Imam (A.S.) says,
"I went along with the Imam (A.S.) to the house. The labors were busy
at work. There was a stranger among them whom the Imam (A.S.) did not recognize."
He said, "Who is this man?" They said we have brought him from
outside, so that he may help us. He said, "Have you concluded an
agreement with him and fixed his wages?" They said, "No, he is a
good man, whatever we pay him he accepts it and does not utter a
word."

Imam
(A.S.) was angry and annoyed and said, "I have always told you that
when you employ someone for a job first of all fix his wages. Because, when
his wages are fixed and you give more than that to him, he will become
happy. But if you do not fix his wages and give him three times the amount,
he thinks you have not given him the correct wages."

Don't
be Proud

Ahmed Bazanti was one of the wise men of his age. After he
had written letters to Imam Reza (A.S.) and received the answers from him,
he became a believer of his Imamate. One day he said to him (A.S.), "I
wish to be present with you alone for an hour and we talk to each
other."

Imam
(A.S.) accepted, and acceded to his request, so far so, that he sent to him
his personal horse so that he arrives comfortably. That day they had a
mutual discussion till midnight. Bazanti solved his problems and difficulties in the
assembly of Imam (A.S.). In the night, when it was time to go to bed Imam
(A.S.) called his servant and said, "bring my personal bed and prepare
it for this guest, who has a great dignity in my eyes, so that he may take
rest."

The
conversations of Imams ecstasies him and made the bird of his heart fly. He
said to himself, "Nobody is better than me, after the Imam (A.S.), in
this world. It is I, to whom Imam (A.S.) sent his horse and gave his bed to
me and sat along with me for hours together and had discussion."

He was
busy spinning his ideas when suddenly Imam (A.S.) returned to the room and
said, "Oh Bazanti what you came across with,
never make it a source of boasting upon others." Because, when Sassa who was one of the valuable friends of Imam Ali
(A.S.) fell ill. He (A.S.) visited him and treated him with great love and
affection. And for the reason that he does not become proud said to him,
"Oh my kind friend whatever you saw out of these things (love) you
should not consider it the fortress (stronghold) of boosting upon other and
do not boast upon others that I was such and such that the Imam loved me
very much. I have performed all these for the sake of my religious and
human duty."

"Bazanti" says, "Imam (A.S.), by describing
this story attracted my attention towards my mistake and fault. I decided
not to entertain false ideas. Rather, I must be careful and vigilant about my
intentions and practices."

A man
from Balkh says, "I was
traveling with lmam Reza (A.S.) to Khurrasan. When the meal cloth was spread he ordered
all to come and be present beside it. I said, "I may lay my life for
you. Do allow that the meal table of the slaves be segregated." He
said, "Keep quiet! Be aware none of us has superiority over the other.
Our God is one; our mother and father are one. We attain superiority only
under the shade of Piety."

Jabbir Zahak says, "I was
taking Imam (A.S.) along with me from Madina to Maro upon the order of Mamoon.
By God, all that time I was in the service of Imam (A.S.) I had never seen
a man with that degree of piety, chastity and innocence."

Imam
Admonishes Brother

In the
period when Imam Reza (A.S.) was summoned to Khurrasan
and he forcibly accepted the special conditions of the succession of Mamoon, Mamoon summoned his
brother "Zaid" who had revolted and
brought about a riot in "Madina" to his
court in Khurrasan. Mamoon
kept him free as a regard and honor to Imam (A.S.) and overlooked his
punishment.

One
day, when Imam (A.S.) was delivering a speech in a grand assembly. He heard
Zaid praising himself before the people, saying I
am so and so. Imam (A.S.) shouted at him saying, "Oh Zaid, have you trusted upon the words of the grocers of
Kufa and are conveying them to the people? What
kind of things are you talking about? The sons of Imam Ali (A.S.) and Zahra
(S.A.) are worthy and outstanding only when they obey the command of God,
and keep themselves away from sin and blunder. You think you are like Musa Ibn-e-Jaffar (A.S.) and
Imam Sajjad (A.S.) and other Imams? Whereas, they
took pains and bore hardships on the way to God and prayed to God day and
night. Do you think you will gain without pain? Be-aware, that if a person
out of us the Ahl al-Bayth
performs a good deed. He gets twice the reward. Because not only he
performed good deed like others also that he has maintained the honor of
the Prophet (P.B.U.H.). If he practices some thing bad and does a sin. He
has performed two sins. One is that he performed a bad act like the rest of
the people and the other one is that he has negated the honor of the
Prophet (P.B.U.H.)."

Oh
brother! The one who obeys God is from us the Ahl
al-Bayth and the one who is a sinner is not ours.
God said about the son of Noah (A.S.) who cut the spiritual bondage with
his father "He is not out of your lineage, if he was out of your
lineage, I would have (saved) and granted him salvation."

A
discussion with other religion scholars

One of
the days Mamoon decided to invite the scholars
from different sects of the world and he brought Imam Reza (A.S.) to the
assembly. He thought he might be able to get the Imam (A.S.) invalidated
and un-credential from the knowledge point of view, thus finish his influence.

Therefore,
he ordered his minister Fazal bin Sahal to invite all the scholars and wise men to hold a
discussion with Imam (A.S.). And he did it. When the assembly had been
arranged he informed Mamoon that all are present.
Mamoon summoned Imam Reza (A.S.) inviting him to
attend the assembly.

Hassan Naufali says, before
leaving the house to attend that aggregation facing myself Imam (A.S.)
said, "I know the aim and objective of Mamoon
in this work." But I know the time when he will repent upon his work
that is; when you see that I talk to the Christians from their own Book and
talk to the Jews from Torah and with fire worshipers in Persian language.
When all of them are defeated Mamoon will become
aware that he is not fit for that past. He will repent upon this work of
his. What Imam (A.S.) had said exactly and accurately took place. When Imam
(A.S.) arrived the assembly, all of them got up
from their seats to honor him. He seated himself beside Mamoon.
Mamoon addressing "Jasaleeq,"
the great Christian scholar said, "Ask him what you feel like."
"Jasaleeq" said, "What is your
opinion about Christ Essa (A.S.)." Imam
(A.S.) said, "We believe he was the Prophet of God" Jasaleeq again asked, "What proof do you have
about your own Prophet's Prophet-hood." Imam (A.S.) said, "Have
you not read it the Bible that Yohana narrates
the saying of Christ (A.S.) that, "A Prophet will come following me,
who will be the accomplisher of the constitution of the other
Prophets."

He
said, "Yes, but he did not name him as to who and where he will
be." Imam (A.S.) said, "Do you wish that I may read out to you
from the Bible?"

He
said, "Read it." Imam (A.S.) recited the third chapter up to the
place where Christ (A.S.) said, "I will proceed towards God and "Barklita" i.e. "Mohammad (P.B.U.H.)"
will come towards you and he will break and dismantle the infidelism.

Jasaleeq became silent and did not utter a word.

Then
Imam (A.S.) facing "Raasul Jalout" the chief scholar of the Jewish religion
said, "What is the proof and argument that you have about the
Prophet-hood of Moses (A.S.)?"

He
replied "Moses (A.S.) had miracles such as turning the club into a
serpent, splitting the river Nile and passing
through it and a light shone from his hand."

Hazrat Imam (A.S.) said, "Why did you not believe in
the Prophet-hood of Essa the Christ (A.S.)?"

He
said, "They say Christ (A.S.) made the dead men alive and cured the
skin diseases but we have not seen these to have faith and belief in
it?"

Imam
(A.S.) said, "Then why do you believe in the Prophets before him?
Similarly in Moses himself have you seen the miracles of Moses?"

He
replied, "The way it has been narrated to us he has said, such things
which other have not and brought such things which have no previous
record."

Imam
(A.S.) said, "From which source did you come to know that he brought
these words."

He
replied, "Through the history and those who heard those words from
him."

Imam
(A.S.) said, "Others too seek refuge in history and so how do you want
to invite them to your creed?"

Raasul Jalout kept calm and quiet
and did not utter a word.

Then
Imam (A.S.) turned to Imran the chief of the Star
worshipers and said, you too ask me what you wish. Imran
questioned him regarding a few topics about God, the philosophy of creation
and got his answers and embraced Islam at the hand of Imam (A.S.). The
assembly finalized and came to an end to the benefit of Imam (A.S.) and Mamoon did not expect and foresee such a thing to
happen. He turned and twisted like a snake bitten person and rebuked and
scolded himself for organizing such an aggregation.

Imam's
(A.S.) Arrival at Qum

When Mamoon invited Imam (A.S.) to come to Khorrasan. He went from Madina
to Basra and Basra to Baghdad and from there he
arrived Qum. The people of Qum rushed to greet
and welcome him; everyone keenly desired to invite him at his home.

Hazrat Imam (A.S.) said, "Get aside, my camel is
deputed and detailed upon her work. On the door of which ever person she
stops and lies down, the same will be my destination."

The
camel moved in the turning twisting and intricate streets of Qum till she reached
a door and lay down and Imam arrived into that house which is today one of
the religious schools (Madrasas) named as "Madrasa-e-Rizvia."

Imam
(A.S.) kept on moving in the same manner towards Khorrasan.
Wherever he reached, people warmly and lovingly gathered around him and
manifested their strong feelings and sentiments of devotion for him.

The
Imam's (A.S.) Arrival at Nishapur

Nishapur in those days was one of the thickly and
densely populated cities of Iran. The welcome that
the people of that city organized and shaped for him did not have any match
or parallel in the history. In the later days this city was perished and
destroyed by the Mongols. The wise men and scholars of Nishapur
rushed to the gate of the city with pens in their hands, so that they might
write down the words, which Imam (A.S.) said.

In
those times Nishapur had hundreds of
traditionalists (narrators of traditions) and jurisprudents.

A few
thousand of golden pen holders were readily present to jot down the Imam's
speech and because of the fact that the series and chain of narrators of
this Hadith reached the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), Jabriel (A.S.) and finally the God it was named the
"Series of Gold."

Mohammad
Bin Aslam Tusi, who was
one of the great narrators of traditions, came forward and requested Imam
(A.S.) to narrate a Hadith for the people.

Imam
(A.S.) pushed the curtain of the camel's pannier up and pepped his head out
from it. No sooner people caught his sight, they shouted the slogans of Takbir and salutations and benediction for the Prophet
and his family.

Imam
(A.S.) gave a gesture and all of them got calm and silent. Then, he started
reciting the Hadith whose translation is this:
God has said "Kalima of La-ilaha-ill-Ial-lah is my fort and fortification and
whosoever says it, will enter the realm of my fort and will be safe and
sound from my torment. (Here Imam again said, but this is with its
conditions, and I am one of those conditions.)"

Imam
Arrives Sana Abad

Absalat narrates that when Imam (A.S.) arrived in the town of
Sana Abad it was Zuhr (afternoon) time and he wanted to offer prayers.
He asked for water to be brought. The (inhabitants) said we do not have
water here. Imam (A.S.) dug some earth and the water started boiling out.
He himself and those who were accompanying him, made ablution and offered
their prayers. Then he leaned against the mountain from the rocks of which
stone pots are prepared. He prayed, "Oh God bestow upon this mountain
your benediction and favors." Then he ordered that all the pots of his
house be prepared from that stone. Thereafter, he arrived
the house of "Hameed bin Qahtaba"
and entered the mausoleum where the grave of Haroon
was situated. He then draw a line at the side of
his grave and said, "Here is my grave and I will be buried here. By
Lord, whosoever visits (my grave) God will bless him and (shower his
benedictions upon him) and our recommendation and intercession will be in
his fate." Then Imam (A.S.) stood facing Qibla,
offered a few (Rakats) units of prayers and then
went into a very lengthy prostration.

Imam
(A.S.) arrives Maro

When
Imam (A.S.) arrived Maro, Mamoon
honored him and gathered all the chiefs and notables in his assembly and
said to him (A.S.), "I wish to deposes myself
of the caliphate and surrender the ruler-ship to you." Imam (A.S.)
said, "If God has made you wear the dress of caliphate, it is not just
and fair that you dismiss yourself and hand it over to another person. If
the caliphate was not yours, then why did you under take it?"

Mamoon said, "This decision has already be taken and
you must accept the caliphate." Because of the fact that Imam (A.S.)
was aware of the plan of Mamoon therefore,
howsoever he insisted, Imam (A.S.) did not accept
it. Then he said, "You must accept my successor-ship (for the throne).
Imam (A.S.) said, "I have heard from my ancestors that I will leave
the world before you do. Do not insist so very much upon this matter. I
will be poisoned (to death) and buried beside the grave of your father Haroon."

When Mamoon asked, "Who will poison you?" He said,
"You know it yourself as to who he is. Do not question me." Mamoon became disturbed and uncomfortable and wept.
Then he said, "You must accept my successor-ship this is an order. If
you reject it, I will order you to be killed."

Imam
(A.S.) was forced to accept it but he made it conditioned with himself not
having any interference in the functioning of the government all that time.