Uyūn-e Akhbār-ur Ridhā
(AS)

This book has been compiled by
Sheikh-e
Sadūq (Abū Ja'far Muhammad son of Alī son of
Husain, also known as Ibn-e Bābiwayh-e Qummī) who is one of the greatest
Ulamā and luminaries of Shi'a, and a brilliant narrator in the 4th
century Hegira.

Subject:

This book deals with narrations, which are
related to Imām Ridhā (A.S.).

Sheikh-e Sadūq has gathered narrations that
others have stated about Imām Ridhā (A.S.) as well as narrations that Imām Ridhā
(A.S.) himself has stated.

Motive:

Sheikh-e Sadūq has compiled this book with
the intension of presenting it as a gift to the library of Sāhib Ibn-e Abbād
Deylamī', the incumbent minister and the Shi'a governor of that time.

Sāhib Ibn-e Abbād had composed some poems,
eulogizing Imām Ridhā (A.S.), and presented them to Sheikh-e Sadūq; in return,
Sheikh compiled this book and donated it to him.

Authenticity:

Identical to Sadūq's other works, Uyūn
Akhbār-ur Ridhā (A.S.) has a high reputation, and is ranged among the most
authentic sources of narrations of Shi'a.

Value:

This book is much useful in exposition of
many beliefs and ideas of Shi'a. By gathering the controversies and debates of
Imām Ridhā (A.S.) against the savants of other sects, Sheikh-e Sadūq has
presented a great deal of important Islāmic issues in
Uyūn.

Acclaims:

Mīr-Dāmād, the great philosopher, has
eulogized Uyūn in this way:

"Uyūn-e
Akhbār-ur Ridhā (A.S.) is a pure fountainhead, which cleanses the heart of
man,

Truly, it is
matchless everlastingly, either in the west, or in the
east,

Enjoying a
wonderful style, it suffices everyone, and, like the Sun,

It shines and
scatters the lights of guidance everywhere, and fulfills the ambitions of
man.

Translations:

Uyūn-e Akhbār-ur-Ridhā (A.S.) has received
the best attention of Islamic Ulamā and intellectuals, and therefore there are
numerous translations of it, such as:

1- Translation of Muhammad Sālih
son of Muhammad Bāqir Qazwīnī

2- Translation of Sayyid Jalīl
Mirzā Dhabīhullāh son of Mirzā Hidāyatullāh

3- Translation of Mawlā Alī son
of Tayfūr-e Bastāmī

4- Translation of Sayyid Alī son
of Muhammad son of Asadullāh Imāmī

5- Translation of Hāj Sheikh
Muhammad Taqī son of Muhammad Bāqir Isfahānī

6- A translation titled as
Kāshif-ul Niqāb'

7- A translation titled as
Barakāt-ul-Mash'had-ul- Muqaddas'

8- A translation by one of the
scholars of Mash'had in 1245 Hegira, which was accomplished following the
command of Sayyid Muhammad son of Sayyid Deldār Alī Naqawī
Nasīr-Ābādī

9- Translation of Allāmah
Majlesī, who has translated only some chapters of Uyūn, such
as:

The Khutbah (oration) of Imām
Ridhā (A.S.) about Tawhīd (monotheism)

Mission of Rajā son of Abī
Zah'hāk to Medina, with the intension of inviting Imām Ridhā (A.S.) to
Khorāsān.

Explications:

There are many explications on Uyūn, such
as:

1- Explication of Uyūn, by Alī
Asghar son of Sayyid Husain Hakīm son of Sayyid Alī Shūshtarī

2- Explication of Uyūn, by
Muhammad Alī Hazīn son of Sheikh Abū Tālib Zāhedī
Guīlānī

3- Explication of Uyūn, by Sayyid
Ne'matullāh Jazā'erī

4- Explication of Uyūn, by Mawlā
Hādī Bunabī

5- Explication of the Khutbah
(oration) of Imām Ridhā (A.S.) about Tawhīd (monotheism), by Hasan son of Alī
Gowhar Qarāchedāghī