We read in history books that Ma\u2019mun,\nthe Abbasid caliph, offered caliphate to Imam Reza (PBUH), but he did not\naccept it. Then, Ma\u2019mun offered the Imam (PBUH) to become his successor, but\nImam Reza (PBUH) again refused; so Ma\u2019mun threatened to kill the Imam (PBUH),\nand since Imam Reza (PBUH) found this threat to be serious, he was forced to\naccept Ma\u2019mun\u2019s succession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, Ma\u2019mun was hoping to\nestablish a powerful and nationwide base for his kingdom. He thought that since\nImam Reza (PBUH) had a powerful reputation, he would gain the same reputation\nfor his kingdom by appointing the Imam (PBUH) as his successor. For example,\nwhen he was asked by Hamid ibn Mihran and some other Abbasids about the reason\nfor this appointment, he replied by saying,\u201d This man (Imam Reza (PBUH)) was\nout of our sight. He used to attract people towards himself. Thus, we made him\nbecome our successor so that attracting people towards himself would benefit\nus. Also, he would approve and submit to our kingdom, and his lovers would find\nhis claims void. We feared that he would make the situation intolerable for us\nif we let him free…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imam Reza (PBUH) accepted to become\nMa\u2019mun\u2019s successor in a situation that he had to save the lives of himself and\nhis Shiites from dangers. He had to remain alive so that he would be the guide,\nleader, and reference of people in their difficulties and questions. As such,\nImam Reza (PBUH) took advantage of this opportunity and performed his\nresponsibility of enlightening people. He established an extensive network\nthrough people, his writings were spread all to way to the east and west\nborders of the Islamic nation, and all different groups of people were\nattracted to him. Besides that, during this period, Imam Reza (PBUH) revealed\nthe true character of Ma\u2019mun to people, and he cleared any doubts or\nmisunderstandings by disclosing the intentions of Ma\u2019mun behind his actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nevertheless, the virtues of Imam Reza\n(PBUH) were so obvious that even Ma\u2019mun, who was the Imam\u2019s (PBUH) number one\nenemy, has admitted to them in numerous occasions. On year 200, when Ma\u2019mun had\ngathered over thirty three thousand Abbasids, he addressed them by saying,\u201d …\nI searched amongst the children of Abbas and Ali so much, and I found none of\nthem more virtuous, pious, religious, worthy, and suitable for my succession\nthan Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (1)\u201d. Moreover, in a writing to the Abbasids, he described\nthe Imam (PBUH) as \u201c… As for paying allegiance to Ali ibn Musa, I have asked\nyou to do so after finding him worthy of this position, and I have chosen him\nmyself… And about the question you asked whether I have had enough insight\nfor this appointment, you should know that I did not pay allegiance to him but\nfor I have realized that there is no one on the earth that is more virtuous and\npious than him, or superior to him in terms of asceticism and freedom. No one\nsatisfies people better than him, and no one is more firm in the way of Allah\n(SWT) than him…(2)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is clear that Ma\u2019mun was not\ntruthful in his confessions, and he was only admitting to them to pursue his\nevil intentions. However, by reminding these statements, we realize the status\nand character of Imam Reza (PBUH). Is it not said that,\u201d Virtues are those\nwhich the enemies testify\u201d? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Selection taken\nfrom \u201cThe Political Life of Imam Reza (PBUH)\u201d, by Sayyid Ja\u2019far Murtada\nal-Aamili, translated (to Persian) by Sayyid Khalil Khalilian (with some\nchanges))<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roshd website offers its condolences\nupon the last day of Safar, the anniversary of the martyrdom of the helper of\nthe poor, Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (PBUH), to all Muslims around the world,\nand especially to you dear friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Morouj\nal-Dhahab, vol. 3, p. 441- Al-Kamil by Ibn Athir, vol. 5, p. 183- Al-Aadab\nal-Sultanyyah, p. 217- Tarikh Tabari, vol. 11, p. 1013 (Published in London)\n-Mukhtasar Taarikh al-Dowal, p. 143- Tajaarib al-Umam, vol. 6, p. 436<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Nadharyyah\nal-Imamyyah, p. 388<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We read in history books that Ma\u2019mun, the Abbasid caliph, offered caliphate to Imam Reza (PBUH), but he did not accept it. Then, Ma\u2019mun offered the Imam (PBUH) to become his successor, but Imam Reza (PBUH) again refused; so Ma\u2019mun threatened to kill the Imam (PBUH), and since Imam Reza (PBUH) found this threat to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[18564,18057,20300,18914,22163,20923,21391,18418,17955,21880,22385,22384],"class_list":["post-4540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2008-03-08","tag-accept","tag-dangers","tag-history","tag-imam-reza","tag-kill","tag-kingdom","tag-occasion-letters","tag-people","tag-serious","tag-succes","tag-the-confession-of-superiority"],"yoast_head":"\n