The noble name of that revered figure was Ali (peace be upon him). His honorific title was Abu al-Hasan, and his most well-known title was al-Rida. He was also referred to as the Patient, the Virtuous, the Contented, the Faithful, the Delight of the Believers’ Eyes, and the Anger of the Atheists.
His father was Musa ibn Jafar (peace be upon him). His mother was a bondwoman who bore a child, known by the names Taktum, Najmah, and Umm al-Banin. The eighth leader, Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (peace be upon him), assumed the divinely appointed position of leadership in the year 183 AH, after the martyrdom of Imam al-Kazim (peace be upon him), at the age of thirty-five, and took on the leadership of the Muslim community. At that time, the Abbasid Caliphate was at the height of its power. To protect themselves from uprisings by the descendants of Ali and to win the support of the Shia and the Iranians, they tried to present themselves as having close and friendly relations with this noble family, thereby seeking to legitimize their rule.
Our pure leaders lived among the people and with the people, and in practice taught them lessons of life, purity, and virtue. They were role models and examples for others. Although their high مقام of leadership distinguished them from others, they never separated themselves from the people. A man from Balkh says: “I was traveling with Imam al-Rida (peace be upon him) on the journey to Khurasan. When the tablecloth was spread for food, he ordered everyone to come. I said: ‘May I be sacrificed for you, allow us to set a separate table for the servants.’ The Imam replied: ‘Be aware that none of us has superiority over another. Our God is one, and our father and mother are one. Whoever has greater piety is superior to others.’”
Abu al-Salt al-Harawi says: “I was with the Imam. When he intended to depart from Nishapur, a group of scholars gathered around him and said: ‘We urge you by the sanctity of your pure forefathers to narrate a saying for us.’ The Imam raised his head and said: ‘My father, from his fathers, from Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), who reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), that he said: Gabriel said: God, the Exalted, has said: I am God, there is no god but Me; so worship Me. Whoever sincerely bears witness that there is no god but Allah has entered My fortified fortress and will be safe from My punishment.’” Then Imam al-Rida (peace be upon him) proceeded a short distance and then said: “With its conditions—and I am among its conditions.” That is, faith in the oneness of God, which brings safety from punishment, has conditions, and acceptance of divine authority and leadership is among those conditions.
11 ذی القعده 1447
29 April 2026