Imam al-Rida's Personal Features
- Updated On Monday, 25 August 2014
- Written by Allamah Qurashi
- Editor Fatimah Graham
- Supervisor Sayyed Roohullah Musavi
- Published on Friday, 14 February 2014
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His date of Birth Historians differ on both the year and the month in which Imam al-Rida, peace be upon him, was born. But, the most commonly accepted year is 148 A. H.1 His Noble Parents Imam al-Rida's father, peace be upon him, was Imam Musa al-Kazim b. Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq b. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir b. Imam Zayn al-Abidin b. Imam al-Husayn b. Imam Ali b. Abu Talib, peace be upon them. There is no lineage more exalted or purer than this one. The pure Imams are, without a doubt, the successors and trustees of Allah's Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family. In the following chapters, we will describe his father Imam Musa, peace be upon him. The mother of Imam al-Rida, peace be upon him, was endowed with qualities of honor and virtue, through which a Muslim woman is exalted, such as chastity, purity, and the possession of an exceptional soul. She is one of the glorious women of Islam. The Imam's mother was a slave-wife, yet this quality does not decrease her position, for Islam has made piety and good deeds a measure to differentiate men and women from each other, and anything other than this measure is unimportant. Narrators differ over the name of this pure lady. Tukktam, Al-Khayzaran, Arwa, Najmah are names quoted by the narrators for the Imam's mother. Imam al-Kazim, received the news of the birth of his blessed baby with delight and hurried to his wife to congratulate her on the birth, saying: "I congratulate you, Najmah. It is a mark of nobility for you from your Lord!" Imam al-Kazim took his blessed baby, enfolded him within a piece of white cloth, performed the religious rites for him and then returned him to his mother saying: "Take him, for he is the baqiyat (representative) of Allah on His earth"2 Other Names by Which the Imam was Known Imam al-Rida, peace be upon him, was given several noble names. Each name represented one of his noble qualities: 1. Al-Rida Before a group of his companions, Imam al-Jawad, peace be upon him, explained this noble name: "Verily Allah, the Blessed and Most High, named him al-Rida, for he is the pleasure of Allah, the Exalted, the Great, in His heaven, of His Messenger, and of the Imams, the blessings of Allah be upon them, after him." Al-Bizanti asked him: "Weren't all your forefathers, peace be upon them, the pleasure of Allah (rida al-Allah), the Exalted, the Great, of His Messenger, and of the Imams after him?" "Yes," replied Imam al-Jawad. "Then why has only your father been named al-Rida?" al-Bizanti asked. "Because both his enemies and his obedient supporters were pleased with him, and this did not happen to any of his forefathers, so only he has been named al-Rida."3 2. Al-Sabir4 He was given the name al-Sabir (the patient), because he was patient in withstanding the troubles and misfortunes inflicted upon him by his opponents and enemies. 3. Al-Zaki5 Imam Ali b. Musa al-Rida, peace be upon him, was pure, noble, and honorable. 4. Al-Wafi6 Loyalty was one of the Imam's qualities, for he was loyal to his community and his homeland. 5. Sirajj Allah7 The Imam was the Sirajj of Allah (the Lamp of Allah). He guided the misled and the perplexed (to the right path). 6. Qurrat Ayn al-Mu'minin8 One of his noble names is Qurrat Ayn al-Mu'minin (the delight of the eye of the believers), for he was their jewel, their pride, their shelter, and their stronghold. 7. Makkyadat al-Mulhidin9 He was given the name of Makkyadat al-Mulhidin (the stratagem of the unbelievers), for he nullified their errors and refuted their attempts. He did this through his debates, which were held in the Abbasid palace, and with which he established the uniqueness of Islamic principles and values. 8. Al-Siddiq10 He was also given the name of Al-Siddiq (the most truthful one), for in this respect, he was like Joseph, who ruled Egypt. He led the Islamic world and had absolute leadership over it. 9. Al-Fadil11 He was given the name of al-Fadil (the most meritorious one), for he was the most meritorious and perfect of those of his time. His Kunya His father, Imam Musa al-Kazim, peace be upon him, gave him the kunya Abu al-Hasan.1 He, peace be upon him, said to Ali b. Yaqtin: "O Ali, this son of mine" and he pointed to Imam al-Rida, "is the master of my children, and I have given him my kunya."12 As this kunya was common to them both, Imam al-Kazim was referred to as Abu al-Hasan the former, and Imam al-Rida was referred to as Abu al-Hasan the second, that people might distinguish between the two kunyas. The Life-span of the Imam Historians differ on the life-span of the Imam, peace be upon him with the following suggestions: 1. 47 years.13 2. 48 years.14 3. 49 years.15 4. 50 years.16 5. 51 years.17 6. 55 years.18 7. 57 years and either 49 days or 79 days.19 These differences are the result of the differences in the date of his birth. Al-Sayyid al-Amin suggests that these differences have resulted from regarding incomplete years as complete ones.20
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References: 1 Ghaiyat al-Ikhtisar, p.148. Bahr al-Ansab, p.28. Usul al-Kafi, vol.1, p.486. Al-Mufïd, al-Irshad, p.341. Al-Durr al-Masluk (photographed), p.139. Akhbar al- Diwal, p.114. Jawharat al-Kalam, p.143. Al-Kaf'ami, Musbah. Roudat al-Waizin. Mir'at al-Jinan, vol.2, p.11. 2 Kashf al-Ghumma, vol.3, p.88. Iyun Akhbar al-Rida, vol.1, p.18. 3 Ilal al-SharaI, Alam al-Wara. Al-Majjlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 12, p. 2. 4 Jawharat al-Kalam fi Madh al-Sada al-A'lam, p.143. 5 Al-Sirat al-Sawi, p.199. 6 Tadhkirat al-Khawas, p.361. Al-Durr al-Nazim, p.210. 7 Al-Durr al-Nazim, p.210. 8 Ibid. 9 Al-Majjlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol.12, p.4. 10 Ibid. 11 Ibid. 12 Ibid. 13 Ayan al-Shia, 4/Q 2/78. 14 Ibid. 15 Uyun al-Tawarikh, vol. 3, p. 226. Kashf al-Ghumma, vol. 3, p.56. 16 Ayan al-Shia, 4/Q 2/78. 17 Ibid. 18 Usul al-Kafi, vol.1, p.486. Kifayat al-Talib, p.458. Nur al-Absar, p.144. Bahr l968 19 A'yan al-Shi'a, 4/Q 2/78. 20 Ibid.