Foreword

Why Is Ali Ibn Musa (s) Called al-Ridha

Traditions About Imam al-Ridha’s Mother and Her Name

On the Birthdate of Imam al-Ridha(s)

On Imam Al-kazim’s (s) Clear Appointment of Imam al-Ridha (s)

On Musa Ibn Ja’far’s Will

On Proofs of Divine Leadership of al-Ridha (s) Among the Twelve Imams (s)

On Traditions About Musa Ibn Ja’far (s), Harun Ar-rashid and Musa Ibn Al-mahdi

Traditions On the Death of Abi Ibrahim Musa Ibn Ja’far Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ali Ibn Al-hussein (s)

The Descendants of God’s Prophet (s) Said To Have Been Killed By Ar-rashid in One Night After Poisoning Musa Ibn Ja’far (s) - Besides Those Killed By Others

On Reasons For the Formation of the Waqifites

On Traditions From al-Ridha About Unity

A Session of al-Ridha (s)’s Debate With the Prominent Theologians From Among the Rhetoricians and the Various Religions

A Session in the Presence of Al-ma’mun of al-Ridha’s Debate On Unity With Soleiman Al-marwazi - the Theologian From Khorasan

Another Session of al-Ridha (s) and Al-ma’mun Along With People From Different Nations, and the Rhetoricians, As Well As Imam Al- Ridha’s Answers To Muhammad Ibn Al-jahm Regarding the Immaculateness of the Prophets

Another Session With al-Ridha (s) and Al-ma’mun On the Infallibility of the Prophets

Al-Ridha’s Words On the People of the Ditch

Imam al-Ridha’s Words On the Interpretation of the Almighty God’s Words, ‘and We Ransomed Him With a Momentous Sacrifice.’[327]

On Imam al-Ridha’s Views On the Prophet’s Statement, “I Am the Son of the Two Offerings”

On al-Ridha’s Words On the Sign of the Imam

On What al-Ridha (s) Has Said Regarding Divine Leadership, Its Nobilities and the Rank of the Divine Leader

Al-Ridha’s Words On the Marriage of the Blessed Lady Fatima (s)

On What al-Ridha (s) Said About Faith That Is Recognition of Paradise, Verbal Confession and Physical Action

On al-Ridha’s Debates With Al-ma’mun Regarding the Difference Between Family (itra) and Nation

On al-Ridha’s Words About the Man From Syria and His Questions From the Commander of the Faithful (s) in the Kufa Mosque

On What Is Narrated By al-Ridha (s) About Zayd Ibn Ali

On Rare Traditions From al-Ridha About Various Issues

On What al-Ridha (s) Said About Harut and Marut

On Various Traditions From Imam Ali Ibn Musa al-Ridha (s)

What Has Been Narrated From al-Ridha (s) On the Characteristics of the Prophet (s)

Various Traditions From al-Ridha (s)

1 - حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ زِيادِ بْنِ جَعْفَر الْهَمَذانيّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَن أَبيهِ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبُو الصَّلْتِ عَبْد السَّلامُ بْنِ صالِح الهَرَوِيِّ قـالَ: حَدَّثَنـا عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَـىالرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبِيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَر عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ أَبيهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحُسَيْن‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: أَتَى عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَبْلَ مَقْتَلِهِ بِثَلاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَشْرَافِ تَمِيمٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ عَمْرٌو فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ أَصْحَابِ الرَّسِّ فِي أَيِّ عَصْرٍ كَانُوا وَأَيْنَ كَانَتْ مَنَازِلُهُمْ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَلِكَهُمْ وَهَلْ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولاً أَمْ لا وَبِمَا ذَا أُهْلِكُوا فَإِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ ذِكْرَهُمْ وَلا أَجِدُ خَبَرَهُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ حَدِيثٍ مَا سَأَلَنِي عَنْهُ أَحَدٌ قَبْلَكَ وَلا يُحَدِّثُكَ بِهِ أَحَدٌ بَعْدِي إِلا عَنِّي وَمَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ آيَةٌ إِلا وَأَنَا أَعْرِفُ تَفْسِيرَهَا وَفِي أَيِّ مَكَانٍ نَزَلَتْ مِنْ سَهْلٍ أَوْ جَبَلٍ وَفِي أَيِّ وَقْتٍ نَزَلَتْ مِنْ لَيْلٍ أَوْ نَهَارٍ وَإِنَّ هَاهُنَا لَعِلْماً جَمّاً وَأَشَارَ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ وَلَكِنَّ طُلابَهُ يَسِيرٌ وَعَنْ قَلِيلٍ يَنْدَمُونَ لَوْ فَقَدُونِي قَالَ كَانَ مِنْ قِصَّتِهِمْ يَا أَخَا تَمِيمٍ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْماً يَعْبُدُونَ شَجَرَةَ صَنَوْبَرٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا شَاهْ دَرَخْتْ كَانَ يَافِثُ بْنُ نُوحٍ غَرَسَهَا عَلَى شَفِيرِ عَيْنٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا رُوشَابُ كَانَتْ أُنْبِطَتْ لِنُوحٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بَعْدَ الطُّوفَانِ وَإِنَّمَا سُمُّوا أَصْحَابَ الرَّسِّ لانَّهُمْ رَسُّوا نَبِيَّهُمْ فِي الأَرْضِ وَذَلِكَ بَعْدَ سُلَيَْمانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَكَانَتْ لَهُمْ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ قَرْيَةً عَلَى شَاطِئِ نَهَرٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ الرَّسُّ مِنْ بِلادِ الْمَشْرِقِ وَبِهِمْ سُمِّيَ ذَلِكَ النَّهَرُ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يَوْمَئِذٍ فِي الأَرْضِ نَهَرٌ أَغْزَرُ مِنْهُ وَلا أَعْذَبُ مِنْهُ وَلا قُرًى أَكْثَرُ وَلا أَعْمَرُ مِنْهَا تُسَمَّى إِحْدَاهُنَّ أَبَانَ وَالثَّانِيَةُ آذَرَ وَالثَّالِثَةُ دَيْ وَالرَّابِعَةُ بَهْمَنَ وَالْخَامِسَةُ إِسْفَنْدَارَ وَالسَّادِسَةُ فَرْوَرْدِينَ وَالسَّابِعَةُ أُرْدِيبِهِشْتَ وَالثَّامِنَةُ خُرْدَادَ وَالتَّاسِعَةُ مُرْدَادَ وَالْعَاشِرَةُ تِيرَ وَالْحَادِي عَشْرَةَ مِهْرَ وَالثَّانِي عَشْرَةَ شَهْرِيوَرْدَ [شَهْرِيوَرَ] وَكَانَتْ أَعْظَمَ مَدَائِنِهِمْ إِسْفَنْدَارُ وَهِيَ الَّتِي يَنْزِلُهَا مَلِكُهُمْ وَكَانَ يُسَمَّى تركوذ بْنَ غابور بْنِ يارش بْنِ سازن بْنِ نُمْرُودَ بْنِ كَنْعَانَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَبِهَا الْعَيْنُ وَالصَّنَوْبَرَةُ وَقَدْ غَرَسُوا فِي كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ مِنْهَا حَبَّةً مِنْ طَلْعِ تِلْكَ الصَّنَوْبَرَةِ وَأَجْرَوْا إِلَيْهَا نَهَراً مِنَ الْعَيْنِ الَّتِي عِنْدَ الصَّنَوْبَرَةِ فَنَبَتَتِ الْحَبَّةُ وَصَارَتْ شَجَرَةً عَظِيمَةً وَحَرَّمُوا مَاءَ الْعَيْنِ وَالأَنْهَارِ فَلا يَشْرَبُونَ مِنْهَا وَلا أَنْعَـامُهُـمْوَمَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ قَتَلُوهُ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَحَيَاةُ آلِهَتِنَا فَلا يَنْبَغِي لاحَدٍ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ حَيَاتِهَا وَيَشْرَبُونَ هُمْ وَأَنْعَامُهُمْ مِنْ نَهَرِ الرَّسِّ الَّذِي عَلَيْه قُرَاهُمْ وَقَدْ جَعَلُوا فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ مِنَ السَّنَةِ فِي كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ عِيداً يَجْتَمِعُ إِلَيْهِ أَهْلُهَا فَيَضْرِبُونَ عَلَى الشَّجَرَةِ الَّتِي بِهَا كِلَّهً مِنْ حَرِيرٍ فِيهَا مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الصُّوَرِ ثُمَّ يَأْتُونَ بِشَاءٍ وَبَقَرٍ فَيَذْبَحُونَهَا قُرْبَاناً لِلشَّجَرَةِ وَيُشْعِلُونَ فِيهَا النِّيرَانَ بِالْحَطَبِ فَإِذَا سَطَحَ دُخَانُ تِلْكَ الذَّبَائِحِ وَقُتَارُهَا فِي الْهَوَاءِ وَحَالَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ خَرُّوا لِلشَّجَرَةِ سُجَّداً يَبْكُونَ وَيَتَضَرَّعُونَ إِلَيْهَا أَنْ تَرْضَى عَنْهُمْ فَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ يَجِي‏ءُ فَيُحَرِّكُ أَغْصَانَهَا وَيَصِيحُ مِنْ سَاقِهَا صِيَاحَ الصَّبِيِّ إِنِّي قَدْ رَضِيتُ عَنْكُمْ عِبَادِي فَطِيبُوا نَفْساً وَقَرُّوا عَيْناً فَيَرْفَعُونَ رُءُوسَهُمْ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ وَيَشْرَبُونَ الْخَمْرَ وَيَضْرِبُونَ بِالْمَعَازِفِ وَيَأْخُذُونَ الدَّسْتْبَنْدَ فَيَكُونُونَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ يَوْمَهُمْ وَلَيْلَتَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَنْصَرِفُونَ وَإِنَّمَا سَمَّتِ الْعَجَمُ شُهُورَهَا بِأَبَانْ مَاهَ وَآذَرْ مَاهَ وَغَيْرِهِمَا اشْتِقَاقاً مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ تِلْكَ الْقُرَى لِقَوْلِ أَهْلِهَا بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ هَذَا عِيدُ شَهْرِ كَذَا وَعِيدُ شَهْرِ كَذَا حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ عِيدُ قَرْيَتِهِمُ الْعُظْمَى اجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهَا صَغِيرُهُمْ وَكَبِيرُهُمْ فَضَرَبُوا عِنْدَ الصَّنَوْبَرَةِ وَالْعَيْنِ سُرَادِقاً مِنْ دِيبَاجٍ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الصُّوَرِ وَجَعَلُوا لَهُ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ بَاباً كُلُّ بَابٍ لاهْلِ قَرْيَةٍ مِنْهُمْ وَيَسْجُدُونَ لِلصَّنَوْبَرَةِ خَارِجاً مِنَ السُّرَادِقِ وَيُقَرِّبُونَ لَهَا الذَّبَائِحَ أَضْعَافَ مَا قَرَّبُوا لِلشَّجَرَةِ الَّتِي فِي قُرَاهُمْ فَيَجِي‏ءُ إِبْلِيسُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ فَيُحَرِّكُ الصَّنَوْبَرَةَ تَحْرِيكاً شَدِيداً وَيَتَكَلَّمُ مِنْ جَوْفِهَا كَلاماً جَهْوَرِيّاً وَيَعِدُهُمْ وَيُمَنِّيهِمْ بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا وَعَدَتْهُمْ وَمَنَّتْهُمُ الشَّيَاطِينُ كُلُّهَا فَيَرْفَعُونَ رُءُوسَهُمْ مِنَ السُّجُودِ وَبِهِمْ مِنَ الْفَرَحِ وَالنَّشَاطِ مَا لا يُفِيقُونَ وَلا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ مِنَ الشُّرْبِ وَالْعَزْفِ فَيَكُونُونَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ يَوْماً وَلَيَالِيَهَا بِعَدَدِ أَعْيَادِهِمْ سَائِرَ السَّنَةِ ثُمَّ يَنْصَرِفُونَ فَلَمَّا طَالَ كُفْرُهُمْ بِاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَعِبَادَتُهُمْ غَيْرَهُ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَيْهِمْ نَبِيّـاً مِنْ بَنِي إِسْـرَائِيلَ مِنْ وُلْدِ يَهُـودَا بْنِيَعْقُوبَ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ زَمَاناً طَوِيلاً يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَعْرِفَةِ رُبُوبِيَّتِهِ فَلا يَتَّبِعُونَهُ فَلَمَّا رَأَى شِدَّةَ تَمَادِيهِمْ فِي الْغَيِّ وَالضَّلالِ وَتَرْكَهُمْ قَبُولَ مَا دَعَاهُمْ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الرُّشْدِ وَالنَّجَاحِ وَحَضَرَ عِيدُ قَرْيَتِهِمُ الْعُظْمَى قَالَ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ عِبَادَكَ أَبَوْا إِلا تَكْذِيبِي وَالْكُفْرَ بِكَ وَغَدَوْا يَعْبُدُونَ شَجَرَةً لا تَنْفَعُ وَلا تَضُرُّ فَأَيْبِسْ شَجَرَهُمْ أَجْمَعَ وَأَرِهِمْ قُدْرَتَكَ وَسُلْطَانَكَ فَأَصْبَحَ الْقَوْمُ وَقَدْ يَبِسَ شَجَرُهُمْ كُلُّهَا فَهَالَهُمْ ذَلِكَ وَقُطِعَ بِهِمْ وَصَارُوا فِرْقَتَيْنِ فِرْقَةٌ قَالَتْ سَحَرَ آلِهَتَكُمْ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ رَسُولُ رَبِّ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ إِلَيْكُمْ لِيَصْرِفَ وُجُوهَكُمْ عَنْ آلِهَتِكُمْ إِلَى إِلَهِهِ وَفِرْقَةٌ قَالَتْ لا بَلْ غَضِبَتْ آلِهَتُكُمْ حِينَ رَأَتْ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ يَعِيبُهَا وَيَقَعُ فِيهَا وَيَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى عِبَادَةِ غَيْرِهَا فَحَجَبَتْ حُسْنَهَا وَبَهَاءَهَا لِكَيْ تَغْضَبُوا لَهَا فَتَنْتَصِرُوا مِنْهُ فَأَجْمَعَ رَأْيُهُمْ عَلَى قَتْلِهِ فَاتَّخَذُوا أَنَابِيبَ طِوَالاً مِنْ رَصَاصٍ وَاسِعَةَ الأَفْوَاهِ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلُوهَا فِي قَرَارِ الْعَيْنِ إِلَى أَعْلَى الْمَاءِ وَاحِدَةً فَوْقَ الأُخْرَى مِثْلَ الْبَرَابِخِ وَنَزَحُوا مَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ ثُمَّ حَفَرُوا فِي قَرَارِهَا بِئْراً ضَيِّقَةَ الْمَدْخَلِ عَمِيقَةً وَأَرْسَلُوا فِيهَا نَبِيَّهُمْ وَأَلْقَمُوا فَاهَا صَخْرَةً عَظِيمَةً ثُمَّ أَخْرَجُوا الأَنَابِيبَ مِنَ الْمَاءِ وَقَالُوا نَرْجُو الآْنَ أَنْ تَرْضَى عَنَّا آلِهَتُنَا إِذَا رَأَتْ أَنَّا قَدْ قَتَلْنَا مَنْ كَانَ يَقَعُ فِيهَا وَيَصُدُّنَا عَنْ عِبَادَتِهَا وَدَفَنَّاهُ تَحْتَ كَبِيرِهَا يَتَشَفَّى مِنْهُ فَيَعُودَ لَنَا نُورُهَا وَنَضْرَتُهَا كَمَا كَانَ فَبَقُوا عَامَّةَ يَوْمِهِمْ يَسْمَعُونَ أَنِينَ نَبِيِّهِمْ وَهُوَيَقُولُ سَيِّدِي قَدْ تَرَى ضِيقَ مَكَانِي وَشِدَّةَ كَرْبِي فَارْحَمْ ضَعْفَ رُكْنِي وَقِلَّةَ حِيلَتِي وَعَجِّلْ بِقَبْضِ رُوحِي وَلا تُؤَخِّرْ إِجَابَةَ دَعْوَتِي حَتَّى مَاتَ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ لِجَبْرَئِيلَ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ أَيَظُنُّ عِبَادِي هَؤُلاءِ الَّذِينَ غَرَّهُم حِلْمِي وَأَمِنُوا مَكْرِي وَعَبَدُوا غَيْرِي وَقَتَلُوا رَسُولِي أَنْ يَقُومُوا لِغَضَبِي أَوْ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْ سُلْطَانِي كَيْفَ وَأَنَا الْمُنْتَقِمُ مِمَّنْ عَصَانِي وَلَمْ يَخْشَ عِقَـابِيوَإِنِّي حَلَفْتُ بِعِزَّتِي لاجْعَلَنَّهُمْ عِبْرَةً وَنَكَالاً لِلْعَالَمِينَ فَلَمْ يَرُعْهُمْ وَهُمْ فِي عِيدِهِمْ ذَلِكَ إِلا بِرِيحٍ عَاصِفٍ شَدِيدَةِ الْحُمْرَةِ فَتَحَيَّرُوا فِيهَا وَذُعِرُوا مِنْهَا وَتَضَامَّ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ ثُمَّ صَارَتِ الأَرْضُ مِنْ تَحْتِهِمْ حَجَرَ كِبْرِيتٍ يَتَوَقَّدُ وَأَظَلَّتْهُمْ سَحَابَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ فَأَلْقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَالْقُبَّةِ جَمْراً يَلْتَهِبُ فَذَابَتْ أَبْدَانُهُمْ كَمَا يَذُوبُ الرَّصَاصُ فِي النَّارِ فَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ تَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَنُزُولِ نَقِمَتِهِ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ.

16-1 Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja’far al-Hamadani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abul Salt Abdus-Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi, on the authority of Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s), on the authority ofhis father Musa ibn Ja’far (s), on the authority of his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (s), on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (s), on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (s), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Al-Hussein (s), on the authority of his father Al-Hussein ibn Ali (s) that a man called Amr, who was one of the noble men of Tamim clan went to see Ali ibn Abi Talib (s) three days before he was martyred and asked, “O Commander of the Faithful! Please inform me about the People of the Ditch. Which era did the People of the Ditch live in? Where were their homes? Who was their king? Did God the Almighty send a Prophet to them or not? How were they destroyed? Their name is mentioned in God’s Book but there is no news about them there.” Then Ali (s) said, “You have asked me about something that no one else had asked me about before. No one will tell you anything about it after me, unless they quote me. There are no verses in the Almighty God’s Book that I do not know. I also know the interpretation of all the verses. I know were they have been revealed - in the mountain or in the valley. I know at what time they have been revealed - at night or in the daytime.” At this point, Imam Ali (s) pointed at his chest and said, “Here there is a lot of knowledge. However, there are very few who seek it. Soon they will be sorry when they lose me.”The Imam continued, “O Brother from the Tamim clan! This is their account. They were a tribe that worshipped a pine tree which they called Shah Derakht . Yafith ibn Noah had planted it beside a spring called Dooshab. This spring had gushed out for Noah (s) after the Flood. They were called the People of the Ditch because they dug their homes out of the ground. They lived after Soleiman ibn Dawood (Prophet Solomon) (s). They had twelve towns next to a river from the Eastern lands called Ras. The river was named ‘Ras’ after them. At that time there were no other rivers on the Earth so overflowing with such delicious water. There were also no towns that were more developed than they were. The twelve towns were called Aban, Azar, Day, Bahman, Isfandar, Farvardin, Ordibehesht, Khordad, Mordad, Tir, Mehr, and Shahrivar, respectively. The largest of the towns was Isfandar in which their king lived. His name was Tarkoozabn Qaboorabn Yarashabn Sazanabn Nomroodabn Kan’an . Kan’an was the Pharaoh of (the era of) Abraham (s). The spring and the pine tree were located in this town. They had planted one of the seeds of that pine tree in each town. The seeds had grown into large trees. Theyhad made it forbidden to use the water from the spring and the rivers. Neither the animals nor the people were allowed to drink it. They would kill anyone who drank it. They said, ‘This water is the source of life of our gods. It is not right for anyone to reduce their life span.’ They themselves and their animals used to drink from the ‘Ras’ River along which the towns were built. They had set up celebrations in each town every month of the year. The people of town would gather around the town’s large pine, and set up a large silk tent that was full of colorful designs around the pine tree. Then they would bring sheep and cows and offer them for sacrifice to that tree. Then they would pile up wood on the animals that they had slaughtered, and set them on fire. Once the smoke from the fire filled up the air and blocked off the sky from their view, they would then fall in prostration to the tree. They would cry to please the tree. Satan would also come and shake the tree, and yell from the trunk of the tree like a child and say, ‘O my servants! I am pleased with you. Be happy and blessed.’ Then they would lift their heads from their prostration. They drank wine and played music with cymbals. They would spend the whole day and night this way and then leave.The Persians adopted the names of those towns for their months and called them Aban, Azar, etc., since the people of those towns used to say that this is the day of celebration for that month. On the day of celebration all the people in the largest village - whether young or old - gathered together in the town and set up a silver tent full of colorful designs near the spring and the pine tree. The tent had twelve entrances - each assigned to the people of one of the towns. They would make prostrations to the pine tree in front of the tent, and sacrificed many more animals than they sacrificed for the pine tree in the smaller villages. Satan would come to that tree and shake the pine really hard. He would talk loudly from within the tree, and promise them a lot of fake promises - much more than all the other Satans did. The people would raise their heads from making prostrations and would pass out due to extreme happiness and pleasure. They could not talk since they drank too much and listened to too much music. They would spend twelve days and nights - as many days as they had celebrations during the year - celebrating that way. Then they would leave.When disbelief in the Almighty God, and worship of others than God spread amongst them, the Almighty God sent them a Prophet from theChildren of Israel - one of the sons of Yahooda ibn Yaqoob (Jacob’s son). He was among them for a very long time and invited them to recognize the Almighty God and worship Him. However, they did not obey him. When he realized that they were at a great loss and rejected his invitation to development and progress, he attended the celebrations held in the biggest town and said, ‘O God! These servants of yours do nothing but deny me and reject you. They worship a tree that neither harms them nor has any benefits. Please dry up all the trees and show them your power and grandeur.’ The next morning all the trees had withered. This scared the people. They felt hopeless and powerless and got divided into two groups. Some said, ‘This man who claims to be the Messenger of the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth has bewitched your gods in order to redirect your attention from our gods to his God.’ The other group said, ‘No. Your gods have seen this man find their faults and he says irrelevant things about them. They have become angry since he invites you to his God. Thus the gods have covered up the beauty of the trees from you so that you get angry and take their revenge against this man.’Therefore, they all decided to kill him. They brought long, big, lead pipes and mounted them one on top of another from the depth of the spring up until the surface of the water. Then they emptied the water in them and dug a deep well in the bottom of the pipes with a narrow opening on top. They threw their Prophet in the well, put a big rock on top of the well and removed the pipes. They said, ‘Now our gods saw that we killed the person who talked bad about them and prevented us from worshipping them. They saw that we buried him under the greatest god so that he would be pleased. We hope our gods have become happy with us now, and the blossoms and the freshness return to us like before.’ The people could hear their Prophet moan all day and say, ‘O God! You see the tightness of this place and the extent of my discomfort. Have mercy on my weakness and my not having any way out. Please rush to take my life. Do not procrastinate the acceptance of my prayer.’ He (s) finally died. The Almighty God asked Gabriel, ‘O Gabriel! Can these servants who have been fooled by My Patience imagine that they are secure from My Wrath having killed My Prophet, and worshipped gods other than Me? How can they imagine that they can withstand My Wrath and depart from the Domain of My Reign? How? I take revenge against whoever disobeys Me and does not fear My Chastisement. I have swornby My Majesty and Honor that I will establish them as lessons for the people of the world to take heed of.’ God scared them with red winds and they were wandering about the storm. They were scared and sought refuge in each other. However, the ground turned into blazing sulphur under their feet, and a black cloud overshadowed them and dropped a molten dome - like fire over them. Their bodies melted in fire like lead. We take refuge in God the Almighty from His Wrath and Chastisement. And there is no power nor any strength but in God the Sublime the Great. .

ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā - Volume 1

Book 2, Chapter 16