Traditions about Ar-Ridha (a.s.)

On Ar-Ridha’s Words on the Reasons for Various Things

On What Ar-Ridha (a.s.) Wrote Regarding the Reasons (Behind the Decrees) in Response to Questions by Muhammad ibn Sinan

The Reasons Cited by Al-Fadhl ibn Shadhan

On What Ar-Ridha (a.s.) Wrote for Al-Ma’mun Regarding Pure Islam and the Religious Decrees

On Ar-Ridha’s Entry to Neishaboor and Where He Resided

On What Ar-Ridha (a.s.) said Upon Leaving Marba’at Neishaboor to See Al-Ma’mun

A Rare Tradition From Ar-Ridha (a.s.)

On the Departure of Ar-Ridha (a.s.) from Neishaboor Towards Toos and Marv

On The Reasons why Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (a.s.) accepted the succession to the throne from Al-Ma’mun, what Went On, those who were displeased and those who were pleased

On Ar-Ridha (a.s.) Praying for Rain On the Request of Al-Ma’mun, Display of the Honorable the Exalted God’s Power by Fulfilling His Request and the Destruction of Those who Denied This

On the Plans of Al-Ma’mun for Fending off the People From the Meetings of Ar-Ridha (a.s.), Belittling him, and on the Cursing of Al-Ma’mun

On Poems About Patience and Silence in Front of the Ignorant, and Not Treating Friends With Reproach, and Attracting the Enemy So That He Becomes Friends and on Hiding Secrets

On Ar-Ridha’s Noble Characteristics and His Worshipping

His Debates With the Opponents Regarding Divine Leadership and Ali’s Nobility

On What has been Narrated by Ar-Ridha (a.s.) Regarding the Proofs for the Divine Leaders (a.s.), and the Rejection of the Exaggerators (Ghulat) and Those who Believe in God Turning Over the Affairs (Mufawidha) - May God Curse Them

On Indications of the Divine Leadership of Ar-Ridha (a.s.)

On the Proof of Ar-Ridha’s Rightfulness Due to the Acceptance of His Prayers by God the Honorable the Exalted Against Bakkar ibn Abdullah ibn Mos’ab ibn az-Zobayr ibn Bakkar Who Had Oppressed Him

On Proof of Ar-Ridha’s Rightfulness Due to Predicting that He (a.s.) Would not See Baghdad, And Neither Would Baghdad See Him (a.s.)

On Proof of Ar-Ridha’s Rightfulness Due to the Acceptance by God the Honorable the Exalted of his prayers for the Barmakites

On the Proof of His Rightfulness Due to Ar-Ridha’s (a.s.) Prediction that He Will be Buried Next to Harun

On Traditions Related to Ar-Ridha’s (a.s.) Being Martyred With Poison and Being Buried Next to Harun Al-Rashid

On Ar-Ridha’s Insight and His Recognition of the Faithful Believers and the Hypocrites

On Ar-Ridha’s Knowledge of All the Languages

On the Proof of Ar-Ridha’s Rightfulness Due to His Replying to Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Vosha’s Questions Before he could ask them

On Ar-Ridha’s Answer to Abi Qorrah - a friend of the Catholic Archbishop

On What Ar-Ridha (a.s.) said on the Subject of Divine Leadership to Yahya ibn ad-Dhahhak al-Samarqandi in the Presence of Al-Ma’mun

On What Ar-Ridha (a.s.) told his Brother Zayd ibn Musa When Zayd was Being Haughty in Al-Ma’mun’s Presence and What Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said About Mistreating the Shiites

On Reasons for Which Al-Ma’mun Martyred Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (a.s.) with Poison

On Ar-Ridha’s Appointment of his son Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.) as the Imam and his Successor

On The Martyrdom of Ar-Ridha (a.s.) Due to Being Murdered by Al-Ma’mun With Poison

Another Tradition From the Shiites on the Death of Ar-Ridha (a.s.)

On What Abu Salt Al-Harawi Has Narrated About Ar-Ridha Being Martyred With Poisoned Grapes

On What (Abu Habib) Harthama ibn A’yan Narrated About the Martyrdom of Ar-Ridha by Being Poisoned With Pomegranates and Grapes

On An Elegy Recited About Ar-Ridha (a.s.)

On the Reward of Visiting the Shrine of Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (a.s.)

On the Reward of Visiting the shrine of Fatima - the Daughter of Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) in Qum

On Visiting Ar-Ridha (a.s.) in Toos

On What Has Become Apparent For The People Of Our Time From The Blessings And Signs Of This Place Of Martyrdom, And The Fulfillment Of Prayers There

1 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى المُتَوَكِّل رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُوَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عصام الكُلَيْنِيُّ وَأَبُو مُحَمَّد الحَسَن بْنِ أحْمَد المُؤَدِّبُ وَعَلِىِّ بْنِ عَبْد الوَرَّاقُ وَعَلِىِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْران الدَّقَّاق - رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ - قالُوا: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبِ الكُلَيْنِيُّ - رَحْمَةُ اللَّه - قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلىِّ بْنِ العَلَويّ الجوانِي عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ مُحَمَّد المحاربي عَنْ رَجُل ذكر اِسْمُهُعَن أَبي الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَنَّ الْمَأْمُونَ قَالَ هَلْ رَوَيْتَ مِنَ الشِّعْرِ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ قَدْ رَوَيْتُ مِنْهُ الْكَثِيرَ فَقَالَ أَنْشِدْنِي أَحْسَنَ مَا رَوَيْتَهُ فِي الْحِلْمِ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ:إِذَا كَانَ دُونِي مَنْ بُلِيتُ بِجَهْلِهِأَبَيْتُ لِنَفْسِي أَنْ تُقَابِلَ بِالْجَهْلِ‏وَإِنْ كَانَ مِثْلِي فِي مَحَلِّي مِنَ النُّهَى‏أَخَذْتُ بِحِلْمِي كَيْ أُجَلَّ عَنِ الْمِثْلِ‏وَإِنْ كُنْتُ أَدْنَى مِنْهُ فِي الْفَضْلِ وَالْحِجَىعَرَفْتُ لَهُ حَقَّ التَّقَدُّمِ وَالْفَضْلِ‏قَالَ لَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ: مَا أَحْسَنَ هَذَا هَذَا مَنْ قَالَهُ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ فِتْيَانِنَا قَالَ فَأَنْشِدْنِي أَحْسَنَ مَا رَوَيْتَهُ فِي السُّكُوتِ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِ وَتَرْكِ عِتَابِ الصَّدِيقِ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ:إِنِّي لَيَهْجُرُنِي الصَّدِيقُ تَجَنُّباًفَأُرِيهِ أَنَّ لِهَجْرِهِ أَسْبَاباوَأَرَاهُ إِنْ عَاتَبْتُهُ أَغْرَيْتُهُ‏فَأَرَى لَهُ تَرْكَ الْعِتَابِ عِتَاباوَإِذَا بُلِيتُ بِجَاهِلٍ مُتَحَكِّمٍ‏يَجِدُ الُْمحَالَ مِنَ الأُمُورِ صَوَاباأَوْلَيْتُهُ مِنِّي السُّكُوتَ وَرُبَّمَاكَانَ السُّكُوتُ عَنِ الْجَوَابِ جَوَابافَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ: مَا أَحْسَنَ هَذَا هَذَا مَنْ قَالَهُ فَقَالَ‏بَعْضُ فِتْيَانِنَا قَالَ فَأَنْشِدْنِي أَحْسَنَ مَا رَوَيْتَهُ فِي اسْتِجْلابِ الْعَدُوِّ حَتَّى يَكُونَ صَدِيقاً فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ:وَذِي غِلَّةٍ سَالَمْتُهُ فَقَهَرْتُهُ‏فَأَوْقَرْتُهُ مَنِّي لِعَفْوِ التَّجَمُّلِ‏وَمَنْ لا يُدَافِعْ سَيِّئَاتِ عَدُوِّهِ‏بِإِحْسَانِهِ لَمْ يَأْخُذِ الطَّوْلَ مِنْ عَلُ‏وَلَمْ أَرَ فِي الأَشْيَاءِ أَسْرَعَ مَهْلَكاًلِغَمْرٍ قَدِيمٍ مِنْ وِدَادٍ مُعَجَّلٍ‏فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ: مَا أَحْسَنَ هَذَا هَذَا مَنْ قَالَهُ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ فِتْيَانِنَا فَقَالَ فَأَنْشِدْنِي أَحْسَنَ مَا رَوَيْتَهُ فِي كِتَْمانِ السِّرِّ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ:وَإِنِّي لأنْسَى السِّرَّ كَيْلا أُذِيعَهُ‏فَيَا مَنْ رَأَى سِرّاً يُصَانُ بِأَنْ يُنْسَى‏مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَجْرِيَ بِبَالِي ذِكْرُهُ‏فَيَنْبِذَهُ قَلْبِي إِلَى مُلْتَوَى حَشافَيُوشِكُ مَنْ لَمْ يُفْشِ سِرّاً وَجَالَ فِي‏خَوَاطِرِهِ أَنْ لا يُطِيقَ لَهُ حَبْسافَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ: إِذَا أَمَرْتَ أَنْ تُتَرَّبَ [يُتَرَّبَ] الْكِتَابُ كَيْفَ تَقُولُ قَالَ تَرِّبْ قَالَ فَمِنَ السَّحَا قَالَ سَحِّ قَالَ فَمِنَ الطِّينِ قَالَ طَيِّنْ فَقَالَ يَا غُلامُ تَرِّبْ هَذَا الْكِتَابَ وَسَحِّهِ وَطَيِّنْهُ وَامْضِ بِهِ إِلَى الْفَضْلِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ وَخُذْ لابِي الْحَسَنِ ثَلاثَمِائَةِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ.قالَ مُصَنِّفُ هذا الْكِتاب رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ: كانَ سَبِيلِ ما يُقَبِّلُهُ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِن الْمَأمُون سَبِيلِ ما كانَ يُقَبِّلُهُ النَّبِي‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مِنَ الملوك وَسَبِيلِ ما كانَ يَقبَلُهُ الحَسَن بْنِ عَلِى‏عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ مِن مُعاوِيَةَ وَسَبِيلِ ما كانَ يُقَبِّلُهُ الأَئِمَّةِ مِنْ آبائِهِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِنَ الخُلَفاءِ وَمَنْ كانَتْ الدُّنْيا كُلِّها لَهُ فَغُلِبَ عَلَيْها ثُمَّ اُعْطِيَ بَعْضَها فَجائِزٌ لَهُ أَن يَأْخُذُه.وَمِمَّا أَنشَدَهُ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَتَمَثَّلَ بِهِ:

43-1 Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil, Muhammad ibn Isam al-Kolayni, Abu Muhammad Al-Hassan ibn Ahmad al-Mo’addib, Ali ibn Abdullah al-Warraq, Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Imran al-Daqqaq - may God be pleased with them - narrated that Muhammad ibn Yaqoob al-Kolayni - may God forgive him - quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Ibrahim Al-Alawi Al-Jawani, on the authority of Musa ibn Muhammadal-Moharibi, on the authority of a man whose name he had mentioned, on the authority of Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) that Al-Ma’mun asked the Imam (a.s.), “Have the people ever recited any poems for you?” He (a.s.) replied, “Yes. They have told me a lot.” He said, “Then recite to us the best poem that they have recited to you about patience.” He (a.s.) said,Whenever I face someone lower than mehurt me out of ignoranceI honor myself anddo not treat him out of ignorance, too.If he equals me in terms of intelligenceI treat him with patience so as to be nobler than him.And if he is higher than me in terms of nobility and sagacityThen I recognize his right of superiority and nobility.Then Al-Ma’mun said, “How excellent! Who said it?” He (a.s.) replied, “One of our youth.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Please recite for us the best poem you have heard regarding remaining silent in the presence of the ignorant and not fighting with friends. He (a.s.) said,My friend stays away from me to break upI show him that there are means to break up.I see that if I treat him with reproachI have pushed him to break upThen I consider to abandon reproach.When I face an ignorant, selfish friendWho believes in the feasibility of the unfeasibleI prefer to remain silent, perhapsSilence is itself a form of response!Al-Ma’mun said, “How excellent! Who has said it?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “One of our youth.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Please tell me the best poems about turning enemies into friends.” He (a.s.) said,Treating ogres with friendship I have overcome themAnd have heavily burdened them under my debt by forgiving.One who does not fend off the wicked deeds of his enemy with friendlinessHas not learned toleration from the highest ranks.I have not seen any faster way to alleviateOld grudges than with quick friendliness.Then Al-Ma’mun said, “How excellent! Who has said it?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “One of our youth.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Please tell me the best poems about hiding secrets.” He (a.s.) said,I am used to forgetting secretsso that I do not spread them around.Then guard the secrets you know by forgetting them.I fear that I might remember itAnd my heart may spread it around.It is probable that one does not divulge a secret, but so oftenIt comes to his mind that he cannot bear to keep it imprisoned!Then Al-Ma’mun said, “What would you say if you want the people to throw dirt over a book?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “I would say: ‘Tarrab.” Al-Ma’mun said, “What if it is from ‘al-Sahha?” He (a.s.) replied, “Sahe.” He asked, “What about ‘Tayn?” He (a.s.) replied, “‘Tayyan.” Then Al-Ma’mun told his servant, “Pour dirt over this writing and fold it. Place it in clay and seal it. Then send it to Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl. Take three hundred thousand Dirhams from him for Abil Hassan (a.s.).”The author of this book (a.s.heikh Sadooq) - may God be pleased with him - said, “What Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) accepted from Al-Ma’mun is similar to what the Prophet (S) accepted from the kings, and is similar to what Al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.) accepted from Mo’awiya, and the other Immaculate Imams (a.s.) accepted from the Caliphs. It is proper for one to accept things when the whole world belongs to him and they confiscate it all, but return some of it to him.”

2 - حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْرانالدَّقَّاق رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبي‏الكُوفِي عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِياد الأَدَمِي، عَن عَبْدِ العَظِيم بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه الحَسَنِيِّ، عَن عَبْد السَّلامُ بْنِ صالِح الهروي قالَ: حَدَّثَني معمر بْنِ خلاد وَجَماعَةِ قالُوا: دَخَلْنَا عَلَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُنَا جَعَلَنِيَ اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ مَا لِي أَرَاكَ مُتَغَيِّرَ الْوَجْهِ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِنِّي بَقِيتُ لَيْلَتِي سَاهِراً مُفَكِّراً فِي قَوْلِ مَرْوَانَ بْنِ أَبِي حَفْصَةَأَنَّى يَكُونُ وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ بِكَائِنٍ‏لِبَنِي الْبَنَاتِ وِرَاثَةُ الأَعْمَامِ‏ثُمَّ نِمْتُ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِقَائِلٍ قَدْ أَخَذَ بِعِضَادَتَيِ الْبَابِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ:أَنَّى يَكُونُ وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ بِكَائِنٍ‏لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ دَعَائِمُ الإِسْلامِ‏لِبَنِي الْبَنَاتِ نَصِيبُهُمْ مِنْ جَدِّهِمْ‏وَالْعَمُّ مَتْرُوكٌ بِغَيْرِ سِهَام‏مَا لِلطَّلِيقِ وَلِلتُّرَاثِ وَإِنَّمَاسَجَدَ الطَّلِيقُ مَخَافَةَ الصَّمْصَامِ‏قَدْ كَانَ أَخْبَرَكَ الْقُرْآنُ بِفَضْلِهِ‏فَمَضَى الْقَضَاءُ بِهِ مِنَ الْحُكَّامِ‏إِنَّ ابْنَ فَاطِمَةَ الْمُنَوَّهَ بِاسْمِهِ‏حَازَ الْوِرَاثَةَ عَنْ بَنِي الأَعْمَامِ‏وَبَقِيَ ابْنُ نَثْلَةَ وَاقِفاً مُتَرَدِّداًيَرْثِي وَيُسْعِدُهُ ذَوُو الأَرْحَام‏

43-2 Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Imran al-Daqqaq - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad al-Adami, on the authority of Abdul Adheem ibn Abdullah Al-Hassani, on the authority of Mo’ammar ibn Khallad and others that they went to see Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). One of them asked Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “May we be your ransom! Why do you look so pale?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “I stayed up last night and was thinking about the following poem by Marvan ibn Abi Hafsat:How come it could not be thatThe children of the daughter inherit instead of paternal uncles.Then I went to sleep and saw someone holding onto the door frame and saying:How come it could not be thatThe pagans be the pillars of Islam?The children of the daughter inherit from their grandfatherWhile the uncle is abandoned without any share.How could the one captured and freed inherit?Many of the captured confessed fearing the sword.And the Qur’an informed you about the nobility of the oneAnd has told you about all the relevant decrees.Indeed the son of Fatima, well-known by his nameIs the one to inherit from the Prophet from his paternal uncles.But the son of Notayla will stand wondering on the sideCrying while the relatives sympathize.

3 - حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدِ بْنِعَبْدِ اللَّه، عَن إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَن عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ المغيرة قالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُولُ:
إِنَّكَ فِي دَارٍ لَهَا مُدَّةٌ * يُقْبَلُ فِيهَا عَمَلُ الْعَامِلِ أَلَا تَرَى الْمَوْتَ مُحِيطًا بِهَا؟ * يَكْذِبُ فِيهَا أَمَلُ الْآمِلِ. تُعَجِّلُ الذَّنْبَ لِمَا تَشْتَهِي * وَتَأْمُلُ التَّوْبَةَ فِي قَابِلٍ وَالْمَوْتُ يَأْتِي أَهْلَهُ بَغْتَةً * مَا ذَاكَ فِعْلُ الْحَازِمِ الْعَاقِلِ؟

43-3 (The author of the book narrated) My father (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated to us, saying: Sa’d ibn Abdullah narrated to us, from Ibrahim ibn Hashim, from Abdullah ibn al-Mughira, who said, "I heard Abu al-Hasan al-Ridha (peace be upon him) say: "Indeed, you are in a world with a set duration; the deeds of the doer are accepted in it. Do you not see that death surrounds it? The hopes of the hopeful are deceived in it. You hasten toward sin for what you desire, and you hope for repentance in the future, while death comes suddenly to its people. Is this the behavior of a wise and thinking person?"

4 - حَدَّثَنا الحَسَن بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ سَعِيدُ العسكريقالَ أَخْبَرنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ أحْمَد بْنِ‏الفَضْلِ المَعْرُوف بِإِبْنِ الخَبّاز سِنَةَ أَرْبَعَ عَشَرة وَثَلاثِمائَةٍ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ أحْمَد الكاتب قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ الحُسَيْن كاتب أَبي الفياض، عَن أَبيهِ قالَ: حَضَرْنَا مَجْلِسَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَشَكَا رَجُلٌ أَخَاهُ فَأَنْشَأَ يَقُولُ:اعْذُرْ أَخَاكَ عَلَى ذُنُوبِهِ‏وَاسْتُرْ وَغَطِّ عَلَى عُيُوبِهِ‏وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى بَهَتِ السَّفِيهِ‏وَلِلزَّمَانِ عَلَى خُطُوبِهِ‏وَدَعِ الْجَوَابَ تَفَضُّلاًوَكِلِ الظَّلُومَ إِلَى حَسِيبِه‏

43-4 In the year 314 A.H. (925 A.D.) Al-Hassan ibn Abdullah ibn Sa’eed Al-Askari narrated that Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Al-Fadhl - known as ibn al-Khabbaz - quoted on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Ahmad al-Katib, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Al-Husayn - Abil Fay’yaz’s secretary, on the authority of his father, “We were present in the meeting held by Ali ibn Musa (a.s.). A man complained about his brother. Then the Imam (a.s.) said,Forgive your brother for his sins.Cover up and hide his imperfections.Calmly bear the accusations of the foolsAnd leave to time their declamations.Be noble and do not respondAnd entrust all oppressors to the Reckoner!”

5 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى بْنِ المُتَوَكِّل قالَ: حَدَّثَناعَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَن أَبيهِ، عَن الرَّيانِ بْنِ الصَّلْتِ قالَ: أَنْشَدَنِي الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لِعَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ:يَعِيبُ النَّاسُ كُلّهُمُ الزَّمانانَعِيبُ زَمانَنَا وَالْعَيْبُ فِينَاوَإنَّ الذِّئْبَ يَتْرُكُ لَحْمَ ذِئْبٍلَبِسْنَا لِلْخِدَاعِ مُسُوكَ طِيبٍوَما لِزَمَانِنَا عَيْبٌ سِوانَاوَلَوْ نَطَقَ الزَّمَانُ بِنَا هَجَانَاوَيَأْكُلُ بَعْضُنا بَعْضاً عَيانَاوَوَيْلٌ لِلْغَرِيبِ إذَا أتَانَا

43-5 Muhammad ibn Musa al-Mutawakkil narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of al-Rayyan ibn al-Salt, “Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) recited the following poem about Abdul Muttalib for me.The people all find fault with timeBut we ourselves are the fault of the time.We blame the time, but the fault is in us.If the time could talk, it would make fun of us.In fact, wolves tear down their enemies, but do not eat their meat.But some of us clearly eat other people’s meat (gossiping).We dress nice to fool the people wellWoe be to those who are strange and know us not well.”

6 - حَدَّثَنا أَبُو العَبَّاسِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ إِسْحاقالطَّالِقانِيُ‏رحمه الله قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعِيدُ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِى العدوي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا الهِيْثَم بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه الرمانِي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلاىِّ بْنِ‏ِلرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبِيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَر عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن الحُسيْن عَنْ أَبِيهِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُولُ:خَلَقْتَ الْخَلائِقَ فِي قُدْرَةٍفَأَمّا السَّخِيُّ فَفِي رَاحَةٍفَمِنْهُمْ سَخِيٌّ وَمِنْهُمْ بَخِيلْوَأَمّا الْبَخِيلُ فَشُؤْمٌ طَوِيلْ

43-6 Abul Abbas Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taleqani - may God forgive him - narrated that Abu Sa’eed Al-Husayn ibn Ali al-Adawi quoted on the authority of al-Haytham ibn Abdullah al-Romani that Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) quoted on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.), on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), on the authority of his father (a.s.), “The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) said,He created the creatures with His Ability.Some are generous and some are miserlyBut the generous ones are in comfortBut the miserly has long misery.”

7 - حَدَّثَنا الْحاكِم أَبُو عَلِي الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أحْمَدالْبِيْهَقِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الصُّوْليُ‏حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبي عباد قالَ: حَدَّثَني عَمِّي قالَ: سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَوْماً يُنْشِدُ شِعْراً وَقَلِيلاً مَا كَانَ يُنْشِدُ شِعْراً:كُلُّنَا نَأْمَلُ مَدّاً فِي الأَجَلْلا تَغُرَّنْكَ أَبَاطِيلُ الْمُنَىإِنَّمَا الدُّنْيَا كَظِلٍّ زَائِلٍوَالْمَنَايَا هُنَّ آفَاتُ الأَمَلْوَالْزَمِ الْقَصْدَ وَدَعْ عَنْكَ الْعِلَلْحَلَّ فِيهِ رَاكِبٌ ثُمَّ رَحَلْفَقُلْتُ: لِمَنْ هَذَا أَعَزَّ اللَّهُ الأَمِيرَ فَقَالَ لِعِرَاقِيٍّ لَكُمْ قُلْتُ أَنْشَدَنِيهِ أَبُو الْعَتَاهِيَةِ لِنَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ هَاتِ اسْمَهُ وَدَعْ عَنْكَ هَذَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى يَقُولُ وَلا تَنابَزُوا بِالأَلْقابِ وَلَعَلَّ الرَّجُلَ يَكْرَهُ هَذَا.

43-7 Al-Hakim Abu Ali Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowli quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Abi Ebad, on the authority of his uncle, “Although Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) rarely recited poems, one day I heard him (a.s.) recite the following poem:We all hope death to grant us more timeWhile death itself destroys all hopes.Let not false hopes fool you.Be moderate and abandon falsehood.This world is like a vanishing shadeA temporary resting place for ridersWho shall depart it shortly later.Then I asked the Imam (a.s.), “May God honor you! Who recited this?” He (a.s.) replied, “An Iraqi has said it for you.” I said, “Abul al-Atahiya recited this to me regarding himself.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Call him by his own name. Abandon calling people by names that are a form of a put down. Indeed God the Glorified the Highest said, ‘…nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames…’ Perhaps the man detests this.”

8 - حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ زِيادِ بْنِ جَعْفَر الْهَمَذانيّ رَضِىَاللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم قالَ: حَدَّثَني إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد الحَسَنِيِّ قالَ:بَعَثَ الْمَأْمُونُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ جَارِيَةً فَلَمَّا أُدْخِلَتْ إِلَيْهِ اشْمَأَزَّتْ مِنَ الشَّيْبِ فَلَمَّا رَأَى كَرَاهَتَهَا رَدَّهَا إِلَى الْمَأْمُونِ وَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ بِهَذِهِ الأَبْيَاتِ:نَعَى نَفْسِي إلَى نَفْسِي الْمَشِيبُفَقَدْ وَلَّى الشَّبَابُ إلَى مَدَاهُسَأَبْكِيهِ وَأَنْدُبُهُ طَوِيلاًوَهَيْهَاتَ الَّذِي قَدْ فَاتَ عَنِّيوَرَاعَ الغَانِيَاتِ بَيَاضُ رَأْسِيأَرَى الِبيضَ الْحِسَانَ يَجِدْنَ عَنِّيفَإِنْ يَكُنِ الشَّبَابُ مَضَى حَبِيباًسَأَصْحَبُهُ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ حَتَّىوَعِندَ الشَّيْبِ يَتَّعِظُ اللَّبِيبُفَلَسْتُ أَرَى مَوَاضِعَهُ يَئُوبُوَأَدْعُوهُ إِلَيَّ عَسَى يُجِيبُتُمَنِّينِي بِهِ النَّفْسُ الْكَذُوبُوَمَنْ مُدَّ البَقَاءُ لَهُ يَشِيبُوَفِي هِجْرَانِهِنَّ لَنَا نَصِيبُفَإنَّ الشَّيْبَ أيْضاً لِي حَبِيبُيُفَرِّقَ بَيْنَنا الأَجَلُ القَرِيبُ

43-8 Ahmad ibn Ziyad 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 Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Al-Hassani, “Al-Ma’mun sent a young girl to Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). Upon entering, she expressed her dislike of his white hair. When the Imam (a.s.) noticed this he returned her to Al-Ma’mun with the following poem that he (a.s.) himself composed:My white hair informs me of the approach of my deathAt old age one accepts adviceYes, indeed youth passed and has ended nowAnd I will never experience its returnI cry and weep over it having gone byAnd keep on calling it perhaps it hears my callAh! What I have lostMy lying self forces me to want it backBeautiful women fear my white hairBut whoever stays too long will get oldI see the beautiful silver-colored women running away from me.Now my share is their separation from meIf youth which has now gone by was my beloved friendNow it is old age that is my friendI will be in its company with piety untilThe soon to arrive death separates us!

9 - حَدَّثَنا الْحاكِم أَبُو عَلِي الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أحْمَد الْبِيْهَقِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَني مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الصُّوليُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبُو ذَكوانُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ العَبَّاسِ قالَ: كَانَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يُنْشِدُ كَثِيراً: إِذَا كُنْتَ فِي خَيْرٍ فَلا تَغْتَرِرْ بِهِ‏ وَلَكِنْ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ سَلِّمْ وَتَمِّم

43-9 Al-Hakim Abu Ali Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowli quoted on the authority of Abu Thakwan, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Al-Abbas that Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) often recited the following:When you are blessed by goodness do not get dazzled by that, but keep on asking God to keep you healthy and perfect the blessings.

ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā - Volume 2

Book 1, Chapter 13