ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā - Volume 2

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

24 - حَدَّثَنا الْحاكِم أَبُو عَلِي الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أحْمَدالْبِيْهَقِيُّ قالَ حَدَّثَني مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الصُّوليُّ قالَ حَدَّثَني عَوْنُ بْنِ مُحَمَّد الْكِنْدِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبُو الحُسَيْن مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبي عباد قالَ لَمَّا كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ مَا كَانَ وَقُتِلَ دَخَلَ الْمَأْمُونُ إِلَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَبْكِي وَقَالَ لَهُ هَذَا وَقْتُ حَاجَتِي إِلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ فَتَنْظُرُ فِي الأَمْرِ وَتُعِينُنِي قَالَ لَهُ عَلَيْكَ التَّدْبِيرُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَعَلَيْنَا الدُّعَاءُ فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ الْمَأْمُونُ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لِمَ أَخَّرْتَ أَعَزَّكَ اللَّهُ مَا قَالَ لَكَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَبَيْتَهُ فَقَالَ وَيْحَكَ يَا بَا حَسَنٍ لَسْتُ مِنْ هَذَا الأَمْرِ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ قَالَ فَرَآنِي قَدِ اغْتَمَمْتُ فَقَالَ وَمَا لَكَ فِي هَذَا لَوْ آلَ الأَمْرُ إِلَى مَا تَقُولُ وَأَنْتَ مِنِّي كَمَا أَنْتَ مَا كَانَتْ نَفَقَتُكَ إِلا فِي كُمِّكَ وَكُنْتَ كَوَاحِدٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ.

40-24 Al-Hakim Abu Ali Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowli quoted on the authority of Muhammad al-Kendi, on the authority of Abul Husayn Muhammad ibn Abi Abbad, “When the case of Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl reached the point at which he was killed, Al-Ma’mun went to see Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) crying and told him, “O Abal Hassan (Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.))! This is the time in which I need you. Please take charge of the affairs and help me.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “O Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun)! You are in charge of running the affairs, and I am in charge of praying.” When Al-Ma’mun left, I (Abul Husayn) asked Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “May God honor you! Why didn’t you accept what he offered?” He (a.s.) replied, “O Aba Husayn! Woe be to you! Are you not at all affected by what has happened?” When the Imam (a.s.) noticed that I was upset about what had happened, he (a.s.) said, “Why are you thinking about this issue? If things happen the way that you think they should, and your position relative to me be the same as it is now, then your salary will be the same as it is now. You will be the same as other people who are near me.”

ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā - Volume 2

Book 1, Chapter #10