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Part 2
 

Chapter forty:
On The Reasons why Ali ibn Musa Al-Reza (s)
accepted the succession to the throne from
Al-Ma’mun, what Went On, those who were
displeased and those who were pleased

Chapter 2: It describes the degree of his progress; the correctness of his deeds; and that no one is allowed to do whatever he wishes to make a stumbling-block for his efforts; and the reasons for that. This is because not anyone of the people who have pledged allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) must pledge allegiance to him (Thul-Riasatayn) and his brother. They have the right to remove any obstacles that might get in their way or try to cause corruption against us, them or our friends. This is done so that no one even thinks about opposing them, disobeying them or think of tricks to separate us from each other.

Chapter 3: It describes the donations of the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) to Thul-Riasatayn; what he demanded due to his abstinence from this world; his adherence to abstinence; lack of interest in wealth and position being a reason that he has constantly made efforts for the Hereafter and demands enough reward just enough to eliminate any doubts in him. We honored him and granted to him whatever was incumbent upon us to bestow upon him and his brother, and for his abstaining from what we abstained from ourselves. This chapter includes everything that one who is cautious needs to be cautious about.

And this is the manuscript of the book:

In the Name of God the Beneficent, the Merciful. This is the writing and the conditions of the Commander of the Faithful Abdullah Al-Ma’mun and his successor to the throne Ali ibn Musa Al-Reza (s)[254] for Thul-Riasatayn Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl on Monday of the (Arabic) month of Ramadhan in the year 201 A.H. (816 A.D.). This is the day on which God perfected the affairs of the government of the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun). He concluded the contract for the succession to the throne, had the people clothed in green attire, reached his goal of improving the affairs of the people and overcoming his enemies.

On that day we invited you to that in which there lies some reward for you (Thul-Riasatayn) since you have set out to honor the rights of God the Blessed the Sublime; the right of His Prophet (s); the right of the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) and the successor to his throne; the rights of the Hashemites from which it is hoped that the religion will improve and the relations between the Muslims will improve so much that the resulting blessings encompass us and the general public. The other reason is your assistance to me - the Commander of the Faithful

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وَالْبَابُ الثَّانِي الْبَيَانُ عَنْ مَرْتَبَتِهِ فِي إِزَاحَةِ عِلَّتِهِ فِي كُلِّ مَا دَبَّرَ وَدَخَلَ فِيهِ وَلا سَبِيلَ عَلَيْهِ فِيَما تَرَكَ وَكَرِهَ وَذَلِكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِخَلْقٍ مِمَّنْ فِي عُنُقِهِ بَيْعَةٌ إِلا لَهُ وَحْدَهُ وَلاخِيهِ وَمِنْ إِزَاحَةِ الْعِلَّةِ تَحْكِيمُهُمَا فِي كُلِّ مَنْ بَغِيَ عَلَيْهِمَا وَسَعَى بِفَسَادٍ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَيْهِمَا وَعَلَى أَوْلِيَائِنَا لِئَلا يَطْمَعَ طَامِعٌ فِي خِلافٍ عَلَيْهِمَا وَلا مَعْصِيَةٍ لَهُمَا وَلا احْتِيَالٍ فِي مَدْخَلٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمَا.

وَالْبَابُ الثَّالِثُ الْبَيَانُ فِي إِعْطَائِنَا إِيَّاهُ مَا أَحَبَّ مِنْ مِلْكِ التَّخَلِّي وَحِلْيَةِ الزُّهْدِ وَحُجَّةِ التَّحْقِيقِ لِمَا سَعَى فِيهِ مِنْ ثَوَابِ الآْخِرَةِ بِمَا يَتَقَرَّرُ فِي قَلْبِ مَنْ كَانَ فِي ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ وَمَا يَلْزَمُنَا لَهُ مِنَ الْكَرَامَةِ وَالْعِزِّ وَالْحِبَاءِ الَّذِي بَذَلْنَاهُ لَهُ وَلاخِيهِ مِنْ مَنْعِهِمَا مَا نَمْنَعُ مِنْهُ أَنْفُسَنَا وَذَلِكَ مُحِيطٌ بِكُلِّ مَا يَحْتَاطُ فِيهِ مُحْتَاطٌ فِي أَمْرِ دِينٍ وَدُنْيَا وَهَذِهِ نُسْخَةُ الْكِتَابِ:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ‏

هَذَا كِتَابٌ وَشَرْطٌ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْمَأْمُونِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَوَلِيِّ عَهْدِهِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى لِذِي الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ فِي يَوْمِ الإِثْنَيْنِ لِسَبْعٍ خَلَوْنَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مِنْ سَنَةِ إِحْدَى وَمِائَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي تَمَّمَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ دَوْلَةَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَعَقَدَ لِوَلِيِّ عَهْدِهِ وَأَلْبَسَ النَّاسَ اللِّبَاسَ الأَخْضَرَ وَبَلَغَ أَمَلَهُ فِي صَلاحِ وَلِيِّهِ وَالظَّفَرِ بِعَدُوِّهِ إِنَّا دَعَوْنَاكَ إِلَى مَا فِيهِ بَعْضُ مُكَافَاتِكَ عَلَى مَا قُمْتَ بِهِ مِنْ حَقِّ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَحَقِّ رَسُولِهِ وَحَقِّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَوَلِيِّ عَهْدِهِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى وَحَقِّ هَاشِمٍ الَّتِي بِهَا يُرْجَى صَلاحُ الدِّينِ وَسَلامَةُ ذَاتِ الْبَيْنِ

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(i.e. Al-Ma’mun) - in establishing the rules of the religion and the traditions of the Master of the Messengers (i.e. the Prophet Muhammad (s)); and invitation to both; choosing what is best and destroying the pagans; breaking the idols; and eliminating the rebellions. Also there are other known things that you have done in the town like dismissing the overthrown Caliph; what you did to the one called Asfar with the nickname Abul Saraya; and what you did to the other one who is called Mehdi being related to Muhammad ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad Talebi and the Khalaji Turks; and what you did to the governors of Tabarestan including Hormoz ibn Shervin; the governor of Daylam; King Mahvars in Kabul; its other king - King Isfahboz; and what you did to Ibn al-Baram; and what you did in Mount Bidar Bandeh, Qarshistan, al-Qoor and its counties; and what you did to the Khaqan in Khorasan, and Maloon Sahib in Mount Tab’bat; and what you did in Kayman and at-taqreqar; and what you did in Erminiyet, Hijaz; and what you did to Sahib As-Sarir and Sahib al-Khazar, and the other battles in al-Maqrib.

The salary which we (i.e. Al-Ma’mun and Al-Reza (s)) have established for you is an assistance with which we invited you - being one hundred million Dirhams - plus ten million Dirhams income in jewelry and whatever the Caliph has already bestowed upon you. Of course, we know that the worth of one hundred million Dirhams in jewelry is much less than what you deserve. You abandoned this much property when Amin bestowed it upon you, and chose God and His Religion over it. You were grateful to the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) and the successor to his throne. You gave up much property that was your reward and salary, and turned them over to the Muslims so that their treasury would become wealthier. You preferred others over yourself.

Now you have asked us for what you are naturally inclined to, and you deserve what is due to you fo your abstinence from this world and these people. This abstinence is so much that now it has left no room for doubt for anyone who doubted whether your efforts are for this world or the Hereafter. And everyone was assured that all your efforts are not for this world, but for the Hereafter. Therefore, we are never needless of people like you. The requests of people like you should never be rejected, even though your demands be such that many blessings are taken away from us. In fact, your requests bring forth a lot of blessings for us. They reduce a lot of our expenditures, and prove that you desire the Hereafter to those who think that you want this position due to your greed for this world, and not the Hereafter.

(335)

بَيْنِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَى أَنْ ثَبَتَتِ النِّعْمَةُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى الْعَامَّةِ بِذَلِكَ وَبِمَا عَاوَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ إِقَامَةِ الدِّينِ وَالسُّنَّةِ وَإِظْهَارِ الدَّعْوَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ وَإِيْثَارِ الأَوْلَى مَعَ قَمْعِ الشِّرْكِ وَكَسْرِ الأَصْنَامِ وَقَتْلِ الْعُتَاةِ وَسَائِرِ آثَارِكَ الْمُمَثَّلَةِ لِلأَمْصَارِ فِي الَْمخْلُوعِ وَفِي الْمُتَسَمَّى بِالأَصْفَرِ الْمُكَنَّى بِأَبِي السَّرَايَا وَفِي الْمُتَسَمَّى بِالْمَهْدِيِّ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الطَّالِبِيِّ وَالتُّرْكِ الخزلجية وَفِي طَبَرِسْتَانَ وَمُلُوكِهَا إِلَى بُنْدَارَ هُرْمُزَ بْنِ شروين وَفِي الدَّيْلَمِ وَمَلِكِهَا وَفِي كَابُلَ وَمَلِكِهَا المهوزين ثُمَّ مَلِكِهَا الأَصْفَهْبُدِ وَفِي ابْنِ الْمُبْرَمِ وَجِبَالِ بداربنده وَغرشستان وَالغور وَأَصْنَافِهَا وَفِي خُرَاسَانَ خَاقَانَ وَملون صَاحِبِ جَبَلِ التَّبَّتِ وَفِي كيمان وَالتغرغر وَفِي إِرْمِينِيَّةَ وَالْحِجَازِ وَصَاحِبِ السَّرِيرِ وَصَاحِبِ الْخَزَرِ وَفِي الْمَغْرِبِ وَحُرُوبِهِ وَتَفْسِيرُ ذَلِكَ فِي دِيوَانِ السِّيرَةِ وَكَانَ مَا دَعَوْنَاكَ إِلَيْهِ وَهُوَ مَعُونَةٌ لَكَ مِائَةَ أَلْفِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ وَغَلَّةَ عَشَرَةِ أَلْفِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ جَوْهَراً سِوَى مَا أَقْطَعَكَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ وَقِيمَةُ مِائَةِ أَلْفِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ جَوْهَراً يَسِيرُ عِنْدَ مَا أَنْتَ لَهُ مُسْتَحِقٌّ فَقَدْ تَرَكْتَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ حِينَ بَذَلَهُ لَكَ الَْمخْلُوعُ وَآثَرْتَ اللَّهَ وَدِينَهُ وَأَنَّكَ شَكَرْتَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَوَلِيَّ عَهْدِهِ وَآثَرْتَ تَوْفِيرَ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَجُدْتَ لَهُمْ بِهِ وَسَأَلْتَنَا أَنْ تَبْلُغَكَ الْخَصْلَةُ الَّتِي لَمْ تَزَلْ إِلَيْهَا تَائِقاً مِنَ الزُّهْدِ وَالتَّخَلِّي لِيَصِحَّ عِنْدَ مَنْ شَكَّ فِي سَعْيِكَ لِلآْخِرَةِ دُونَ الدُّنْيَا تَرْكُكَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا عَنْ مِثْلِكَ يُسْتَغْنَى فِي حَالٍ وَلا مِثْلُكَ رُدَّ عَنْ طَلِبَتِهِ وَلَوْ أَخْرَجَتْنَا طَلِبَتُكَ عَنْ شَطْرِ النِّعَمِ عَلَيْنَا فَكَيْفَ بِأَمْرٍ رُفِعَتْ فِيهِ الْمَئُونَةُ وَأَوْجَبَتْ بِهِ الْحُجَّةُ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ دُعَاءَكَ إِلَيْنَا لِلدُّنْيَا لا لِلآْخِرَةِ.

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Now I (Al-Ma’mun) will fulfill your request[255], and assure it to you - strengthened by a covenant with God in which there is no change. I entrust you with the affairs without any hesitation, and appoint you to the rank (of prime minister). Do as you please. There is no one empowered to prevent what you decide to do, or enforce what you disapprove of. We will fend off from you what we would fend off from ourselves. Even if you get tired and rest for a while, you are still honored since your body needs comfort and honoring, too.

Then we (Al-Ma’mun and Al-Reza (s)) will grant to you during your period of resting what we had given you before, but you donated to others. We will also establish the same amount of salary for your brother Hassan ibn Sahl plus half of his previous salary. This is for your sake, since he made a really good effort in fighting with the rebellious ones, and conquered Iraq twice. He dispersed the Satanic groups and thus religion was strengthened, and consecutive wars ended. He saved us, all the heads of the army and the politicians on the right by using himself.

 And we (Al-Ma’mun and Al-Reza (s)) call God, His angels, the best of the people and all of those who have pledged allegiance to us and promised to be loyal to us as witnesses to what is in this book today and for the future. We establish God as the guarantor. We consider it incumbent upon ourselves to be loyal to the conditions that we have set with no exceptions in public or private. Believers adhere to their covenants. A covenant is binding and we are responsible. The best of the people are those who honor their covenants even when in the position of power. God the Highest said, ‘Fulfill the Covenant of God when ye have entered into it, and break not your oaths after ye have confirmed them; indeed ye have made God your surety; for God knoweth all that ye do.’ [256]

Al-Hassan ibn Sahl wrote the following down for Al-Ma’mun, “In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. The Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) has made all that is in this book incumbent upon himself and God the Highest is the witness thereto. He is the guarantor. The book is written in his own handwriting in the (Arabic) month of Safar of the year 202 A.H. (816 A.D.) to clearly state what he has granted and the conditions thereon.”

And Al-Reza (s) wrote in it, “In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Ali ibn Musa Al-Reza binds all that which is written in this book

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وَقَدْ أَجَبْنَاكَ إِلَى مَا سَأَلْتَ وَجَعَلْنَا ذَلِكَ لَكَ مُؤَكَّداً بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَمِيثَاقِهِ الَّذِي لا تَبْدِيلَ لَهُ وَلا تَغْيِيرَ وَفَوَّضْنَا الأَمْرَ فِي وَقْتِ ذَلِكَ إِلَيْكَ فَمَا أَقَمْتَ فَعَزِيزٌ مُزَاحُ الْعِلَّةِ مَدْفُوعٌ عَنْكَ الدُّخُولُ فِيَما تَكْرَهُ مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ كَائِناً مَا كَانَ نَمْنَعُكَ مِمَّا نَمْنَعُ مِنْهُ أَنْفُسَنَا فِي الْحَالاتِ كُلِّهَا وَأنا [إِذَا] أَرَدْتَ التَّخَلِّيَ فَمُكَرَّمٌ مِزَاحُ الْبَدَنِ وَحَقٌّ لِبَدَنِكَ الرَّاحَةُ وَالْكَرَامَةُ ثُمَّ نُعْطِيكَ مَا تَتَنَاوَلُهُ مِمَّا بَذَلْنَاهُ لَكَ فِي هَذَا الْكِتَابِ فَتَرَكْتُهُ الْيَوْمَ وَجَعَلْنَا لِلْحَسَنِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ مِثْلَ مَا جَعَلْنَاهُ لَكَ وَنِصْفَ مَا بَذَلْنَاهُ مِنَ الْعَطِيَّةِ وَأَهْلُ ذَلِكَ هُوَ لَكَ وَبِمَا بَذَلَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ فِي جِهَادِ الْعُتَاةِ وَفَتْحِ الْعِرَاقِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَتَفْرِيقِ جُمُوعِ الشَّيْطَانِ بِيَدَيْهِ حَتَّى قَوِيَ الدِّينُ وَخَاضَ نِيرَانَ الْحُرُوبِ وَفَاءً وَشُكْراً بِنَفْسِهِ وَأَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَمَنْ سَاسَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءِ الْحَقِّ وَأَشْهَدْنَا اللَّهَ وَمَلائِكَتَهُ وَخِيَارَ خَلْقِهِ وَكُلَّ مَنْ أَعْطَانَا بَيْعَتَهُ وَصَفْقَةَ يَمِينِهِ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ وَبَعْدَهُ عَلَى مَا فِي هَذَا الْكِتَابِ وَجَعَلْنَا اللَّهَ عَلَيْنَا كَفِيلاً وَأَوْجَبْنَا عَلَى أَنْفُسِنَا الْوَفَاءَ بِمَا شَرَطْنَا مِنْ غَيْرِ اسْتِثْنَاءٍ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ يَنْقُضُهُ فِي سِرٍّ وَعَلانِيَةٍ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ عِنْدَ شُرُوطِهِمْ وَالْعَهْدُ فَرْضٌ مَسْئُولٌ وَأَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِالْوَفَاءِ مَنْ طَلَبَ مِنَ النَّاسِ الْوَفَاءَ وَكَانَ مَوْضِعاً لِلْقُدْرَةِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَقُولُ: وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ إِذا عاهَدْتُمْ وَلا تَنْقُضُوا الأَيْمانَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِها وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلاً إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ ما تَفْعَلُونَ.

وَكَتَبَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ تَوْقِيعَ الْمَأْمُونِ فِيهِ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. قَدْ أَوْجَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ جَمِيعَ مَا فِي هَذَا الْكِتَابِ وَأَشْهَدَ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَجَعَلَهُ عَلَيْهِ دَاعِياً وَكَفِيلاً وَكَتَبَ بِخَطِّهِ فِي صَفَرٍ سَنَةَ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمِائَتَيْنِ تَشْرِيفاً لِلْحِبَاءِ وَتَوْكِيداً لِلشَّرِيطَةِ.

تَوْقِيعُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. قَدْ أَلْزَمَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى نَفْسَهُ جَمِيعَ

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upon himself as stressed here on this day, tomorrow and for as long as he lives. I establish God the Highest as a witness thereto and a guarantor. It suffices for God to be a witness.” And Al-Reza (s) wrote in his own handwriting, “In this month and this year. (And praise be to God - the Lord of the Two Worlds. And blessings be upon Muhammad (s) and his Household, and greetings be upon them. God suffices for us and He is the best Trustee).”

40-23 Hamza ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Zayd ibn Ali ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s) narrated in Qum in the month of Rajab of the year 339 A.H. (949 A.D.) that Ali ibn Ibrahim informed me on the following through a book in the year 307 A.H. (918 A.D.) in which he wrote on the authority of Yasir - the servant, “Whenever Al-Reza (s) had a private session, he gathered all his workers - whether young or old - and talked with them and was friendly with them. When Al-Reza (s) sat down to dine, he invited them all -whether young or old - to sit down at the same tablecloth. He did not leave anyone out. He even invited the horse caretaker and the phlebotomist. One day we were with the Imam (s) and heard the door which connected Al-Ma’mun’s house to Abil Hassan’s house open. Then Al-Reza (s) told us, “Stand up and disperse.” We stood up. Al-Ma’mun came in with a long letter in his hand. Al-Reza (s) decided to get up, but Al-Ma’mun swore to him by the right of God’s Prophet (s) - not to stand up. Then he went to Abil Hassan (s), kissed him and sat down in front of him leaning on the cushion, and read that letter for him. The letter said that we have opened the gates of such and such a castle, have conquered such and such towns, etc. When he finished reading, Al-Reza (s) asked him, “Does conquering one of the towns of the pagans make you happy?” Al-Ma’mun replied to him, “Is there not happiness in it?” He (s) said, “O Commander of the Faithful! Fear God in the way you deal with the nation of Muhammad (s) and the mission that God has given you, and made you especial in that. You have left the Muslims’ affairs unattended to, and have turned running their affairs over to others who rule over them in ways different from God’s Decrees. You have totally forgotten about these towns, have left the town of the Emigration (Medina) and the site of descension of the revelations where the Emigrants (Muhajerin) and their Helpers (Ansar) were oppressed there. There is no taking into consideration of the believers or the Divine Covenants. The oppressed

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مَا فِي الْكِتَابِ عَلَى مَا وُكِّدَ فِيهِ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ وَغَدِهِ مَا دَامَ حَيّاً وَجَعَلَ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ رَاعِياً وَكَفِيلاً وَكَفى‏ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيداً وَكَتَبَ بِخَطِّهِ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ مِنْ هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَحَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ.

23 - حَدَّثَنا حَمْزَة بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيْد بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحُسَيْن بْنِ‏أَبي طالِب‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بقم فِي رَجَب سِنَةَ تِسْعَ وَثَلاثِينَ وَثَلاثِمائَةٍ قالَ أَخْبَرنِي عَلِىِّ بْنِ‏هاشِم فِيما كتب إِلى‏ سِنَةِ سبع وَثَلاثِمائَةٍ قالَ حَدَّثَني ياسر الخادِم قالَ كَانَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِذَا خَلا جَمَعَ حَشَمَهُ كُلَّهُمْ عِنْدَهُ الصَّغِيرَ وَالْكَبِيرَ فَيُحَدِّثُهُمْ وَيَأْنَسُ بِهِمْ وَيُؤْنِسُهُمْ وَكَانَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِذَا جَلَسَ عَلَى الْمَائِدَةِ لا يَدَعُ صَغِيراً وَلا كَبِيراً حَتَّى السَّائِسَ وَالْحَجَّامَ إِلا أَقْعَدَهُ مَعَهُ عَلَى مَائِدَتِهِ قَالَ يَاسِرٌ فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَهُ يَوْماً إِذْ سَمِعْنَا وَقْعَ الْقُفْلِ الَّذِي كَانَ عَلَى بَابِ الْمَأْمُونِ إِلَى دَارِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقَالَ لَنَا الرِّضَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قُومُوا تَفَرَّقُوا فَقُمْنَا عَنْهُ فَجَاءَ الْمَأْمُونُ وَمَعَهُ كِتَابٌ طَوِيلٌ فَأَرَادَ الرِّضَاأَنْ يَقُومَ فَأَقْسَمَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَأْمُونُ بِحَقِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَنْ لا يَقُومَ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ حَتَّى انْكَبَّ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَقَبَّلَ وَجْهَهُ وَقَعَدَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ عَلَى وِسَادَةٍ فَقَرَأَ ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ فَتْحٌ لِبَعْضِ قُرَى كَابُلَ فِيهِ إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا قَرْيَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ لَهُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَسَرَّكَ فَتْحُ قَرْيَةٍ مِنْ قُرَى الشِّرْكِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ: أَوَلَيْسَ فِي ذَلِكَ سُرُورٌ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ فِي أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَمَا وَلاكَ اللَّهُ مِنْ هَذَا الأَمْرِ وَخَصَّكَ بِهِ فَإِنَّكَ قَدْ ضَيَّعْتَ أُمُورَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَفَوَّضْتَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى غَيْرِكَ يَحْكُمُ فِيهِمْ بِغَيْرِ حُكْمِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَقَعَدْتَ فِي هَذِهِ الْبِلادِ وَتَرَكْتَ بَيْتَ الْهِجْرَةِ وَمَهْبِطَ الْوَحْيِ وَإِنَّ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالأَنْصَارَ يُظْلَمُونَ دُونَكَ وَلا يَرْقُبُونَ فِي مُؤْمِنٍ إِلّاً وَلا ذِمَّةً وَيَأْتِي عَلَى

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people there are having hard times. They cannot provide for their basic expenses. They find no one to complain to regarding their conditions and they cannot reach you. O Commander of the Faithful! Fear God. Attend to the affairs of the Muslims. Return to the home of the Prophethood and the source of the Emigrants and the Helpers. O Commander of the Faithful! Beware that the ruler of the Muslims is like the main pillar of a tent. Whoever wants to attack the tent captures the main pillar.” Al-Ma’mun asked him (s), “O my Master! What do you think now?” Al-Reza (s) replied, “I think that you should leave these towns and return to the place of your father and forefathers. Take care of the affairs of the Muslims. Do not leave them up to someone else. Indeed God the Highest will question you regarding your rule.” Al-Ma’mun stood up and said, “Yes, my Master! You are right!” He went out and ordered everyone to get prepared to go. The news of this reached Thul-Riasatayn. He became really depressed about this, since he was totally in charge of all the affairs; and Al-Ma’mun’s views were not important at all since he did not dare oppose. That is why Al-Ma’mun sought to strengthen himself through Al-Reza (s). Then Thul-Riasatayn went to Al-Ma’mun and asked him, “O Commander of the Faithful! What is this order that you have issued?” Al-Ma’mun replied, “My Master Abul Hassan (Al-Reza (s)) has ordered me to do so, and it is right.” Thul-Riasatayn said, “O Commander of the Faithful! This is not right. Yesterday you killed your brother and seized the Caliphate (the rule) from him. Your father’s children, all the people of Iraq, your family and all the Arabs are your enemies. Then there is a second issue being that you designated Abil Hassan (Al-Reza (s)) as the successor to the throne and took the Caliphate from your own family. The public, the jurists, the scholars and the Abbasids were not in agreement with you. They hate you in their hearts. The best thing to do is to stay in Khorasan until the people’s hearts calm down about this issue, and they slowly get accustomed to you and forget what you did to your brother Muhammad. O Commander of the Faithful! There are elders with whom your father used to consult. You also must seek their advice on this issue. If they agree with this, then go ahead with it.” Al-Ma’mun asked, “Like who?” Thul-Riasatayn replied, “People like Ali ibn (Abi) Imran, Abu Yunus and Al-Joloodi (who had refused to pledge allegiance to Abil Hassan (Al-Reza (s)), since they were not pleased with him and were prisoned by Al-Ma’mun for this).” Al-Ma’mun said, “Fine.”

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الْمَظْلُومِ دَهْرٌ يُتْعِبُ فِيهِ نَفْسَهُ وَيَعْجِزُ عَنْ نَفَقَتِهِ فَلا يَجِدُ مَنْ يَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ حَالَهُ وَلا يَصِلُ إِلَيْكَ فَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي أُمُورِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَارْجِعْ إِلَى بَيْتِ النُّبُوَّةِ وَمَعْدِنِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالأَنْصَارِ أَمَا عَلِمْتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنَّ وَالِيَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِثْلُ الْعَمُودِ فِي وَسَطِ الْفُسْطَاطِ مَنْ أَرَادَهُ أَخَذَهُ قَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ يَا سَيِّدِي فَمَا تَرَى قَالَ أَرَى أَنْ تَخْرُجَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْبِلادِ وَتَتَحَوَّلَ إِلَى مَوْضِعِ آبَائِكَ وَأَجْدَادِكَ وَتَنْظُرَ فِي أُمُورِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَلا تَكِلَهُمْ إِلَى غَيْرِكَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ سَائِلُكَ عَمَّا وَلاكَ فَقَامَ الْمَأْمُونُ فَقَالَ نِعْمَ مَا قُلْتَ يَا سَيِّدِي هَذَا هُوَ الرَّأْيُ وَخَرَجَ وَأَمَرَ أَنْ تُقَدَّمَ النَّوَائِبُ وَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ ذَا الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ فَغَمَّهُ غَمّاً شَدِيداً وَقَدْ كَانَ غَلَبَ عَلَى الأَمْرِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْمَأْمُونِ عِنْدَهُ رَأْيٌ فَلَمْ يَجْسُرْ أَنْ يُكَاشِفَهُ ثُمَّ قَوِيَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ جِدّاً فَجَاءَ ذُو الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ إِلَى الْمَأْمُونِ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا هَذَا الرَّأْيُ الَّذِي أَمَرْتَ بِهِ فَقَالَ أَمَرَنِي سَيِّدِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ بِذَلِكَ وَهُوَ الصَّوَابُ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا هَذَا بِصَوَابٍ قَتَلْتَ بِالأَمْسِ أَخَاكَ وَأَزَلْتَ الْخِلافَةَ عَنْهُ وَبَنُو أَبِيكَ مُعَادُونَ لَكَ وَجَمِيعُ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَأَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ وَالْعَرَبِ ثُمَّ أَحْدَثْتَ هَذَا الْحَدَثَ الثَّانِيَ أَنَّكَ جَعَلْتَ وِلايَةَ الْعَهْدِ لابِي الْحَسَنِ وَأَخْرَجْتَهَا مِنْ بَنِي أَبِيكَ وَالْعَامَّةُ وَالْعُلَمَاءُ وَالْفُقَهَاءُ وَآلُ عَبَّاسٍ لا يَرْضَوْنَ بِذَلِكَ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ مُتَنَافِرَةٌ عَنْكَ وَالرَّأْيُ أَنْ تُقِيمَ بِخُرَاسَانَ حَتَّى تَسْكُنَ قُلُوبُ النَّاسِ عَلَى هَذَا وَيَتَنَاسَوْا مَا كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِ مُحَمَّدٍ أَخِيكَ وَهَاهُنَا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَشَايِخُ قَدْ خَدَمُوا الرَّشِيدَ وَعَرَفُوا الأَمْرَ فَاسْتَشِرْهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ فَإِنْ أَشَارُوا بِهِ فَامْضِهِ فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ مِثْلُ مَنْ قَالَ مِثْلُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ وَابْنِ مُونِسَ وَالْجَلُودِيِّ وَهَؤُلاءِ هُمُ الَّذِينَ نَقَمُوا بَيْعَةَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَلَمْ يَرْضَوْا بِهِ فَحَبَسَهُمُ الْمَأْمُونُ بِهَذَا السَّبَبِ فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ نَعَمْ.

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The next morning Abul Hassan Al-Reza (s) went to Al-Ma’mun and said, “O Commander of the Faithful! What did you do?” Al-Ma’mun informed Al-Reza (s) about what Thul-Riasatayn had said, and ordered that those three people be taken out of prison and brought to him. At first, Ali ibn (Abi) Imran entered. When he saw Al-Reza (s) sitting next to Al-Ma’mun, he said, “O Commander of the Faithful! I will entrust you to God. Don’t ever let this affair that God has established for you and has made you especial for it, be taken out and placed into the hands of your enemies who were ordered to be killed and were thrown out of their hometowns by your forefathers (referring to Imam Al-Reza (s) and his forefathers (s)). Then Al-Ma’mun said, “O bastard! You still think this way? O guard! Behead him.” Then he was beheaded. Then Abu Yunus came in. When he saw Al-Reza (s) sitting next to Al-Ma’mun he said, “O Commander of the Faithful! This man at your side is an idol that they worship besides God.” Al-Ma’mun said, “O bastard! You still think this way, too? O guard! Behead him.” Then he was beheaded. Then al-Joloodi entered.[257]

(When Muhammad ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad revolted in Medina during the rule of Al-Rashid, Al-Joloodi was sent there with orders to behead Muhammad if he overcame him. He was also ordered to loot the Talibites’ homes of the, to strip their women and take away all their clothing but one article. Al-Joloodi did that. That was the time when Abul Hassan Musa ibn Ja’far (s) was killed[258]. Al-Joloodi reached Abul Hassan Al-Reza’s (s) house. He attacked his house with his troops. Al-Reza (s) took all the women into the house and stood at the door himself. Al-Joloodi told Abil Hassan (s), “I must enter and take away in person everything that they possess, as the Commander of the Faithful has ordered this.” Al-Reza (s) told him, “I will take all of it myself and promise that I will not leave anything behind.” Al-Joloodi, however, did not agree to this and kept trying to do that himself. The Imam (s) promised him and he finally agreed. Then Abal Hassan Al-Reza (s) went in and took away all their possessions including their earrings, anklets and other ornaments; and handed them over to Al-Joloodi. They took away everything else that was in the house, too.)[259]

When Al-Joloodi entered that day, Al-Reza (s) told Al-Ma’mun, “O Commander of the Faithful! Grant this old man to me. Al-Ma’mun said, “O my Master! This is the same man who did the same to the family of

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فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ جَاءَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَدَخَلَ عَلَى الْمَأْمُونِ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا صَنَعْتَ فَحَكَى لَهُ مَا قَالَ ذُو الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ وَدَعَا الْمَأْمُونُ بِهَؤُلاءِ النَّفَرِ فَأَخْرَجَهُمْ مِنَ الْحَبْسِ فَأَوَّلُ مَنْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِجَنْبِ الْمَأْمُونِ فَقَالَ أُعِيذُكَ بِاللَّهِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْ تُخْرِجَ هَذَا الأَمْرَ الَّذِي جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَخَصَّكُمْ بِهِ وَتَجْعَلَهُ فِي أَيْدِي أَعْدَائِكُمْ وَمَنْ كَانَ آبَاؤُكَ يَقْتُلُونَهُمْ وَيُشَرِّدُونَهُمْ فِي الْبِلادِ قَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ الزَّانِيَةِ وَأَنْتَ بَعْدُ عَلَى هَذَا قَدِّمْهُ يَا حَرَسِيُّ وَاضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ فَضُرِبَتْ عُنُقُهُ وَأُدْخِلَ ابْنُ مُونِسَ فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِجَنْبِ الْمَأْمُونِ قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هَذَا الَّذِي بِجَنْبِكَ وَاللَّهِ صَنَمٌ يُعْبَدُ دُونَ اللَّهِ قَالَ لَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ يَا ابْنَ الزَّانِيَةِ وَأَنْتَ بَعْدُ عَلَى هَذَا يَا حَرَسِيُّ قَدِّمْهُ وَاضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ فَضَرَبَ عُنُقَهُ ثُمَّ أُدْخِلَ الْجَلُودِيُّ وَكَانَ الْجَلُودِيُّ فِي خِلافَةِ الرَّشِيدِ لَمَّا خَرَجَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ بَعَثَهُ الرَّشِيدُ وَأَمَرَهُ إِنْ ظَفِرَ بِهِ أَنْ يَضْرِبَ عُنُقَهُ وَأَنْ يُغِيرَ عَلَى دُورِ آلِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأَنْ يَسْلُبَ نِسَاءَهُمْ وَلا يَدَعَ عَلَى وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ إِلا ثَوْباً وَاحِداً فَفَعَلَ الْجَلُودِيُّ ذَلِكَ وَقَدْ كَانَ مَضَى أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَصَارَ الْجَلُودِيُّ إِلَى بَابِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَانْهَجَمَ عَلَى دَارِهِ مَعَ خَيْلِهِ فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ جَعَلَ النِّسَاءَ كُلَّهُن فِي بَيْتٍ وَوَقَفَ عَلَى بَابِ الْبَيْتِ فَقَالَ الْجَلُودِيُّ لابِي الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لا بُدَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَدْخُلَ الْبَيْتَ فَأَسْلُبَهُنَّ كَمَا أَمَرَنِي أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَنَا أَسْلُبُهُنَّ لَكَ وَأَحْلِفُ أَنِّي لا أَدَعُ عَلَيْهِنَّ شَيْئاً إِلا أَخَذْتُهُ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَطْلُبُ إِلَيْهِ وَيَحْلِفُ لَهُ حَتَّى سَكَنَ فَدَخَلَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَلَمْ يَدَعْ عَلَيْهِنَّ شَيْئاً حَتَّى أَقْرَاطِهِنَّ وَخَلاخِيلِهِنَّ وَإِزَارِهِنَّ إِلا أَخَذَهُ مِنْهُنَّ وَجَمِيعَ مَا كَانَ فِي الدَّارِ مِنْ قَلِيلٍ وَكَثِيرٍ فَلَمَّا كَانَ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَلُودِيُّ عَلَى الْمَأْمُونِ قَالَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هَبْ لِي هَذَا الشَّيْخَ فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ يَا سَيِّدِي هَذَا الَّذِي فَعَـلَ بِبَنَـاتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مَـا فَعَلَ مِنْ سَلْبِهِنَّ. فَنَظَرَ

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God’s Prophet (s) as he did when looting the goods of the women.” Al-Joloodi was looking at Al-Reza (s) who was talking to Al-Ma’mun and insisting that he be forgiven and be turned over to Al-Reza (s). However, he imagined that Al-Reza (s) was talking against him knowing what he had done. Thus he told Al-Ma’mun, “O Commander of the Faithful! I ask you in the Name of God and due to the services that I have rendered to Al-Rashid that you do not accept what he says.” Then Al-Ma’mun said, “O Abal Hassan (Al-Reza (s))! I forgive him but he is swearing that I reject your request.” Then he told Al-Reza (s), “No, by God, I will not accept what he says about you. Let him join his friends.” He was taken away and beheaded, too.[260] Then Thul-Riasatayn went to his father Sahl. Al-Ma’mun had already issued orders to ride. However Thul-Riasatayn had refused. Since Al-Ma’mun had killed those three men, Zul-Riasatasyn knew that he was determined to leave. Then Al-Reza (s) asked him, “O Commander of the Faithful! What did you do about getting ready to go?” Al-Ma’mun said, “O my Master! Please tell them yourself to do that.” Then Abul Hassan (s) went out and loudly announced to the people, “Bring forth the animals.” It was as if he had spread fire amongst the people. The agents brought forth the riding animals. Thul-Riasatayn was still sitting at home. Al-Ma’mun sent someone and called him in and asked why he was sitting in the house. He replied, “O Commander of the Faithful! My sins are innumerable in the sight of the members of your household and the general public. The people blame me for killing your dethroned brother and for pledging allegiance to Al-Reza (s). I am not secure from the bad wishers, the jealous ones, and the oppressors who may gossip behind my back before you. Please leave me here in Khorasan and let me run the affairs here.” Then Al-Ma’mun told him, “We are not yet not in need of you. And regarding what you said that they might make trouble for you, you have been tested by us and are known to be a sympathetic counselor. Write whatever form of letter of immunity that you wish to and I will sign it for you to be sure.” Then Thul-Riasatayn went and wrote a letter himself and had it signed by all the scholars. He then brought it to Al-Ma’mun and recited it. Al-Ma’mun granted whatever he had wanted and wrote it in his own handwriting and added to it that he would grant him whatever property, land or power that he desired in the world. Then Thul-Riasatayn said, “It is necessary for Abil Hassan’s (Al-Reza (s)) handwriting to be in this letter of immunity. He should accept this as you

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الْجَلُودِيُّ إِلَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَهُوَ يُكَلِّمُ الْمَأْمُونَ وَيَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ أَنْ يَعْفُوَعَنْهُ وَيَهَبَهُ لَهُ فَظَنَّ أَنَّهُ يُعِينُ عَلَيْهِ لِمَا كَانَ الْجَلُودِيُّ فَعَلَهُ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِاللَّهِ وَبِخِدْمَتِي لِلرَّشِيدِ أَنْ لا تَقْبَلَ قَوْلَ هَذَا فِيَّ فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ قَدِ اسْتَعْفَى وَنَحْنُ نُبِرُّ قَسَمَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ: لا وَاللَّهِ لا أَقْبَلُ فِيكَ قَوْلَهُ أَلْحِقُوهُ بِصَاحِبَيْهِ فَقُدِّمَ وَضُرِبَ عُنُقُهُ وَرَجَعَ ذُو الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ إِلَى أَبِيهِ سَهْلٍ وَقَدْ كَانَ الْمَأْمُونُ أَمَرَ أَنْ تُقَدَّمَ النَّوَائِبُ فَرَدَّهَا ذُو الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ فَلَمَّا قَتَلَ الْمَأْمُونُ هَؤُلاءِ عَلِمَ ذُو الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ أَنَّهُ قَدْ عَزَمَ عَلَى الْخُرُوجِ فَقَالَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا صَنَعْتَ بِتَقْدِيمِ النَّوَائِبِ قَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ يَا سَيِّدِي مُرْهُمْ أَنْتَ بِذَلِكَ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَصَاحَ بِالنَّاسِ قَدِّمُوا النَّوَائِبَ قَالَ فَكَأَنَّمَا وَقَعَتْ فِيهِمُ النِّيرَانُ وَأَقْبَلَتِ النَّوَائِبُ يَتَقَدَّمُ وَيَخْرُجُ وَقَعَدَ ذُو الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ مَنْزِلَهُ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ الْمَأْمُونُ فَأَتَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا لَكَ قَعَدْتَ فِي بَيْتِكَ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّ ذَنْبِي عَظِيمٌ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ وَعِنْدَ الْعَامَّةِ وَالنَّاسُ يَلُومُونَنِي بِقَتْلِ أَخِيكَ الَْمخْلُوعِ وَبَيْعَةِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَلا آمُنُ السُّعَاةَ وَالْحُسَّادَ وَأَهْلَ الْبَغْيِ أَنْ يَسْعَوْا بِي فَدَعْنِي أَخْلُفُكَ بِخُرَاسَانَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَأْمُونُ لا نَسْتَغْنِي عَنْكَ فَأَمَّا مَا قُلْتَ إِنَّهُ يُسْعَى بِكَ وَيُبْغَى لَكَ الْغَوَائِلُ فَلَيْسَ أَنْتَ عِنْدَنَا إِلا الثِّقَةَ الْمَأْمُونَ النَّاصِحَ الْمُشْفِقَ فَاكْتُبْ لِنَفْسِكَ مَا تَثِقُ بِهِ مِنَ الضَّمَانِ وَالأَمَانِ وَأَكِّدْ لِنَفْسِكَ مَا تَكُونُ بِهِ مُطْمَئِنّاً فَذَهَبَ وَكَتَبَ لِنَفْسِهِ كِتَاباً وَجَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَأَتَى بِهِ الْمَأْمُونَ فَقَرَأَهُ وَأَعْطَاهُ الْمَأْمُونُ كُلَّ مَا أَحَبَّ وَكَتَبَ لَهُ بِخَطِّهِ كِتَابَ الْحَبْوَةِ إِنِّي قَدْ حَبَوْتُكَ بِكَذَا وَكَذَا مِنَ الأَمْوَالِ وَالضِّيَاعِ وَالسُّلْطَانِ وَبَسَطَ لَهُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا أَمَلَهُ فَقَالَ ذُو الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَجِبُ أَنْ يَكُونَ خَطُّ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ فِي هَذَا الأَمَانِ يُعْطِينَا مَا أَعْطَيْتَ، فَإِنَّهُ وَلِيُّ عَهْدِكَ، فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ

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did since he is the successor to the throne.” Al-Ma’mun said, “You know that Abal Hassan (Al-Reza (s)) made a condition not to interfere in any of our affairs, or say anything. We cannot ask him to do what he does not like to do. Ask him yourself. It is hoped that he does not turn you down.” Then he went and asked for permission to see Abil Hassan (Al-Reza (s)). Yasir added, “Al-Reza (s) told us to go away and we did. Al-Fadhl came in and stood in front of Al-Reza (s). After a while, Abul Hassan Al-Reza (s) raised his head and asked him, “O Al-Fadhl! What do you want?” He said, “O my Master! This is a letter of immunity that the Commander of the Faithful has written for me. It is also best if you could grant me the same as he did, since you are the successor to the throne for the Muslims.” Then Al-Reza (s) told him, “Read it.” He stood up and recited it, even though it was long. When he finished, Abul Hassan Al-Reza (s) told him, “O Fadhl! As long as you fear God the Honorable the Exalted, this holds true for you with me.” Yasir added, “The Imam (s) restricted Thul-Riasatayn with what he (s) said.” Then Thul-Riasatayn left. Al-Ma’mun set out and we left along with Al-Reza (s). A few days passed. We were at one of the way-stations when Thul-Riasatayn received a letter from his brother Al-Hassan ibn Sahl saying, “I have taken a look at the astrology chart. You will experience the heat of the iron and fire on the Wednesday of such and such a month. I think that you, Al-Reza (s) and the Commander of the Faithful should go to the bath on that day and you should do a phlebotomy so that blood can flow out of your body and the bad omen that is in you on that day gets removed.” Then Al-Fadhl dispatched someone to Al-Ma’mun and reported this and asked that he accompany him to the bath and also ask Abal Hassan Al-Reza (s) to do the same. Then Al-Ma’mun wrote to Al-Reza (s) and asked him to do so. Abal Hassan (Al-Reza (s)) wrote him back and said, “I will not go to the bath tomorrow, since just tonight I dreamt of God’s Prophet (s) who told me, ‘O Ali! Do not go to the bath tomorrow. Therefore I do not consider it wise for you or Al-Fadhl to go to the bath.” Al-Ma’mun wrote him (s) back, “O my Master! You are right. God’s Prophet (s) is right. I will not go to the bath, but Al-Fadhl knows best for himself.”

Yasir added, “When the sun set and the night came Al-Reza (s) told us, ‘Say I seek refuge in God from the evil that will descend tonight.’ We started saying that until dawn when Al-Reza (s) said his prayers. He said, ‘Say I seek refuge in God from the evil that will descend today.’ Then

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قَدْ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَدْ شَرَطَ عَلَيْنَا أَنْ لا يَعْمَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئاً وَلا يُحْدِثَ حَدَثاً فَلا نَسْأَلُهُ مَا يَكْرَهُهُ فَاسْأَلْهُ أَنْتَ فَإِنَّهُ لا يَأْبَى عَلَيْكَ فِي هَذَا فَجَاءَ وَاسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَالَ يَاسِرٌ فَقَالَ لَنَا الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قُومُوا فَتَنَحَّوْا فَتَنَحَّيْنَا فَدَخَلَ فَوَقَفَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ سَاعَةً فَرَفَعَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏رَأْسَهُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا حَاجَتُكَ يَا فَضْلُ قَالَ يَا سَيِّدِي هَذَا مَا كَتَبَهُ لِي أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَنْتَ أَوْلَى أَنْ تُعْطِيَنَا مِثْلَ مَا أَعْطَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ كُنْتَ وَلِيَّ عَهْدِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ اقْرَأْهُ وَكَانَ كِتَاباً فِي أَكْبَرِ جِلْدٍ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ قَائِماً حَتَّى قَرَأَهُ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ لَهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَا فَضْلُ لَكَ عَلَيْنَا هَذَا مَا اتَّقَيْتَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ يَاسِرٌ فَنَقَضَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرَهُ فِي كَلِمَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ فَخَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ وَخَرَجَ الْمَأْمُونُ وَخَرَجْنَا مَعَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ بِأَيَّامٍ وَنَحْنُ فِي بَعْضِ الْمَنَازِلِ وَرَدَ عَلَى ذِي الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ كِتَابٌ مِنْ أَخِيهِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ أَنِّي نَظَرْتُ فِي تَحْوِيلِ هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ فِي حِسَابِ النُّجُومِ وَوَجَدْتُ فِيهِ أَنَّكَ تَذُوقُ فِي شَهْرِ كَذَا يَوْمَ الأَرْبِعَاءِ حَرَّ الْحَدِيدِ وَحَرَّ النَّارِ وَأَرَى أَنْ تَدْخُلَ أَنْتَ وَالرِّضَا وَأَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْحَمَّامَ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ فَتَحْتَجِمَ فِيهِ وَتَصُبَّ الدَّمَ عَلَى بَدَنِكَ لِيَزُولَ نَحْسُهُ عَنْكَ فَبَعَثَ الْفَضْلُ إِلَى الْمَأْمُونِ وَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ بِذَلِكَ وَسَأَلَهُ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ الْحَمَّامَ مَعَهُ وَيَسْأَلَ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَيْضاً ذَلِكَ فَكَتَبَ الْمَأْمُونُ إِلَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ رُقْعَةً فِي ذَلِكَ وَسَأَلَهُ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لَسْتُ بِدَاخِل غَداً الْحَمَّامَ وَلا أَرَى لَكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْ تَدْخُلَ الْحَمَّامَ غَداً وَلا أَرَى لِلْفَضْلِ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ الْحَمَّامَ غَداً فَأَعَادَ إِلَيْهِ الرُّقْعَةَ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏لَسْتُ بِدَاخِلٍ غَداً الْحَمَّامَ فَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏فِي النَّوْمِ فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ يَقُولُ لِي: يَا عَلِيُّ لا تَدْخُلِ الْحَمَّامَ غَداً فَلا أَرَى لَكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلا لِلْفَضْلِ أَنْ تَدْخُلا الْحَمَّامَ غَداً فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ الْمَأْمُونُ صَدَقْتَ يَا سَيِّدِي وَصَدَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَسْتُ بِدَاخِلٍ غَداً الْحَمَّامَ وَالْفَضْلُ فَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ وَمَا يَفْعَلُهُ قَالَ يَاسِرٌ فَلَمَّا أَمْسَيْنَا وَغَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَالَ لَنَا الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قُولُوا نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَنْزِلُ فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ فَأَقْبَلْنَا نَقُولُ كَذَلِكَ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ الصُّبْحَ قَالَ لَنَا قُولُوا نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَنْزِلُ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ فَمَا زِلْنَا نَقُولُ ذَلِكَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ

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near dawn, Al-Reza (s) told me, ‘Go to the roof and see if you can hear anything.’ When I went on up onto the roof, I heard a lot of mourning and crying that was increasing. Then I saw that Al-Ma’mun entered the house through the gate from his house to Abil Hassan’s (s) house and said, ‘O my Master! O Abal Hassan (Al-Reza (s))! May God grant you rewards for the calamity that has happened to Al-Fadhl. He had entered the bath when some people attacked him with swords and killed him. They were three in number[261]. One of them was Al-Fadhl’s maternal cousin (his aunt’s son) called Thul-Qalamayn[262].” Then the troops and the heads of the army who were under the control of Thul-Riasatayn gathered in front of Al-Ma’mun’s house and said, “Al-Ma’mun has tricked him and killed him. We will take revenge.” Then Al-Ma’mun told Al-Reza (s), “O my Master! Please consider going out and dispersing them.” Then Al-Reza (s) got on the horse and told me to get on the horse, too. Then when we got out of the house, Al-Reza (s) saw that they had gathered there and had made a fire to put the door on fire and burn it. Then Al-Reza (s) yelled at them and pointed at them with his hand saying, “Disperse!” They all dispersed. The people ran away with such fear that they ran into each other and fell over one another. Whoever Al-Reza (s) pointed at ran away. Everyone left and no body was left.

40-24 Al-Hakim Abu Ali Al-Hussein ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowli quoted on the authority of Muhammad al-Kendi, on the authority of Abul Hussein 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 Al-Reza (s) crying and told him, “O Abal Hassan (Al-Reza (s))! This is the time in which I need you. Please take charge of the affairs and help me.” The Imam (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 Hussein) asked Al-Reza (s), “May God honor you! Why didn’t you accept what he offered?” He (s) replied, “O Aba Hussein! Woe be to you! Are you not at all affected by what has happened?” When the Imam (s) noticed that I was upset about what had happened, he (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.”

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قَرِيباً مِنْ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ قَالَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ اصْعَدِ السَّطْحَ فَاسْتَمِعْ هَلْ تَسْمَعُ شَيْئاً فَلَمَّا صَعِدْتُ سَمِعْتُ الضَّجَّةَ وَالنَّحِيبَ وَكَثُرَ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا بِالْمَأْمُونِ قَدْ دَخَلَ مِنَ الْبَابِ الَّذِي كَانَ إِلَى دَارِهِ مِنْ دَارِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُولُ: يَا سَيِّدِي يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ آجَرَكَ اللَّهُ فِي الْفَضْلِ وَكَانَ دَخَلَ الْحَمَّامَ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ قَوْمٌ بِالسُّيُوفِ فَقَتَلُوهُ وَأُخِذَ مَنْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْحَمَّامِ وَكَانُوا ثَلاثَةَ نَفَرٍ أَحَدُهُمْ ابْنُ خَالَةِ الْفَضْلِ ذُو الْقَلَمَيْنِ قَالَ وَاجْتَمَعَ الْقُوَّادُ وَالْجُنْدُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ رِجَالِ ذِي الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ عَلَى بَابِ الْمَأْمُونِ فَقَالُوا اغْتَالَهُ وَقَتَلَهُ فَلَنَطْلُبَنَّ بِدَمِهِ فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ لِلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَا سَيِّدِي تَرَى أَنْ تَخْرُجَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَتُفَرِّقَهُمْ قَالَ يَاسِرٌ فَرَكِبَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَقَالَ لِيَ ارْكَبْ فَلَمَّا خَرَجْنَا مِنَ الْبَابِ نَظَرَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَقَدِ اجْتَمَعُوا وَجَاءُوا بِالنِّيرَانِ لِيُحْرِقُوا الْبَابَ فَصَاحَ بِهِمْ وَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِمْ بِيَدِهِ تَفَرَّقُوا فَتَفَرَّقُوا قَالَ يَاسِرٌ فَأَقْبَلَ النَّاسُ وَاللَّهِ يَقَعُ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَمَا أَشَارَ إِلَى أَحَدٍ إِلا رَكَضَ وَمَرَّ وَلَمْ يَقِفْ لَهُ أَحَدٌ.

24 - حَدَّثَنا الْحاكِم أَبُو عَلِي الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أحْمَد الْبِيْهَقِيُّ 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.

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40-25 Al-Hakim Abu Ali Al-Hussein ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowli quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abi al-Moaj ibn Al-Hussein al-Razi, on the authority of his father that he had heard someone quote Al-Reza (s) as having said, “Praise be to God who protected for us what the people had ruined, and promoted us no matter how much the people debased us. They cursed us while lecturing on the atheists’ pulpits for eighty years. They covered up our nobilities. They spent money and attributed it to us. However, God the Highest wished to increase our remembrance and elucidate our nobility. By God, what was done to us was not just aimed at us. It was truly aimed at God’s Prophet (s), and it was due to our closeness to him. That is why we were oppressed so much. However, our leadership and what we narrated about him will be the greatest signs and proofs of his Prophethood after us.”

40-26 Al-Hakim Abu Ali Al-Hussein ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowli quoted on the authority of Al-Qalabi, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Isa ibn Zayd, “When Al-Ma’mun ordered a man to be killed, the man said, ‘Let me live since I have been grateful to you.’ He said, ‘Who are you to be grateful?’ Then Ali ibn Musa Al-Reza (s) said, ‘O Commander of the Faithful! I adjure you by God the Highest that you appreciate what the people do - even if it is very little - since God the Highest ordered His servants to thank Him. They thanked Him and He forgave them.’”

40-27 Some people have narrated that Fadhl ibn Sahl advised Al-Ma’mun to appoint Ali ibn Musa Al-Reza (s) as the successor to the throne. Among them we can mention Abu Ali Al-Hussein ibn Ahmad Al-Salami who has written about the events in Khorasan in his book. He wrote:

“Thul-Riasatayn Fadhl ibn Sahl was Al-Ma’mun’s minister and the master mind of his affairs. He was a Magus. He embraced Islam by means of Yahya ibn Khalid, and became one of his associates. It has been said that Sahl - the father of Al-Fadhl - embraced Islam by means of (the Abbasid) Al-Mahdi. The Barmakite [263] Yahya ibn Khalid appointed Al-Fadhl to serve Al-Ma’mun. However, Al-Fadhl consolidated his position and prevailed over him, too. He carried out all the affairs according to his own opinion and was called Thul-Riasatayn meaning

(351)

25 - حَدَّثَنا الْحاكِم أَبُو عَلِي الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أحْمَد الْبِيْهَقِيُّ قالَ حَدَّثَني مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الصُّوليُّ قالَ حَدَّثَني مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبي الموج بْنِ الحُسَيْن الرَّازِيُّ قالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبي يَقُولُ: حَدَّثَني من سمع الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُولُ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي حَفِظَ مِنَّا مَا ضَيَّعَ النَّاسُ وَرَفَعَ مِنَّا مَا وَضَعُوهُ حَتَّى قَدْ لُعِنَّا عَلَى مَنَابِرِ الْكُفْرِ ثَمَانِينَ عَاماً وَكُتِمَتْ فَضَائِلُنَا وَبُذِلَتِ الأَمْوَالُ فِي الْكَذِبِ عَلَيْنَا وَاللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَأْبَى لَنَا إِلا أَنْ يُعْلِيَ ذِكْرَنَا وَيُبَيِّنَ فَضْلَنَا وَاللَّهِ مَا هَذَا بِنَا وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَقَرَابَتِنَا مِنْهُ حَتَّى صَارَ أَمْرُنَا وَمَا نَرْوِي عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ بَعْدَنَا مِنْ أَعْظَمِ آيَاتِهِ وَدَلالاتِ نُبُوَّتِهِ.

26 - حَدَّثَنا الْحاكِم أَبُو عَلِي الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أحْمَد الْبِيْهَقِيُّ قالَ حَدَّثَني مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الصُّوليُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا الغلابي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ زِيْد أَنَّ الْمَأْمُونَ أَمَرَنِي بِقَتْلِ رَجُلٍ فَقَالَ اسْتَبْقِنِي فَإِنَّ لِي شُكْراً فَقَالَ وَمَنْ أَنْتَ وَمَا شُكْرُكَ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْشُدُكَ اللَّهَ أَنْ تَتَرَفَّعَ عَنْ شُكْرِ أَحَدٍ وَإِنْ قَلَّ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَمَرَ عِبَادَهُ بِشُكْرِهِ فَشَكَرُوهُ فَعَفَا عَنْهُمْ.

27 - وَقَدْ ذَكَرَ قَوْمٌ أَنَّ الْفَضْلَ بْنَ سَهْلٍ أَشَارَ عَلَى الْمَأْمُونِ بِأَنْ يَجْعَلَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُوسَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَلِيَّ عَهْدِهِ مِنْهُمْ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ السَّلامِيُّ فَإِنَّهُ ذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ فِي كِتَابِهِ الَّذِي صَنَّفَهُ فِي أَخْبَارِ خُرَاسَانَ قَالَ فَكَانَ الْفَضْلُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ ذُو الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ وَزِيرَ الْمَأْمُونِ وَمُدَبِّرَ أُمُورِهِ وَكَانَ مَجُوسِيّاً فَأَسْلَمَ عَلَى يَدَيْ يَحْيَى بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْبَرْمَكِيِّ وَصَحِبَهُ وَقِيلَ بَلْ أَسْلَمَ سَهْلٌ وَالِدُ الْفَضْلِ عَلَى يَدَيِ الْمَهْدِيِّ وَإِنَّ الْفَضْلَ اخْتَارَهُ يَحْيَى بْنُ خَالِدٍ الْبَـرْمَكِيُّ لِخِـدْمَةِ الْمَـأْمُونِ وَضَمَّهُ إِلَيْهِ فَتَغَلَّبَ عَلَـيْهِ وَاسْتَبَدَّ بِالأَمْرِ دُونَهُ وَإِنَّمَا لُقِّبَ بِذِي

(352)

one with two positions being the prime minister and the head of the army. One day when Al-Ma’mun took over the Caliphate, Al-Fadhl asked one of his companions, “How does what I have done compare with what Abi Muslim did?” He replied, “Abi Muslim turned the Caliphate over from one tribe to another, while what you did was turning it over from one brother to another. You know best what the difference is.” Then Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl said, “I will turn it over from one tribe to another one, too.” He then advised Al-Ma’mun to establish Ali ibn Musa Al-Reza (s) as the successor to the throne instead of his brother al-Mo’taman. Ali ibn Musa Al-Reza (s) was brought to Khorasan by Raja ibn Abi ad-Dhahhaq in the year 200 A.H. (814 A.D.) by way of Basra and Fars. Al-Ma’mun’s daughter was married off to Al-Reza (s). When the news of this reached the Abbasids in Baghdad, it was harsh on them. Thus they pledged allegiance to Ibrahim ibn AL-Mahdi as the Caliph. De’bel ibn Khoza’ee said the following about him:

O troops! Do not despair
Take your gifts and do not dander
Soon will he grant you a beautiful maiden
Who has both pleased the beardless youth and the gray-haired
And the musical instruments of your pimps
They will not throw them in a bag and tie it up somewhere
Thus he provides his companions with the means of subsistence
The Caliph whose Book is the Barbat [264]”

This was because Ibrahim ibn Al-Mahdi was very much interested in playing the lute[265] and was an alcoholic. When the news reached Al-Ma’mun, he realized that Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl had misguided him, and given him bad advice. Therefore, he left Marv heading towards Iraq with a plot to kill Al-Fadhl. He was killed by Qalib - Al-Ma’mun’s maternal uncle - in a bath in Sarakhs in the (Arabic) month of Sha’ban of the year 203 A.H. (818 A.D.). Then Al-Ma’mun plotted to kill Ali ibn Musa Al-Reza (s). Finally he poisoned him on an occasion when Al-Reza (s) had become ill. Then Al-Reza (s) died. Al-Ma’mun ordered that the Imam (s) be buried in Sanabad next to the grave of Harun Al-Rashid. This happened in the (Arabic) month of Safar in the year 203 A.H. (818 A.D.)

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الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ لانَّهُ تَقَلَّدَ الْوِزَارَةَ وَرِئَاسَةَ الْجُنْدِ فَقَالَ الْفَضْلُ حِينَ اسْتَخْلَفَ الْمَأْمُونُ يَوْماً لِبَعْضِ مَنْ كَانَ يُعَاشِرُهُ أَيْنَ يَقَعُ فِعْلِي فِيَما أَتَيْتُهُ مِنْ فِعْلِ أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ فِيَما أَتَاهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَبَا مُسْلِمٍ حَوَّلَهَا مِنْ قَبِيلَةٍ إِلَى قَبِيلَةٍ وَأَنْتَ حَوَّلْتَهَا مِنْ أَخٍ إِلَى أَخٍ وَبَيْنَ الْحَالَتَيْنِ مَا تَعْلَمُهُ قَالَ الْفَضْلُ فَإِنِّي أُحَوِّلُهَا مِنْ قَبِيلَةٍ إِلَى قَبِيلَةٍ ثُمَّ أَشَارَ عَلَى الْمَأْمُونِ بِأَنْ يَجْعَلَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُوسَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَلِيَّ عَهْدِهِ فَبَايَعَهُ وَأَسْقَطَ بَيْعَةَ الْمُؤْتَمَنِ أَخِيهِ وَكَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَرَدَ عَلَى الْمَأْمُونِ وَهُوَ بِخُرَاسَانَ سَنَةَ مِائَتَيْنِ عَلَى طَرِيقِ الْبَصْرَةِ وَفَارِسَ مَعَ رَجَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي الضَّحَّاكِ وَكَانَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مُتَزَوِّجاً بِابْنَةِ الْمَأْمُونِ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ خَبَرُهُ الْعَبَّاسِيِّينَ بِبَغْدَادَ سَاءَهُمْ ذَلِكَ فَأَخْرَجُوا إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنَ الْمَهْدِيِّ وَبَايَعُوهُ بِالْخِلافَةِ فَفِيهِ يَقُولُ دِعْبِلٌ الْخُزَاعِيُّ:

خُذُوا عَطَايَاكُمْ وَلا تَسْخَطُوا

يَا مَعْشَرَ الأَجْنَادِ لا تَقْنَطُوا

يَلَذُّهَا الأَمْرَدُ وَالأَشْمَطُ

فَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكُمْ حَنِينِيَّةً

لا تَدْخُلُ الْكِيسَ وَلا تُرْبَطُ

وَالْمَعْبَدِيَّاتِ لِقُوَّادِكُمْ‏

خَلِيفَةٌ مُصْحَفُهُ الْبَرْبَطُ
 

وَهَكَذَا يَرْزُقُ أَصْحَابَهُ‏
 

وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمَهْدِيَّ كَانَ مُولَعاً بِضَرْبِ الْعُودِ مُنْهَمِكاً بِالشَّرَابِ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ الْمَأْمُونَ خَبَرُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلِمَ أَنَّ الْفَضْلَ بْنَ سَهْلٍ أَخْطَأَ عَلَيْهِ وَأَشَارَ بِغَيْرِ الصَّوَابِ فَخَرَجَ مِنْ مَرْوَ مُنْصَرِفاً إِلَى الْعِرَاقِ وَاحْتَالَ عَلَى الْفَضْلِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ حَتَّى قَتَلَهُ غَالِبٌ خَالُ الْمَأْمُونِ فِي الْحَمَّامِ بِسَرَخْسَ مُغَافَصَةً فِي شَعْبَانَ سَنَةَ ثَلاثٍ وَمِائَتَيْنِ وَاحْتَالَ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ حَتَّى سُمَّ فِي عِلَّةٍ كَانَتْ أَصَابَتْهُ فَمَاتَ وَأَمَرَ بِدَفْنِهِ بِسَنَابَادَ مِنْ طُوسَ بِجَنْبِ قَبْرِ الرَّشِيدِ وَذَلِكَ فِي صَفَرِ ثَلاثٍ وَمِائَتَيْـنِ وَكَانَ ابْنَ اثْنَتَيْـنِ وَخَمْسِيـنَ سَنَةً وَقِيـلَ ابْنُ

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when he was 52 years old. Some people have said that this happened to the Imam (s) at the age of 55. This is what Abu Ali Al-Hussein ibn Ahmad al-Salami has narrated in his book. However, what seems right to me is that Al-Ma’mun appointed him as the successor to the throne due to a covenant he had made with God as was mentioned before.[266] However, Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl did not ever stop his animosity. He despised Al-Reza (s) and did not like him (s) to be the successor to the throne. This was because Al-Fadhl had been raised by the Barmakites. Al-Reza (s) was forty-nine and a half years old when he died in the year 203 A.H. (818 A.D.) as I have documented in this book.

40-28 (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Idris quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Imran al-Ash’ari, on the authority of Mo’awiya ibn Hakeem, on the authority of Mo’ammar ibn Khallad that Abul Hassan Al-Reza (s) narrated that one day Al-Ma’mun told him, “O Abal Hassan (Al-Reza (s))! See whom you trust and introduce them to me to appoint as the governor of a few of the towns in which there is rebellion against us.” The Imam (s) told him, “Honor your covenant with me, and I will honor my covenant with you. My condition for accepting the succession to the throne was that I will not interfere in any of the affairs. I will neither issue any orders, nor will I admonish anyone. I will not remove anyone from office, neither will I appoint anyone. I will not dispatch anyone for any affair. This I will do until God takes me away before you. I swear by God that I have not made any plans for the Caliphate in my mind. I was in Medina where I went around on my own animals. The people there and other people just asked me for the fulfillment of their needs. I fulfilled whatever I possibly could. Thus to me they were just like my uncles. My letters to anyone anywhere were honored. You have not added any blessings to what God has already granted to me.” Then Al-Ma’mun said, “Fine. I will honor my covenant with you.”

40-29 It has been narrated that Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl and Hisham ibn Ibrahim decided to go to Al-Reza (s). Upon entering (his home), they told him that they had come there regarding a private affair and asked to see him in private. Then Al-Fadhl brought out a letter in which there were pledges to emancipate and divorce which cannot be broken and there is no set expiation for breaking them. They said, “We have come to

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خَمْسٍ وَخَمْسِينَ سَنَةً هَذَا مَا حَكَاهُ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ السَّلامِيُّ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَالصَّحِيحُ عِنْدِي أَنَّ الْمَأْمُونَ إِنَّمَا وَلاهُ الْعَهْدَ وَبَايَعَ لَهُ لِلنَّذْرِ الَّذِي قَدْ تَقَدَّمَ ذِكْرُهُ وَأَنَّ الْفَضْلَ بْنَ سَهْلٍ لَمْ يَزَلْ مُعَادِياً وَمُبْغِضاً لَهُ وَكَارِهاً لامْرِهِ لانَّهُ كَانَ مِنْ صَنَائِعِ آلِ بَرْمَكَ وَمَبْلَغُ سِنِّ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ تِسْعٌ وَأَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً وَسِتَّةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَكَانَتْ وَفَاتُهُ فِي سَنَةِ ثَلاثٍ وَمِائَتَيْنِ كَمَا قَدْ أَسْنَدْتُهُ فِي هَذَا الْكِتَابِ.

28 - حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ إِدْرِيس قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ عِمْران الأَشْعَرِيِّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُعاوِيَةَ بْنِ حكيم عَنْ معمر بْنِ خلاد قالَ: قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَالَ لِيَ الْمَأْمُونُ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ انْظُرْ بَعْضَ مَنْ تَثِقُ بِهِ تُوَلِّيهِ هَذِهِ الْبُلْدَانَ الَّتِي قَدْ فَسَدَتْ عَلَيْنَا فَقُلْتُ لَهُ تَفِي لِي وَأَفِي لَكَ فَإِنِّي إِنَّمَا دَخَلْتُ فِيَما دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَنْ لا آمُرَ فِيهِ وَلا أَنْهَى وَلا أَعْزِلَ وَلا أُوَلِّيَ وَلا أَسِيرَ حَتَّى يُقَدِّمَنِيَ اللَّهُ قَبْلَكَ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّ الْخِلافَةَ لَشَيْ‏ءٌ مَا حَدَّثَتْ بِهِ نَفْسِي وَلَقَدْ كُنْتُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَتَرَدَّدُ فِي طُرُقِهَا عَلَى دَابَّتِي وَإِنَّ أَهْلَهَا وَغَيْرَهُمْ يَسْأَلُونِّيَ الْحَوَائِجَ فَأَقْضِيهَا لَهُمْ فَيَصِيرُونَ كَالأَعْمَامِ لِي وَإِنَّ كُتُبِي لَنَافِذَةٌ فِي الأَمْصَارِ وَمَا زِدْتَنِي فِي نِعْمَةٍ هِيَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ رَبِّي فَقَالَ أَفِي لَكَ.

29 - وَرَوى‏ أَنَّهُ قَصَدَ الْفَضْلُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ مَعَ هِشَامِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ جِئْتُكَ فِي سِرٍّ فَأَخْلِ لِيَ الَْمجْلِسَ فَأَخْرَجَ الْفَضْلُ يَمِيناً مَكْتُوبَةً بِالْعِتْقِ وَالطَّلاقِ وَمَالاً كَفَّارَةً لَهُ وَقَالا لَهُ إِنَّا جِئْنَاكَ لِنَقُولَ كَلِمَةَ حَقٍّ وَصِدْقٍ وَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا أَنَّ الإِمْرَةَ

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إِمْرَتُكُمْ وَالْحَقَّ حَقُّكُمْ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِي نَقُولُ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا عَلَيْهِ ضَمَائِرُنَا وَإِلا نُعْتِقْ مَا نَمْلِكُ وَالنِّسَاءُ طَوَالِقُ وَعَلَيَّ ثَلاثُونَ حِجَّةً رَاجِلاً إِنَّا عَلَى أَنْ نَقْتُلَ الْمَأْمُونَ وَنُخَلِّصَ لَكَ الأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ الْحَقُّ إِلَيْكَ فَلَمْ يَسْمَعْ مِنْهُمَا وَشَتَمَهُمَا وَلَعَنَهُمَا وَقَالَ لَهُمَا كَفَرْتُمَا النِّعْمَةَ فَلا تَكُونُ لَكُمَا سَلامَةٌ وَلا لِي إِنْ رَضِيتُ بِمَا قُلْتَُما فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ الْفَضْلُ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ مَعَ هِشَامٍ عَلِمَا أَنَّهُمَا أَخْطَئَا فَقَصَدَا الْمَأْمُونَ بَعْدَ أَنْ قَالا لِلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَرَدْنَا بِمَا فَعَلْنَا أَنْ نُجَرِّبَكَ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ كَذَبْتَُما فَإِنَّ قُلُوبَكُمَا عَلَى مَا أَخْبَرْتُمَانِي إِلا أَنَّكُمَا لَمْ تَجِدَانِي نَحْوَمَا أَرَدْتُمَا فَلَمَّا دَخَلا عَلَى الْمَأْمُونِ قَالا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّا قَصَدْنَا الرِّضَا وَجَرَّبْنَاهُ وَأَرَدْنَا أَنْ نَقِفَ عَلَى مَا يُضْمِرُهُ لَكَ فَقُلْنَا وَقَالَ فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ وُفِّقْتَُما فَلَمَّا خَرَجَا مِنْ عِنْدِ الْمَأْمُونِ قَصَدَهُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَأَخْلَيَا الَْمجْلِسَ وَأَعْلَمَهُ مَا قَالا وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَحْفَظَ نَفْسَهُ مِنْهُمَا فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَلِمَ أَنَّ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ هُوَ الصَّادِقُ.

End of Part 2