The Book about people with Divine Authority

كَانَ لِي جَارٌ يَتَّبِعُ السُّلْطَانَ فَأَصَابَ مَالًا فَأَعَدَّ قِيَاناً وَ كَانَ يَجْمَعُ الْجَمِيعَ إِلَيْهِ وَ يَشْرَبُ الْمُسْكِرَ وَ يُؤْذِينِي فَشَكَوْتُهُ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ غَيْرَ مَرَّةٍ فَلَمْ يَنْتَهِ فَلَمَّا أَنْ أَلْحَحْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي يَا هَذَا أَنَا رَجُلٌ مُبْتَلًى وَ أَنْتَ رَجُلٌ مُعَافًى فَلَوْ عَرَضْتَنِي لِصَاحِبِكَ رَجَوْتُ أَنْ يُنْقِذَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِكَ فَوَقَعَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فِي قَلْبِي ف

“I had a neighbor who followed the Sultan and he gains certain properties. He would arrange parties and invite female singers. They would drink wine and would disturb me. I complained to the man several times but he would not pay any attention. When I insisted he said, “O man, “I am an addicted man and you are sober. I

قَالَ لِي أَ تَدْرِي مَا كَانَ سَبَبُ دُخُولِنَا فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ وَ مَعْرِفَتِنَا بِهِ وَ مَا كَانَ عِنْدَنَا مِنْهُ ذِكْرٌ وَ لَا مَعْرِفَةُ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِمَّا عِنْدَ النَّاسِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا ذَاكَ قَالَ إِنَّ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ يَعْنِي أَبَا الدَّوَانِيقِ قَالَ لِأَبِي مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْأَشْعَثِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ ابْغِ لِي رَجُلًا لَهُ عَقْلٌ يُؤَدِّي عَنِّي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبِي قَدْ أَصَبْتُهُ لَكَ هَذَا فُلَانُ بْنُ

“Do you know the reason that we came in this matter (became Shi‘a) and recognized it even though there was no mention of it among us and we had no knowledge of what other people (Shi‘a) had?” The narrator has said that I asked him, “What then is the reason for it?” He said, “Abu Ja‘far, abu Dawaniq once said to abu Muh

قُبِضَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ع وَ هُوَ ابْنُ خَمْسٍ وَ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً فِي عَامِ ثَمَانٍ وَ أَرْبَعِينَ وَ مِائَةٍ وَ عَاشَ بَعْدَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَرْبَعاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ سَنَةً.

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ أَنَا كَفَّنْتُ أَبِي فِي ثَوْبَيْنِ شَطَوِيَّيْنِ‌[1] كَانَ يُحْرِمُ فِيهِمَا وَ فِي قَمِيصٍ مِنْ قُمُصِهِ وَ فِي عِمَامَةٍ كَانَتْ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع وَ فِي بُرْدٍ اشْتَرَاهُ بِأَرْبَعِينَ دِينَاراً.

“I shrouded my father with two pieces of winter clothes that he had used as the clothe for Ihram (special clothes used during performing Hajj). Also a shirt of his shirts and the ‘Amama (turban) that belonged to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) and a gown that he had bought for forty Dinars were used.”

دَخَلَ ابْنُ عُكَّاشَةَ بْنِ مِحْصَنٍ الْأَسَدِيُّ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَ كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَائِماً عِنْدَهُ فَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِ عِنَباً فَقَالَ حَبَّةً حَبَّةً يَأْكُلُهُ الشَّيْخُ الْكَبِيرُ وَ الصَّبِيُّ الصَّغِيرُ وَ ثَلَاثَةً وَ أَرْبَعَةً يَأْكُلُهُ مَنْ يَظُنُّ أَنَّهُ لَا يَشْبَعُ وَ كُلْهُ حَبَّتَيْنِ حَبَّتَيْنِ فَإِنَّهُ يُسْتَحَبُّ فَقَالَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع لِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ لَا تُزَوِّجُ أَبَا

“Once ibn al-‘Ukkasha ibn Muhsin al-Asadi went to see abu Ja‘far and abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) was present with him. Grapes were offered to him. The Imam (a.s.) said, “The old man and the small boy eat grasps one piece at a time and one who is anxious for filling himself up eats several pieces at a time but you should take

حَمِيدَةُ مُصَفَّاةٌ مِنَ الْأَدْنَاسِ كَسَبِيكَةِ الذَّهَبِ مَا زَالَتِ الْأَمْلَاكُ تَحْرُسُهَا حَتَّى أُدِّيَتْ إِلَيَّ كَرَامَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ لِي وَ الْحُجَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِي.

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, “Humayda is clean of uncleanliness like purified gold. The angels continuously guarded her until she reach me due to Allah’s regards for me and the possessor of Leadership with Divine Authority after me.”

لَمَّا أُقْدِمَ بِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع عَلَى الْمَهْدِيِّ الْقُدْمَةَ الْأُولَى نَزَلَ زُبَالَةَ فَكُنْتُ أُحَدِّثُهُ فَرَآنِي مَغْمُوماً فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا خَالِدٍ مَا لِي أَرَاكَ مَغْمُوماً فَقُلْتُ وَ كَيْفَ لَا أَغْتَمُّ وَ أَنْتَ تُحْمَلُ إِلَى هَذِهِ الطَّاغِيَةِ وَ لَا أَدْرِي مَا يُحْدِثُ فِيكَ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيَّ بَأْسٌ إِذَا كَانَ شَهْرُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ يَوْمُ كَذَا فَوَافِنِي فِي أَوَّلِ الْمِي

“When abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) was brought before al-Mahdi the first time he was accommodated in Zabala and I talked to him. He found me depressed and asked, “O abu Khalid, why is it that I see you are depressed?” I said, “How can I be not depressed when you are being take to this transgressor and I do not know wha wi

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ نَصْرَانِيٌّ وَ نَحْنُ مَعَهُ بِالْعُرَيْضِ‌[2] فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّصْرَانِيُّ أَتَيْتُكَ مِنْ بَلَدٍ بَعِيدٍ وَ سَفَرٍ شَاقٍّ وَ سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي مُنْذُ ثَلَاثِينَ سَنَةً أَنْ يُرْشِدَنِي إِلَى خَيْرِ الْأَدْيَانِ وَ إِلَى خَيْرِ الْعِبَادِ وَ أَعْلَمِهِمْ وَ أَتَانِي آتٍ فِي النَّوْمِ فَوَصَفَ لِي رَجُلًا بِعُلْيَا دِمَشْقَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ فَكَ

“I was in the presence of abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) that a Christian man came to see him. At this time we were with him in al-‘Urayd. The Christian man said, “I have come to you from a far away place after a difficult journey. I have been praying to my Lord for thirty years to guide me to the best of the religions and

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع وَ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ نَجْرَانَ الْيَمَنِ مِنَ الرُّهْبَانِ وَ مَعَهُ رَاهِبَةٌ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ لَهُمَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ سَوَّارٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِذَا كَانَ غَداً فَأْتِ بِهِمَا عِنْدَ بِئْرِ أُمِّ خَيْرٍ قَالَ فَوَافَيْنَا مِنَ الْغَدِ فَوَجَدْنَا الْقَوْمَ قَدْ وَافَوْا فَأَمَرَ بِخَصَفَةِ بَوَارِيَّ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ وَ جَلَسُوا فَبَدَأَتِ الرَّاهِبَةُ بِالْمَسَائِلِ فَسَأَلَتْ عَنْ

“Once I was in the presence of abu Ibrahim (a.s.) that a monk and a nun from the people of Najran, Yemen came to see him. al-Fadl ibn Sawwar sought permission for them and the Imam (a.s.) said, “Tomorrow bring them to the well of ’Umm Khaayr.” The narrator has said that on the next day we went to see him and we found t

مَرَّ الْعَبْدُ الصَّالِحُ بِامْرَأَةٍ بِمِنًى وَ هِيَ تَبْكِي وَ صِبْيَانُهَا حَوْلَهَا يَبْكُونَ وَ قَدْ مَاتَتْ لَهَا بَقَرَةٌ فَدَنَا مِنْهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهَا مَا يُبْكِيكِ يَا أَمَةَ اللَّهِ قَالَتْ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لَنَا صِبْيَاناً يَتَامَى وَ كَانَتْ لِي بَقَرَةٌ مَعِيشَتِي وَ مَعِيشَةُ صِبْيَانِي كَانَ مِنْهَا وَ قَدْ مَاتَتْ وَ بَقِيتُ مُنْقَطَعاً بِي وَ بِوُلْدِي لَا حِيلَةَ لَنَا فَقَالَ يَا أَمَة

"The pious servant of Allah (Imam Kadhim (a.s)) passed in Mina by a woman who was weeping and her children around her also were weeping because her cow was dead. He went close to her and asked, 'What has caused you to weep O slave of Allah?' She said, 'O servant of Allah, we have orphan children. Our cow that was our m

سَمِعْتُ الْعَبْدَ الصَّالِحَ يَنْعَى إِلَى رَجُلٍ نَفْسَهُ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي وَ إِنَّهُ لَيَعْلَمُ مَتَى يَمُوتُ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ شِبْهَ الْمُغْضَبِ فَقَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ قَدْ كَانَ رُشَيْدٌ الْهَجَرِيُّ يَعْلَمُ عِلْمَ الْمَنَايَا وَ الْبَلَايَا وَ الْإِمَامُ أَوْلَى بِعِلْمِ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ اصْنَعْ مَا أَنْتَ صَانِعٌ فَإِنَّ عُمُرَكَ قَدْ فَنِيَ وَ إِنَّكَ تَمُوتُ إِ

“Once I heard the pious servant of Allah giving the news of his own death to a man. I thought that he might or might not know when a person from his Shi‘a (followers) would die. He turned to me as if angry and said, “O Ishaq, if Rashid al-Hajri possessed the knowledge of deaths and suffering, the necessity for such kno

جَاءَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ‌[1] وَ قَدِ اعْتَمَرْنَا عُمْرَةَ رَجَبٍ وَ نَحْنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِمَكَّةَ فَقَالَ يَا عَمِّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ بَغْدَادَ وَ قَدْ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أُوَدِّعَ عَمِّي أَبَا الْحَسَنِ يَعْنِي مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ تَذْهَبَ مَعِي إِلَيْهِ فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ نَحْوَ أَخِي وَ هُوَ فِي دَارِهِ الَّتِي بِالْحَوْبَةِ وَ ذَلِكَ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ بِقَلِيلٍ فَضَرَبْتُ الْبَابَ فَأَج

“Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il came to me when we were still in Makka after completing our ‘Umra in the month of Rajab. He said, “Uncle, I intend to go to Baghdad but I want to say farewell to my uncle, abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) aand I would like that you also come with me.” I came with him to my brother and he was

قُبِضَ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ هُوَ ابْنُ أَرْبَعٍ وَ خَمْسِينَ سَنَةً فِي عَامِ ثَلَاثٍ وَ ثَمَانِينَ وَ مِائَةٍ وَ عَاشَ بَعْدَ جَعْفَرٍ ع خَمْساً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ سَنَةً.

Sa’d Bin Abdullah and Abdullah Bin Ja’far, altogether from Ibrahim Bin Mahziyar, from his brother Ali Bin Mahziyar, from Al Husayn Bin Saeed, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Ibn Muskan, (It has been narrated) from Abu Baseer who said, ‘Musa asws Bin Ja’far asws passed away and he asws was fifty-four years old, in the yea

قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلُ هَلْ عَلِمْتَ أَحَداً مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَغْرِبِ قَدِمَ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ بَلَى قَدْ قَدِمَ رَجُلٌ فَانْطَلِقْ بِنَا فَرَكِبَ وَ رَكِبْتُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى الرَّجُلِ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ مَعَهُ رَقِيقٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ اعْرِضْ عَلَيْنَا فَعَرَضَ عَلَيْنَا سَبْعَ جَوَارٍ كُلَّ ذَلِكَ يَقُولُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع لَا حَاجَةَ لِي فِيهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ اعْرِضْ عَل

“Once abu al-Hassan, the second asked me, “Do you know if anyone from Morocco (or the west) has arrived?” I replied, “No, no one has come.” He said, “Yes, a man has come. Come with us.” He rode and also rode and went until we reached the man. He was a man from Madina who had a few slaves with him for sale. I asked him

لَمَّا مَضَى أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع وَ تَكَلَّمَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع خِفْنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّكَ قَدْ أَظْهَرْتَ أَمْراً عَظِيماً وَ إِنَّا نَخَافُ عَلَيْكَ هَذِهِ الطَّاغِيَةَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِيَجْهَدْ جَهْدَهُ فَلَا سَبِيلَ لَهُ عَلَيَّ.

“when abu Ibrahim (a.s.) passed away abu al-Hassan (al-Rida) (a.s.) spoke (about his Imamat) and we became afraid for him because of it. It was said to him, “You have declared a very great issue and we are afraid for you from this rebel.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Let him strive his best but he will find way against me.”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى الرِّضَا ع فِي بَيْتٍ دَاخِلٍ فِي جَوْفِ بَيْتٍ لَيْلًا فَرَفَعَ يَدَهُ فَكَانَتْ كَأَنَّ فِي الْبَيْتِ عَشَرَةَ مَصَابِيحَ وَ اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ فَخَلَّى يَدَهُ ثُمَّ أَذِنَ لَهُ.

“Once I went to see al-Rida (a.s.) in a house inside his house in the middle of the night. He raised his hand and it was as if there were ten lamps inside the house and a man asked permission for a meeting. He lowered his hand and then gave him permission.”

كَانَ لِرَجُلٍ مِنْ آلِ أَبِي رَافِعٍ مَوْلَى النَّبِيِّ ص يُقَالُ لَهُ طَيْسٌ عَلَيَّ حَقٌّ فَتَقَاضَانِي وَ أَلَحَّ عَلَيَّ وَ أَعَانَهُ النَّاسُ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ ذَلِكَ صَلَّيْتُ الصُّبْحَ فِي مَسْجِدِ الرَّسُولِ ع ثُمَّ تَوَجَّهْتُ نَحْوَ الرِّضَا ع وَ هُوَ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِالْعُرَيْضِ فَلَمَّا قَرُبْتُ مِنْ بَابِهِ إِذَا هُوَ قَدْ طَلَعَ عَلَى حِمَارٍ وَ عَلَيْهِ قَمِيصٌ وَ رِدَاءٌ فَلَمَّا نَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ اسْتَح

“I owed money to a man from the family of abu Rafi‘, slave of the Holy Prophet (s.a), called Tays. He demanded payment and pressed me hard and people also assisted him. When I found myself in such condition I prayed the morning prayer in the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah and then headed to al-Rida (a.s.) who was in

بَانِي فَارِعٍ وَ هَادِمُهُ يُقَطَّعُ إِرْباً إِرْباً فَلَمْ نَدْرِ مَا مَعْنَى ذَلِكَ فَلَمَّا وَلَّى وَافَى هَارُونُ وَ نَزَلَ بِذَلِكَ الْمَوْضِعِ صَعِدَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ يَحْيَى ذَلِكَ الْجَبَلَ وَ أَمَرَ أَنْ يُبْنَى لَهُ ثَمَّ مَجْلِسٌ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ مِنْ مَكَّةَ صَعِدَ إِلَيْهِ فَأَمَرَ بِهَدْمِهِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ إِلَى الْعِرَاقِ قُطِّعَ إِرْباً إِرْباً.

The builder at Fari‘ and he who would demolish will be cut in pieces.” We had no idea what it meant. When he returned Harun arrived and camped at that place. Ja‘far ibn Yahya climbed the mountain and ordered to build a resting place for him. When he returned from Makka he climbed there and ordered to demolish what was

أَلْحَحْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ أَطْلُبُهُ مِنْهُ فَكَانَ يَعِدُنِي فَخَرَجَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ لِيَسْتَقْبِلَ وَالِيَ الْمَدِينَةِ وَ كُنْتُ مَعَهُ فَجَاءَ إِلَى قُرْبِ قَصْرِ فُلَانٍ فَنَزَلَ تَحْتَ شَجَرَاتٍ وَ نَزَلْتُ مَعَهُ أَنَا وَ لَيْسَ مَعَنَا ثَالِثٌ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا الْعِيدُ قَدْ أَظَلَّنَا وَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَمْلِكُ دِرْهَماً فَمَا سِوَاهُ فَحَكَّ بِسَوْطِهِ الْأَرْضَ

“I would urge abu al-Hassan al-Rida in a matter that I would demand from him and he would ask to give him time. One day he went out to receive the governor of Madina and I was with him. He came near the castle of so and so and stopped for rest among a few trees. Just the two of us and not a third was there. I said, “Ma

لَمَّا انْقَضَى أَمْرُ الْمَخْلُوعِ‌[1] وَ اسْتَوَى الْأَمْرُ لِلْمَأْمُونِ كَتَبَ إِلَى الرِّضَا ع يَسْتَقْدِمُهُ إِلَى خُرَاسَانَ فَاعْتَلَّ عَلَيْهِ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع بِعِلَلٍ فَلَمْ يَزَلِ الْمَأْمُونُ يُكَاتِبُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى عَلِمَ أَنَّهُ لَا مَحِيصَ لَهُ وَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَكُفُّ عَنْهُ فَخَرَجَ ع وَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع سَبْعُ سِنِينَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ الْمَأْمُونُ لَا تَأْخُذْ عَلَى طَرِيقِ الْجَبَلِ وَ قُم

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from from Yasir al-Khadim and al-Rayyan ibn al-Salt all have said the following. “When the matter of the deposed Caliph (Amin) ended and it was established for al-Ma’mun he wrote to al-Rida asking to come to Khurasan. Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) in reply presented certain reason to justify his

لَمَّا خَرَجَ الْمَأْمُونُ مِنْ خُرَاسَانَ يُرِيدُ بَغْدَادَ وَ خَرَجَ الْفَضْلُ ذُو الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ وَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع وَرَدَ عَلَى الْفَضْلِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ ذِي الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ كِتَابٌ مِنْ أَخِيهِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ وَ نَحْنُ فِي بَعْضِ الْمَنَازِلِ إِنِّي نَظَرْتُ فِي تَحْوِيلِ السَّنَةِ فِي حِسَابِ النُّجُومِ فَوَجَدْتُ فِيهِ أَنَّكَ تَذُوقُ فِي شَهْرِ كَذَا وَ كَذَا- يَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ حَرّ

“When al-Ma’mun left Khurasan for Baghdad along with him came Fadl, Dhu al-Al-Ri’asatayn and we came out with abu al-Hassan (a.s.) Fadl ibn Sahl had received a letter from his brother Hassan, while we were on our journey. Hassan had said in the letter, “I studied the Zodiac changes this year according to the astrologic

لَمَّا أَرَادَ هَارُونُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ أَنْ يُوَاقِعَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع اذْهَبْ إِلَيْهِ وَ قُلْ لَهُ لَا تَخْرُجْ غَداً فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ خَرَجْتَ غَداً هُزِمْتَ وَ قُتِلَ أَصْحَابُكَ فَإِنْ سَأَلَكَ مِنْ أَيْنَ عَلِمْتَ هَذَا فَقُلْ رَأَيْتُ فِي الْمَنَامِ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَا تَخْرُجْ غَداً فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ خَرَجْتَ هُزِمْتَ وَ قُتِلَ أَصْحَ

“When Harun ibn al-Musayyib decided to fight Muhammad ibn Ja‘far, abu al-Hassan (a.s.) told me to go to him and say, “Do not go our tomorrow. If would do so you will be defeated and your people will be killed.” If he would ask, “How do youknow that?” Say, “I saw it in my dream.” The narrator has said that he went to hi

أَنَّهُ حَمَلَ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع مَالًا لَهُ خَطَرٌ فَلَمْ أَرَهُ سُرَّ بِهِ قَالَ فَاغْتَمَمْتُ لِذَلِكَ وَ قُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي قَدْ حَمَلْتُ هَذَا الْمَالَ وَ لَمْ يُسَرَّ بِهِ فَقَالَ يَا غُلَامُ الطَّسْتَ وَ الْمَاءَ قَالَ فَقَعَدَ عَلَى كُرْسِيٍّ وَ قَالَ بِيَدِهِ وَ قَالَ لِلْغُلَامِ صُبَّ عَلَيَّ الْمَاءَ قَالَ فَجَعَلَ يَسِيلُ مِنْ بَيْنِ أَصَابِعِهِ فِي الطَّسْتِ ذَهَبٌ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ

“A Certain person of our people has said that he wanted to deliver an amount of propertyto al-Rida (a.s.). It was a large amount. When he saw it he did not become happy. I became depressed and said to myself, “I delivered this property to him but he did not become happy.” The Imam (a.s.) called, “O boy, bring water and

قُبِضَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى ع وَ هُوَ ابْنُ تِسْعٍ وَ أَرْبَعِينَ‌[1] سَنَةً وَ أَشْهُرٍ فِي عَامِ اثْنَيْنِ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ عَاشَ بَعْدَ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً إِلَّا شَهْرَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةً.

“Ali ibn Musa (a.s.) died at the age of forty nine and few months in the year two hundred and two AH. He lived for nineteen years and two or three month after the death of Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.).”

مُحَمَّدٌ وَ كَانَ زَيْدِيّاً قَالَ: كُنْتُ بِالْعَسْكَرِ فَبَلَغَنِي أَنَّ هُنَاكَ رَجُلٌ مَحْبُوسٌ أُتِيَ بِهِ مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ الشَّامِ مَكْبُولًا[2] وَ قَالُوا إِنَّهُ تَنَبَّأَ[3] قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ خَالِدٍ فَأَتَيْتُ الْبَابَ وَ دَارَيْتُ الْبَوَّابِينَ وَ الْحَجَبَةَ حَتَّى وَصَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ لَهُ فَهْمٌ فَقُلْتُ يَا هَذَا مَا قِصَّتُكَ وَ مَا أَمْرُكَ قَالَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ رَجُلًا بِالشَّامِ أَعْبُد

“Muhammad who belonged to Zaydi sect said to me this. “I was in the army camp and I was told that there was a prisoner brought from the area of al-Sham (Syria) tied up and that he has proclaimed himself a prophet.” Ali ibn Khalid has said, “I went to him and found my way through the guards until I reached him. I found

كُنْتُ مُجَاوِراً بِالْمَدِينَةِ- مَدِينَةِ الرَّسُولِ ص وَ كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يَجِي‌ءُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مَعَ الزَّوَالِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَيَنْزِلُ فِي الصَّحْنِ وَ يَصِيرُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ وَ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى بَيْتِ فَاطِمَةَ ع فَيَخْلَعُ نَعْلَيْهِ وَ يَقُومُ فَيُصَلِّي فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيَّ الشَّيْطَانُ فَقَالَ إِذَا نَزَلَ فَاذْهَبْ حَتَّى تَأْخُذَ مِنَ التُّرَابِ الَّذِي يَطَأُ عَلَ

“I lived in al-Madina of the Messenger of Allah. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) would come every day to the mosque at noon time. He would enter the compound and would turn to the shrine of the Messenger of Allah and offer his greeting of peace. He would then turn to the house of Fatima (a.s.), take off his shoes, stand up and pray.

خَرَجَ ع عَلَيَّ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى رَأْسِهِ وَ رِجْلَيْهِ لِأَصِفَ قَامَتَهُ لِأَصْحَابِنَا بِمِصْرَ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى قَعَدَ وَ قَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ احْتَجَّ فِي الْإِمَامَةِ بِمِثْلِ مَا احْتَجَّ فِي النُّبُوَّةِ فَقَالَ- وَ آتَيْناهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا[1] قَالَ‌ وَ لَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ‌[2] وَ بَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً[3] فَقَدْ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُؤْتَى الْحُكْمَ‌[4] صَبِيّاً وَ يَجُوزُ أَنْ

“He (abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn Ali al-Rida (a.s.) came out to me and I looked at his head and legs so I would be able to describe him physically to our people in Egypt. I kept looking until he sat down and said, “ O Ali, Allah’s presentation of proofs in support of Imam’s Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) is the

احْتَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع بِكُلِّ حِيلَةٍ فَلَمْ يُمْكِنْهُ فِيهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ[5]- فَلَمَّا اعْتَلَّ وَ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَبْنِيَ عَلَيْهِ ابْنَتَهُ‌[6] دَفَعَ إِلَى مِائَتَيْ وَصِيفَةٍ مِنْ أَجْمَلِ مَا يَكُونُ‌[7] إِلَى كُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ جَاماً فِيهِ‌ جَوْهَرٌ يَسْتَقْبِلْنَ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع إِذَا قَعَدَ فِي مَوْضِعِ الْأَخْيَارِ فَلَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَ كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ- مُخَارِق

“Al-Ma’mun did all he could to prove that abu Ja‘far, Muhammad ibn Ali al-Rida (a.s.) was only a young man of worldly desires. However Al-Ma’mun could not succeed. When he became frustrated he gave his daughter in marriage to abu Ja‘far, Muhammad ibn Ali al-Rida (a.s.). For the ceremony he sent two hundred most beautif

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ مَعِي ثَلَاثُ رِقَاعٍ غَيْرُ مُعَنْوَنَةٍ وَ اشْتَبَهَتْ عَلَيَّ فَاغْتَمَمْتُ فَتَنَاوَلَ إِحْدَاهُمَا وَ قَالَ هَذِهِ رُقْعَةُ زِيَادِ بْنِ شَبِيبٍ ثُمَّ تَنَاوَلَ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَالَ هَذِهِ رُقْعَةُ فُلَانٍ فَبُهِتُّ أَنَا فَنَظَرَ إِلَيَّ فَتَبَسَّمَ قَالَ وَ أَعْطَانِي ثَلَاثَمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ وَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَحْمِلَهَا إِلَى بَعْضِ بَنِي عَمِّهِ وَ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ سَيَق

“This is the letter of Ziyad ibn Shabib.” Then he picked up the other one and said, “.This is the letter of so and so.” I became awe struck. He looked at me and smiled.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) then gave me three hundred Dinars and asked me to deliver them to the certain persons of the sons of his un

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع صَبِيحَةَ عُرْسِهِ حَيْثُ بَنَى بِابْنَةِ الْمَأْمُونِ وَ كُنْتُ تَنَاوَلْتُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ دَوَاءً فَأَوَّلُ مَنْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فِي صَبِيحَتِهِ أَنَا وَ قَدْ أَصَابَنِي الْعَطَشُ وَ كَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَدْعُوَ بِالْمَاءِ فَنَظَرَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي وَجْهِي وَ قَالَ أَظُنُّكَ عَطْشَانَ فَقُلْتُ أَجَلْ فَقَالَ يَا غُلَامُ أَوْ جَارِيَةُ اسْقِنَا مَاءً فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي السَّاعَةَ يَأْ

I went tot see abu Ja‘far (a.s.) in the morning of his marriage to the daughter of al-Ma’al-Ma’mun. The night before I had taken medicine and I was the first to meet him that morning. I was thirsty but did not like to ask for water. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) looked at me and said, “I think you are thirsty.” I said, “Yes, I am

اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَوْمٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّوَاحِي مِنَ الشِّيعَةِ فَأَذِنَ لَهُمْ فَدَخَلُوا فَسَأَلُوهُ فِي مَجْلِسٍ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ ثَلَاثِينَ أَلْفَ مَسْأَلَةٍ فَأَجَابَ ع‌[2] وَ لَهُ عَشْرُ سِنِينَ.

“Once a group of Shi‘a from the suburbs asked permission to meet abu Ja‘far (a.s.). He granted them permission and they came in his presence. In one meeting they asked him thirty thousand questions. He answered them all and at that time he was ten years old.”

فَقَالَ لَهُ لِمَ لَمْ تَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ قَالَ ثُمَّ دَخَلْتُ بَعْدُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ أَمَرَ لِي بِشَيْ‌ءٍ فَقُلْتُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَقَالَ لِي تَأَدَّبْتَ.

“Di‘bil ibn Ali once went to see abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) and he ordered his people to give him a certain gift but he did thank Allah.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) said to him, “Why did you not thank Allah?” The narrator has said that then I went to see abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and ordered his people to giv

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع‌[3] فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ حَدَثَ بِآلِ فَرَجٍ حَدَثٌ فَقُلْتُ مَاتَ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَتَّى أَحْصَيْتُ لَهُ أَرْبَعاً وَ عِشْرِينَ مَرَّةً فَقُلْتُ يَا سَيِّدِي لَوْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ هَذَا يَسُرُّكَ لَجِئْتُ حَافِياً أَعْدُو إِلَيْكَ قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَ وَ لَا تَدْرِي مَا قَالَ لَعَنَهُ اللَّهُ لِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ أَبِي قَالَ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ خَاطَبَهُ فِي شَيْ‌ء

“Once I went to see abu al-Hassan (a.s.). He said, “O Muhammad, has something happened to the family of al-Faraj (the governor of al-Madina )?” I said, “Yes, ‘Umar (a member of al-Faraj family) has died.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “All thanks and praise belongs to Allah.” He said it twenty four times. I then said, “My mast

صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي مَسْجِدِ الْمُسَيَّبِ وَ صَلَّى بِنَا فِي مَوْضِعِ الْقِبْلَةِ سَوَاءً[2] وَ ذُكِرَ أَنَّ السِّدْرَةَ الَّتِي فِي الْمَسْجِدِ كَانَتْ يَابِسَةً لَيْسَ عَلَيْهَا وَرَقٌ فَدَعَا بِمَاءٍ وَ تَهَيَّأَ تَحْتَ السِّدْرَةِ فَعَاشَتِ السِّدْرَةُ وَ أَوْرَقَتْ وَ حَمَلَتْ مِنْ عَامِهَا.

10. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from from Muhammad ibn Hassa’n from abu Hashim Ali-Ja‘fari who has said the following. “Once I prayed with abu Ja‘far (a.s.) in the Mosque of Ali-Musayyib. He lead the prayer with us and as to the direction of Makka he stood up facing straight. He also has said that a berry tree that wa

مَضَى أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع وَ لِيَ عَلَيْهِ أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافِ دِرْهَمٍ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي ذَهَبَ مَالِي فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِذَا كَانَ غَداً فَأْتِنِي وَ لْيَكُنْ مَعَكَ مِيزَانٌ وَ أَوْزَانٌ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ لِي مَضَى أَبُو الْحَسَنِ وَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِ أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافِ دِرْهَمٍ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَرَفَعَ الْمُصَلَّى الَّذِي كَانَ تَحْتَهُ فَإِذَا تَحْتَهُ دَنَانِيرُ فَد

“Abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) passed away and owed my four thousand dirhams. I said to myself, “My money is lost.” Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) sent me a message to come to him the next day and bring with me a balance and weighing stones.” I went to see hiom and he said, “Abu al-Hassan has passed away. Did he owe you four thousan

قُبِضَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ وَ هُوَ ابْنُ خَمْسٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً- وَ ثَلَاثَةِ أَشْهُرٍ وَ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ يَوْماً تُوُفِّيَ يَوْمَ الثَّلَاثَاءِ لِسِتٍّ خَلَوْنَ مِنْ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ[3] سَنَةَ عِشْرِينَ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ- عَاشَ بَعْدَ أَبِيهِ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً إِلَّا خَمْساً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً.

12. Sa‘d ibn ‘Abdallah and Ali-Himyari all have narrated fom Ibrahim ibn Mahziyar from his brother Ali from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Muhammad ibn Sinan who has said the following. “Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.) passed away at the age of twenty five years, three months and twelve days. He died on a Tuesday on the sixth of Dhi

قَدِمْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع الْمَدِينَةَ فَقَالَ لِي مَا خَبَرُ الْوَاثِقِ عِنْدَكَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ خَلَّفْتُهُ فِي عَافِيَةٍ أَنَا مِنْ أَقْرَبِ النَّاسِ عَهْداً بِهِ عَهْدِي بِهِ مُنْذُ عَشَرَةِ أَيَّامٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ مَاتَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ قَالَ لِيَ النَّاسَ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُ هُوَ[1] ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي مَا فَعَلَ جَعْفَرٌ قُلْتُ تَرَكْتُهُ أَسْوَأَ النَّاسِ ح

“Once I went to al-Madina to see abu al-Hassan (a.s.). He asked me, “What is the news from Ali-Wathiq (Abbassid ruler)?” I said, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I left him in good health and I am of all people the latest who met him. I met him just ten days ago.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فِي كُلِّ الْأُمُورِ أَرَادُوا إِطْفَاءَ نُورِكَ وَ التَّقْصِيرَ بِكَ حَتَّى أَنْزَلُوكَ هَذَا الْخَانَ الْأَشْنَعَ خَانَ الصَّعَالِيكِ فَقَالَ هَاهُنَا أَنْتَ يَا ابْنَ سَعِيدٍ[2] ثُمَّ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ وَ قَالَ انْظُرْ فَنَظَرْتُ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِرَوْضَاتٍ آنِقَاتٍ وَ رَوْضَاتٍ بَاسِرَاتٍ‌[3] فِيهِنَّ خَيْرَاتٌ عَطِرَاتٌ وَ وِلْدَانٌ كَأَنَّهُنَّ اللُّ

“Once I went to see abu al-Hassan (a.s.) and I said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, in all matters they wanted to extinguish your light and be unjust towards you. So much so that they have lodged you in this disgraceful place for the homeless.” He said, “O ibn Sa‘id, here. He pointed out with his ha

اشْتَرَيْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع غَنَماً كَثِيرَةً فَدَعَانِي فَأَدْخَلَنِي مِنْ إِصْطَبْلِ دَارِهِ إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ وَاسِعٍ لَا أَعْرِفُهُ فَجَعَلْتُ أُفَرِّقُ تِلْكَ الْغَنَمَ فِيمَنْ‌ أَمَرَنِي بِهِ فَبَعَثَ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ[1] وَ إِلَى وَالِدَتِهِ وَ غَيْرِهِمَا مِمَّنْ أَمَرَنِي ثُمَّ اسْتَأْذَنْتُهُ فِي الِانْصِرَافِ إِلَى بَغْدَادَ إِلَى وَالِدِي وَ كَانَ ذَلِكَ يَوْمَ التَّرْوِيَةِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ تُقِيمُ غ

“Once I bought a large number of sheeps for abu al-Hassan (a.s.). He called and admitted me into the barn area of his house into a vast location that I could not recognize. He ordered me to distribute the sheep among certain people and of such people were abu Ja‘far and his mother and others. Thereafter I requested per

مَرِضَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ مِنْ خُرَاجٍ خَرَجَ بِهِ وَ أَشْرَفَ مِنْهُ عَلَى الْهَلَاكِ فَلَمْ يَجْسُرْ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يَمَسَّهُ بِحَدِيدَةٍ فَنَذَرَتْ أُمُّهُ إِنْ عُوفِيَ أَنْ تَحْمِلَ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ مَالًا جَلِيلًا مِنْ مَالِهَا وَ قَالَ لَهُ الْفَتْحُ بْنُ خَاقَانَ لَوْ بَعَثْتَ إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ فَسَأَلْتَهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَخْلُو أَنْ يَكُونَ عِنْدَهُ صِفَةٌ يُفَرِّجُ بِهَا عَنْكَ فَبَع

“ Al-Mutawakkil became ill because of a boil so seriously that he was about to die and no one would have the courage to touch to operate him. His mother vowed to sent a large sum of money to abu al-Hassan (a.s.) from her own property if her son would recover. Fath ibn Khaqan had advised him to ask him (the Imam (a.s.)

قَالَ لِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْفَرَجِ‌ إِنَّ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَجْمِعْ أَمْرَكَ وَ خُذْ حِذْرَكَ‌[1] قَالَ فَأَنَا فِي جَمْعِ أَمْرِي وَ لَيْسَ أَدْرِي مَا كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ حَتَّى وَرَدَ عَلَيَّ رَسُولٌ حَمَلَنِي مِنْ مِصْرَ مُقَيَّداً وَ ضَرَبَ عَلَى كُلِّ مَا أَمْلِكُ‌[2] وَ كُنْتُ فِي السِّجْنِ ثَمَانَ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ وَرَدَ عَلَيَّ مِنْهُ فِي السِّجْنِ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ لَا تَنْزِل

“Muhammad ibn al-Faraj told me that abu al-Hassan (a.s.) has written to him this. “O Muhammad, organize you affairs and be careful.” He said that he began to organize his affairs and did not know what the Imam (a.s.) meant thereby until police came to me and took me out of Egypt as a captive. All of my belongings were

رَأَيْتُهُ يَعْنِي مُحَمَّداً قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ بِالْعَسْكَرِ فِي عَشِيَّةٍ وَ قَدِ اسْتَقْبَلَ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ وَ اعْتَلَّ مِنْ غَدٍ فَدَخَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ عَائِداً بَعْدَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ عِلَّتِهِ وَ قَدْ ثَقُلَ فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ بِثَوْبٍ- فَأَخَذَهُ وَ أَدْرَجَهُ وَ وَضَعَهُ تَحْتَ رَأْسِهِ قَالَ فَكُفِّنَ فِيهِ قَالَ أَحْمَدُ قَالَ أَبُو يَعْقُوبَ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع مَعَ ا

“Abu ya‘qub informed me saying, ‘ I saw him (Muhammad) before his death in the army camp in an evening. Abu al-Hassan received him and looked at him and he became ill the next day. After several days I went to visit him during his illness and his illness was worsening. He informed me that he (abu al-Hassan (a.s.) has s

أَخَذْتُ نُسْخَةَ كِتَابِ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الثَّالِثِ ع مِنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ هَرْثَمَةَ فِي سَنَةِ ثَلَاثٍ وَ أَرْبَعِينَ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ وَ هَذِهِ نُسْخَتُهُ‌ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ* أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَارِفٌ بِقَدْرِكَ رَاعٍ لِقَرَابَتِكَ مُوجِبٌ لِحَقِّكَ يُقَدِّرُ مِنَ الْأُمُورِ فِيكَ وَ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ مَا أَصْلَحَ اللَّهُ بِهِ حَالَكَ وَ حَالَهُمْ وَ

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from a number of our people the following. “I took a copy of the letter of Al-Mutawakkil to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), the third from Yahya ibn Harthama in the year two hundred forty three that read as follows. “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Thereafter, Amir al-Mu’min

كَانَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ يَقُولُ وَيْحَكُمْ قَدْ أَعْيَانِي أَمْرُ ابْنِ الرِّضَا[1] أَبَى أَنْ يَشْرَبَ مَعِي أَوْ يُنَادِمَنِي أَوْ أَجِدَ مِنْهُ فُرْصَةً فِي هَذَا فَقَالُوا لَهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ مِنْهُ فَهَذَا أَخُوهُ مُوسَى قَصَّافٌ عَزَّافٌ‌[2]- يَأْكُلُ وَ يَشْرَبُ وَ يَتَعَشَّقُ قَالَ ابْعَثُوا إِلَيْهِ فَجِيئُوا بِهِ حَتَّى نُمَوِّهَ بِهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ نَقُولَ ابْنُ الرِّضَا[3] فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ وَ أُشْخِص

“Al-Mutawakkil would say, “Woe is you, the ibn (the son of) al-Rida, (Ali al-Hadi (a.s.)) has frustrated me. He refuses to share a drink (liquor) with me and associate with me and I never get a chance in it.” They (his associates) told him, “If he does not give you a chance his brother, Musa plays music, sings, eats, d

مَرِضْتُ فَدَخَلَ الطَّبِيبُ عَلَيَّ لَيْلًا فَوَصَفَ لِي دَوَاءً بِلَيْلٍ آخُذُهُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا يَوْماً فَلَمْ يُمَكِّنِّي فَلَمْ يَخْرُجِ الطَّبِيبُ مِنَ الْبَابِ حَتَّى وَرَدَ عَلَيَّ نَصْرٌ بِقَارُورَةٍ فِيهَا ذَلِكَ الدَّوَاءُ بِعَيْنِهِ فَقَالَ لِي- أَبُو الْحَسَنِ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلَامَ وَ يَقُولُ لَكَ خُذْ هَذَا الدَّوَاءَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا يَوْماً فَأَخَذْتُهُ فَشَرِبْتُهُ فَبَرَأْتُ:" قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِ

“I became ill and a doctor came to see me at night. He prescribed a medicine for me to be taken at night for so and so many days. I could not find the medicine that night. The physician was still there that Nasr came in with a bottle that contained the medicine that the physician had prescribed for me and said, “Abu al

كَانَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ خَاقَانَ عَلَى الضِّيَاعِ وَ الْخَرَاجِ بِقُمَّ فَجَرَى فِي مَجْلِسِهِ يَوْماً ذِكْرُ الْعَلَوِيَّةِ وَ مَذَاهِبِهِمْ وَ كَانَ شَدِيدَ النَّصْبِ فَقَالَ مَا رَأَيْتُ وَ لَا عَرَفْتُ بِسُرَّ مَنْ رَأَى رَجُلًا مِنَ الْعَلَوِيَّةِ مِثْلَ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الرِّضَا فِي هَدْيِهِ وَ سُكُونِهِ وَ عَفَافِهِ وَ نُبْلِهِ وَ كَرَمِهِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ ب

1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Asha‘ari and Muhammad ibn Yahya and others have narrated the following. “Ahmad ibn ‘Ubayd Allah ibn Khaqan was in charge of collecting property and other taxes in the city of Qumm. One day in his presence the ‘Alawids and their beliefs were mentioned. He was a staunch Nasibi (abusive of ‘Al

كَتَبَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع إِلَى أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الزُّبَيْرِيِّ قَبْلَ مَوْتِ الْمُعْتَزِّ بِنَحْوِ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً الْزَمْ بَيْتَكَ حَتَّى يَحْدُثَ الْحَادِثُ فَلَمَّا قُتِلَ بُرَيْحَةُ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ قَدْ حَدَثَ الْحَادِثُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي فَكَتَبَ لَيْسَ هَذَا الْحَادِثُ هُوَ الْحَادِثَ الْآخِرَ فَكَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْمُعْتَزِّ مَا كَانَ وَ عَنْهُ قَالَ كَتَبَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ آخَرَ يُقْتَلُ

‘Stay home until what is to happen will happen.’ When Burayha was killed he wrote to him, “A happening has happened. What would you command me to do?” He wrote back, “This is not the happening. It is another happening.” Then there was the case of al-Mu‘tazz the way it was.” It is narrated from the same narrator that th

ضَاقَ بِنَا الْأَمْرُ فَقَالَ لِي أَبِي امْضِ بِنَا حَتَّى نَصِيرَ إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ يَعْنِي أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ وُصِفَ عَنْهُ سَمَاحَةٌ فَقُلْتُ تَعْرِفُهُ فَقَالَ مَا أَعْرِفُهُ وَ لَا رَأَيْتُهُ قَطُّ قَالَ فَقَصَدْنَاهُ فَقَالَ لِي أَبِي وَ هُوَ فِي طَرِيقِهِ مَا أَحْوَجَنَا إِلَى أَنْ يَأْمُرَ لَنَا بِخَمْسِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ مِائَتَا دِرْهَمٍ لِلْكِسْوَةِ وَ مِائَتَا دِرْهَمٍ لِلدَّيْنِ وَ مِائَةٌ

“We were under pressure and constraint. My father said, “Let us go to Abu Muhammad (a.s.). People describe him as very generous and considerate.” I asked, “Do you know him?” He said, “No, I do not know him and I have not seen him before.” We decided to go and meet him. My father said on the way, 'I wish he would grant

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي بِسُرَّ مَنْ رَأَى وَ كَانَ أَبِي يَتَعَاطَى الْبَيْطَرَةَ فِي مَرْبِطِ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ وَ كَانَ عِنْدَ الْمُسْتَعِينِ بَغْلٌ لَمْ يُرَ مِثْلُهُ حُسْناً وَ كِبْراً وَ كَانَ يَمْنَعُ ظَهْرَهُ وَ اللِّجَامَ وَ السَّرْجَ وَ قَدْ كَانَ جَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ الرَّاضَةَ[1] فَلَمْ يُمَكِّنْ لَهُمْ حِيلَةً فِي رُكُوبِهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ نُدَمَائِهِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَ لَا تَبْعَثُ إِلَى ا

“I was with my father in the city of Surra man Ra‘a. My father was a veterinarian at the animal farm of abu Muhammad (a.s.). Al-Musta‘in had a mule the like of which in beauty and size has not been seen. No one could touch that mule to ride, saddle or harness. He had called all the trainers and they had faild to ready

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع الْحَاجَةَ فَحَكَّ بِسَوْطِهِ الْأَرْضَ قَالَ وَ أَحْسَبُهُ غَطَّاهُ بِمِنْدِيلٍ وَ أَخْرَجَ خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا هَاشِمٍ خُذْ وَ أَعْذِرْنَا.

“I requested abu Muhammad for something that I needed. He scratched the earth with his whip. The narrator has said that I think he then covered it with a handkerchief and then took out five hundred Dinars. He then said, “O abu Hashim take it and grants us pardon.”