The short biography of Imam Reza (as)

The Short biography of Imam Reza (AS)

Name: Ali

Father: Musa

Mother: Najma or Toktam 

Nickname: Abu Al-Hasan

Most famous nickname: Reza

Birthday: 11th of Zi-Al- Qaeda in 148 A.H

Birthplace: Madinah

Child: Mohammad Javad

Coincided caliphate: Mansoor Davanighi, Mahdi Abbasi, Hady Abbasi, Haroon al-Rashid, Mohammad Amin and Ma'moun Abbasi

Date of constrained caliphate by Ma'moun: Ramazan at 201 A.H

Lifetime: 55 years

Martyrdom: Safar at 203 A.H

Murderer: Ma'moun Abbasi by poison

Holy shrine: Mashhad

Genealogy: Ali bin Musa bin Ja'far ibn Muhamad bin Ali bin Husain (son of Fatimah (the daughter of prophet Mohammad PBUT) bin Ali ibn Abi Talib (PBUT).

His majesty is known (AS) Imam Reza (AS), and he is the eighth Imam of Twelver Shi'ite. His name is Ali and he is divinely entitled al_Reza, and his nicknames are: Abu Al-Hasan, Saber, Ra'di and Wa'fi.[1] His most famous nickname is Reza which was given to him by Allah. He is also known to Alime A'le Muhammad (sage of Mohammad’s family). Imam Ka'zim (AS) told his children: Your brother, Ali bin Musa is Alime A'le Muhammad.[2]

Birthday

His birthday is not exactly known, but according to scholars and historian sources, Imam Reza (AS) was born either on Thursday 11th of Zi-Al- Qaeda or Friday, or Zi- Al-Hajah or Rabi'a al-Awwal in 148 A.H.[3]

His mother:

Najma who is the mother of Imam Reza AS, was a clean and pious. When Imam Reza (AS) was born, Imam Ka’zim (AS) called him to Ta'hirah. Her other names are Najma, Sama'neh and her nickname is Umm al- Banin (mother of sons). [4]

His wife:

Sabikeh is the name of Imam Reza's wife. According to some historian sources, the other wife of his majesty was the daughter of Ma'moun, is named Omme Habibeh.[5]

Number and names of the children of Imam Reza AS

There is difference about number and names of his children. Some hold: Imam Reza (AS) had five son and one daughter: Mohammad, Hasan, Ja'far, Abraham, Hussain and a'yeshah. But some other hold and believe that his majesty had just one son his name is Mohammad bin Ali.[6]

Imamate of Imam Reza AS

Imam Reza (AS) after martyrdom of his father Imam Kadhem (AS), accepted Imamate about 20 years that was coincided with Abbasid caliphate, Haroon al- Rasheed, Mohammad Amin, and Ma'moon.   

According to the will of the Imam Ka’zim (AS) and other reasons, like scientific and moral superiority of Imam Reza (AS), after martyrdom of Imam Ka’zim(AS) most of Shiite accepted Imam Reza (AS) and confirmed him (AS) the eighth Imam. This group became known (AS) Gateeyah. And other companions of Imam Ka’zim (AS) refused the Imamate of Imam Reza (AS). This group is called Vagefiyah. They believed that Imam Ka’zim (AS) is the last Imam.

Imam Reza (AS) was present about seventeen years of his Imamate in Medina and his majesty had a special position among the people. It was quoted from Imam Reza himself (AS): I sat in the mosque of prophet, and the scholars who were in Medina, whenever they involved solving any problem, referred to me.[7]

Emigration of Imam Reza PBUH

Ma'moon brought about Imam Reza PBUH from Medina to Khora'sa'n in 201 A.H. According to some, Ma'moon looked for gathering of Shiite around Imam Reza (PBUH). so, he ordered to bring his majesty to Nishaboor through Basrah, Khozesta'n and Fa'rs. 

The Hadith of Silsilat- al- Da'ha'b

The Hadith of Silsilat- al- Da'ha'b is one of the most documented narratives that was narrated by Imam Reza as. Isha'g ibn Rahviyah says: when Imam Reza (AS) arrived to Neyshaboor, the number of narrators asked to Imam: O! son of the prophet! Do you emigrate from our town and do not expression a narrative for us? After this demand, his majesty outcropped out of the coupe and said: I heard from my father Mosa bin Ja'far who said: I heard from my father Ja'far bin Mohammad who said: I heard from my father Mohammad bin Ali Mohammad who said: I heard from my father Ali bin Husain who said: I heard from my father Husain bin Ali who said: I heard from my father Amir of all believer Ali bin Abi Ta'lib who said: I heard from apostle of Allah who said: I heard from Gabriel who said: I heard from Glorious Splendiferous Lord who said:

The word of «لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‏» (La Ilaha illa Alla) (there is no deity but Allah) is my fortress and my castle. Therefore, everyone enters my castle; will be safe from my torment. Then, while his horse moved and started to gaited, Imam said in a relatively louder tone: with its condition, and I am one of those conditions.[8]

This expression is the most important and documented event that has happened during Imam's movement to Khor'asa'n.

After Imam's habitancy in Marv, Ma'moom sent a courier to the house of Imam Reza (AS) and suggested caliphate to his majesty and Imam (AS) rejected it. Ma'moon repeated his suggestion several time and wanted to entrust the succession and it is rejected denunciatory rejection by Imam (AS). Here, Ma'moom blackmailed and said: Omar bin Khatta'b prescribed council in six members, one of them was your grandfather Amir al- mo'meneen Ali bin Abi Talib. Omar bet each of them if anyone disagreed should be decapitated. Omar bet each of them if anyone disagreed should be decapitated. You have to necessarily accept what I want. Imam (AS) answered: then I accept unless I neither order nor forbid I neither decree nor judge, I neither appoint anybody nor depose and substitute. Ma'moon accepted Imam's provisions.[9] Thus, in Monday seventh of Ramazan at 201 A.H, Ma'moon declared his allegiance to Imam Reza (AS) as a successor and ordered people to wear green clothes instead of black. Thus, 0n the seventh day of Ramazan in 201 A.H, Ma'moon declared his allegiance to Imam Reza (AS) as a successor and ordered the people to put on green clothes instead of black dress. The preachers started their sermons with Imam's name and they called Dinar and Derham by Imam's name. Everybody wore green clothed except Isma'il bin Ja'far bin Sulaima'n bin Ali Ha'shemi.[10]After bringing of Imam Reza (AS) to Marv, Ma'moon formed innumerous scientific meeting with the presence of various scholars. In these meeting, the great negotiations were formed between Imam Reza (AS) and others that was mainly based on religious and jurisprudential issues.[11]

People believed that every Imam has a divinely appointed science and according to that Ma'moon had a main goal. He wanted to change masses' perception and eliminate their conception about the Ahl - al- Bayt (PBUT).[12]

The martyrdom of Imam Reza (AS)

It is said: his martyrdom (AS) was on Friday or Monday of the last day of the Safar, or 21rt Ramazan, 18th Jama'di –al-ola', or 23rd zo –al- qa'dah in 202, or 203, or 206 A.H while his majesty was about 55 years old. According to the most of scholars and historians his martyrdom was in 203 A.H.[13]

There are different citations in the various sources about how was Imam Reza's (AS) martyrdom. Yaqubi[14] writes: in the first year of 203 A.H when Imam Reza (AS) arrived at Thus, his majesty passed away in a village is called Nogan. Ali bin Hisham drank Imam (AS) with poisonous pomegranate and his majesty after three days of illness passed away.

Sheikh Mofid narrates[15] that Ma'moon ordered Abdollah bin Bashir to not trim his nails till to be long and afforded something it was similar tamarind to make it with his hand as a dough. Then Ma'mon went to Imam (AS) and called Abdollah bin Bashir and ordered him to squeeze pomegranate juice by his hands and poisoned it, then he gave it to Imam Reza (AS) and imposed him to drink. Unfortunately, it became caused to pass away his majesty (AS). Sheikh Sadoq[16] narrates some narratives that it is mentioned in vines and pomegranates.

There are several reasons to martyrdom of Imam (AS). Imam (AS) debated with various scholars, on the other hand, glad hand of enthusiastic people when Imam (AS) prayed Eid prayer, Ma'moon felt angst. But Imam (AS) was not afraid of Ma'moon and he often responded to Ma'moon so that it made him anger against Imam (AS).

After the martyrdom of Imam Reza (AS) Ma'moon buried him in the house of Hamid ibn Qahtabeh Taei (Haruniyeh mausoleum) in the village of Sanabad.[17] These days, many Muslims across Asia and other parts of the world travels as a pilgrim this holy shrine in the city of Mashhad that is located in Iran.  

[1] Ibn Sharashub, vol 4, p 366-367

[2]. Tabarci. Aalam -al- vraa. Vol 2. P 64

[3] . Mophid, A -lErshad, vol 2, p 247

[4]. Sadugh, Oyoun Akhbar – Al- Reda, vol 1, p 14-16

[5] . Yafe-ei, Miraat- al- Janan, vol 2, p10

[6] Mophid, A -lErshad, vol 2, p271

[7] . Tabarci. Aalam -al- vraa. Vol 2. P41- 42

[8] . Ibn Babveih, Al- Tohid, p49.. Sadugh, Maani -al- Akhbar, p371

[9]. Mophid, al -lrshad, vol 2, p259

[10] . Yaghobi, Taarikh Yaghobi, vol 2, p 465

[11] . Tabarci, al- Ehtijaj, vol 2, p 395

[12] . Aalami, vol 1, p 152

[13]. Koleini,vol 1, p 486

[14] . vol 1, p 469

[15] . Al- Irshad, vol 2, p 270

[16] . Oyoun Akhbar – ah- Reda, vol 2, p 245

[17] . Mophid, al -lrshad, vol 2, p271