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

I was with Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) when he was leaving Neishaboor. He was riding in a carriage pulled by a grayish mule. Then Muhammad ibn Rafe’a, Ahmad ibn al-Harith, Yahya ibn Yahya, Ishaq ibn Rahovayeh and some of the scholars grabbed the mule’s harness at Marba’at and said, ‘By your forefathers, the Pure! Please narrate a tradition for us from your father.’ Then he brought his head out of the carriage.He was wearing a double-sided fur cloak. He (a.s.) said, ‘My father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) - the good-doing servant -narrated that his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad As-Sadiq (a.s.) quoted on the authority of his father Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.) - the analyzer of the Knowledge of the Prophets - on the authority of his father Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.) - the Master of the Worshippers - on the authority of his father Al-Husayn (a.s.) - the Master of Youth in Paradise - on the authority of his father Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.), on the authority of God’s Prophet (S) that he had heard Gabriel say that God - the Exalted the Magnificent - say, “I am God. There is no god but Me. Worship Me then. Whoever of you sincerely witnesses to “there is no god but God” can enter My Stronghold. And whoever enters My Stronghold is secure from My punishment.”

There is no god but God” is My Stronghold. Whoever enters it is secure from My punishment.”

I am God. There is no god but Me. Whoever confesses to My Unity will enter My Stronghold. And whoever enters My Stronghold is secure from My punishment.”

O son of the Prophet of God (a.s.)! You are leaving us and you will not inform us of any traditions to benefit us?” He was sitting in a carriage. Then he brought his head out and said, “I heard my father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) say that his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.) quoted on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), on the authority of his father Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.), on the authority of the Prophet (S) thathe had heard Gabriel say that God the Honorable the Exalted said, “There is no god but God” is My Stronghold. Whoever enters My Stronghold is secure from My Punishment.” When they moved on, he loudly said, “There are certain conditions for this. And I am one of these conditions.”The author of this book (a.s.heikh Sadooq) - may God forgive him - said, “One of the conditions of confessing to “there is no god but God” is confessing to the Trusteeship of Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) that has been established by God the Exalted the Honorable over the servants. Obeying him is incumbent upon them.” It is also said that when Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) entered Neishaboor he went to take a bath in a part of town called Al-Farwini where there was a bath that is nowadays known as “the bath of Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.).” There was a well which was about to dry up. He appointed someone to go in the well and clean it out until the water in the well increased. A pond was built outside the gate of the well. There were several stairs to climb down to fill the pond with water from the well. They filled the pond with water, and Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) bathed in it. Then he came out and prayed outside the pond. The people took turns, entered the pond, performed their ritual ablutions, came out and prayed. They drank a few drops of that water seeking its blessings, praised God the Exalted the Honorable and asked Him to fulfill their needs. This is the same pond that exists today and is known as the Kahlan. People go there from all places.