محمد بن الرضا

Of the proofs proving the Imamate of the Master of the Age and that his occultation is not an impossible phenomenon, are narrations of the two distinct denominations: Ahle Sunnat and Imamiyyah: that the Imams after the Prophet (s) are twelve - not more, not less. When this is proved, anyone who is certain of this, will be certain of the Imamate of the Twelve Imams. We profess their Imamate and believe in the existence of Ibn Hasan and his occultation, because anyone who disagrees with the Imamiyah, on anyone of these Imams, their Imams do not remain on this number, but rather, increase. When this specific number is proved through the narrations we will present, our objective will be proved. On the basis of this we have mentioned some of these reports and about the remaining we give the concerned reference so that this book may not be prolonged inordinately, if Allah wills.

H 181 - Saad bin Abdullah Ashari said: I heard Ahmad bin Ubaidullah bin Khaqan – and he was the official of the ruler in Qom – say in a lengthy traditions, which we have condensed: When Abu Muhammad, Hasan Ibn Ali (a.s) fell sick, he sent his men to my father and informed about the illness of Ibn Ridha. Immediately, he mounted a horse and moved towards Darul Khilafa. Then He came back hurriedly, accompanied by five reliable servants of the master of faithful. One of them was Nahrir. He ordered the servants to keep a vigil on the house of Hasan bin Ali and gather information about him from time to time. He called a group of physicians and asked them to visit him regularly. After two days, a person informed that Imam became very weak. My father started out to meet him and stayed with him till morning and then ordered his servants to stay with him. Then he called the chief justice and ordered him to select ten such persons from the community, who were known for their honesty and trustworthiness. The selected persons were thus sent to the house of (Imam) Hasan. They were ordered to stay there day and night till his demise. After a few days of the month of Rabi I, 260 A.H. passed away, the news spread in entire Samarrah that Ibn Ridha has passed away. Then he made preparations for the rites of Imam. He closed all the markets. My father, people of Bani Hashim, soldiers, secretaries and other people attended his funeral. The caliph asked Abu Isa Ibn Mutawakkil to offer the funeral prayer. The coffin was prepared and Abu Isa moved near it and removed the cloth off the face of Imam and addressed the people, “This is Hasan bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Ridha, who died a natural death and the servants of the master of faithful, and so-and-so judges are witness to it. Then he covered his face and stood up to offer the funeral prayer. He recited five Takbirs and the bier was ordered to be lifted. The bier was taken from his house and the Imam was buried near the grave of his father.

In the city of Surra man Ra‘a a man from the ‘Alawids like al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn al-Rida in guidance, calmness, piety, nobility and generosity to his family and among banu Hashim. They all as well as the official, the ministers and all common people all would give preference to him over their elders and the noble ones. One day I was standing next to my father (as a assistant or guard) and it was the day of his meeting people. His guards came and said, “Abu Muhammad ibn al-Rida is at the door.” He said loudly, “Allow him to come in.” I was surprised at their mentioning so boldly someone with his Kunya (i.e. father of so and so) before my father while only a Caliph, a crown Caliph or one who by the command of the Sultan would have to be addressed that way could have been treated as suCh A man with a fair complexion came in. His hieght was good and his face looked handsome, physically very good and young. He looked majestiic and awesome. When my father looked at him he stood up and walked towards him several steps. I had not seen him doing this to a person from the clan of banu Hashim and the officers. When he approached him he embraced him kissed his face and cchest and holding his hand lead him to sit on his own place for prayer and himself sat nest to him turning his face towards him. He would talk to him and would say often, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause.” I was surprised at what I would see. At this time the servant came and said, “Al-Muwaffaq (brother and commander in chief of the Caliph) has come.” When he (Al-Muwaffaq) would come to my father he would receive preference over the officers and other personalities. They stood up in the presence of my father between the door and the seat of my father until he would come in and leave. My father was still paying attention to abu Muhammad and was talking to him until he looked at his special servants and said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, now you may if you would so wish.” “. He then said to his guards to lead him to through the backside so that he (Al-Muwaffaq) would not see him. He stood up and my father also stood up and embraced him and he left. I asked the guards of my father and his servants, “Woe is you, who was the man whom you addressed by his Kunya before my father and my father treated him as he ddid?” They said, “This ‘Alawid man is called al-Hassan ibn Ali, know as ibn al-Rida .” This surprised me even more. The whole day I thought anxiously about his affairs and the behaviors of my father and I did not see him until it was night. He would usually say his ‘Isha (late evening) prayer and would study the things that he would need of the issue to present before the Sultan. When prayed and began to study I went and sat before him while he was alone. He asked, “Oahmad, do you need something?” I said, “Yes, my father. If you would allow me I would like to ask.” He said, “You have permission, my son, say whatever you would like.” I said, “Father, who was the man you met this morning and behaved with him the way you did towards him with so much glorification, greatness and reverence with such expressions as, ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause’?” He said, “My son, he was the Imam ((Leadership with Divine Authority) of the al-Rafida (those who refuse to accept the leadership people other than (Ali and his infallible descendants). He is al-Hassan ibn Ali, known as ibn al-Rida. He remained quite for a while and then said, “My son if the Imamat leadership would be removed from the Abbassid Caliphs no one from the clan of banu Hashim would deserve to become the Imam except this man. He deserves it because of his distinctions, piety, guidance, safety (from mistakes), his chastity, his worship, his beautiful moral characteristics and perfection. Had you had a chance to see his father you would have seen a man of great intelligence, nobility and excellence.” This increased my anxiety, thinking and anger towards my father and I thought his dealing and behavior towards him and his words for him were excessive. Thereafter, there was nothing more important to me than to ask more about him and investigate his affairs. Whoever of the members of Hashite clan or the guards, the clerks, the judges, the scholars of the law (Fuqha’) and other people that I would ask I would find him being glorified, mentioned with greatness and high position. I would hear very beautiful words about him and see him given preference over all members of Hashimite clan, their elders. The feeling of greatness for him increased in my heart because I would not find anyone of his friends or foe that would not speak good of him and praise him.” A certain person from the al-Asha‘ari beliefs present asked him, “What is the news about his brother, Ja‘far, O abu Bakr?” He said, “Who is Ja‘far that you would ask about him or compare him with al-Hassan (a.s.). Ja‘far was an evil doer in public, polluted with sins, an addict drukered, the lowest of all man and the most humiliating of his own self among men. He was worthless and little to his own self. What happened durinng the time of the death of al-Hassan ibn Ali to the Sultan and his people astonished me and I did not think such thing can happen. When became ill. My father was informed that ibn al-Rida has become ill. He immediately rode to reach the capital of the Caliphate. He came back in hurry with five people of the servants of the Amir al-Mu’minin. They all were of his confidants and trustworthy ones among whom one was Nihriyr. He (my father) commanded them to stay close to the house of al-Hassan (a.s.) to learn about him and his conditions. He called a few physicians and commanded them to maintain contact with him and be around him mornings and evenings. After two or three days he was informed that he (the patient) is weakening. He commanded the physicians to remain around his house and sent for the chief judge who came in his presence. He then commanded the him (judge) to select ten persons from his most trust worthy in the matters of their religion, trust and restraint. They were called in his presence and he sent them to house of al-Hassan (a.s.). He commanded them to be there day and night and they were there until he (a.s.) passed away. The city of Surra man Ra‘a turned into one huge voice of weeping and lamentation. The Sultan sent people to search his house and search all the rooms therein and seal the contents thereof.. They searched for his son and called certain women with knowledge to deal with pregnancy. They examined his ladies. A certain woman had said that one of the ladies is pregnant. She was accommodated in a certain quarter and Nihrir, al-Khadim and his people and the women with him were ordered to stay guard around her. Thereafter they began to prepare for the burial. The markets were to remain closed. Members of the clan al-Hashim, the guards, my father and other people formed the burial procession. The city of Surra man Ra’a on that day had turned into a day similar to the Day of resurrection. When the body was readied for burial the Sultan sent message to abu ‘Isa ibn al-Mutawakkil and commanded him to lead the prayer. When the body was placed at the prayer area abu ‘Isa went close and uncovered his face. He then asked all members of al-Hashim clan of the ‘Aliwid and ‘Abbassid branch, the guards, the clerks, the judges and juries to bear witness that al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn al-Rida (a.s.) his died a natural death in his own bed. That this has taken place in the presence of the servants of Amir al-Mu’minin, his confidants, so and so persons of the judges and so and persons of the physicians. He (abu ‘Isa) then covered his face and ordered to pick up the body. The body was then picked up from the central area of the house and was buried in the room where his father was buried. After his burial the Sultan and people began to search for his son. The search was carried out extensively. All the houses and rooms were searched. The distribution of his legacy was suspended. The people appointed to guard one the ladies who was thought of as pregnant continued their task until it was found out that such thought was invalid. When pregnancy was proved invalid they distributed his legacy between his mother and brother, Ja‘far. His mother claimed to be the executor of his will and her claim was confirmed before the judge. The Sultan, even after searching so much for his son continued his search to find traces of his son. Thereafter, Ja‘far came to my father and asked, “Assign the position of my brother to me. I will pay you twenty thousand Dinars every year.” My father treated him harshly and rebuked him saying, “You are a fool. The Sultan puts to the sword whoever he just thinks is a Shi‘a, follower and supporter of your father and brother to stop them from holding such belief but he fails to achieve such goal. Had you been considered an Imam among the Shi‘a of your father and brother you would not need any help from the Sultan or others to give you such position as that of your father and brother. If you are not considered an Imam among the Shi‘a of your father and brother you will not have such position from us.” My father belittled him considered him weak and ordered his people to keep him away from his office. My father did not give him permission for a meeting as long as he lived. We left and he remained in the same condition. The Sultan still would search for the traces of the son of al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.).”