محمد بن جعفر بن محمد

The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "I am surprised at the heedless person who is not without survelance; I am surprised at the one chasing the world, while death chases him; I am surprised at a person having a loud, hearty laugh, while he does not know whether Allah is pleased with him or is displeased."

“One night Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, came out wearing a robe and gown of fur of al- Khazz (garments made of skin or fur of an animal that lives in water), and his beard covered with al- Ghaliyah. They said, ‘At this time and in this make-up!’ He said, ‘I like to propose to al-Hur al-Tn before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, in this night.’” Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from Ali ibn Asbat from Mawla of banu Hashim from Muhammad ibn Ja‘far a similar Hadith.

“Abu Sufyan was riding on a camel. Muawiyah was leading the camel, and Yazid was driving the camel. Then God’s Prophet (MGB) cursed the rider, the leader and the driver.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny), said: "A learned man among the ignorant people is like a living person among the dead. And everything, including the fish, the poisonous vermins, the wild beasts and the cattle pray for the forgiveness of the one who seeks knowledge. So, seek knowledge, for surely, it is a conducive mean between you and Allah, Most High. And surely, seeking of knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim."

Gabriel (as) came down to the Prophet (sw) and said: O Muhammad! Peace (God) recites the salaam to you and says: “I created the seven heavens and that which is in them, and the seven Earths and that which is upon them. I did not create a place that is greater than the rukn and the maqam. If a worshiper supplicates to Me there from when I created the heavens and the Earths, then meets Me as a rejector of the wilaya of `Ali, I will throw him into Hellfire.”

“When al-Qa’im appears, he will send a man to every country of the world. He will say to him: “Your covenant is in your hand. Whenever a matter faces you that you do not understand or do not know how to judge on it, you are to look at (the covenant in) your hand and act according to it.” Then he will send an army to Constantinople. When the army reaches the sea, the soldiers will write on their feet something and will walk on the surface of the water. When the Romans see them walk on the water, they will say: “These are his companions walking on the water so how about him?” Then they will open to them the gates of the city. They enter the city and rule as they like.”

God’s Prophet (s) said, “Faith is recognition by the heart, expression by the tongue and enacting by the body parts.”

He heard him say: "Tell him, he is not here." So Abu Lababah exclaimed: "O Abu Yasar, come out." He came out. Abu Lababah asked: "What makes you act like this?" He said: "Hardship, O Abu Lababah." Do you say that in the name of Allah?" Abu al-Yasar said: "Yes, by His name." Then Abu Lababah said: "I heard the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny ask: "Who likes to be sheltered from the outburst of hellfire?" We said: "All of us would like that, O messenger of Allah." He said: "Then he should give respite to his debtor - or he should redeem the financial difficulty."

They are the guided ones.” Then at the end he said, “I wonder about Muhammad ibn Ja’far (Imam Sadiq’s son) and his revolt having heard these from his father (s).’ “ Then he added, “These are God’s Secrets, His Religion and the Religion of His angels. Then guard it against those to whom it does not belong.”

The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, once missed one of his companions for a time and then, when he saw him again, he asked: "What has kept you from us so long?’ He said: "O Prophet of Allah, illness and poverty prevented me." The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "May I not teach you prayers which you would recite so that Allah may keep illness and poverty away from you?" He said: "Yes, may my parents be your ransom, O messenger of Allah." The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: Say: "There is no might nor power except that by Allah. I entrust all my affairs unto the One Who lives for ever and never dies; All Praise be to Allah, Who begets no son, and Who has taken no partners in His Dominion, nor has He any protector. So magnify Him in the most Glorious way."

I asked, ’O my master! How can they eat anything seeing the way you are?’ Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) sat up and said, ‘Spread out the tablecloth.’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) called in all his workers and had them all sit at the tablecloth. Ar-Ridha’ asked each one of them about his health. Then after they all had eaten, Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) ordered that they take food for the women, too, and feed all of them. When this was done he got really weak and became unconscious. Everyone present started to cry. All of Al-Ma’mun’s maids and wives rushed in without wearing any veils. Crying and mourning filled up all of Toos. Al-Ma’mun himself was in bare feet and head and was hitting himself on the head and trying to cover the hair of his wives with his long beard. He was expressing his sorrow by crying and tears were flowing down his face. He went and stopped at the side of Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) regained his consciousness. Al-Ma’mun said, ‘O my Master! By God! I do not know which calamity is worse for me: losing you and being away from you, or the people’s accusing me of poisoning and killing you.’”Yasir adedd, “Then the Imam (a.s.) opened his eyes a little, looked at Al-Ma’mun and said, “O Commander of the Faithful! Treat Abi Ja’far (Imam Ridha’’s son) (a.s.) with kindness since your life and his life are like this” While he (a.s.) brought his forefingers together.”Yasir added, “When the night came and some time had passed by, Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) passed away. Then when the morning came the people gathered there and said, ‘This man (referring to Al-Ma’mun) killed him. This man martyred him.’ They meant Al-Ma’mun. They kept on saying, ‘The son of God’s Prophet (S) was killed.’ There was a lot of turmoil there. Muhammad ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad (Imam Ridha’’s uncle) who had sought refuge from Al-Ma’mun and had come from Medina to Khorasan was there. He was Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’’s uncle. Then Al-Ma’mun told him, ‘O Aba Ja’far (Muhammad ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad)! Go out to the people and tell them that they will not bring out Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’’s (a.s.) corpse today. Tell them to go about doing their own business.’ Al-Ma’mun did not wish the body to be taken out fearing that it might result in sedition. Then Muhammad ibn Ja’far went out and told the people, ‘O people! Disperse! Indeed today Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) will not be brought out.’ Then the people dispersed. Then they performed the ritual ablution for death for Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) at night and buried him.”Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem added, “In fact, Ali ibn Ibrahim said that Yasir has told him something which I do not like to mention here.”

“Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl advised Al-Ma’mun to seek nearness to God the Honorable the Exalted and His Prophet (S) by visiting the relations of kin, pledging allegiance to Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) and returning to them the rule which Ar-Rashid had taken away from them. This was not possible to do. Therefore, from Khorasan Al-Ma’mun sent Abi ad-Dhahhaq and Yasir - the servant to bring Muhammad ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad (one of Imam As-Sadiq’s (a.s.) offspring) and Ali ibn Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) to him. This happened in the year 200 A.H. (815 A.D.). When they brought Ali ibn Musa (a.s.) to Al-Ma’mun in Marv, he appointed Ali ibn Musa (a.s.) as the successor to the throne after himself. He also ordered that the troops be granted one full year’s salary. He declared this issue to all Muslim lands. He called him Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) and had silver coins coined in Ar-Ridha’’s (a.s.) name. He ordered the people to put aside their black clothing that was a sign of the Abbasids, and asked them all to wear green clothing. Then he married off his daughter Umm Habib to Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), and married off his other daughter Ummul Fadhl to Ar-Ridha’’s son, Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.). He himself married Pooran - the daughter of Al-Hassan ibn al-Sahl. This was because of her uncle Fadhl and all of this happened in one day. However, Al-Ma’mun did not really like that the Caliphate (the rule) be turned over to Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) after him.Al-Sowli added, “What Ubaydillah ibn Abdullah narrated for me was correct from several points of view. Oun ibn Muhammad narrated on the authority of Al-Fadhl ibn Abi Sahl Al-Nowbakhti - or from his brother - that when Al-Ma’mun decided to establish Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) as the successor to the throne, I told myself, ‘By God, I will test Al-Ma’mun to see if he sincerely wants to do this or not.’ Then I wrote a letter as follows and handed it to his servant who was the one who reported Al-Ma’mun’s secrets to me in writing, “Thul-Riasatayn has decided to draw up the contract for succession to the throne. The horoscope is in position of Cancer, the fourth sign of the Zodiac (the fourth month). Jupiter and Cancer are in it. Even though Jupiter is in the upright position it is a month of turmoil. Whatever contract is established in that month will have no good ending. Additionally, Mars is in Libra. That is in the seventh house which indicates that any contracts established in it are unfortunate. I am reporting this to the Commander of the Faithful so thatyou do not blame me for not doing so, if anyone else reports it to you.’ Al-Ma’mun replied, ‘Return this letter by the same messenger who delivered it to you as soon as you read its contents. Take care that no one finds out about what you wrote to me, since that might result in Thul-Riasatayn changing his mind. Beware that if anyone finds out, I will consider you to be blameworthy for negligence.’ As soon as I read the reply, the world became too small for me and I wished that I had never written him that letter. However, Thul-Riasatayn Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl himself feared this bad horoscope and changed his mind since he had sufficient knowledge of astrology. However, I swear by God that I feared for my life. I rode towards where he was and asked him, ‘Do you know of any star in the sky that is more prosperous than Jupiter?’ He said, ‘No?’ I asked, ‘Do you know of any stars in the sky that are more prosperous than Jupiter in the upright position?’ He said, ‘No.’ Then I said, ‘Then do not change your mind about drawing up the contract for the succession to the throne. Do not change your mind while the sky star of prosperity being Jupiter is in its most prosperous position being the upright position.’ Thul-Riasatayn then decided to continue on with what he had decided to do, and drew up the contract. However, I feared Al-Ma’mun and did not know whether I would be dead or alive until the succession to the throne took place.”

“Whenever Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) had a private session, he gathered all his workers - whether young or old - and talked with them and was friendly with them. When Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (a.s.) and heard the door which connected Al-Ma’mun’s house to Abil Hassan’s house open. Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told us, “Stand up and disperse.” We stood up. Al-Ma’mun came in with a long letter in his hand. Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (a.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, Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (a.s.) said, “O Commander of the Faithful! Fear God in the way you deal with the nation of Muhammad (a.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 oppressedpeople 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 (a.s.), “O my Master! What do you think now?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.)), since they were not pleased with him and were prisoned by Al-Ma’mun for this).” Al-Ma’mun said, “Fine.”The next morning Abul Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) went to Al-Ma’mun and said, “O Commander of the Faithful! What did you do?” Al-Ma’mun informed Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) and his forefathers (a.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 Ar-Ridha’ (a.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.(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 (a.s.) was killed. Al-Joloodi reached Abul Hassan Ar-Ridha’’s (a.s.) house. He attacked his house with his troops. Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) took all the women into the house and stood at the door himself. Al-Joloodi told Abil Hassan (a.s.), “I must enter and take away in person everything that they possess, as the Commander of the Faithful has ordered this.” Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (a.s.) promised him and he finally agreed. Then Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.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.)When Al-Joloodi entered that day, Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 ofGod’s Prophet (S) as he did when looting the goods of the women.” Al-Joloodi was looking at Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) who was talking to Al-Ma’mun and insisting that he be forgiven and be turned over to Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). However, he imagined that Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.))! I forgive him but he is swearing that I reject your request.” Then he told Ar-Ridha’ (a.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. 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 Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (a.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 Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.)) handwriting to be in this letter of immunity. He should accept this as youdid since he is the successor to the throne.” Al-Ma’mun said, “You know that Abal Hassan (Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.)). Yasir added, “Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told us to go away and we did. Al-Fadhl came in and stood in front of Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). After a while, Abul Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told him, “Read it.” He stood up and recited it, even though it was long. When he finished, Abul Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (a.s.) restricted Thul-Riasatayn with what he (a.s.) said.” Then Thul-Riasatayn left. Al-Ma’mun set out and we left along with Ar-Ridha’ (a.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, Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) to do the same. Then Al-Ma’mun wrote to Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) and asked him to do so. Abal Hassan (Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (a.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 Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told us, ‘Say I seek refuge in God from the evil that will descend tonight.’ We started saying that until dawn when Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said his prayers. He said, ‘Say I seek refuge in God from the evil that will descend today.’ Thennear dawn, Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 (a.s.) house and said, ‘O my Master! O Abal Hassan (Ar-Ridha’ (a.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. One of them was Al-Fadhl’s maternal cousin (his aunt’s son) called Thul-Qalamayn.” 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 Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “O my Master! Please consider going out and dispersing them.” Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) got on the horse and told me to get on the horse, too. Then when we got out of the house, Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) saw that they had gathered there and had made a fire to put the door on fire and burn it. Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.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 Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) pointed at ran away. Everyone left and no body was left.