A brief biography of Ali bin Musa bin Jafar (a.s.) known as Imam Reza (a.s.), the eighth Imam of the Shiites
Ali bin Musa bin Jafar (a.s.) known as Imam Reza (148-203 AH) is the eighth Imam of the Twelve Imam Shia sect. From 183 A.H., he was in charge of the Shia Imamate for twenty years, and his Imamate period was the same as the caliphate of Harun Abbasi, Muhammad Amin and Ma'mun Abbasi.
In the last years of his life, Imam Reza (a.s.) was called from Medina to Maro in Khorasan by the order of Ma'mun and became the crown prince of Ma'mun. Historians and Shia scholars consider the reign of Imam Reza (a.s.) as the most important political event in his life and say that the Imam was forced to do so by Ma'mun.
A famous hadith was told by Imam Reza (a.s.) during his trip to Iran, which is known as the Gold Chain (Golden Chain); Because the chain of narrators are all infallible. He narrated this holy hadith in Nishabur to a group of scholars there. In this hadith, the monotheism of God's fortress is introduced, whoever enters it is safe. Then it comes, of course, it has conditions that I am one of them.
According to the view of most Shiite scholars, Imam Reza (a.s.) was poisoned by Ma'mun at the age of 55 in Tus and was martyred and was buried in the Haruniya mausoleum in Sanabad village. He is the only imam among the Shia imams who is buried in Iran. The shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Shiites. The shrine of Fatemeh Masoumeh, her sister, is also located in Iran, which is considered the most famous shrine of this country, after Razavi's shrine.
Ali bin Musa, known as Imam Reza (a.s.), is the 8th imam of twelve-imam Shiites. His father Musa bin Jafar (a.s.) was the 7th imam of Shiites, and his mother was a maidservant who is called Najma or Toktam.
Regarding the time of birth and death of Imam Reza (a.s.), there is a difference of opinion, one of them is that he was born on the 11th of Zul-Hijjah or Zul-Qaida or Rabi-ul-Awl in 148 or 153 AH and on the last day of the month of Safar or the 17th or 21st of Ramadan or the 18th of Jumadi-ul-Awl He was martyred either on the 23rd or the end of Zul-Qa'dah in 202 or 203 or 206 AH. According to Seyyed Jafar Morteza Ameli, most scholars and historians believe that Imam Reza was born in Medina in 148 AH and was martyred in 203 AH.
After the martyrdom of his father, Imam Reza (a.s.) became the Imam of Shiites. The term of his Imamate was twenty years (183-203 AH) which coincided with the caliphate of Harun Abbasi, Muhammad Amin and Ma'mun.
Nicknames and nicknames
For Ali Ibn Musa, the nicknames such as Reza, Saber, Razi, Wafi and Zaki have been mentioned. Based on a hadith from the book of ``Ilam al-Wori, written by Fazl bin Hasan Taborsi, Imam Kazim (a.s.) has also used the title of ``Alam al-Muhammad'' about him. Imam Reza is also called by titles such as Zaman Aho, Imam Rauf Gharib al-Ghorba, Thaman al-Hujjaj (the eighth Hujjat), and Thaman al-Aima (the eighth Imam).
His most famous nickname is "Reza". Siyuti (849-911 AH), one of the Sunni scholars, said that this nickname was given to him by Ma'mun, the Abbasid caliph, but according to a hadith narrated by Sheikh Sadouq, a Shiite muhadith of the fourth century of the lunar calendar, Imam Javad (a.s.) considered this to be incorrect and his father's nickname He considered it "satisfied" because he was satisfied with the Lordship of God in the sky, the prophethood of the Prophet, and the Imamate of the imams on earth. In this hadith, Imam Javad is asked if other Imams were like this. So why is your father nicknamed "Reza" among them? Imam Javad answers because friends and enemies were satisfied with him and this does not apply to any of the other imams.
Imam Reza's nickname was Abul Hasan. According to a hadith narrated by Sheikh Sadouq, Imam Kazim (a.s.) gave him this nickname, which was also his nickname. To distinguish him from Imam Kazem, they also called Imam Reza Abul Hasan Thani (II). Imam Reza had other nicknames such as Abu Ali and Abu Muhammad.
wife and children
The wife of Imam Reza was Sabika Nubia or Khaizoran, who was the mother of Imam Javad (a.s.). In historical and hadith sources, another wife for Imam Reza is mentioned and it is said that she was the daughter of Mamun. [25] According to Sheikh Sadouq, then Since Ma'mun made Imam Reza his crown prince, he married his daughter Umm Habib.
Sheikh Saduq, Sheikh Mofid, Ibn Shahr Ashob and Tabarsi wrote that Imam Reza had only one son who was Imam Javad. However, according to Seyyed Mohsen Amin, the author of Ayyan al-Shia, in some sources, other children are mentioned for him.
In Qazvin, there is a shrine named after Imamzadeh Hossein, who Mustofi, a historian of the 8th century, considered him to be the son of Imam Reza (a.s.); Of course, Kia Gilani, a genealogist, has traced his lineage to Jafar Tayyar. In some sources, he is called the brother of Imam Reza (a.s.).
Fatima Masoumeh, sister of Imam Reza (a.s.)
Among the sisters and brothers of Imam Reza (a.s.), the most famous one is Fatimah Masoumeh, whom Shia scholars hold a high place for and narrate traditions about her dignity and the importance of her pilgrimage. Mohammad Baqir Majlisi in Beharalanwar, narrated a hadith from Imam Sadiq (a.s.), according to which all Shiites will enter heaven through the intercession of Hazrat Masoumeh (a.s.). Muhammad Taqi Shushtri named him after Imam Reza (a.s.), the best son of Imam Kazim (a.s.). ) has known.
According to the book of Tarikh Qom, Fatimah Masoumeh went to Iran from Medina to visit her brother Imam Reza (a.s.) in 201 AH; But he fell ill in the middle of the way and was buried in Qom. Hazrat Masoumeh's shrine in Qom is considered the most magnificent and famous tomb in Iran, after Imam Reza's shrine.
The Governorship of Imam Reza (a.s.)
Imam Reza (a.s.) has been considered as the most important event in his political life. This event is one of the controversial issues in the history of Islam, which is important both politically and theologically (contradicting the acceptance of velayatahdi with the Imam's infallibility).
According to Shaykh Mofid, a Shia theologian and jurist (died: 413 AH), Ma'mun forced Imam Reza to accept the oath of governorship by threatening to kill him. In this way, Imam Reza was transferred from Medina to Merv in Khorasan, the capital of Ma'mun's rule.
Shiite scholars say that Ma'mun made him the crown prince to monitor Imam Reza, to silence the Alawite revolution and to legitimize his caliphate.
On the 7th of Ramadan 201 A.H., Ma'moun held the ceremony of regency and the people and government officials pledged allegiance to the Imam. After that, according to Ma'mun's orders, sermons were read in the name of Imam and coins were minted in his name.
It is said that Imam Reza (a.s.) took advantage of the situation in favor of Shiism and was able to express many of the teachings of Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) to the general public.
Important events during Imamate
According to Rasul Jafarian, a historian, after the martyrdom of Imam Kazim (a.s.), due to reasons such as the existence of piety, the opportunism of some who had property from Imam Kazim (a.s.), and the existence of some false traditions, there was a dispute among the Shiites about his successor. In the meantime, a sect was formed in Shia that said that Imam Kazim (a.s.) is not dead and that the Mahdi is promised. This group became known as Waqfieh. Of course, most of the companions of Imam Kazim accepted Imam Reza's imamate. This historian also writes that most of the political events of Imam Reza's period took place after his vilayat, and before that few political interactions of Imam Reza were recorded.
The Governorship of Imam Reza (a.s.)
Imam Reza (a.s.) has been considered as the most important event in his political life. This event is one of the controversial issues in the history of Islam, which is important both politically and theologically (contradicting the acceptance of velayatahdi with the Imam's infallibility).
According to Sheikh Mufid, a Shia theologian and jurist (died: 413 AH), Ma'mun forced Imam Reza to accept the regency by threatening to kill him. Imam Reza (a.s.), on the other hand, made a condition that he would not interfere in government affairs. In this way, Imam Reza was transferred from Medina to Merv in Khorasan, the capital of Ma'mun's government.
Shia scholars say that Ma'mun made him the crown prince in order to keep an eye on Imam Reza, to shut down the Alawite revolution and to legitimize his caliphate.
On the 7th of Ramadan 201 A.H., Ma'mun held the ceremony of taking the oath of governorship and the people and government officials pledged allegiance to the Imam. [50] After that, according to Ma'mun's order, sermons were read in the name of the Imam and coins were minted in his name.
It is said that Imam Reza (a.s.) took advantage of the situation in favor of Shiism and was able to express many of the teachings of Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) to the general public.