The martyrdom of Imam Ali bin Mūsā al-Riḍā (the eighth Imam of Shiʿa)
Imam al-Riḍā was born in 148 A.H. (765A.D) in Medina. His respected parents were Imam Mūsā al-kādhim and Lady Najma Khātūn. He was 35 years old when his honorable father martyred in prison of Hārūn al-Rashīd (the Abbasid caliph) in Baghdad and the responsibilities of the Imamate devolved on him for 20 years. After a time, al-Ma’mūn (another Abbasid caliph) asked the Imam to come to Marw (the capital at that time) from Medina. At the eve of the Imam’s departure from the Prophet's tomb site, his woe was the same as that of Imam al-Hussain when he latter had to leave that sacred place never to return again. So, Imam al-Ridā went into the tomb several times wailing and this happened many times. Also surprisingly, he informed his family and companions that he shall never had the chance to come back so, he advised them to grieve for him then.
At any rate, Imam al-Ridā started his journey in 200 A.H. (816 A.D.), leaving all his family members including his son Imam al-Jawād who was just five years old in Medina. When he reached Marw the caliph asked the Imam to take over the caliphate, but the Imam refused. Al-Ma'mūn then asked him to agree to be his heir-apparent. The Imam, who knew the purpose of the caliph, refused that offer too. But the caliph insisted most sternly.
However after the Imam’s acceptance, soon the caliph realized that he had committed an error appointing the Imam as his heir-apparent, for there was a rapid spread of Shiism, a growth in the attachment of the populace to the Imam, and an astounding reception given to the Imam by the people and even by the army and government agents. Therefore, al-Ma'mūn sought to find a remedy for this difficulty so, he poisoned and martyred the Imam on the last day of the month of Safar in 203 A.H. (819 A.D).
After hearing about the martyrdom of Imam al-Ridā, people started gathering around the Imam's residence and the noise of wailing and crying increased. So, being scared of a funeral procession at that time, al-Ma'mūn contrived to have the burial ceremony done in the dark of night. He, feigning grief, buried the Imam’s body beside the grave of his father al-Hārūn who was buried there ten years ago. Soon all traces of al-Hārūn's grave vanished, while the tomb of Imam al-Ridā became the center of pilgrimage. In better word, his grand Shrine speaks well for the great personality the Imam possessed. Myriads of Muslims visit his Shrine every year to pay their homage to this Imam. In fact, though centuries passed from the life of Imam al-Ridā, his holy shrine, in Mashhad, is the cause of blessing and honor for the Iranians.
Hearing the sad news of Imam al-Ridā’s martyrdom, Di‘bil al-Khuzā‘ī, the famous Arab poet wrote an elegy in praise and commemoration of His Holiness. The following are only two couplets of his famous ode:
«قَـبرانِ فـي طـوسٍ خـير النّاس کلهُم
“Two graves are located in Tūs. One belongs to the best man (Imam al-Ridā);
وَ قَـبْر شَـرُّهمْ هـذا مِـن العِـبَر»
While the other is occupied by the worst creature (Hārūn al-Rashīd). This serves as an example for others”
«ما يَنْفَع الرّجْسَ مِنْ اقْرَبِ الزکّـيِّ وَ
“That wicked spirit can gain no benefit from its nearness to the pure body of the holy Imam;
ما عَليَ الزَّکيِّ بقُرْبِ الرّجِسِ مِنْ ضِرَر»[1]
And the sacred remains of His Holiness will not be polluted by its foul neighbor.”
Source: The Final Hope, Issue no. 12, December 2015
