Ali al-Rida facts for kids

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Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (Arabic: عَلِيّ ٱبْن مُوسَىٰ ٱلرِّضَا, romanized: Alī ibn Mūsā al-Riḍā) was an important leader in Islam. He was born around January 1, 766 CE, and died around June 6, 818 CE. He was a great-grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Ali al-Rida was the eighth Imam in Twelver Shia Islam. He took over this role after his father, Musa al-Kazim.

Ali al-Rida was known for being very religious and wise. Many books are said to be written by him. One important book, Uyun al-Akhbar al-Rida, collects his religious discussions and sayings. He is buried in Mashhad, Iran, which is now a very holy place for Shia Muslims. Millions visit his shrine every year.

Ali al-Rida lived during the time of the Abbasid Caliphate. This was a powerful Islamic empire. He was alive when caliphs Harun al-Rashid and his sons, al-Amin and al-Ma'mun, ruled. Caliph al-Ma'mun made a surprising decision. He invited Ali al-Rida to his capital city, Merv, in Khorasan. Al-Ma'mun then named Ali al-Rida as his successor, meaning Ali al-Rida would be the next caliph.

Ali al-Rida was not eager to accept this offer. He agreed only if he did not have to get involved in government matters. This decision caused a lot of disagreement, especially among other leaders and Arab groups. They revolted against al-Ma'mun. Because of this, al-Ma'mun decided to move back to Baghdad. Ali al-Rida traveled with him. However, Ali al-Rida died mysteriously during the journey in Tus (near modern-day Mashhad). Many believe al-Ma'mun was responsible for his death. After his death, the city of Tus grew into Mashhad, centered around Ali al-Rida's tomb.

The shrine of al-Rida in Mashhad, Iran

Who Was Ali al-Rida?

Birth and Early Life

Ali al-Rida was born in Medina around 765 CE. His father was Musa al-Kazim, the seventh Shia Imam. His mother was named Najma or Toktam. She was a freed slave, possibly from the Berber region. Ali al-Rida was about 35 years old when his father passed away.

Becoming an Imam

Before his death in prison, Ali al-Rida's father, al-Kazim, chose him as his successor. This happened in 799 CE. Ali al-Rida inherited his father's property near Medina. After al-Kazim's death, many of his followers accepted Ali al-Rida as the next Imam. These followers became the main group of Shia Muslims, known as the Twelvers.

Some of al-Kazim's followers did not believe he had died. They thought he would return as the Mahdi, a promised savior. These groups were called the Waqifiyya. However, most of them later accepted Ali al-Rida as the true leader.

Ali al-Rida's Leadership

Staying Out of Politics

Ali al-Rida's time as Imam happened during the rule of Abbasid caliphs Harun al-Rashid and his sons, al-Amin and al-Ma'mun. At first, Ali al-Rida stayed away from politics. He was like the Imams before him. He was known for his deep religious knowledge. He gave religious advice at The Prophet's Mosque in Medina.

Even when some of his relatives revolted against the Abbasids, Ali al-Rida did not join them. His only political involvement was helping to settle a dispute between the government and his uncle, who had revolted in Mecca.

Civil War and Unrest

After Harun al-Rashid died, his empire was divided between his two sons. Al-Amin ruled the western parts, including Iraq. Al-Ma'mun ruled the eastern parts, including Khorasan in Iran. Al-Amin broke their agreement by naming his own son as successor instead of al-Ma'mun. This led to a civil war. Al-Amin was killed, and al-Ma'mun's army took over Baghdad.

Al-Ma'mun stayed in Merv, Khorasan, making it his new capital. He faced many revolts, especially from groups called Alids and Zaydis. These groups were fighting against the Abbasids. A major Shia revolt in Iraq in 815 CE was very difficult to stop.

Becoming Heir to the Caliphate (817 CE)

To try and calm the revolts, al-Ma'mun made a big change. He invited Ali al-Rida to Khorasan in 816 CE. In 817 CE, he named Ali al-Rida as his successor. This was a very unusual step. Ali al-Rida was hesitant but eventually agreed. His condition was that he would not get involved in government decisions.

The title "al-Rida" means "the approved one." It was given to him by the caliph. This title referred to a descendant of Muhammad whom Muslims would agree upon as a leader. This was a rallying cry for Shia Muslims. On March 23, 817 CE, important leaders and army members in Merv pledged their loyalty to Ali al-Rida. Al-Ma'mun even changed the official color of uniforms and flags from black (Abbasid color) to green (Alid color). To make their ties stronger, al-Ma'mun also married his daughter to Ali al-Rida.

Why Did Al-Ma'mun Do This?

Historians have different ideas about why al-Ma'mun chose Ali al-Rida as his successor.

• Some think he wanted to gain the support of Shia Muslims and stop their revolts.
• Others believe he was influenced by his Persian advisor, who had Shia leanings.
• Some suggest al-Ma'mun wanted to show that he believed in choosing leaders based on their abilities.
• It's also thought that al-Ma'mun might have wanted to unite Sunni and Shia Muslims.
• Another idea is that al-Ma'mun wanted to weaken Ali al-Rida's religious influence by involving him in politics.

Ali al-Rida himself said he was forced to accept the role. He compared it to his grandfather Ali ibn Abi Talib being forced into a difficult situation. His followers seemed to understand that he had no choice.

How Did People React?

Many people thought al-Ma'mun's Persian advisor was behind the decision. Most governors followed orders and swore loyalty to Ali al-Rida. Many Alid and Zaydite groups also supported al-Ma'mun.

However, there was strong opposition, especially among the Abbasids and Arab Sunni groups. They did not like al-Ma'mun's decision. In Baghdad, they declared al-Ma'mun removed from power. They installed another Abbasid, Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi, as caliph in 817 CE. This led to more fighting in Baghdad and other cities.

Time as Heir Apparent (817-818 CE)

Ali al-Rida was given a high position in al-Ma'mun's court. He had his own police, guards, and staff. Even though al-Ma'mun wanted him to participate in official events, Ali al-Rida mostly stayed out of government affairs. Al-Ma'mun often asked Ali al-Rida for advice on religious matters. He also arranged debates between Ali al-Rida and scholars from different religions. These debates were later written down in books like Uyun akhbar al-Rida.

Returning to Baghdad (818 CE)

Al-Ma'mun was not fully aware of how serious the unrest in Iraq was. It was Ali al-Rida who urged him to return to Baghdad to restore peace. Al-Ma'mun agreed and left Khorasan in 818 CE.

Before they reached Baghdad, al-Ma'mun's Persian advisor was killed. Six months later, Ali al-Rida also died mysteriously in Tus.

Death and Burial

Ali al-Rida died in Tus (now Mashhad) in September 818 CE. Many sources suggest he was poisoned. His death happened shortly after the assassination of al-Ma'mun's advisor. Shia sources and many Western historians believe al-Ma'mun was responsible for both deaths. They think al-Ma'mun wanted to make peace with the Arab groups in Baghdad.

Some Sunni historians, however, do not believe he was murdered. One historian, al-Masudi, wrote that Ali al-Rida died from eating too many grapes. Other Shia scholars believe al-Ma'mun poisoned him because Ali al-Rida was becoming too popular.

Al-Ma'mun asked a group of Ali al-Rida's relatives to examine his body. They confirmed he died of natural causes. Al-Ma'mun himself led the funeral prayers and showed great sadness. A year later, al-Ma'mun entered Baghdad without a fight. His return to Baghdad marked the end of his pro-Shia policies. The Abbasids returned to their traditional black color.

His Shrine in Mashhad

Al-Ma'mun buried Ali al-Rida in Tus, next to his own father, Harun al-Rashid. Over time, Tus became the city of Mashhad, which means "place of martyrdom." It grew around Ali al-Rida's grave and is now the holiest site in Iran for Shia Muslims. The current shrine was built in the 14th century. Many beautiful decorations were added in later centuries. Next to the shrine is the Goharshad Mosque, a famous mosque built in 1394 CE. Many religious schools have also been built around the shrine.

Annual Rituals

Every year, on the night of Ali al-Rida's death, a special ceremony called Khutbeh Khani is held. This ritual involves servants of the shrine walking with candles and reciting religious sermons. This ceremony also takes place on the night of Ashura.

Succession

Ali al-Rida had only one child, a son named Muhammad. Muhammad was seven years old when his father died. Because he was so young, his succession became a topic of discussion among his father's followers. Some followers accepted Ali al-Rida's brother as the next Imam. Others joined the Waqifiyya, who still believed al-Kazim was the last Imam.

However, most of the divisions among Shia Muslims after Ali al-Rida's death were not long-lasting. Twelver scholars explain that even young children can receive divine knowledge. They believe Muhammad, who later became known as al-Jawad, received perfect religious knowledge from God, regardless of his age.

Titles and Family

Ali al-Rida was also known as Abu al-Hasan al-Thani, meaning "Abu al-Hasan, the second." This helped distinguish him from his father, Musa al-Kazim, who was called Abu al-Hasan al-Awwal ("Abu al-Hasan, the first").

Al-Ma'mun married his daughter, Umm Habib, to Ali al-Rida. However, they did not have any children. Ali al-Rida's only child, Muhammad (al-Jawad), was born to Sabika (or Khayzuran). She was a freed slave from Nubia.

A copy of the Quran said to be written by Ali al-Rida is in a museum in Qom, Iran.

His Teachings and Views

Ali al-Rida is respected by both Shia and Sunni Muslims. Sunni historians list him as someone who shared important sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. He was seen as a reliable source of knowledge. When he was named heir to the caliphate, his credibility grew even more among Sunni scholars. They saw him as a distinguished teacher because of his wisdom and his connection to the Prophet.

Later Sunni writers had different views on his authority. But they all agreed he was a very religious and learned man.

Many Sufi orders, which are mystical groups in Islam, trace their spiritual lineage back to Ali al-Rida. They see him as a great example of living a simple and devoted life.

His Writings

Ali al-Rida is credited with several important works:

• Al-Risala al-Dhahabia (The Golden Treatise): This book is about health and medicine. It was supposedly written at the request of al-Ma'mun. Even though some question if he truly wrote it, it is still popular among Twelver Shia Muslims.
• Sahifa al-Rida: This is a collection of 240 sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, attributed to Ali al-Rida.
• Fiqh al-Rida: This book is about Islamic law. Its authenticity has been debated by scholars.

Many of his religious discussions, sayings, and poems are also found in Shia books. Uyun al-Akhbar al-Rida by Ibn Babawayh is a detailed collection of his debates, sayings, and life story.

Religious Debates

Al-Ma'mun was very interested in religious discussions. He arranged debates between scholars of different faiths and Islamic groups. Ali al-Rida took part in many of these.

One debate was about the oneness of God. Another discussion was about whether prophets could make mistakes. Many of these debates are recorded in Shia books like Uyun Akhbar al-Rida.

Here is a small part of a debate between Ali al-Rida and a non-believer:

• Ali al-Rida said, "Imagine if your beliefs are right. Then we, who pray, fast, and give charity, would not be harmed. But if our beliefs are right, then you would be lost, and we would be saved."
• The man asked, "How is God, and where is He?" Ali al-Rida replied, "He decided 'where' things are, but He existed before any 'where.' He created 'how' things are, but He existed before any 'how.' So, we cannot know Him by 'how' or 'where.'"
• The man said, "So, He is nothing if our senses cannot feel Him." Ali al-Rida answered, "When our senses cannot feel Him, we know for sure that He is our Lord. He is different from everything else."
• The man asked, "When was He?" Ali al-Rida said, "Tell me when He was not, and then I will tell you when He was."
• The man asked, "What is the proof of Him?" Ali al-Rida replied, "When I look at my own body, I cannot make it bigger or smaller. I cannot keep bad things away from it or bring good things to it. Then I know that this body must have a maker. I recognize Him. Also, seeing the sky, the clouds, the winds, the sun, moon, and stars, and all His amazing creations, already tells me that there is a Creator."
• The man asked, "Why has He hidden Himself from people?" Ali al-Rida answered, "The veil is on people because of their many sins. As for God, nothing is hidden from Him, day or night."

This debate continued, and in the end, the non-believer accepted Islam.

His Character

Historical writings describe Ali al-Rida as a kind and thoughtful person. One story tells of a man named Reyyan who was sad to leave Ali al-Rida. Reyyan forgot to ask for a shirt for a burial shroud and some coins for his daughters' rings. As Reyyan was leaving, Ali al-Rida called him back and offered him these very things.

Another story says that when a visitor named Byzanti came to see Ali al-Rida, Ali al-Rida invited him to stay the night and even made his own bed for him. Muhammad ibn Ghaffar visited Ali al-Rida for financial help. Ali al-Rida gave him what he needed before he even asked. He then invited Muhammad to stay as his guest.

Important Sayings

• "The true friend of every person is their intelligence, while their enemy is their ignorance."
• "Worship is not just a lot of prayer and fasting. It is thinking deeply about God's power and greatness."
• "A person is not truly devoted to God unless they are patient and forgiving."
• "Faith is a step above Islam. Fear of God is a step above faith. Nothing less than fear of God has been given to people."
• "Faith stands on four pillars: trusting God, being happy with God's plan, obeying God's commands, and leaving matters to God."
• "If someone lacks five qualities, do not expect anything good from them in this life or the next: if their family background is not trustworthy, if they are not generous, if they cannot control their temper, if they do not act nobly, and if they do not fear God."
• "If a person has only three years left to live, but they strengthen family ties, God will make it thirty years. God does whatever He wishes."
• "Hold onto the weapon of the prophets!" When asked what it was, he replied, "Supplication (prayer)."
• "A believer's secret prayer is worth seventy open prayers."
• "Imamate (leadership) is necessary for religion. It is a system for Muslims. It brings good in this world and honor to believers."

See Also

In Spanish: Ali ibn Musa para niños

• Al-Fadl ibn Shadhan of Nishapur
• Waqifite Shia
• Reign of Love (TV series)
• Hajar Khatoon Mosque
• The Twelve Imams
• Hadith of Golden Chain
• Al-Risala al-Dhahabia
• Al-Sahifa al-Rida

Images for kids

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  Pilgrims at the shrine of al-Rida in Mashhad, Iran