Part one

It is the year of 148 Hijrah. Silence has fallen on all the alleys and streets… the moon is at the center of sky; on 11th of Zi-Qada the residents of the sky have come down to the earth. As if there is some news at the house of Musa Ibn-e-Jaffar (A.S.). Suddenly there appears a road of light from the sky. Another one of the twelve stars comes to the earth. Imam Reza (A.S.) was born. Najmeh Khatun covered her baby in a cloth and brought to his father. The father took the baby. Whispered Adhan into his right ear and Iqamah into his left ear…and then gave the baby to his mother.

Part two

Years have been passed. That baby has grown up. And Medina’s alleys and streets are benefiting from his presence. Imam Reza (A.S.) teaches the specific courses of all sciences in his university. Not only have the students of this university but also the people from all cities come to sit in Imam Reza’s classes! He makes use of the opportunity to lift the veils which have covered the true face of Islam. He achieved Imamh at the age of 35 and then he lived in Medina for 17 years so that finally his activities made the Ma’mun angry and he decided to bring up the issue of succession to caliphate.

Part three

Ma’mun was tired. He had killed his brother and occupied his glory and position; but he wanted to rule over the hearts, too, as Imam Reza (A.S.) had done. He thought about his plots for hours and then decided to bring Imam Reza to Marv. Perhaps he thought that by doing so he would be able to win the hearts which love Imam Reza (A.S.)! He plotted and sent invitation. Imam Reza (A.S) who knew that if he doesn’t accept to travel, they will kill him in his house at the Prophet’s shrine and by doing so they will achieve their goal. So to revive the religion of his ancestor, he prepared himself for traveling, took provisions of the travel and set out. His migrated in silence; the silence which was louder than any shout…

Part four

Imam Reza (A.S.) should use this opportunity. He would not surrender to Ma’mun’s tricks. He should make all the people understood that this succession to caliphate is just a ploy. He summoned all tribes, made a speech and then bade farewell to them. He made all of them understood that it was a nonreturnable travel and because of his kindness, he decided not to be accompanied by anyone so that they will be safe from the damage of Bani Abbas. Imam Reza set out. Since he didn’t like the people think that he is with the government, he decided to pay the cost of the travel himself; he set out on a journey with his own horse without being accompanied by anyone. Where possible he went among the people and revived the religion of his ancestor.

Part five

It is reported that Imam Reza (AS.) was on the way for four or six months! Then he reached Nishapur. There wasn’t any guest-house, or castle! Is it possible to not accept the legitimacy of a government but make friends with its agents! They go to the house of Bibi Shatiteh, who was one of Musa Ibn-e-Jaffar’s (A.S.) descendants; Imam Reza (A.S.) hold that woman’s five dirhams[1] dearer than any other presents and accepted them. But today, is the day of Khutbah (speech). The day of Hadith (tradition).., all the people have come, and about twelve thousand knowledge- seekers are waiting to hear the words of Imam Reza (A.S.)... Imam begins…

“There is no god but the One God, He is my Protector and fort and the one who enters God’s fort, s/he will be safe from His punishment; it has some provisions and I (Imam Reza (A.S.) am one of those provisions[2]”; and all the people know well that this condition means Imamah and Wilayah…

Part six

It was hot. There was drought and the farmers were getting desperate. Moreover, it was at the time of Imam Reza’s (A.S.) succession to caliphate; Ma’mun’s agents who wanted to make use of every event to the benefit of the Bani Abbas government took the opportunity and brought up the subject of the raining prayer; they did so because according to the philosophers and astronomers it never rains and thus Imam Reza (A.S.) will lose his fame. But Imam accepts and together with a crowd of people go to the desert on Monday. All the people come; both the unbelievers and believers?! Imam Reza (A.S.) begins to pray …

O’ God, please send beneficial rain for these people, who have chosen me as an intermediary, at the time that they reach their houses. Imam Reza (A.S.) prayed but it didn’t rain… Imam prays but the clouds come and go… Imam prays but it doesn’t rain… Imam continues praying; the unbelievers get disappointed and leave there. Imam Reza (A.S.) prays and when it is the time, the clouds cover the sky. Imam sends the remaining people to their houses and then it rains …. This rain washes the hearts, too.

Part seven

This time Ma’mun’s failure was impossible! Among the great men and scholars, with the bags full of money! Imam Reza (A.S.) certainly would surrender! Ma’mun held a meeting; to prove his goodwill, he seated Imam Reza (A.S.) on the minbar; Ma’mun examined all the aspects and said to himself: it is impossible that Imam Reza (A.S.) know the answer of all the questions! He had happily stood in the meeting and encouraged the preachers to ask their questions…

But Ali bin Musa Al-Reza (A.S.) had promulgated the religion of his ancestors... and by uttering every word he attracted the addresses to the kind of Islam which was forgotten under the shadow of Abbasid and Omavid rule.

Part Eight

Here is the last part. This last part was Imam Reza’s wish, because he reached his perfection by being martyred. A poisonous cup of grape or pomegranate at the hands of Ma’mun and then…

Imam Reza (A.S.) had told Abasalt that I won’t return and even he had mentioned the exact location of his burial place. He knew that Ma’mun won’t desist even from his corpse. He told Abasalt: “Tomorrow I will be poisoned by Ma’mun. He wants to bury me at the bottom of his father’s grave; a great stone will be found there, so he won’t be able to do so. Then he decides to bury me behind his father’s grave, again there is found a big stone. He doesn’t want to bury me on the upper side his father’s grave. So he has to bury me beside it. O’ Abasalt tell Ma’mun that if he touches my body, his government will be overthrown and Bani Abbas rule will come to its end. Then the body goes to the sky, it is covered by a kafan[3], the angels say prayer for it and then it is returned to the earth… the fifty five year sun of Imam Reza (A.S.) sets after seventeen years of Imamah and three years of Ma’mun’s caliphate successor. But another bright sun will rise tomorrow.