Fascinating discourses from Imam Ali al-Ridha (AS)

The Tenth Infallible: Imam Ridha’ (as)

Name: Ali Ibn Musa (as)
Renowned Title: Ridha’
Father and Mother: Imam Musa Ibn Ja’far (as) and Najma (as)
Time & Place of Birth: 11th of Zilqaad year 148 Hijrah, in Medina.
Time & Place of Martyrdom: End of Safar, 203 Hijrah at the age of 55 Years was martyred through poisoning of mamoon (Abbassade caliph) in Sana bad nauqan (a Mohallah today & site at Mashad Muqadas, (Islamic Republic of Iran.)
Shrine: Mashad Muqaddas.
.Life duration: in three segments.
1. before Imamate (35 Years), From 148 to 183 Hijrah.
2. after Imamate, 17 Years Residence in Medina.
3. And Three Years in Khorasan, the most Sensitive part of his political life was in this period.
He had only a single son Imam Jawad Who was seven years of age at the time of his martyrdom.

Twenty traditions from Imam Ali al-Ridha (AS)

1. Faith is to one grade superior & sublime to Islam & piety is one degree superior to faith & certainty is one step superior to faith & nothing more excellent than certitude has been bestowed upon the children of Adam (as) (Bihar ul-Anwar Vol. 78, P 338)

1- إِنَّ الايمانَ أَفضَلُ مِنَ الإِسلامَ بِدَرَجَةٍ،وَالتَّقوی أَفضَلُ مِنَ الإيمانِ بِدَرَجَةٍ، وَاليَقِينَ أَفضَلُ مِنَ الإيمانِ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَلَم يُعطَ بَنُو آدَمَ أَفضَلَ مِنَ اليَقِينِ. (بحارالانوار ج78 ص338)

2. And faith means performing & discharging the obligatory duties & avoiding the committing of forbidden acts & faith, is the recognition & knowing (Allah) through the heart & confessing through the tongue & practicing through the parts of body (Physically). (Tuhaf al-Uqul P422)

2- وَالإِيمانُ اَداءُ الفَرائِضِ وَاجتِنابُ المَحارِمِ. وَالإِمانُ هُوَ مَعَرِفَةٌ بِالقَلبِ وَإقرارٌ باللِّسانِ وَعَمَلٌ بِالأرکانِ. (تحف العقول ص442)

3. 'Indeed Imamate is the rein of religion & the system of Muslims & the righteousness & welfare of the world & the honor of faithful’s. Verily, Imamate is the growing & ongoing root of Islam & its sublime branch. Services, alms, fasting, Hajj & Jihad (the holy war) attain completion & perfection & the booty (tributes) & alms gets plentiful & abundant, & Allah's bounds, sanctions, & ordinances get executed, & the frontiers & boundaries (of Islamic lands) get safe & secure, through Imam. (Usool al-Kafi , Vol. 1 , P 200)

3- اِنَّ الاِمامَةَ زِمامُ الدّينِ، وَنِظامُ المُسلِمينَ ،وَصَلاحُ الدّنيا، وَعِزُّالمُؤمِنِين، اِنَّ الإمامَةَ اُسُّ الاِسلامِ النّامِي،وَفَرعُهُ السّامِي،بِالاِمامِ تَمامُ الصَّلاةِ وَالزَّکوةِ وَالصِّيامِ وَالحَجَّ وَالجِهادِ،وَ تَوفيرُ الفَيءِ،وَالصَّدَقاتِ،وَاِمضاءُ الحُدودِ وَالأحکامِ، وَمَنعُ الثُّغُورِ وَالأَطرافِ. (اصول الکافی ج1ص200)

4. Allah may take pity & be merciful to the servant who resurrects & revives our affair so I said ', and how is it that your affair gets revived?' He responded ', by learning our knowledges & teaching them to the people.(Wasail ul-Shia, Vol. 18, P 102)

4- رَحِمَ اللهُ عَبداً أَحيَاء اَمرَنا (قُلتُ): وَکَيفَ يُحيی اَمرَکُم؟ قالَ:يَتَعَّلَمُ عُلُومَنا وَيُعَلِّمُها النّاسَ. (وسائل الشيعه ج18 ص102)

 Allah may take pity & be merciful to the servant who resurrects & revives our affair so I said ', and how is it that your affair gets revived?' He responded ', by learning our knowledges & teaching them to the people.

5. A faithful will not become (real) faithful until he acquires three qualities: A way of Allah's tradition (sunnan Allah) a prophet's tradition & a tradition of his saint. However, Allah's treatment is the concealing of his secret. Allah said
عالم الغيب... فلا يظهر علی غيبه احدأ الا من ارتضی من رسول.
The knower of the unseen! So he does not reveal his secret to any. Except to him whom he chooses as an apostle.' Moreover, the Sunnah & rule of the Prophet (S) is conciliation with the people. So Allah commanded the Prophet (S) to conciliate with the masses saying.
خذا العفو وامر بالمعروف
Take to forgiveness & enjoin good.' Never the less, the rule of his saint is 'Exercising patience & endurance in (the times of) adversities & apprehensions.' (Usool al-Kafi. Vol. 2, P 241)

5- لا يَکُونُ المُؤمِنُ مُؤمِناً حَتّی يَکُونَ فيهِ ثَلاثُ خِصالٍ: سُنَّةٌ مِن رَبِّهِ وَسُنَّةٌ مِن نَبِيّهِ، وَسُنَّةٌ مِن وَلِيِّهِ فَأمَّا السُّنَّةُ مِن رَبِّهِ فَکِتمانُ سِرِّهِ، قالَ اللهُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ ( ( عالِمُ الغَيبِ فَلا يُظهِرُ عَلی غَيبِهِ أَحَداً* اِلاّ مَنِ ارتَضی مِن رَسُولٍ)) وَاَمَّا السُّنَّةُ مِن نَبِيِّهِ فَمُداراةُ النّاسِ فَإِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّوَجَلَّ أَمرَ نَبِيَّهُ صَلَّی اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَالِهِ بِمُداراة النّاسِ، فَقالَ: ( (خُذِ العَفوَ وَأمُر بِالعُرفِ)) وَأَمَّا السُّنَّةُ مِن وَلِيِّهِ فَالصَّبرُ فِي البَأساءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ.

6. He who takes himself to account gets benefitted & the one who gets negligent & careless about himself bears loss. And the one who fears gets secured. And that one who takes lesson becomes most clear sighted & discerning. And he who becomes most clear sighted understands & he who understands becomes knowledgeable & informed. (Bihar ul-Anwar Vol. 78, P 352)

6- مَن حاسَبَ نَفسَهُ رَبِحَ، وَمَن غَفَلَ عَنها خَسِرَ،وَمَن خافَ أَمِنَ،وَمَن اعتَبَرَ أَبصَرَ وَمَن أبصَرَفَهِمَ، وَمِن فَهِمَ عَلِمَ. (بحارالانوار ج78 ص352)

7. A person asked Imam Ridha’ (as) ', who are the best of servants?'
So he responded ',Those men that when they perform good deed they become glad & when they perform a bad deed they ask the forgiveness (of Allah) & when they are granted they thank (for it). And while they get afflicted & grieved they exercise patience. And when they get enraged they forgive. (Overlook. other faults). (Tuhful-Aqool, P 445)

A person asked Imam Ridha’ (as) ', who are the best of servants?' So he responded ',Those men that when they perform good deed they become glad & when they perform a bad deed they ask the forgiveness (of Allah) & when they are granted they thank (for it). And while they get afflicted & grieved they exercise patience. And when they get enraged they forgive. 

7- وسُئِلَ عَن خِيارِ العِبادِ،فَقالَ (ع): اَلَّذيِنَ اِذا اَحسَنُوا استَبشَرُوا وَاِذا آساء وا استَغفَرُوا: وَاِذَا أُعطُوا شَکَرُوا،وَاِذا بتُلُوا صَبَرُوا، وَاِذا غَضِبُوا عَفوا. (تحف العقول ص445)

8. There are some grades of self-conceit. One among them is that the evil acts of a servant gets decorated to him & he takes them for good deeds & boasts & gluts about them & considers them as nice acts performed by him. And one of them is that a servant acquires faith & belief upon Allah & then boasts of a favor conferred upon Allah, whereas, Allah has done him a favor in it. (Bihar ul-Anwar Vol. 78, P 336)

8- لِلعُجبِ دَرَجاتٌ: مِنها أَن يُزَيَّنَ لِلعَبدِ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ فَيَراهُ حَسَناً فَيُعجِبُهُ وَيَحسِبُ أَنه يُحسِنُ صُنعاً. وَمِنها أَن يُؤمِنَ العَبدُ بِرَبِّهِ فَيَمُّنَ عَلی اللهِ وَلِلّهِ المِنَّةُُ عَلَيه فيه. (بحارالانوار ج78 ص336)

9. Had Allah not frightened people by paradise & hell even then it would have been obligatory for them to obey Him & not commit His disobedience because of His favors & kindnesses upon them. And His granting them the beneficence’s to start with, without any of their rights. (Bihar al-Anwar, vol.71, p.174)

9- لَو لَم يَخُوِّفِ اللهُ النّاسَ بِجَنَّةٍ وَنارٍ لَکانَ الواجِبُ عَلَيهِم اَن يُطِيعُوهُ وَلا يَعصُوهُ لِتَفضُّلِهِ عَلَيهِم وَاِحسانِهِ اِلَيهِم، وَما بَدَأهُم بِهِ مِن انعامِهِ الذي ما استَحَقُّوهُ.
(بحارالانوار ج71 ص174)

10. Indeed Allah has commanded three things (in Quran) which are in proximate with three others. He ordered the prayers (salat) & alms (zakat). So the one who offers prayer & does not pay alms, his prayer is not accepted from him.
And He ordered His thanks giving with that of the parents. So the one who does not thank his parent has not thanked Allah. And He commanded fear of Allah & connecting with the kinship. So the one who does not connect with the blood relations is not afraid of Allah. (Ayan Akhbar Er Reza Vol. 1, P 258)

ndeed Allah has commanded three things (in Quran) which are in proximate with three others. He ordered the prayers (salat) & alms (zakat). So the one who offers prayer & does not pay alms, his prayer is not accepted from him. And He ordered His thanks giving with that of the parents. So the one who does not thank his parent has not thanked Allah. And He commanded fear of Allah & connecting with the kinship. So the one who does not connect with the blood relations is not afraid of Allah. 

10-إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّوَجَلَّ أَمَرَ بِثَلاثَةٍ مَقرُونٍ بِها ثَلاثَةٌ اُخری،أَمَرَ بِالصَّلاةِ وَالزّکوةِ، فَمَن صَلّی وَلَم يُزَّکِ لَم يَقبَل مِنهُ صَلوتهُ،وَأَمَرَ بِالشُّکرِلَهُ وَلِلوالِدَينِ، فَمَن لَم يَشکُروالِدَيهِ لم يَشکُرالله،وَ أَمرَ بِاِتِّقاءِ اللهِ وَصِلَةِ الرَّحِمِ فَمَن لَم يَصِل رَحِمَهُ لَم يَتّقِ اللهَ عَزَّوَجَلَّ. (عيون الخبارالرضا (ع) ج1 ص258)

11. Behave with the friend humbly & with the enemy carefully & the general people, with smiling & blooming face. (Bihar ul-Anwar Vol. 78, P 355)

11- إِصحَب... الصَّديقَ بِالتَّواضُعِ،وَالعَدُوَّ بِالتَّحَرُّزِ، وَالعامَّةَ بِالبِشرِ. (بحارالانوار ج78 ص355)

12. Give alms although with a small amount of a thing because indeed all that is intended for the sake of Allah; although those may be meagre & small yet becomes great,& magnanimous by purity of intention. (Wasail ush-Shia, Vol. 1. P 87)

12- تَصَدَّق بِالشَّيء وَاِن قلَّ،فَاِنَّ کُلَّ شَيءِ يُرادُ بِهِ اللهُ، وَاِن قلَّ بَعدَ اَن تصدُقَ النِّبَيَّةُ فِيهِ عَظيمٌ... (وسائل الشيعة ج1 ص87)

13. The one who meets a poor Muslim & salutes him differently from the way he salutes a wealthy person shall meet Allah on the resurrection day in a way that He will be angry with him. (Wasail ush-Shia, Vol. 8, P 442)

13- مَن لِقيَ فَقِيراً مُسلِماً فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيهِ خِلافَ سَلامِهِ عَلی الغَنيِّ لَقِیَ اللهَ عَزَّوَجَلَّ يَومَ القِيامَةِ وَهُوَ عَلَيهِ غَضبانٌ. (وسائل الشيعة ج8 ص442)

The weapon of the Prophets is essential for you. When asked 'What is the weapon of Prophets'. He said 'supplication!'

14. The weapon of the Prophets is essential for you. When asked 'What is the weapon of Prophets'. He said 'supplication!' (Usool al-Kafi, Vol. 1, P 468)

14- عَلَيکُم بِسِلاحِ الأَنبِياءِ«فَقِيلَ:وَماسِلاحُ الأَنبِياءِ؟» قالَ:الدُّعاءُ. (اصول الکافي ج2 ص468)

15. Seven things short of seven other things are making (as if) a mockery. The one who repents through his tongue but he is not ashamed at his heart, has cut a joke with himself. And the one who asks Allah succor &does not put in effort has mocked himself. And the person who asks for foresightedness &does not be careful so he has made a mockery with himself. And the one who asks paradise from Allah &does not be patient over the hardships & calamities has made a fun of himself. And the man who ask the refuge of Allah from hell fire & does not abandon the lusts of the world has made a joke with himself. And the one who exercises remembrance of Allah and does not get prepared and set his foot ahead towards meeting HIM has cut a joke with himself. (Bihar ul-Anwar Vol. 78, P 356, Note: Six objects have been mentioned here instead of seven.)

15- سَبعَةُ أشياءٍ بِغَيرِ سَبعَةِ أَشياءٍ مِنَ الإستِهزاءِ:مَنِ استَغفَرَ بِلِسانِهِ وَلَم يَندَم بِقَلبِهِ فَقَدِ استَهزَأ بِنَفسِهِ. وَمَن سَألَ اللهَ التّوفيقَ وَلَم يَجتَهِد فَقَدِ استَهزَأ بِنَفسِهِ. وَمَنِ استَحزَمَ وَلَم يَحذَر فَقَدِ استَهزَأ بِنَفسِهِ.وَمَن سَأَلَ اللهَ الجَنَّةَ وَلَم يَصبِر عَلَی الشّدائِدِ فَقَدِ استَهزَأ بِنَفسِهِ. وَمَن تَعَوَّذَ بِاللهِ مِن النّارِ وَلَم يَترُک شَهَواتِ الدُّنيا فَقَدِ استَهزَأ بِنَفسِهِ. وَمَن ذَکَرَ اللهَ وَلَم يَستَبِق إِلی لِقائِهِ فَقَدِ استَهزَأَ بِنَفسِهِ. (بحارالانوار ج78 ص356)

16. Do not acquire & adopt the company of drinker of wine & do not salute him. (Bihar ul-Anwar Vol. 66, P 491)

16- لا تُجالِس شارِبَ الخَمرِ وَلا تُسَلِّم عَلَيهِ. (بحارالانوار ج66 ص491)

17. The miser does not have any comfort & so does the jealous not have any joy & felicity & the (kings) (rulers) do not have trustworthiness & the liar does not have any manhood (forbearance). (Bihar ul-Anwar Vol. 78. P 345)

17- لَيسَ لِبَخيلٍ راحَةٌ. وَلا لِحَسُودٍ لَذَّةُ وَلا لِمُلُوکٍ وَفاءٌ، وَلا لِکَذُوبٍ مُرُوَّةُ.
(بحارالانوار ج78 ص345)

18. Do not abandon the good deeds & endeavor in worship, depending & trusting upon the love of the Muhammad's (S) household. (Bihar ul-Anwar Vol. 78. P 347)

18- لا تَدَعُوا العَمَلَ الصّالِحَ وَالاِجتِهادَ في العِبادَةِ اتِّکا لاِّعَلی حُبَّ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ (ص). (بحارالانوار ج78 ص347)

Be careful of greed & jealousy, since, these (vices) have perished the previous nations. And beware of stinginess because it is a calamity which will not be found in a free man & a faithful. This (vice) is against faith. 

19. Be careful of greed & jealousy, since, these (vices) have perished the previous nations. And beware of stinginess because it is a calamity which will not be found in a free man & a faithful.
This (vice) is against faith. (Bihar ul-Anwar Vol. 78. P 346)

19- اِيّاکُم وَالحِرصَ وَالحَسَدَ فَاِنَّهُا اَهلَکا الأُمَمَ السّالِفَةَ، وَاِيّاکُم وَالبُخلَ فَاِنَّها عاهَةٌ لا تَکُونُ فِي حُرٍّ وَلا مُؤمِنٍ، اِنَّها خِلافُ الإيِمان. (بحارالانوار ج78 ص346)

20. The intellect of a Muslim man does not complete till he has ten qualities: 1. Goodness is expected from him. 2. And people are secure from his evil doing. 3. He considers the small amount of benefaction from others as abundant & plentiful. 4. And takes plenty of his own benevolence & goodness to be a meagre amount of it. 5. He does not get tired & exhausted by the demands & requirement asked to be fulfilled. 6. He does not get fatigued from seeking knowledge for all the length of his life. 7. He loves poverty more than the plentifulness & affluence, on the course of Allah. 8. And he loves disgrace & abjectness on the way of Allah more than the honour on the course of His enemy. 9. And anonymity is more liked by him than fame.
Then he (S) said. ', The tenth one & what is the tenth? The person asked him (S) what that is?' lmam (as) reflected ', He does not see a person but that he says 'He is better & more pious than me.' (Bihar ul-Anwar Vol. 78, P 336)

20-لا يَتِمُّ عَقلُ امرِئ مُسلِمٍ حَتّی تَکُونَ فيهِ عَشرُخِصالٍ:أَلخَيرُ مِنهُ مَأمُولٌ وَالشَّرُّمِنهُ مَأمُونٌ،يَستَکثِرُ قَليلَ الخَيرِمِن غَيرِهِ، وَيَستَقِلُّ کَثيرَ الخَيرِ مِن نَفسِهِ، لا يَسأَمُ مِن طَلَبِ الحَوائِج إِلَيهِ، وَلايَملُّ مِن طَلَبِ العِلمِ طُولَ دَهرِهِ، اَلفَقرُ فِي اللهِ اَحَبُّ اِلَيهِ مِنَ الغِنی، وَالذُّلُّ فِي اللهِ اَحَبُّ اِلَيهِ مِنَ العِزِّ في عَدُوَّهِ، وَالخُمُولُ أَشهی اِلَيهِ مِنَ الشُّهرَةِ، ثُمَّ قالَ عليه السلام: اَلعاشِرَةُ،قيلَ لَهُ:ماهِیَ؟قالَ عليه السلام: لا يری اَحَداً اِلاّ قالَ:هُوَ خَيرٌ مِنّيِ وَاَتقی. (بحارالانوار ج78 ص336)