Imam Mohd Mehdi (A.S.)

Name : Mohammad(a.s.) - the 12th and the last Holy Imam Title(s) : Sahib al-Asr waz-Zamaan (Imam of the time/space), Al-Hujjat (proof of Allah), Al-Qaim (the present one), Al-Muntazar (one who is awaited), Al-Muntazir (one who waits the order of Allah), Al-Mahdi (one who guides) Agnomen : Abul Qasim Father : Imam Hasan Askari(a.s.) Mother : Bibi Nargis Khatoon(a.s.) Birth : In Samarrah on 15th Shabaan 255 AH (868 AD) Occultation : The 12th Imam is still alive but is in occultation by the will of Allah(swt)   Birth and Imamate The promised Mahdi, who is usually mentioned by his title of Imam-i "Asr (the Imam of the "Period") and Sahib al-Zaman (the Lord of the Age), is the son of the eleventh Imam. His name is the same as that of the Holy Prophet. He was born in Samarrah in 256/868 and until 260/872 when his father was martyred, lived under his father"s care and guidance. Sayyida Hakima who was the sister of the 10th Imam (Imam Mohammad Taqi(a.s.)) relates that she went to her nephew"s (11th Imam - Imam Hasan Askari(a.s.)) house for iftaar on the 14th of Sha"ban 255 A.H.The 11th Imam asked her to stay as his son was to be born soon. There was no sign of pregnancy on Sayyida Narjis. The 11th Imam asked her to recite Suratul Qadr on Sayyida Narjis. At the time of Fajr on 15th Sha"ban Sayyida Hakima heard the Sura being recited from the womb of Sayyida Narjis. The 11th imam told her that the birth would occur very soon. As soon as the 12th Imam was born he did sijda and proclaimed the oneness of Allah and the Prophet hood of the Prophet (S.A.W.) He also recited the 5th aya of Suratul-Qasas "And We intend to bestow (Our) favours upon those who are weak in the land and make them the Imams (leaders) and make them the heirs". On his right hand was written the 82nd aya of Suratu Bani Israel "The truth has come and falsehood has vanished; Indeed falsehood (is a thing by nature) vanishing". The 11th Imam only told a handful of his most trusted believers of the birth of his son and to a few of his household slaves.One of the women slaves called Naseema relates that when she went to see the baby Imam in his cradle she greeted him with salaam and was replied to. She then sneezed and the Imam said: "Yarhamukallah - it is a blessing from Allah and you have 3 days immunity from death". The last Imam(a.s.) was hidden from public view and only a few of the elite among the Shi"ah were able to meet him. After the martyrdom of his father he became Imam and by Divine Command went into occultation (ghaybat). Thereafter he appeared only to his deputies (na"ib) and even then only in exceptional circumstances. Ghaibat (occultation) of the last Imam (a.s.) The Imam"s ghaibat (occultation) was in two phase - Ghaibat-e-Sughra (minor occultation) was for about 69 years - 260 A.H. (872 A.D.) to 329 A.H. (939 A.D.) and the Ghaibat-e-Kubra (greater occultation) started in 329 A.H. (939 A.D.)and will continue until Allah(swt) so wills. Why Ghaibat? the 6th Imam, Imam as-Sadiq (a.s.) states the reason of the ghaibat as prevention against being killed. Ishaq bin Yaqub (on authority from 12th Imam) says that all the Imams were under oppressive rulers. Our 12th Imam is hidden in order to rise in arms with obedience to no one. Muhammad Yaqub Al-Kulayni has said that ghaibat is a test from Allah to test the steadfastness of belief in Imam. If he is to remain in Ghaibat, what is the use of his existence? Belief creates hope giving strength to the oppressed. It is a deterrent for the committing of injustice as one is always aware of the constant presence of the Imam. Why insist on 12? Why Imamat not continued and last Imam near Quiyama to do 12th Imam"s work? For one who is to cleanse the earth of all wrong and injustice is necessary for him to be born near early Islam and carry pure and pristine Islamic ideas. It is necessary to look from his vantage point at all the upheavals in the world. Personal experience of the past will make him fearless of the seemingly invincible superpowers no matter how strong they are. Why Ghaibat-e-Sughra? To make the Shias used to approaching scholars instead of Imam himself. It started during the time of the 10th Imam who was under almost constant house arrest in Samarra and continuing through GHAIBAT-E-SUGHRA (160 A.H. to 329 A.H.) During Ghaibut-us-Sughra, the Imam(a.s.) appointed four deputies/representatives to represent him among the people. After the death of the fourth deputy, the Imam(a.s.) went into Ghaibut-e-Kubra (major occultation). This was on the 10th Shawal 329 A.H. The 4 representatives were : 1. Janabe Abu Amr Usman Ibne Saeed Amri(a.r.) It is said that at the age of 11 years he was a servant in the house of the 9th Imam(a.s.) later to enjoy the confidence of Imam. He occupied the same position of trust with the 10th and 11th Imam who told their Shias that after him they would not see the 12th Imam and would have to obey Uthman. After the 11th Imam"s martyrdom Uthman moved to Baghdad and disguised as a butter seller he set up the collection of khums for Imam. He served the 12th Imam for 18 months and received a letter near his death from Imam(a.s.) telling him to appoint his son Mohammed as the next representative. 2. Janab Abu Jafar Mohammad Ibne Usman Ibne Saeed Amri (a.r.) He continued in his fathers footsteps also acting as a butter seller. He managed to keep Imam"s existence a secret from the Abbasids until the early years of the reign of Al-Mutadid. The rulers then started searching hard for Imam and killed countless mu"mineen with even the slightest resemblance to Imam. Spies were set up to probe the khums network. Imam issued an order for Shias not to take his name nor show mas"ala of khums to anyone until absolutely sure of them. As instructed by Imam he appointed Husayn bin Rawh as the next representative after his death in 305 A.H. 3. Janab Abul Qasim Husain Ibne Rauh Nawbakhti (a.r.) His kuniyya was Abul Qasim. His sociable nature won him respect even from the Ahlul-Sunnah. He managed to keep his activities a secret from the rulers whilst maintaining good relations with them. It is to him that we address the "ariza" to be delivered to Imam. He served faithfully until he died in Sha"ban 326 a.h. revealing the appointment of Ali bin Muhammad Samry after him. 4. Janab Abul Hasan Ali Ibne Mohammad Seymouri (a.r.) He served for only three years. A week before his death he received a letter from the Imam(a.s.) telling him of his forthcoming death and that there would be no representative after him and that Imam(a.s.) was now going into Ghaibat-e-Kubra (major occultation). Imam(a.s.) would then appear when Allah(swt) wills it. Ali bin Muhammad Samry(a.r.) died on 15th Sha"ban 329 A.H. GHAIBAT E KUBRA (329 A.H. to present) Imam"s ghaibat is described by the Aimma like that of Prophet Yusuf (A.S.) who was amongst his brothers yet they did not recognise him. Imam is known to meet a believer on 3 occasions: 1. At the time of trouble. 2. He is present at every Hajj. 3. He attends the funeral of every believer who has no religious obligations pending on him/her e.g. Khums. During this time he continues to guide. Numerous letters have been received from him by (to quote a few) Ishaq bin Yaqub, Sheikh Mufeed... . It is reported that 30 people all over the world meet with him regularly. It is also reported that Jaziratul Khadra (green islands or Bermuda Triangle) is a vast land in Imam"s kingdom occupied by a large number of Shia and governed by Imam"s family. Responsibilities During Ghaibat e Kubra Pray for the safety of Imam(a.s.) at all time. Be in waiting for Imam(a.s.) at all times. Give Sadaqa for Imam(a.s.). Pray for his re-appearance. Whenever faced with difficulty (whether small or big) ask for assistance from Imam(a.s.). Whenever his name is heard or recited, one should stand if possible, send salaams on him, put hand on head and bow. If possible perform Hajj/Umra for Imam(a.s.). (Hajj-After own Wajibat) RE-APPEARANCE OF IMAM AL MAHDI (A.S.) " The actual time of appearance is only known by Allah" However various indications have been given by our Aimma. - It will be the day of Friday. - It will be the 10th of Muharram. - The century will be an odd number. - There will be both a solar and lunar eclipse in the month of Ramadhan but contrary to all norms and calculations. - A voice will be heard announcing the appearance of Imam which will be heard by all in their own language. - Imam Ali (a.s.) related to Sa"sa bin Sawhaan: The 12th Imam will appear when: There will be a loud noise from the sky with which the eardrums will pierce. - Nasibayn (Iraq) will burn on all four sides. - Basra will be abandoned. - Turkey will be ruled by Usmanis. - People will usurp that which they are trusted with. - People will "kill" Salaa. (It will not be abandoned but its essence destroyed). - People will carry music in their pockets. - The 5th , 6th and 7th Imams have said: "A great man from the people of Qum will rise up and take a stand. He will invite people will invite people towards the truth. Brave people like strong mountains, not fearing fighting and having trust in Allah will come to his help.......... Finally the enemy of Islam will withdraw.............. The rule of Islamic Law will be established by the people themselves". "Kufa will become barren of Islamic knowledge........... whilst Qum will become the centre of Islamic Fiqh............ so much so that it will spread throughout the world that not a single person will remain ignorant of the message of Islam". "These people will be the vicegerents of the 12th Imam. Their rule will continue and link with the appearance of the 12th Imam. They will not entrust the rule established by them to any but Imam on his reappearance". - Imam Ali (a.s.) took Kumayl bin Ziyad to the outskirts of Kufa and showed him where he was to be buried. He then told him that all round his grave there would be tall buildings carrying the sign of Shaitan on them. The sign would be called Antennae. - Sufyani will appear. He will be a Jew but make himself apparent as a Muslim. He will be supported fully by the Christian governments and his mission will be to destroy Shias. He will offer booty to anyone who kills a Shia. The result will be such that even neighbours who have lived as brothers for years will kill Shias for money. He will be finally killed by Prophet Isa (A.S.) - Imam will appear in Makka and his "zahoor" will be in two stages (similar to Prophet hood of the Prophet). 1st Stage - This will be in secret and not announced to all (only to close followers). 2nd Stage - Open announcement on the 10th of Muharram (Ashura). - In the Zil-Hajjah of the preceding to Imam"s appearance on Ashura, 40 momineen who will be Imam"s closest companions will realise the nearness of "zahoor" and go for Hajj. They will not return home and on the 15th of Zil-Hijjah they will go to the Ka"ba and cry a lot. - One of them will be called by Imam(a.s.), introduced and told to be the representative of the 40. They will all meet Imam(a.s.) between the 16th and 22nd of Zil-Hijjah. Imam will tell them that one of them will have to announce the arrival of Imam(a.s.) at the door of the Ka"ba but whosoever would do this would be killed immediately. - On the 25th Zil-Hijjah the announcement will be made and the announcer killed (This is the blood of Nafse Zakiyya - pure soul, those whose blood will touch the Ka"ba and who is mentioned in numerous prophecies). His blood will be avenged 2 weeks later when Imam(a.s.) will appear himself at the Ka"ba. - Those who answer the first call will be 313 in number. - Imam"s army will consist of 10.000 momineen. - Imam will establish his government in Kufa and his treasury in Masjidus Sahla. Additional notes on the re-appearance of Imam(a.s.). In Sheikh Tusi"s "Ghaybat", Abu Baseer quoted Imam Ja"fer As-Sadiq (A.S.) as saying "The call in the name of QAIM (i.e. Imam Al Mahdi (a.s.) ) will be made in the night of the 23rd Ramadhan and he will make his appearance on the day of Ashura, the day of Imam Hussain"s (a.s.) martyrdom". Sheikh Sudooq in his book Kamaaluddin relates from Zararah that Imam Jafer as-Sadiq(a.s.) said "The announcer will call the name of the Qaim(a.s.)". I asked whether this call is for a particular group or if it is meant for everyone, Imam Jafer Sadiq(a.s.) said: "Shaitan will not leave the people alone. He will call late in the night and will plunge people into doubt". In the 13th volume of Bihar-ul-Anwar, Imam Al-Baqir(a.s.) is quoted as saying that "The Qaim (Imam Al-Mahdi(a.s.)) will send one of his companions to Makka and will ask him to inform them that I"m sent by so-and-so to you and that we are the merciful Ahlul-Bayt and the Store-house of "Risalat" (religious guidance) and "Khilafat" and we are the progeny of Muhammad(pbuh&hf) and from the time that the Prophet of Islam(pbuh&hf) left this world until now, we"ve been oppressed and deprived and our rights have been usurped. So we call you to befriend us. When that young man will utter these words, he will be caught and beheaded between "Rukn" and "madam" (in Masjidul Haram) and this young man is the "Nafse Zaki".......... And between the death of the "Nafse Zaki" and the re-appearance of Imam Al-Mahdi (A.S.) there will not be a gap of fifteen nights". Other signs heralding the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s) Prophet Muhammed (saws) has said: "Even if the entire duration of the world’s existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left before Doomsday, Allah will expand that day to such length of time as to accommodate the kingdom of a person from my Ahlul-Bayt who will be called by name. He will fill out the earth with and justice as it will have been full of injustice and tyranny (by then)" From this Hadith, it is clear to every Muslim that the twelfth Imam will reappear when this world is full of sins and injustice. There are many signs mentioned by the Masumeen (a.s) on the reappearance of the 12th Imam. It is reported in Biharul Anwar that after the last pilgrimage the Prophet made, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) stood near the Kaaba, and called his people to listen to him. The Prophet said: “listen to me carefully so that you transmit these words of mine to those who are absent today.” The Prophet began, “My people, a time will come when kings and rulers will be tyrannical.” The Prophet also said that the payment of Zakat will be stopped. According to the Masumeen(a.s), Muslim countries will seek aid from non Muslim countries. This is already evident in a number of Muslim countries. Another prediction that is come true is that 60 impostors will claim to be Prophets. By their attractiveness, their persuasion, and their personality, they will misguide the people. 58 false Prophets have already emerged since the days of the Prophet (s.a.w.). We have only two more to witness. It is reported in Qayamat-e-Sughra citing “Oqdatud-Durr” that Hazrat Amir(a.s) has said that the Mahdi will not appear until one-third of the world population will die by being killed and one-third will die as a result of epidemics. The Last Signs Heralding the Appearance of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s) There is a Hadith from Imam Muhammed Baqir (a.s) that for three or seven consecutive days, one will see reddish yellow fire raging in the East. Sufiani will emerge in Palestine, where he will start a revolt in the month of Rajab. He will be an uncompassionate rebel and his rule will last for eight consecutive months. He will conquer and rule Egypt for four consecutive months. Sufiani will conquer Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan, and Syria. Sufiani has been specifically described by Aimma A.S. as an ugly, blistered, green-eyed, cross-eyed person who will be an enemy of the friends of the Ahlul-Bait. Imam Ali (a.s) has said that Sufiani’s hatred of the devotees of the Ahlul-Bait will be such that any person named Ali, Fatema, Hassan, Hussein, Zainab, Ruquaiya will be arrested and beheaded straight away without further investigations. Sufiani will rip the Mimber of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.). The holy house of the Prophet which contains his grave will be pulled and used as a stable. Horses will be tied in that Holy place. Sufiani will then decide to attack Makka. His purpose would be to demolish the Holy Kaaba and kill the entire population of Makka. Sufiani’s army will set out via Baghdad but, as Allah would have it, when they get between Medina and Makka, in the desert of Baida, suddenly one night they will hear a voice from the sky which will say, “O Baida eat up the entire army of Sufiani.” It is said that the entire army numbering 100,000 persons will be swallowed up by the earth, except for two. The two who will be spared will suddenly encounter an angel. He will slap both of them turning their faces right round, looking behind instead of front. And that will be the time when Imam al-Mahdi (a.s) will already have reappeared in Makka. The Imam will establish his authority in the Holy Mosque at Makka in the Haram. The angel will then order one of them calling him Bashir. “O Bashir, go straight to Makka, into the Haram and inform the Imam that Sufiani’s army has been swallowed up by the land. The other called Nazir will be ordered to go to Sufiani and tell him that the Imam has already appeared. He should proceed straight to Makka and declare allegiance to him. Sufiani will prepare to attack the Imam but will not have enough courage. The Imam will catch Sufiani in Jerusalem and will kill him. Imam Ali (a.s) has said that nine definite signs will precede the emergence of Hazrat Mahdi (a.s). These nine signs are: Dajaal will emerge. A loud voice will be heard from the sky. Sufiani will appear and wage a fierce war. The army of Sufiani will be swallowed by a sudden opening of the land between Makka and Medina in the desert of Baida. A revered wise saint will be murdered in Makka. (This saint is to be a Hashimite descent.) A Seyyid descendant of Imam Hassan (a.s) will emerge with his army. The army of Seyyid-e-Hassan and an image of a man will appear in the sky opposite the sun. There will be two eclipses in the holy month of Ramadhan contrary to the normal order and calculation and the eclipse of the moon. On three occasions a loud voice from the sky will be heard in the holy month of Ramadhan. Other Prophets(pbut) will join the Imam(a.s.) Hazrat Isa, Hazrat Khizr, Hazrat Ilias, and Hazrat Idris(pbut) will give allegiance to the Imam(a.s.) when he reapers. Also Hazrat Jibrael(a.s.) will announce 313 companions of the Imam(a.s.). These 313 companions will be people of eminent piety, great knowledge and absolutely steadfast in their determination and faith towards the Imam(a.s.). Another 1000 people will be in the army of the Imam(a.s.). These people will fight battles and kill enemies like Dajjal, who will appear from India. Dajjal will have the musical tunes with him. Then the Imam(a.s.) will lead the prayers, Hazrat Isa(pbuh) will be behind him. Lets us all pray for the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi(a.s).

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Imam Hasan Askari (A.S.)

Name : Hasan ibn Ali - the 11th Holy Imam Title : al-Askari Agnomen : Abu Muhammad Father : Imam Ali Naqi-al-Hadi(a.s.) - the 10th Holy Imam Mother : Bibi Hadithah ( or Susan ) Birth : At Madina, on Monday, 10th Rabi-us-Sani 232 AH (845 AD) Martyred : In Samarrah at the age of 28 on Friday, 8th Rabi-ul-Awwal 260 AH (872 AD) Cause of Death/Burial: Poisoned by al-Mu`tamid ,the Abbasid ruler and buried at Samarrah in Iraq   Imam Hasan al-Askari(a.s.) spent twenty-two years of his life under the patronage of his father , Imam Ali Naqi al-Hadi(a.s.) after whose martyrdom he became his divinely commissioned Imam . Imam Hasan al-Askari(a.s.), the son of the Tenth Imam , was born in 232 AH and according to some Shi`ite sources was poisoned and killed in 260 AH through the instigation of the Abbasid caliph al-Mu`tamid . The Eleventh Imam(a.s.) gained the Imamate , after the death of his noble father , through Divine Command and through the decree of the previous Imams. During the seven years of his Imamate, due to untold restrictions placed upon him by the caliphate , he lived in hiding and dissimulation ( taqiyyah ) . He did not have any social contact with even the common people among the Shi`ite population . Only the elite of the Shi`ah were able to see him . Even so , he spent most of his time in prison . There was extreme repression at that time because the Shi`ite population had reached a considerable level in both numbers and power . Everyone knew that the Shi`ah believed in the Imamate , and the identity of the Shi`ite Imams was also known . Therefore , the caliphate kept the Imams under its close supervision more than ever before . It tried through every possible means and through secret plans to remove and destroy them . Also , the caliphate had come to know that the elite among the Shi`ah believed that the Eleventh Imam , according to traditions cited by him as well as his , forefathers , would have a son who was the promised Mahdi . The coming of the Mahdi had been foretold in authenticated hadith of the Prophet(pbuh&hf) in both Sunni and Shi`ite sources . For this reason the Eleventh Imam(a.s.), more than other Imams, was kept under close watch by the caliphate . The caliph of the time had decided definitely to put an end to the Imamate in Shi`ism through every possible means and to close the door to the Imamate once and for all . Therefore , as soon as the news of the illness of Imam Hasan Askari(a.s.) reached al-Mu`tamid , he sent a physician and a few of his trusted agents and judges to the house of the Imam(a.s.) to be with him and observe his condition and the situation within his house at all times .After the death of the Imam(a.s.), they had the house investigated and all his female slaves examined by the midwife . For two years the secret ageins of the caliph searched for the successor of the Imam(a.s.) until they lost all hope . The Eleventh Imam(a.s.) was buried in his house in Samarrah next to his noble father. Birth & Childhood When he was born his father said that it was an order from the prophet s.a.w. that he should be named Hasan. It was so well known that the last Imams father would be called Hasan that people had previously looked for the 12th Imam amongst the sons of Imam Hasan Al-Mujtaba (a.s.) His mother was Sulail (or Hudaitha) who was a slave of the 10th Imam whom he had freed and subsequently married. The 10th Imam said of her that she was one who was free from all vice and pollution and that she was one of the righteous ones. After the 11th Imam's martyrdom he left all the "orders" of Imamate with her (his mother). Once when Imam Hasan Al-Askari(a.s.) was a young child he fell into a well near their house. His father Imam Ali An-Naqi(a.s.) was praying and didn't even notice the commotion around him of the ladies crying. When he finished praying and asked what had happened, he was told. He went towards the well. The water rose and all saw the 11th Imam(a.s.) sitting peacefully on the water and playing. Bahlool once saw the young Imam crying in the street where all the other children were busy playing with their toys. He asked whether Imam(a.s.) was crying because he had no toys to play with. Imam(a.s.) replied: "We have not been created to play!" Bahlool asked where he had learnt this from and the Imam said : "Have you not read the Qur'an where it says - "Do you think we have created you in vain and that you will not be returned to us". When Bahlool heard this he asked Imam(a.s.) for some advice. Imam(a.s.) talked about death, barzakh and qiyama and cried so much, he fainted. When he came to, Bahlool asked him why he was so fearful as he was not even baligh yet. Imam(a.s.) said: "I have watched my mother light a fire; she uses the little twigs to get the big pieces of wood to burn; I fear that on qiyama Allah(swt) too will use little ones to light the big ones". Title: Al-Askery The 10th and 11th Imamayn were both called Al-Askery as they lived in an area of Samarra called Askery. Another reason that the 11th Imam was called Askery is said to be that once Mutawakkil wanted to show the Imam the strength of his army of 90,000 men and so he asked his men to fill their sacks with sand and pile all the sacks up. He then showed Imam this mountain of sacks. Imam asked Mutawakkil, to look through his (Imam's) two fingers, where he saw a an army of armed Angels. Imam told him that they were at his disposal but he would not use them. (An army is called Askery). Life & Works Ahmed Bin Ishaq relates that when he heard of the death of the 10th Imam he went to Samarra and asked for the whereabouts of the 11th Imam. He was told that Imam had been imprisoned by Mo'taz Billah. After bribing the guards he was able to visit Imam one night. He described the prison as a tunnel under the Khalifa's home where there was no space to stretch ones legs nor room to be able to stand. Ahmed says he cried when he saw Imams condition. Food was only one glass of water and a piece of dry bread a day. He was imprisoned because all the rulers knew of the justice that was promised to come with the coming of the 12th Imam and they wished to prevent anyone being born of the 11th Imam. Whilst in prison he told his companions to accumulate all the masails of Fiqh and he completed the masails on the chapters that were found missing. He introduced the institution of "Taqleed" advising people to follow those who were learned, "Muttaqi", and just, as he was in prison and it was extremely difficult for people to meet him. Khums was collected through his representative and masails too asked to him, Abu-Ja'fer Uthman bin Saeed, who was later to become the representative of the 12th Imam. There was once a severe drought in Samarra and a Christian priest came who whenever he raised his hands caused rain to fall from the heavens. The Muslims faith started wavering and the Khalifa Mo'taz Billah got worried for if they left Islam he would have none to rule over. He went to the 11th Imam saying that Imam's grandfathers religion was in trouble. Imam asked him to call all the people outside Samarra with the Christian priest. He asked the Christian priest to pray for rain. When he raised his hands to pray it started to rain. Imam asked for whatever was in this hands to be taken away and then asked him to pray for rain again. There was no rain this time. Imam showed that what the priest had in this hand was the bone of a Prophet which whenever placed under the open sky caused it to rain. Imam then prayed for rain and it rained. Mo'taz could not re imprison Imam for some time for when the people saw the miracle they all wanted to visit Imam and asked where they might find him. Imam pointed to the Khalifa and asked them to ask him. Mo'taz told them that Imam was staying at the house where the 10th Imam used to reside. Bibi Nargis was there and it was in that year that the 12th Imam was born. Imam was allowed out of prison for 13 months after which he was rearrested. Martyrdom In the six years of his Imamate several attempts were made on his life. On the 1st of Rabi-ul Awwal 260 a.h. Mo'tamad arranged for Imam(a.s.) to be poisoned in prison and then sent him home. Imam(a.s.) was in great pain and difficulty for 8 days. On the 8th of Rabi-ul Awwal he asked his son, the 12th Imam, to bring him some water and then leave him. He died that day and was given ghusl & kafan by his son, Imam Mahdi(a.s.). Burial The funeral prayers were led by the 12th Imam and it was then that a lot of Shia's saw him for the first time. A large number of people attended the funeral and he is buried in Samarra. Additional Notes The 11th Imam was once asked of the signs of a mo'min (believer).He listed the following signs. He is one prays 51 rakaats of salaa daily. He prostates on Khake Shafaa. He wears rings on his right hand. He repeats the verses of Azhan & Ikama. He recites "Bismillah" loudly in Salaa. He prays his Fajr Salaa before the stars disappear and his Dhuhr prayers before the sun starts to decline. He recite Qunoot in Salaa. He dyes his hair and beard. He recites 5 takbirs in Salatul Mayyit.

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Imam Ali Naqi (A.S.)

Name : Ali ibn Mohammad - the 10th Holy Imam Titles : an-Naqi, al-Hadi Agnomen : Abul-Hasan Father : Imam Muhammad at-Taqi al-Jawwad(a.s.) - the 9th Holy Imam Mother : Bibi Sumanah Birth : In Suryah ( in the environs of Medina ) , on Friday , 2nd (or 5th) Rajab, 214 AH (817 AD) Death : In Samarrah at the age of 42 on Monday 26th Jumadi-us-Sani (or 3 Rajab) 254 AH (868 AD) Cause of Death/Burial : Poisoned by al-Mu'tazz, the Abbasid caliph buried in Samarrah
THE TENTH Holy Imam , like his father , was also elevated to the rank of Imam in his childhood . He was six years old when his father Imam Muhammad al - Jawad(a.s.) died . After the death of al - Ma'mun , al-Mu`tasim succeeded him , and was later followed by the caliph al-Wathiq . In the first five years of the reign of al-Wathiq , Imam Ali al-Hadi (an-Naqi(a.s.) ) lived peacefully . After al-Wathiq , al-Mutawakkil came to power . Being too occupied in State affairs , al-Mutawakkil did not get any time to harass the Imam and his followers for four years . But as soon as he freed himself from State affairs , he started to molest the Imam . The Holy Imam(a.s.) devoted himself to the sacred mission of preaching in Medina and did thus earn the faith of the people as well as their allegiance and recognition of his great knowledge and attributes . This reputation of the Imam evored the jealousy and malice of al-Mutawakkil against him. The governor of Medina wrote to al-Mutawakkil that Imam Ali Naqi(a.s.) had been manoeuvring a coup against the government and a multitude of Shi'ites were pledged to his support .
Although enraged by this news al-Mutawakkil still preferred the diplomacy of not arresting the Holy Imam(a.s.). Under the garb of pretended respect and love towards the Imam , he planned to put him under life imporisonment after inviting him to his palace. Prior to his imprisonment , in a series of correspondence with the Imam(a.s.), he expressed the view that he was convinced of all the claims of the Imam(a.s.) and was ready to settle them amicably . He wrote to the Imam(a.s.) that having been acquainted with his great personality , his matchless knowledge and his peerless attributes , he was impatiently looking forward to the honour of seeing him , and he most cordially invited him to Samarrah . Although the Imam(a.s.) was well aware of al-Mutawakkil's treacherous intentions , he anticipating the fatal consequences of refusing the offer , reluctantly decided to leave Medina . But when the Imam(a.s.) arrived at Samarrah and al-Mutawakkil was informed about it , he took no notice of the Imam's arrival. when asked about where the Imam (a.s.) should stay , he ordered that the Imam should be put up in the inn meant for beggars , destitutes and homeless people. Al - Mutawakkil who was a deadly enemy of the Ahl-ul-bayt , removed the Imam(a.s.) from this inn and entrusted him to the custody of a stone - hearted brute named Zurafah . But , by the grace of Allah(swt) , his enmity was, in a short time , transformed into love and devotion for the Imam(a.s.). When al-Mutawakkil learnt about it, he shifted the Imam(a.s.) into the custody of another cruel man called Sa'id . The Imam(a.s.) remained under his strict vigilance for a number of years , during which he was subjected to boundless tortures . But even in this miserable imprisonment , the Imam(a.s.) kept devoting himself at all times to the worship of Allah(swt) . The watchman of the prison used to comment that Imam Ali al-Hadi(a.s.) seemed to be an angel in human garb. When Fath ibn Khaqan became the vizier of al-Mutawakkil , he being a Shi`ah could not stand the idea of the Imam's captivity . He endeavoured to have him released from imprisonment and arranged for his comfortable residence in a personally purchased house at Samarrah . Still al-Mutawakkil could hardly refrain from his antagonism to the Imam(a.s.) and he appointed spies to watch the Imam(a.s.) and his connections . But through all these attempts , his hope of creating some fabrication to prove the Imam's activity against himself could not be realized. In the time of al-Mutawakkil there was a woman named Zaynab who claimed to be a decendant of Imam Hussain(a.s.). Al-Mutawakkil sought the confirmation of Zaynab's claim from the Imam(a.s.) and said : "`That as the beasts are prohibited to eat the flesh of the descendants of Imam Hussain(a.s.) he would throw Zaynab to the beasts and test her claim" .' On hearing this , Zaynab began to tremble and confessed that she was a fake . Al-Mutawakkil then ordered the Imam(a.s.) to be thrown to the beasts to test the claim . To his great surprise , he witnessed the beasts prostrating their heads before the Imam(a.s.). Once Al-Mutawakkil happened to suffer from a serious malady which was eventually declared incurable by his physicians . When the Imam(a.s.) was approached for some remedy , he prescribed an application which resulted in a spontaneous cure. Once al-Mutawakkil was informed that the Imam(a.s.) was preparing a revolt against him . Thereupon , he ordered a detachment of the army to launch a raid on the Imam's residence . When the soldiers entered his house , they found him sitting on a mat , reciting the Holy Qur'an. Not only al-Mutawakkil , but his successors' opposition to the Imam(a.s.) was fierce . After the death of al-Mutawakkil , al-Mustansir , al-Musta`in and al-Mu`tazz carried on the same mission of harassent against the family of the Imam. al - Mu`tazz , understanding the uncontrollable and intense devotion of the people towards the Imam(a.s.) , eventually contrived the Imam's assassination. He got him poisoned through an ambassador which resulted in the Imam's death within a few hours . The martyrdom occurred on 26th Jumadi-as-Sani 254 AH , and his funeral prayer was conducted by his son , Imam Hasan al-Askari(a.s.). The Imam(a.s.) was only forty-two years old at the time of death . The period of his Imamate was thirty-five years . He was buried in Samarrah, Iraq.

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Imam Mohammad Taqi (A.S.)

Name : Muhammad bin Ali. - the 9th Holy Imam Titles : At-Taqi, Al-Jawad. Agnomen : Abu Ja'fer. Father : Imam Ali Riza(a.s.) - the 8th Holy Imam Mother : Sabika (also known as Khaizuran). Birth : At Madina on Friday, 10th Rajab 195 AH (809 AD) Martyred : In Kazmain at age 25, on Wednesday, 29th ZeQa'ad 220 AH (835 AD) Cause of Death/Burial : Poisoned by Abbasid Khalifa Mo'atasim in Kazmain near Baghdad, Iraq and buried there
His Parents & Birth He was the only son of the eighth Imam Ali Riza (a.s.) The Prophet (pbuh&hf) had said: "My father be sacrificed on the mother of the 9th Imam who will be a pure and pious Nubian." Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s.) had told one of his companions that his daughter-in-law (Sabika) would be one of the most pious of women and to give her his salaams. She came from the same tribe as the Prophet's(pbuh&hf) wife - Maria Kubtiya who bore the Prophet his son Ibrahim (who died in infancy). Imam Muhammad Taqi (a.s.) was born when his father was 45 years old. Till then Imam Ali Riza (a.s.) had constantly been taunted that he had no children. When the 9th Imam was born, a brother of Imam Ali Riza(a.s.) was angry because he would lose out in inheriting the Imam's property and in his jealousy spread a rumour that Imam Ali Riza(a.s.) was not the father. He was eventually proved wrong by a person who could tell parentage.
Childhood The 9th Imam was 5 years old when his father was called to Baghdad by Mamun Rashid to be his 'heir apparent'. When Imam Ali Riza (a.s.) was leaving he saw his son putting sand in his hair. He asked why and the young Imam replied that this was what an orphan did. Imam Riza(a.s.) was fully aware of the treacherous character of the ruling king and was sure that he would not return to Medina. So before his departure from Medina he declared his son Muhammad al-Jawad(a.s.) as his successor , and imparted to him all his stores of Divine knowledge and spiritual genius. Imamate Imam Ali Riza(a.s.) was poisoned on 17th Safar 203 AH and with effect from the same date Imam Muhammad al-Jawad(a.s.) was commissioned by Allah to hold the responisbility of Imamate . At the tender age of eight there was no apself chance or means of the young Imam reaching great heights of knowledge and practical achievements . But after a few days he is known not only to have debated with his contemporary scholars on subjects pertaining to fiqh ( Islamic jurisprudence ) , hadith ( tradition ) , tafsir ( Qur'anic exegesis ) , ect . and outwitted them , but also to exhort their admiration and acknowledgment of his learning and superiority . Right from then the world realized that he possessed Divine knowledge and that the knowledge commanded by the Holy Imam was not acquired , but granted by Allah. His titles, life & works The ruler of the time, Mamun Rashid, thought that as all the rulers before him had oppressed the Imams and their schemes had backfired that he would try to bribe the Imams. He tried to make the 8th Imam his heir apparent and give him power and wealth but that also backfired. He now tried to use power and wealth with the 9th Imam again but from a much younger age thinking that he would be able to influence him. His main purpose was also to make sure that the 12th Imam (whom he knew would bring justice to the world) would be from his progeny and therefore intended to give his daughter Ummul Fadhl to the Imam for a wife. Mamun still continued oppressing the family and followers of the Ahlul-bayt (a.s.). Mamun called the young Imam (a.s.) to Baghdad from Madina and offered his daughter. This infuriated his family (Banu Abbas). To prove to them the excellence of Imam even at a young age he arranged a meeting between Imam and the most learned of men at that time - Yahya bin Athkam. It was a grand occasion with some 900 other scholars present. Imam (a.s.) was first asked by Yahya: What is the compensation (kaffara) for a person in Ehraam who hunted and killed his prey?" Imam replied that there were many more details required before he could answer the question: Did the Muhrim (one in Ehraam) hunt in the haram or outside? Did the Muhrim know Sharia or not? Did he hunt intentionally or not? Did he hunt for the first time or was this one of many times? Was he free or a slave? Was his prey a bird or an animal? Was it big or small? Had he hunted by day or by night? Was he baligh or not? Was he repentant or not? Was his ehraam for Hajj or Umra? Yahya was stunned. He looked down and started sweating. Mamun asked the young Imam(a.s.) to answer the question, which he did, and then Imam(a.s.) asked Yayha a question which he could not answer. Then Ma'mun addressed the audience thus : ``Did I not say that the Imam comes of a family which has been chosen by Allah as the repository of knowledge and learning ? Is there any one in the world who can match even the children of this family ?'' All of them shouted , ``Undoubtedly there is no one parallel to Muhammad ibn `Ali al - Jawad .'' In the same assembly Mamun wedded his daughter Ummul Fadl to the Imam(a.s.) and liberally distributed charity and gifts among his subjects as a mark of rejoicing . Imam (a.s.) read his own Nikah (the khutba of which is used today) with the Mehr of 500 dirhams. Imam(a.s.) wrote a letter to Mamun that he would also give Ummul Fadhl Mehr from the wealth of Aakhira. This was in the form of 10 duas which were for fulfilling any hajaat (desires) [Chain of narrators upto Prophet - Jibrail - Allah]* . Thus his title Al-Jawad (the generous one). * These duas are found in Mafatihul Jinaan (pg 447 - In margin) Imam(a.s.) lived for a year in Baghdad with Ummul Fadhl. She was very disobedient to Imam(a.s.). When she found out that Imam(a.s.) had another wife (from the progeny of Ammar-e-Yasir(a.r.)) and that there was also children she was jealous and angry realizing that her father's plan had failed. She complained to her father who also realized that his plan, to keep the 12th Imam in his progeny, had failed. He was enraged and in his rage he drank heavily and went to the 9th Imam's(a.s.) house and attacked the Imam(a.s.) with a sword. Both Ummul Fadhl and a servant saw the attack and believed that the Imam(a.s.) was dead. Mamun, on waking next morning, realized the consequences of his attack and was thinking of arranging the disposal of Imam's(a.s.) body when he saw Imam(a.s.) well without even a scratch on him. He was confused and asked Imam(a.s.) who showed him an amulet which is called Hirze Jawad. Imam(a.s.) told him it was from his grand mother Bibi Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and kept the wearer safe from all except the angel of death. Mamun asked Imam(a.s.) for it and Imam(a.s.) gave him one. Now Mamun was scared and tried a new tactic. He tried to deviate Imam(a.s.) by sending him beautiful girls and musicians. When he realised nothing was working he let Imam(a.s.) return to Madina. Imam(a.s.) used this time to prepare the masails of Taqleed and Ijtihaad in preparation for the 12th Imam(a.s.) knowing that both the 10th and the 11th Imams(a.s.) would spend most of their lives in prison. He also prepared the people of Madina teaching true Islam knowing that this would be the last time they would be able to receive guidance directly from an Imam(a.s.) for a long time. Ummul Fadhl continuously complained of Imam(a.s.) to her father who sent her letters back. Mamun died in 218 a.h. and was succeeded by his brother Mo'tasam Billah. He openly announced that all Shias were non-Muslims. He said it was required for people to kill and prosecute Shias, and to destroy property belonging to Shias. Ummul Fadhl now started complaining to her uncle who was sympathetic to her. Mo'tasam called the Imam(a.s.) to Baghdad. He asked him to pass judgement of how to punish a thief. Imam(a.s.) said only fingers could be cut as the palms were for Allah (as in Qur'an - it is one of the wajib parts to touch the ground during sajda). As this decision was contrary to the decision of the other 'Ulema' it strengthened the position of the Shias. The other 'Ulema' complained to Mo'tasam. Death & Burial With instigation from both the 'Ulema' and Ummul Fadhl, Mo'tasam sent poison which Ummul Fadhl put in Imam's(a.s.) drink and gave it to him. Imam(a.s.) died on 29th Dhulqa'ada at the age of 25 years and is buried near his grandfather in Kadhmain. His son the 10th Imam, Imam Ali Naqi(a.s.) gave him ghusl and kafan. Summary of Imam's Work It is he who prepared and wrote books for the masails of Ijtihaad and Taqleed which were essential to prepare believers for the ghaibat of the 12th Imam.

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Imam Ali Raza (A.S.)

Name : Ali ar-Riza(a.s.) - the 8th Holy Imam Title : Gharib al-Ghuraba, Moeen-uz-Zoafa-e-wal-Fuqara, Shah-e-Khurasaan Agnomen : Abul-Hasan Father : Imam Moosa-e-Kazim(a.s.) - the 7th Holy Imam Mother : Ummul-Baneen Bibi Najma Birth : At Madina on 11th of Zi-Qadah 148 AH (765 AD) Martyred : in Mashhad at age 55, on 23rd Zi-Qadah 203 AH (817 AD) Cause of Death/Buried : Martyred by Abbasid Khalifa Mamoon in Mashhad, Iran and buried there.   Birth and Demise Historians disagree a great deal about the year of his birth and even in determining the month as well, and they also disagree about determining the year and the month of his death. Their disagreements are not confined to the limit of a short span of time but they may be five years apart, and the disagreement is so confusing that it is very difficult to determine clearly such matters; however, we shall point out the statements recorded in this regard without favouring any of them due to the lack of purpose of such favouring which naturally requires research and investigation and a proof for selecting what seems to be the most accurate. He was born in Medina on Friday, or Thursday, Zi-Qadah 11, or Zil-Hijjah, or Rabi'ul-Awwal, of the Hijri year 148 or the year 153. He died on Friday, or Monday, near the end of the month of Safar, or the 17th of Safar, or Ramzan 21, or Jamadi-al-Awwal 18, or Zil-Qadah 23, or the end of Zi-Qadah, of the year 202 or 203 or 206. In his 'Uyoon Akhbar al-Rida, al-Saduq states: "What is accurate is that he died on the 13th of Ramadan, on a Friday, in the year 203." What is most likely is that his death took place in the year 203 as stated by al-Saduq. It is the same year in which al-Mamoon marched towards Iraq. To say that he died in 206 is not to agree with the truth because al-Mamoon marched towards Baghdad in the year 204, and the Imam died while he was heading in the same direction. His early Life Imam Ali ar-Riza(a.s.) lived in the care of his father for almost 35 years. He imbibed from his father his knowledge, morals and good manners. He was, thus, the most acknowledged scholar and the most qualified to be the leader and the guide of Muslims. He would later lead and feed the school of Ahl al-Bayt(a.s.) with knowledge and religious sciences. Every Imam made public the name of the Imam who would succeed him so that Muslims would know and follow him, ask him about what they did not know from the shari'ah and Islamic sciences, and receive his guidelines and teachings. Imam Musa Kazim(a.s.), accordingly, explained the position of his son Imam Ali ar-Riza(a.s.), emphasizing that he was the inheritor of his office, the trustee of his school and the Imam to whom Muslims should refer after him. Imam Musa al-Kazim(a.s.) was well aware of the aggressive designs of the government in power against the Imamate and therefore, during his lifetime he declared Imam al-Riza(a.s.) as his successor in the presence of 171 prominent religious men and called upon his sons and his family to submit to him and refer to him in all matters after him. He also left behind a written document declaring the succession of Imam ar-Ridha duly signed and endorsed. by not less than 16 prominent persons. All these necessary steps were taken by the great Imam to avoid any confusion that may have arisen after his death. Period of Imamate and conditions The period of his imamate coincided with the caliphate of Harun al-Rashid and then his sons Amin and Ma'mun. After the death of his father, Ma'mun fell into conflict with his brother Amin which led to bloody wars and finally the assassination of Amin, after which Ma'mun became the caliph. Until that day the policy of the Abbasid caliphate toward the Shi'ites had been increasingly harsh and cruel. Every once in a while one of the supporters of Imam Ali(a.s.) (alawis) would revolt, causing blood wars and rebelions which were of great difficulty and consequence for the caliphate The Shi'ite Imams would not cooperate with those who carried out the these rebellions and would not interfere with their affairs. The Shi'ites of that day, who comprised a considerable population, continued to consider the Imams as their religious leaders to whom obedience was obligatory and believed in them as the real caliphs of the Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf). They considered the caliphate to be far from the sacred authority of their Imams, for the caliphate had come to seem more like the courts of the Persian kings and Roman emperors and was being run by a group of people more interested in worldly rule than in the strict application of religious principles. The continuation of such a situation was dangerous for the structure of the caliphate and was a serious threat to it. Government's Attitude Towards the Imam The attitude of the then rulers towards Imam al-Rida(a.s.) and the other Imams may provide us with a clear view of the distinctions which raised their personalities to the zenith. And it is essential to explain the phenomenon of the government's attitude towards them which manifested itself in the surveillance imposed upon them rather than upon other distinguished dignitaries or chiefs of the Alawides, monitoring their movements and counting their steps in all their social and personal encounters. What we can mention here to explain this phenomenon are the following reasons: 1) The belief of a large number of Muslims in their Imamate and in their being the most worthy of the caliphate, and their conviction that all other caliphs are considered usurpers of authority, trespassers upon the rights ordained by God to others. This is why the politicians of the time considered them their competitors whose mere presence increased the dangers surrounding them and jeopardized the security of the very existence of their government structure. 2) Their being the magnet which attracted leading scholars and thinkers who shrank in their presence despite their intellectual advancement and distinction in the fields of the arts and knowledge and despite their genius and intellectual prowess. This caused the caliphs to feel a stronger animosity towards them and be more grudgeful towards them due to the public fascination by them and to their attempts to be close to them and to being emotionally distant from the center of the government. 3) Their being the better alternative from the public's political standpoint to take charge of the responsibilities of government, bear its burdens, carry out its obligations and doing all of that most efficiently. This frightened the rulers and made the obscure future seem to their eyes even more so. 4) The vicious incitements about them by their opponents who bore animosity towards them and who wished thereby their elimination, and the tell-tales of even some of their own kin whose judgement was blinded by jealousy, so they kept fabricating stories and attributing them to those Imams and telling them to the rulers who were pleased to hear them since they became outlets to the grudge they felt towards those Imams and, at the same time, found in them the pretexts for annihilating and harassing them and in the end a justification to put an end to their lives and rid themselves of the complex they were suffering from due to their existence. By these and by others can we explain the phenomenon of the rulers pursuing them and desperately trying to alienate them from the stage of events affecting the nation in order to secure a distance from the ghost of competition which could haunt them had they permitted the Imams to do as they pleased. Thus can we understand the general characteristics of the significant distinctions the personalities of those Imams enjoyed in all sectors of the society in its various centers of activity and in its various aspirations; otherwise, how do you explain this phenomenon, and why should those rulers pay the Imams so much attention? His Knowledge He inherited the knowledge of his grandfather the Messenger of Allah(pbuh&hf), thus becoming its pioneering fountainhead that quenched the thirst of those who were thirsty for knowledge. History narrates a great deal of his scholarly stances and intellectual discourses in which he achieved victory over those who opposed the Divine Message, excelling in various branches of scholarship with which he provided the seekers of knowledge and the thinkers of the time. Ibrahim ibn al-Abbas al-Suli is reported to have said: "I never saw al-Riza(a.s.) unable to provide the answer to any question he received, nor have I ever seen any contemporary of his more learned than he was. Al-Mamoon used to put him to test by asking him about almost everything, and he always provided him with the answer, and his answer and example was always derived from the Holy Qur'an." Rajaa ibn Abul-Dahhak, who was commissioned by al-Mamoon to escort Imam Riza(a.s.) to his court, said: "By God! I never saw anyone more pious than him nor more often remembering God at all times nor more fearful of God, the Exalted. People approached him whenever they knew he was present in their area, asking him questions regarding their faith and its aspects, and he would answer them and narrate a great deal of hadith from his father who quoted his forefathers till Ali(a.s.) who quoted the Messenger of Allah(pbuh&hf). When I arrived at al-Mamoon's court, the latter asked me about his behaviour during the trip and I told him what I observed about him during the night and during the day, while riding and while halting; so, he said: `Yes, O son of al-Dahhak! This is the best man on the face of earth, the most learned, and the most pious.'" Al-Hakim is quoted in Tarikh Nishapur as saying that the Imam(a.s.) used to issue religious verdicts when he was a little more then twenty years old. In Ibn Maja's Sunan, in the chapter on "Summary Of Cultivating Perfection," he is described as "the master of Banu Hashim, and al-Mamoon used to hold him in high esteem and surround him with utmost respect, and he even made him his successor and secured the oath of allegiance for him." Al-Mamoon said this once in response to Banu Hashim: "As regarding your reaction to the selection by al-Mamoon of Abul-Hassan al-Riza(a.s.) as his successor, be reminded that al-Mamoon did not make such a selection except upon being fully aware of its implications, knowing that there is no one on the face of earth who is more distinguished, more virtuous, more pious, more ascetic, more acceptable to the elite as well as to the commoners, or more God-fearing, than he (al-Riza,a.s.) is." Abul-Salt al-Harawi is quoted saying: "I never saw anyone more knowledgeable than Ali ibn Mousa al-Riza(a.s.). Every scholar who met him admitted the same. Al-Mamoon gathered once a large number of theologians, jurists and orators and he (al-Rida, A.S.) surpassed each and every one of them in his own respective branch of knowledge, so much so that the loser admitted his loss and the superiority of the winner over him." He is also quoted saying: "I have heard Ali ibn Mousa al-Riza(a.s.) saying, `I used to take my place at the theological center and the number of the learned scholars at Medina was quite large, yet when a question over-taxed the mind of one of those scholars, he and the rest would point at me, and they would send me their queries, and I would answer them all." Al-Manaqib records the following: "When people disputed regarding Abul-Hassan al-Riza(a.s.), Muhammad ibn 'Isa al-Yaqtini said, `I have collected as many as eighteen thousand of his answers to questions put forth to him.' A group of critics, including Abu Bakr the orator in his Tarikh and al-Tha'labi in his tafsir and al-Sam'ani in his dissertation and in al-Mu'tazz in his work, in addition to others, have all quoted hadith from him." We do not need the testimony of anyone to convince us of the distinction enjoyed by Imam al-Riza(a.s.) due to his knowledge over all others. Suffices us to review the books of hadith which are filled with his statements and dictation in various arts which every individual, regardless of the loftiness of his degree of knowledge, became dwarfed upon meeting him, feeling his inferiority and the superiority of Imam al-Riza(a.s.). Ma'mun's Problem and tactics Ma'mun thought of finding a new solution for the rapid growth of Shiaism and revolt of the Alawis which the seventy-year old policy of his Abbasid predecessors had not been able to solve. To accomplish this end he thought of choosing the eighth Imam as his successor, hoping in this way to overcome two difficulties: first of all to prevent the descendants of the Prophet(pbuh&hf) from rebelling against the government since they would be involved in the government themselves, and secondly, to cause the people to lose their spiritual belief and inner attachment to the Imams. This would be accomplished by having the Imams become engrossed in wordly matters and the politics of the caliphate itself, which had always been considered by the Shi'ites to be evil and impure. In this way their religious organization would crumble and they would no longer present any dangers to the caliphate. Obviously, after accomplishing these ends, the removal of the Imam would present no difficulties to the Abbasid. Al-Ma'mun was also conscious of the fact that he would not survive for long if he also did not express his loyalty to the great leader and his intelligence department had made it clear to him that the Iranian people were truly and sincerely loyal to the Imam(a.s.) and he could only win them over if he also pretended to give respect and sympathetic consideration to Imam al-Riza(a.s.). AI-Ma'mun was a very shrewd person. He made a plan to invite Imam al-Riza(a.s.) and to offer him the heirship to the throne. The Imam(a.s.) was summoned by a royal decree and was compelled, under the circumstances, to leave Medina where he was living a quiet life and present himself at the royal court of al-Ma 'mun. On his arrival, al-Ma'mun showed him hospitality and great respect, then he said to him: "I want to get rid of myself of the caliphate and vest the office in you." But Imam al-Riza(a.s.) refused his offer. Then al-Ma'mun repeated his offer in a letter saying: "lf you refuse what I have offered you, then you must accept being the heir after me." But again Imam al-Riza(a.s.) refused his offer vigorously. Al-Ma'mun summoned him. He was alone with al-Fadhl ibn Sahl, the man with two offices (i.e., military and civil). There was no one else in their gathering. Al-Ma'mun said to Imam al-Riza(a.s.), "I thought it appropriate to invest authority over the Muslims in you and to relieve myself of the responsibility by giving it to you." When again Imam al-Riza(a.s.) refused to accept his offer, al-Ma'mun spoke to him as if threatening him for his refusal. In his speech he said, "Umar ibn al-khattab made a committee of consultation (shura) to appoint a successor. Among them was your forefather, the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib. (Omar) stipulated that any of them who opposed the decision should be executed. So there is no escape for you from accepting what I want from you. I will ignore your rejection of it." In reply, Imam al-Riza(a.s.) said: "I will agree to what you want of me as far as succession is concerned on condition that I do not command, nor order, not give legal decisions, nor judge, nor appoint, nor dismiss, nor change anything from how it is at present." al-Ma'mun accepted all of that. This event occurred in 200 AH/814 AD. On the day when al-Ma'mun ordered to make the pledge of allegiance to al-Redha, one of the close associates of al-Redha, who was present, narrates, "On that day I was in front of him. He looked at me while I was feeling happy about what had happened. He signalled me to come closer. I went closer to him and he said so that no one else could hear, Do not occupy your heart with this matter and do not be happy about it. It is something which will not be achieved. Quoting al-Allamah ash-Shibli from his book al-Ma'mun, we get a very clear picture of how al-Ma'mun decided to offer his leadership to Imam al-Redha (a.s.) Even after the declaration of succession when there was every opportunity for the Imam to live a splendid worldly royal life, he did not pay any heed to material comforts and devoted himself completely to imparting the true Islamic conception of the Prophet's teachings and the Holy Qur'an. He spent most of his time praying to God and serving the people. Taking full advantage of the concessions given to him by virtue of his elevated position in the royal court, he organized the majalis (meetings) commemorating the martyrdom of the martyrs of Karbala. These majalis were first held during the days of Imam Muhammad Baqir(a.s.) and Imam Jafar Sadiq(a.s.), but Imam al-Riza(a.s.) gave the majalis a new impetus by encouraging those poets who wrote effective poems depicting the moral aspects of the tragedy and the suffering of Imam Hussain(a.s.) and his companions. decided once and for all to check his growing popularity . , he was buried in Tus (Mashhad) and his Grand Shrine speaks well for the great personality the Imam possessed. Millions of Muslims visit his Shrine every year to pay their homage to this Imam. Martyrdom Soon Ma'mun realized that he had committed an error, for there was a rapid spread of Shi'ism a growth in the attachment of the populace to the Imam(a.s.) and an astounding reception given to the Imam by the people and even by the army and government agents. Al-Ma 'mun had been very scared of the growing popularity of the Imam and he had appointed him as his heir to the throne only for the fulfilment of his own most ambitious and sinister designs and getting the Imam's endorsement to his tricky plans. But the Imam(a.s.) naturally refused to give his endorsement to any such plans which were against the teaching of Islam. Ma'mun sought to find a remedy for this difficulty and to ensure his own survival by acting according to the old traditions of killing the Imam. Wanting to do it in a more subtle manner, he invited the Imam to dinner, and fed him poisoned grapes. The Imam died on 23rd Zi-Qadah 2O3 AH. After his death the Imam(a.s.) was buried in the city of Tus in Iran, which is now called Mashhad.

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Imam Musa Kazim (A.S.)

Name : Musa ibn-e-Jaffar - the 7th Holy Imam Titles : Al-Kazim Agnomen : Abu Ibrahim. Father : Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq(a.s.) - the 6th Holy Imam Mother : Hamidah al - Barbariyyah. Birth : At Abwa' ( between Makkah and Madina ) Sunday , 7th Safar 128 AH. (744 AD) Martyred : In Baghdad at age 55 on 25th Rajab 183 AH (799 AD) Cause of Death/Burial : Poisoned by Harun-ur-Rashid and buried in Kadhmain, Baghdad   The 7th Holy Imam Musa al-Kazim(a.s.) was the son of Imam Jafar as-Sadiq(a.s.), the Sixth Imam . The name of his mother was Hamidah , the daughter of a noble man hailing from the States of Barbary. Childhood Imam Musa al-Kazim(a.s.) passed twenty years of his sacred life under the gracious patronage of his holy father . His inherent genius and gifted virtues combined with the enlightened guidance and education from Imam Jafar as-Sadiq(a.s.), showed in the manifestation of his future personality . He was fully versed with the Divine Knowledge even in his childhood. al-`Allamah al-Majlisi(a.r.) relates that once Abu Hanifah happened to call upon the holy abode of Imam Jafar as-Sadiq(a.s.) to ask him about some religious matters ( masa'il ) . The Imam(a.s.) was asleep and so he kept waiting outside till the Imam's(a.s.) awakening . Meanwhile , Imam Musa al-Kazim(a.s.) , who was then five years old , came out of his house . Abu Hanifah , after offering him his best compliment , enquired: ``O the son of the Holy Prophet ! what is your opinion about the deeds of a man ? Does he do them by himself or does God make him do them ?'' ``O Abu Hanifah'' , the five years old Imam(a.s.) replied at once , in the typical tone of his ancestors , ``the doings of a man are confined to three possibilities . First , that God alone does them while the man is quite helpless . Second , that both God and the man do equally share the commitment . Third , that man does them alone . Now , if the first assumption is true , it obviously proves the unjustness of God who punishes His creatures for sins which they have not committed . And if the second condition be acceptable , even then God becomes unjust if He punishes the man for the crimes in which He is equally a partner . But the undesirability of both these conditions is evident in the case of God . Thus , we are naturally left with the third alternative to the problem that men are absolutely responsible for their own doing .'' Imamate The Holy Imam Jafar as-Sadiq(a.s.) breathed his last on 25th Shawwal 148 AH , and with effect from the same date Imam Musa al-Kazim(a.s.) succeeded the holy office of Immamate as the Seventh Imam . The priod of his Imamate continued for thirty - five years . In the first decade of his Imamate , Imam Musa al-Kazim(a.s.) could afford a peaceful execution of the responsibilities of his sacred office and carried on the propagation of the teachings of the Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) . But soon after , he fell a victim to the ruling kings and a greater part of his life passed in prison. Political Condition Imam Musa al-Kazim(a.s.) lived under the most crucial times in the regimes of the despotic `Abbasid kings who were marked for their tyrannical and cruel administration . He witnessed the reings of al-Mansur ad-Dawaniqi , al-Mahdi and Harun ar-Rashid . Al-Mansur and Harun ar-Rashid were the despotic kings who put a multitude of innocent descendants of the Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) to the sword . Thousands of these martyrs were buried alive inside walls or put into horrible dark prisons during their lifetime . These depraved caliphs knew no pity or justice and they killed and tortured for the plessure they derived from human sufferings.The Holy Imam(a.s.) was saved from the tyranny of al-Mansur because the king , being occupied with his project of constructing the new city of Baghdad , could not get time to turn towards victimizing the Imam. By 157 AH the city of Baghded was built . This was soon followed by the death of its founder a year later . After al-Mansur , his son al-Mahdi ascended the throne . For a few years he remained indifferent towards the Imam(a.s.) . When in 164 AH he came to Medina and heard about the great reputation of the Imam , he could not resist his jealousy and the spark of his ancestral malice against the Ahl-al-bayt(a.s.) was rekindled . He somehow managed to take the Imam(a.s.) along with him to Baghdad and got him imprisoned there . But after a year he realized his mistake and released the Imam(a.s.) from jail . al-Mahdi was succeeded by al-Hadi who lived only for a yaer . Now , in 170 AH , the most cruel and tyrannical king Harun ar-Rashid appeared at the head of the `Abbasid Empire . It was during his reign that the Holy Imam(a.s.) passed the greater part of his life in a miserable prison till he was poisoned. Harun had the Imam(a.s.) arrested in the Prophet's)pbuh&hf) mosque whilst Imam was praying. He was handcuffed and shackled and sent to Basra. Imam(a.s.) was put into prison under the custody of Isa bin Ja'fer. After a year Isa wrote to Harun saying he could no longer imprison Imam(a.s.) as he could find only piety and righteousness in him. Harun had the Imam(a.s.) moved to Baghdad under the custody of Fadhl bin Rabi who too became a follower of Imam(a.s.). The prisons were so small that there was no room to stand and the food was a cup of water and two pieces of dry bread a day. Imam(a.s.) remained patient. Harun finally moved Imam in the care of Sindi bin Shahak (a very cruel man). Imam remained in prison for the last 19 years of his life. The 19 years of imprisonment gave the Shia population a little relief as the rulers concentrated on Imam. It enabled the Shias to disperse from Arabia to Iran, India etc. thus spreading Islam and it was one of the factors towards the popularity of the 8th Imam. Moral and Ethical Excellence As regards his morality and ethical excellence , Ibn Hajar al-Haytami remarks : ``The patience and forbearance of Imam Musa al-Kazim(a.s.) was such .hat he was given the title of al-Kazim ( one who swallows down his anger ) . He was the embodiment of virtue and generosity . He devoted his nights to the prayers of God and his days to fasting . He always forgave those who did wrong to him , His kind and generous attitude towards the people was such that he used to patronize and help the poor and destitutes of Medina and provide for them cash , food , clothes and other necessitities of sustenance secretly . It continued to be a riddle for the receivers of gifts throughout the Imam's(a.s.) lifetime as to who their benefactor was , but the secret was not revealed until after his death. Literary Attainments Time and circumstances did not premit Imam Musa al-Kazim(a.s.) to establish institutions to impart religious knowledge to his followers as his father , Imam Jafar as-Sadiq(a.s.) and his grandfather , Imam Muhammad al-Baqir(a.s.) had done . He was never allowed to address a congregation . He carried on his mission of preaching and guiding people quietly. Death In 179 AH , Harun ar-Rashid visited Medina . The fire of malice and jealousy against the Ahl-al-bayt(a.s.) was kindled in his heart when he saw the great influence and popularity which the Holy Imam(a.s.) enjoyed amongst the people there . He got the Imam(a.s.) arrested while he was busy in prayer at the tomb of the Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) and kept him in prison in Baghded for a period of about four years . On the 25th Rajab 183 AH , he got the Imam(a.s.) martyred by poison . Even his corpse was not spared humiliation and was taken out of the prison and left on the Bridge of Baghdad . When Harun Rashid's brother Sulayman heard of this he was furious and arranged for his burial in a Quraysh cemetery outside Baghdad (the 8th Imam gave ghusl and kafan). A town grew around the tomb of Imam called Kadhmain (meaning the two Kadhims) since the 9th Imam is also buried there.

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Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S.)

Name : Jaffer (a.s.) - the 6th Holy Imam Title : As-Sadiq, Sadiq-e-Aal-e-Mohammad(a.s.) Agnomen : Abu-Abdullah Father : Imam Mohammad Baqir(a.s.) - the 5th Holy Imam Mother : Umm-e-Farwa(a.s.) Birth : At Madina on 17th of Rabi-al-Awwal 83 AH (702 AD) Martyred : In Madina at age 65, on Monday, 15th Rajab 148 AH (765 AD) according to some traditions - 15th of Shawwal 148 AH (765 AD) Cause of Death/Burial : Buried in the cemetry of Baqi in Madina   Birth and Imamate He was born in Medina in the year 83 A.H and he died in Rajab in the year 148 A.H. at the age of 65. He was buried in the cemetery of al-Baqi alongside his father, his grandfather and his (great-great) uncle. His mother was Umm Farwa, the daughter of al-Qasim b. Muhammad b. Abi Bakr. His Imamate lasted for thirty-four years. His father, Imam Mohammad Baqir(a.s.), clearly gave him the trusteeship (of the Imamate) and gave him an explicit designation (nass jali) for the Imamate.   Imam's Knowledge and his Sciences Imam Jaffer Sadiq(a.s.) stood out among their group for his great merit (fadl); he was the most celebrated, the greatest in rank and the most illustrious of them in the eyes of both the non-Shia (al-amma) and the Shi'a (al-khassa). The people transmitted on his authority the religious sciences which travellers carried with them and thus his fame was spread throughout the lands. The learned scholars have transmitted on the authority of no other member of the House (ahl al-bayt) as much as they have transmitted on his authority. None of them met as many of the reporters of traditions as he did, nor did the latter transmit on their authority to the same extent as they transmitted on the authority of Abu Abd Allah Imam Jaffer Sadiq(a.s.). The specialists in tradition (ashab al- hadith) have gathered together the names of those who narrated on his authority, who were reliable despite differences in views and doctrines and they were four thousand men. The clear evidence for his Imamate was such that it overcame hearts and silenced the attempts of an opponent to denigrate it with doubts.During the imamate of the sixth Imam greater possibilities and a more favorable climate existed for him to propagate religious teachings. This came about as a result of revolts in Islamic Lands, especially the uprising of the Muswaddah to overthrow the Umayyad caliphate, and the bloody wars which finally led to the fall and extinction of the Umayyads. The greater opportunities for Shi'ite teachings were also a result of the favorable ground the fifth Imam had prepared during the twenty years of his imamate through the propagation of the true teachings of Islam and the sciences of the Household of the Prophet. The Imam took advantage of the occasion to propagate the religious sciences until the very end of his imamate, which was contemporary with the end of the Umayyad and beginning of the Abbasid caliphates. He instructed many scholars in different fields of the intellectual and transmitted sciences, such as Zorarah, Muhammad ibn Muslim, Mu'min Taq, Hisham ibn Hakam, Aban ibn Taghlib, Hisham ibn Salim, Hurayz, Hisham Kalbi Nassabah, and Jabir ibn Hayyan, the alchemist. Even some important Sunni scholars such as Sufyan Thawri, Abu Hanifah, the founder of the Hanafi school of law, Qadhi Sukuni, Qadhi Abu'l- Bakhtari, and others, had the honor of being his students. It is said that his classes and sessions of instruction produced four thousand scholars of hadith and other sciences. The number of traditions preserved from the fifth and sixth Imams is more than all the hadith, that have been recorded from the Prophet and the other ten Imams combined. There are innumerable reports about him concerning signs and revealing the unknown similar to those which we have mentioned, which would take too long to recount. He used to say: "Our knowledge is of what will be (ghabir), of what is past (mazbur), of what is marked in hearts (nakt fi al-qulub), and of what is tapped into ears (naqr fi al-asma). We have the red case (jafr), the white case, and the scroll of Fatima(s.a.) and we have (the document called) al-jami'a in which is everything the people need." He was asked to explain these words and he said: "Ghabir is knowledge of what will be; mazbur is knowledge of what was; what is marked in the hearts (nakt fi al-qulub) is inspiration; and what is tapped into the ears (naqr fi al- asma) are words of angels; we hear their speech but we do not see their forms. The red case (jafr) is a vessel in which are the weapons of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family. It will never leave us until the one (destined) among us members of the House, to arise (qa'im), arises. The white case (jafr) is a vessel in which are the Torah of Moses, the Gospels of Jesus, the Psalms of David and the (other) Books of God. The scroll of Fatima, peace be on her, has in it every event which will take place and the names of all the rulers until the (last) hour comes. (The document called) al-jami'a is a scroll seventy yards long which the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, dictated from his own mouth and Ali b. Abi Talib, peace be on him, wrote in his own handwriting. By God, in it is everything which people need until the end of time, including even the blood-wit for wounding, and whether a (full) flogging or half a flogging (is due). He, peace be on him, used to say: "My traditions are my father's traditions; my father's traditions are my grandfather's traditions; my grandfather's traditions are the traditions of Ali b. Abi Talib, the Commander of the faithful; the traditions of Ali the Commander of the faithful are the traditions of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family; and the traditions of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, are the word of God, the Mighty and High. Martyrdom Toward the end of his life the Imam was subjected to severe restrictions placed upon him by the Abbasid caliph Mansur, who ordered such torture and merciless killing of many of the descendants of the Prophet who were Shi'ite that his actions even surpassed the cruelty and heedlessness of the Umayyads. At his order they were arrested in groups, some thrown into deep and dark prisons and tortured until they died, while others were beheaded or buried alive or placed at the base of or between walls of buildings, and walls were constructed over them. Hisham, the Umayyad caliph, had ordered the sixth Imam to be arrested and brought to Damascus. Later, the Imam(a.s.) was arrested by Saffah, the Abbasid caliph, and brought to Iraq. Finally, Mansur had him arrested again and brought to Samarrah where he had the Imam(a.s.) kept under supervision, was in every way harsh and discourteous to him, and several times thought of killing him. Eventually the Imam(a.s.) was allowed to return to Medina where he spent the rest of his life in hiding, until he was poisoned and martyred through the intrigue of Mansur. Upon hearing the news of the Imam's martyrdom, Mansur wrote to the governor of Medina instructing him to go to the house of the Imam(a.s.) on the pretext of expressing his condolences to the family, to ask for the Imam's will and testament and read it. Whoever was chosen by the Imam(a.s.) as his inheritor and successor should be beheaded on the spot. Of course the aim of Mansur was to put an end to the whole question of the imamate and to Shi'ite aspirations. When the governor of Medina, following orders, read the last will and testament, he saw that the Imam(a.s.) had chosen four people rather than one to administer his last will and testament: the caliph himself, the governor of Medina, 'Abdullah Aftah, the Imam's older son, and Imam Musa-e-Kazim(a.s.), his younger son. In this way the plot of Mansur failed.

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