On 11th of Zi-Qada, 148 Hijrah, a son was born in the house of Imam Musa Ibn-e-Jaffar (A.S.) who took over the position of the Imam of Islam, after his father. He was named Ali and titled Reza. The honorable and gracious mother of the Imam (A.S.) was Najmiyya, who was considered to be the most notable and distinguished lady in the realm of wisdom and faith.

Right from the childhood period, he accompanied his father. Imam Musa Kazim (A.S.) who repeatedly told his friends that, "He is the Imam following him."

As such, Makhzoomi says one day Imam Musa Ibn-e-Jaffar (A.S.) summoned and gathered us and said, "I invited you to be witnesses that this child (son) is my executor, and successor."

Since an extreme choking atmosphere and pressure prevailed in the period of Imam (A.S.) he said in the end of his words, "What I said must remain (restricted) up to you and do not reproduce it to anybody unless that you know he is one of our friends and companions."

The infallible Imams were the selected ones of the God and outstanding, distinguished and superior to all the people. They used to become the practical example for others during their lives. They taught the lesson of life to the people. They did not segregate and separate themselves from them and did not lead their lives on the style and pattern of the tyrants and oppressors. They did not overlook or show heedlessness and disrespect to anyone.

Sheikh Saduk narrates through the words of Ibrahim bin Abbas that, "I never saw Imam Reza (A.S.) committing excess over anyone in talking and interrupting anybody's speech before its coming to the end. He did not stretch his legs in the presence of others. When the meal table was laid he invited the servants to it, and took his meals with them. After taking rest in the nights he got up and made himself busy with the prayers to God. Similar to his fore fathers he carried food to the houses of the afflicted ones at the mid of nights."

"Mohammad bin Abi Ebad" says about Imam (A.S.) "He used mats of palm date leaves, straws and marsh reed in the summer season, and woolen carpets in the winter."

He led a simple life in his home, but when he went out he used to decorate himself and put on new and clean dress. He respected and honored the guests to the extent that one night a lamp of the house went out of order, the guest got to his feet to put it right. Imam (A.S.) made him sit and himself set the lamp right, and said, "We do not employ our guests (exploit) upon work."

Yasir, the servant of Imam (A.S.) says, Imam (A.S.) said to us, "Whenever you are busy taking your meal, if I call you, do not get up till you have finished up eating." Another friend of Imam (A.S.) says, "One day a stranger came to Imam's (A.S.) house and said, I am one of your friends and am also not a poor man but my money has finished up and I do not have the expanses to return. You give me an amount and when I return to my city I will give it out as alms on you behalf." Imam (A.S.) got up and went to another room, brought an amount of two hundred dirhams and gave it to him from upside the door and said, "Take this and go and it is not necessary to give it away as alms on my behalf."

They asked the Imam (A.S.), "Why did you do it this way that he may not see you."

He said, "So that he does not catch my sight and get ashamed

"Suleman", one of the friends of Imam (A.S.) says, "I went along with the Imam (A.S.) to the house. The labors were busy at work. There was a stranger among them whom the Imam (A.S.) did not recognize." He said, "Who is this man?" They said we have brought him from outside, so that he may help us. He said, "Have you concluded an agreement with him and fixed his wages?" They said, "No, he is a good man, whatever we pay him he accepts it and does not utter a word."

Imam (A.S.) was angry and annoyed and said, "I have always told you that when you employ someone for a job first of all fix his wages. Because, when his wages are fixed and you give more than that to him, he will become happy. But if you do not fix his wages and give him three times the amount, he thinks you have not given him the correct wages."

In the period when Imam Reza (A.S.) was summoned to Khurrasan and he forcibly accepted the special conditions of the succession of Mamoon, Mamoon summoned his brother "Zaid" who had revolted and brought about a riot in "Madina" to his court in Khurrasan. Mamoon kept him free as a regard and honor to Imam (A.S.) and overlooked his punishment.

One day, when Imam (A.S.) was delivering a speech in a grand assembly. He heard Zaid praising himself before the people, saying I am so and so. Imam (A.S.) shouted at him saying, "Oh Zaid, have you trusted upon the words of the grocers of Kufa and are conveying them to the people? What kind of things are you talking about? The sons of Imam Ali (A.S.) and Zahra (S.A.) are worthy and outstanding only when they obey the command of God, and keep themselves away from sin and blunder. You think you are like Musa Ibn-e-Jaffar (A.S.) and Imam Sajjad (A.S.) and other Imams? Whereas, they took pains and bore hardships on the way to God and prayed to God day and night. Do you think you will gain without pain? Be-aware, that if a person out of us the Ahl al-Bayth performs a good deed. He gets twice the reward. Because not only he performed good deed like others also that he has maintained the honor of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.). If he practices some thing bad and does a sin. He has performed two sins. One is that he performed a bad act like the rest of the people and the other one is that he has negated the honor of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)."

Oh brother! The one who obeys God is from us the Ahl al-Bayth and the one who is a sinner is not ours. God said about the son of Noah (A.S.) who cut the spiritual bondage with his father "He is not out of your lineage, if he was out of your lineage, I would have (saved) and granted him salvation."

One of the days Mamoon decided to invite the scholars from different sects of the world and he brought Imam Reza (A.S.) to the assembly. He thought he might be able to get the Imam (A.S.) invalidated and un-credential from the knowledge point of view, thus finish his influence.

Therefore, he ordered his minister Fazal bin Sahal to invite all the scholars and wise men to hold a discussion with Imam (A.S.). And he did it. When the assembly had been arranged he informed Mamoon that all are present. Mamoon summoned Imam Reza (A.S.) inviting him to attend the assembly.

Hassan Naufali says, before leaving the house to attend that aggregation facing myself Imam (A.S.) said, "I know the aim and objective of Mamoon in this work." But I know the time when he will repent upon his work that is; when you see that I talk to the Christians from their own Book and talk to the Jews from Torah and with fire worshipers in Persian language. When all of them are defeated Mamoon will become aware that he is not fit for that past. He will repent upon this work of his. What Imam (A.S.) had said exactly and accurately took place. When Imam (A.S.) arrived the assembly, all of them got up from their seats to honor him. He seated himself beside Mamoon. Mamoon addressing "Jasaleeq," the great Christian scholar said, "Ask him what you feel like." "Jasaleeq" said, "What is your opinion about Christ Essa (A.S.)." Imam (A.S.) said, "We believe he was the Prophet of God" Jasaleeq again asked, "What proof do you have about your own Prophet's Prophet-hood." Imam (A.S.) said, "Have you not read it the Bible that Yohana narrates the saying of Christ (A.S.) that, "A Prophet will come following me, who will be the accomplisher of the constitution of the other Prophets."

He said, "Yes, but he did not name him as to who and where he will be." Imam (A.S.) said, "Do you wish that I may read out to you from the Bible?"

He said, "Read it." Imam (A.S.) recited the third chapter up to the place where Christ (A.S.) said, "I will proceed towards God and "Barklita" i.e. "Mohammad (P.B.U.H.)" will come towards you and he will break and dismantle the infidelism.

When Mamoon invited Imam (A.S.) to come to Khorrasan. He went from Madina to Basra and Basra to Baghdad and from there he arrived Qum. The people of Qum rushed to greet and welcome him; everyone keenly desired to invite him at his home.

Hazrat Imam (A.S.) said, "Get aside, my camel is deputed and detailed upon her work. On the door of which ever person she stops and lies down, the same will be my destination."

The camel moved in the turning twisting and intricate streets of Qum till she reached a door and lay down and Imam arrived into that house which is today one of the religious schools (Madrasas) named as "Madrasa-e-Rizvia."

Imam (A.S.) kept on moving in the same manner towards Khorrasan. Wherever he reached, people warmly and lovingly gathered around him and manifested their strong feelings and sentiments of devotion for him.

Nishapur in those days was one of the thickly and densely populated cities of Iran. The welcome that the people of that city organized and shaped for him did not have any match or parallel in the history. In the later days this city was perished and destroyed by the Mongols. The wise men and scholars of Nishapur rushed to the gate of the city with pens in their hands, so that they might write down the words, which Imam (A.S.) said.

In those times Nishapur had hundreds of traditionalists (narrators of traditions) and jurisprudents.

A few thousand of golden pen holders were readily present to jot down the Imam's speech and because of the fact that the series and chain of narrators of this Hadith reached the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), Jabriel (A.S.) and finally the God it was named the "Series of Gold."

Mohammad Bin Aslam Tusi, who was one of the great narrators of traditions, came forward and requested Imam (A.S.) to narrate a Hadith for the people.

Imam (A.S.) pushed the curtain of the camel's pannier up and pepped his head out from it. No sooner people caught his sight, they shouted the slogans of Takbir and salutations and benediction for the Prophet and his family.

Imam (A.S.) gave a gesture and all of them got calm and silent. Then, he started reciting the Hadith whose translation is this: God has said "Kalima of La-ilaha-ill-Ial-lah is my fort and fortification and whosoever says it, will enter the realm of my fort and will be safe and sound from my torment. (Here Imam again said, but this is with its conditions, and I am one of those conditions.)"

Absalat narrates that when Imam (A.S.) arrived in the town of Sana Abad it was Zuhr (afternoon) time and he wanted to offer prayers. He asked for water to be brought. The (inhabitants) said we do not have water here. Imam (A.S.) dug some earth and the water started boiling out. He himself and those who were accompanying him, made ablution and offered their prayers. Then he leaned against the mountain from the rocks of which stone pots are prepared. He prayed, "Oh God bestow upon this mountain your benediction and favors." Then he ordered that all the pots of his house be prepared from that stone. Thereafter, he arrived the house of "Hameed bin Qahtaba" and entered the mausoleum where the grave of Haroon was situated. He then draw a line at the side of his grave and said, "Here is my grave and I will be buried here. By Lord, whosoever visits (my grave) God will bless him and (shower his benedictions upon him) and our recommendation and intercession will be in his fate." Then Imam (A.S.) stood facing Qibla, offered a few (Rakats) units of prayers and then went into a very lengthy prostration.

When Imam (A.S.) arrived Maro, Mamoon honored him and gathered all the chiefs and notables in his assembly and said to him (A.S.), "I wish to deposes myself of the caliphate and surrender the ruler-ship to you." Imam (A.S.) said, "If God has made you wear the dress of caliphate, it is not just and fair that you dismiss yourself and hand it over to another person. If the caliphate was not yours, then why did you under take it?"

Mamoon said, "This decision has already be taken and you must accept the caliphate." Because of the fact that Imam (A.S.) was aware of the plan of Mamoon therefore, howsoever he insisted, Imam (A.S.) did not accept it. Then he said, "You must accept my successor-ship (for the throne). Imam (A.S.) said, "I have heard from my ancestors that I will leave the world before you do. Do not insist so very much upon this matter. I will be poisoned (to death) and buried beside the grave of your father Haroon."

When Mamoon asked, "Who will poison you?" He said, "You know it yourself as to who he is. Do not question me." Mamoon became disturbed and uncomfortable and wept. Then he said, "You must accept my successor-ship this is an order. If you reject it, I will order you to be killed."

Imam (A.S.) was forced to accept it but he made it conditioned with himself not having any interference in the functioning of the government all that time.

Haroon accepted it and arranged a big and grand celebration gathering, and made the Imam (A.S.) present in it, and addressed the people saying, "All of you must take the oath of allegiance for Imam (A.S.) for he is the caliph next to me. Honor and accept his word and obey his orders."

Mamoon ordered that the people should take off (abandon) the black dress, which was the standard color of Abbasades and put on the green dress, a color of "Bani Hashim." He got his daughter Um-e-Habib married to Imam (A.S.) and engaged his other daughter Um-ul-Fazal to his son Imam Mohammad Taqi (A.S.) and this itself was a diplomacy and politics by which he desired that both of them must remain under his observation.

On the night of his martyrdom the Imam (A.S.) saw a dream. In his dream he saw his grandfather the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) saying, "Come to us tomorrow, what we have for you is better than the condition you are in."

Harsama says, Imam (A.S.) got up in the mid of the night and called me so that I be present before him. I put on my dress and went to Imam (A.S.). He said to me, "Mamoon has decided to poison me through grapes tomorrow. Be aware, after my martyrdom he wishes to give me a bath. 'Tell him to refrain from it. If you do that God will not give you chance and respite (any-longer).' At that time my son will arrive from Madina and give me a bath and coffin, without anyone seeing it or getting informed.

Then, they will carry me to the tomb of Haroon. Mamoon wants to burry me behind him. But howsoever they work on the earth the pickaxe; they will fail to dig the soil. At that time tell Mamoon to dig the earth in front of the grave so that a ready-made grave will appear. At that instance a white water boils out of the head-side (grave) and rises up. Small fish appear in that. Then a big fish appears which eats up the small fish. Thereafter, the water will settle down. After that lay me in the grave. Do not put the soil on my grave since; it will be filled up by itself. Oh Harsama, do what I have said and do not allow things to happen against what I told you, otherwise, God will torment you (people)."

At last Mamoon poisoned the Imam (A.S.) through grapes in Toos, on the way back from Maro to Baghdad. Imam (A.S.) came to the house and said to his old friend Aba Salat, "Collect the carpets of the house and do not allow anyone to enter the house, as this is the time when my soul departs (dieing) I want to die on the earth like my grandfather Hussain (A.S.)."

Before the martyrdom of Imam (A.S.), Mamoon stood next to his pillow (head side). Imam (A.S.) opened his eyes and said to him, "Have a good conduct with my son Imam Mohammad Taqi (A.S.) for his death and yours are close to each other and do not have much distance in between."

The body of Imam (A.S.) was buried in the same parameter where Haroon was buried and in the front of his grave.

This tragedy and calamity occurred on the last day of Safar ul Muzzafar month, 203 Hijrah, when Imam (A.S.) was 55 years of age.

Following the martyrdom of Imam (A.S.) a great revolt took place in Khorrasan. Mamoon wept and beat upon his head to show that he was a mourner. But a large number of people knew that Mamoon himself was the killer of Imam (A.S.). A wave of despises and noise awn against Mamoon. So that he did not allow the funeral to be carried out for a day and a night. Because, he was afraid that the disturbance may expand and the angry hostile and flared up masses may annihilate all the set ups and organizations. This is the reason why he sent a few men among the people to exhibit and show the death of Imam (A.S.) as a natural one and tell them that Mamoon did not have a hand in it. But for all he did, he could not get himself acquitted off and prove his innocence.

At last, day-by-day he became more and more worthless and despicable in the eyes of the people, till he died in a very bad shape.

1. A man who takes pain and labors for himself and his children is like some one who fights a holy war (Jihad).

2. Whenever you take some ones name, always take it with respect.

3. Keep yourself clean, since cleanliness is the manner of Prophets.

4. Worst of the people is the one, whose existence is of no use to the people.

5. The one who commits dishonesty with a Muslim is not one of us.