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Shia Islam: Imam al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101 \/29\u00a0 Imam al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101
\nThe eighth Sh\u012b\u02bfa Imam, \u02bfAl\u012b b. M\u016bs\u0101 al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101, was born in Medina in 765 AD. His parents were Imam M\u016bs\u0101 al-K\u0101\u1e93im and \u1e6c\u0101hira. He was given the epithet al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101 (\u2018the one agreed upon\u2019) and his teknonym was Ab\u016b al-\u1e24asan. After the martyrdom of his father in Baghdad, Ri\u1e0d\u0101 became the leader of Sh\u012b\u02bfa for twenty years; ten years under the reign of H\u0101r\u016bn al-Rash\u012bd, five years under Am\u012bn and five years under Ma\u02bem\u016bn. The Imam was martyred in 818 AD.
\nThe tyranny imposed on the society by Umayyad and Abbasid rulers had given rise to popular sentiments that demanded the creation of a genuinely Islamic government under the leadership of someone from the Prophet\u2019s household. The lofty position and high popularity of the Sh\u012b\u02bfa Imams had always made the Umayyad and Abbasid rulers incarcerate them so that people could not learn anything from them. The rulers feared that any connection between the Imams and people, as this threatened their grip on power.
\nAfter killing his own brother Am\u012bn, Ma\u02bem\u016bn decided to bring the Sh\u012b\u02bfa Imam from Medina to his capital in Marv to better control him.
\nImam al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101 was \u201cinvited\u201d to Marv, but this was merely a pretence for imposing further restrictions on his activities. In a bid to demonstrate to Muslims that this invitation was actually a form of exile, he went to Marv alone without any family members. In order to thwart Imam al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101\u2019s efforts, H\u0101r\u016bn ordered a group of people, including the governor of Medina, to accompany him during his travel which took him from Medina to Basra, Khorramshahr, Ahvaz, Rey, Nishapur and, finally, Marv. The Imam arrived in Marv in 201 AH. In Nishapur, Imam al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101 was warmly welcomed by people. He was entreated to narrate \u1e25ad\u012bth to them. He related a \u1e25ad\u012bth qudsi which he said dated back to the Prophet: \u2018The formula \u201cLa il\u0101ha ill all\u0101h\u201d is My fortress. Anyone who repeats it enters My fortress. Whoever is inside My fortress will be protected from punishment.\u2019
\nThe traditionists who were present took a note of the \u1e25ad\u012bth expressed by the Imam being carried in howdah. Minutes after, the Imam pushed the howdah\u2019s curtain aside and added \u2018it has conditions and I am one of these conditions\u2019. He meant that monotheism will save people if they accept the governance of the Sh\u012b\u02bf\u012b Imams.
\nTwo important issues in the Imam\u2019s life
\nIn Marv, Ma\u02bem\u016bn and his courtiers made a show of respecting the Imam. The Caliph offered him two options; Ma\u02bem\u016bn first insisted that Imam al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101 should accept to become Caliph but the Imam refused. Then Ma\u02bem\u016bn offered him to become successor-in-waiting, which the Imam accepted conditionally.
\nHad the Imam accepted to become Caliph, Ma\u02bem\u016bn would have recruited spies to keep an eye on him to prevent him from taking any reforming steps. In that case, the Imam could not undertake any action to awaken the people and he would have met the same fate as Imam \u02bfAl\u012b whose caliphate was consumed by unrest and civil war. In that case, the Imam would have been forced to surrender authority to Ma\u02bem\u016bn who could then claim that his caliphate is legitimate.
\nWhy did the Imam accept to become successor-in-waiting to Ma\u02bem\u016bn?
\nImam al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101 accepted the post on condition that he would not be responsible for anything and that he would not appoint or dismiss anyone. In this way, the Imam wanted to show everyone that this post is just a formality.
\nHad the Imam not accepted the offer, he would have been threatened with death. In the case, the Imam would have been murdered without triggering any awakening in society. When the Imam first refused to become the successor-in-waiting, Ma\u02bem\u016bn told him in clear terms that he had no option but to accept. (Irsh\u0101d)
\nImam al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101 had told people that he was following Imam \u02bfAl\u012b who had accepted to be a part of \u02bfUmar b. Kha\u1e6d\u1e6d\u0101b\u2019s succession committee. (\u02bfUy\u016bn Akhb\u0101r al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101)
\nWhen Rayy\u0101n b. al-\u1e62al\u0101t asked the Imam about his reasons for accepting the post, he said: \u2018God is well aware that I did not want it. But I was facing two options of accepting to become his appointed successor or to be killed. I had to accept it.\u2019 (\u02bfUy\u016bn Akhb\u0101r al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101)
\nImam al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101\u2019s martyrdom
\nEven with him as his appointed successor, Ma\u02bem\u016bn remained afraid of Imam al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101\u2019s growing popularity. His fear increased when he saw the masses of people who attended the congregational prayers led by him. He poisoned the Imam but wanted to cover his plot up. After the news of the Imam\u2019s death spread, he went quickly to the Imam\u2019s house and started crying.
\nMa\u02bem\u016bn heard from people there that he was one of suspects in the killing of Imam al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101. Ma\u02bem\u016bn, who feared incidents, ordered the funeral be postponed to the following day. When the crowds went away, religious ablutions were performed on the Imam before he was buried next to H\u0101r\u016bn al-Rash\u012bd. (\u02bfUy\u016bn Akhb\u0101r al-Ri\u1e0d\u0101).<\/p>\n
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Shia Islam: Imam al-K\u0101\u1e93im \/28<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n