Editorial status: draft awaiting review by qualified scholars. Report corrections through the contact page.
Imam Ali al-Rida عليه السلام was summoned from Medina to Khurasan by the Abbasid caliph al-Ma’mun and named heir to the caliphate in 201 AH. Renowned for his learning in debates with scholars of many faiths, he was martyred in Tus in 203 AH; his shrine in Mashhad is among the most visited places in the Muslim world.
Early life and Imamate
The zahoor of Ali ibn Musa was in Medina in 148 AH. He became Imam in 183 AH on his father’s death in prison and led the community from Medina through the end of Harun’s reign and the civil war between Harun’s sons al-Amin and al-Ma’mun.
Journey to Khurasan
After his victory al-Ma’mun summoned the Imam to Merv in Khurasan around 200–201 AH. At Nishapur, before a great crowd of scholars, the Imam narrated through his forefathers the report known as the Golden Chain (Silsilat al-Dhahab), in which the declaration of God’s oneness is God’s fortress — adding that this was subject to its conditions, and that he himself was among those conditions.
Heir to the caliphate
In Ramadan 201 AH al-Ma’mun named him heir apparent. Reports state the Imam accepted under protest and on condition that he would not take part in appointments or government. Coins were minted bearing his title, and al-Ma’mun ordered green to replace the black of the Abbasids. The appointment provoked fierce opposition among the Abbasids in Baghdad.
At Merv al-Ma’mun gathered theologians and leaders of other religions — Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian and Sabian, as well as Muslim theologians — to debate with him. Accounts of these debates are preserved by al-Saduq.
Martyrdom
As al-Ma’mun travelled west to reclaim Baghdad, the Imam died at Sanabad near Tus in Safar 203 AH. Twelver sources hold that al-Ma’mun poisoned him; some other historians attribute his death to illness. He was buried in the same building as Harun al-Rashid, and the city of Mashhad (“the place of martyrdom”) grew around his shrine.
Significance in Twelver Shia belief and Fiqh-e-Jafariya
He is the eighth Imam and the only Imam buried in present-day Iran. The Golden Chain report expresses the Twelver conviction that the affirmation of God’s oneness is inseparable from recognising the authority God appointed. His sister Fatima, honoured as al-Ma‘suma, died in Qom on her way to him; her shrine is a centre of Shia learning.
Significant dates
- 11 Dhu al-Qa‘da 148 AH (766 CE)Zahoor in Medina
- 183 AH (799 CE)Beginning of his Imamate
- 198 AH (813 CE)Al-Ma’mun becomes sole caliph
- c. 200–201 AHJourney to Khurasan; the Golden Chain narration at Nishapur
- Ramadan 201 AH (817 CE)Named heir apparent
- End of Safar 203 AH (818 CE)Martyrdom near Tus; burial at Sanabad (Mashhad)
Narrations and texts
Narrating from his fathers back to the Prophet and from him to God: the words “there is no god but God” are My fortress; whoever enters My fortress is safe from My punishment. As his camel moved on, he added: with its conditions — and I am among its conditions.
Sources: ‘Uyun Akhbar al-Rida (chapter on what he narrated at Nishapur); Kitab al-Tawhid (chapter on the reward of the monotheists)
Accounts of his discussions with the Catholicos, the Exilarch, a Zoroastrian priest, Imran the Sabian and Sulayman al-Marwazi.
Sources: ‘Uyun Akhbar al-Rida; Kitab al-Tawhid; al-Ihtijaj ‘ala Ahl al-Lijaj
Narrations are given as careful paraphrases, not verbatim translations. See the Editorial Methodology
Differing reports
- Zahoor: 148 AH (al-Mufid) is most common; 153 AH is also reported.
- Date of martyrdom: the end of Safar 203 AH is widely commemorated; 17 Safar and 23 Dhu al-Qa‘da are also reported.
- Cause of death: poisoning by al-Ma’mun per Twelver sources; some historians record illness.
- Some later genealogists name other children; al-Mufid records only Imam al-Jawad عليه السلام.
Sources
- Kitab al-Irshad fi Ma‘rifat Hujaj Allah ‘ala al-‘Ibad — al-Mufid, Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Nu‘man (d. 413 AH / 1022 CE). chapter on Ali ibn Musa al-Rida
- ‘Uyun Akhbar al-Rida — al-Saduq (d. 381 AH / 991 CE)
- al-Kafi — al-Kulayni, Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub (d. 329 AH / 941 CE)
- Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk — al-Tabari, Muhammad ibn Jarir (d. 310 AH / 923 CE). years 201–203 AH
- An Introduction to Shi‘i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi‘ism — Momen, Moojan
- Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk — al-Tabari, Muhammad ibn Jarir (d. 310 AH / 923 CE). year 202 AH