On Ar-Ridha’s Words on the Reasons for Various Things

“I asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘O son of God’s Prophet! Why did the Honorable the Exalted God create all thingsto be the same way? Why did He not create everything to be of the same kind?’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.)…

“O son of God’s Prophet! Why did the Honorable the Exalted God immerse all the dry land in water at the time of Noah and drown all the innocent people and children there?” The Prophet (S) replied, “There were no children…

My father (a.s.) narrated that Abu Abdullah (a.s.) said that the Honorable the Exalted God told Noah, ‘…O Noah! He is not of thy family…’ The reason for this was that Noah’s son was opposed to Noah. God considered those…

The Honorable the Exalted God chose Abraham (a.s.) as His friend since he never turned down any needy person without fulfilling his need, and never asked anyone but God for the fulfillment of his own needs.”

“Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said the following regarding the Honorable the Exalted God’s words, ‘They said, If he steals, there was a brother of his who did steal before (him). But these things did Joseph keep locked in his heart,…

I heard Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) say, ‘During the rule of the Children of Israel, if someone stole something, he would become the slave of the owner of that stolen property. Joseph (a.s.) was with his aunt when he…

But when they saw Our Punishment, they said, We believe in God - the one God - and we reject the partners we used to join with Him.’ But their professing the Faith when they (actually) saw Our Punishment was not going to…

I heard Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) narrate the following on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.) regarding the Honorable the Exalted God’s…

No.’ Imam Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘It was because he made an appointment with someone and waited for him to come for one year.’

I asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.): Why were the disciples (of Jesus) called the Hawariyoon? He (a.s.) said, ‘They were called the Hawariyoon by the people since they used to wash clothes. They cleansed the filth and…

There are four kinds of temperaments. One is phlegm that is a stubborn enemy. Then there is blood which is like Ethiopian servants who often kill their masters. The third one is the wind which is a king who puts up with…

I swear by God that I have never seen anyone like you in these times. Tell me, who is the Proof of God for the creatures today.’ Imam Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “It is the intellect which can recognize him who tells the…

Why were the Best Messengers called the ‘Ulul-Azm?” The Imam (a.s.) answered, ‘They were called the ‘Ulu-Azm since they had laws and regulations. The Prophets that came after Noah (a.s.) all followed thelaws of Noah…

There are five things which I will not quit doing until I die: eating food, sitting on the ground along with the slaves, riding animals using a saddle, milking goats using my own hands, wearing rough clothes and greeting…

“I asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘Why did the people quit making pledges of allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) and were attracted to other people, even though they knew the Commander of the Faithful…

It is because he followed (the ways) of Rasulullah (sw) who left jihad against the mushrikeen (polytheists) in Mecca for 13 years after his Prophethood, and in Medina for 19 months. That was due to the small number of…

“Why is Divine Leadership in the lineage of Al-Husayn, and not that of Al-Hassan?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, “Indeed the Honorable the Exalted God established Divine Leadership in the lineage of Al-Husayn (a.s.), and God…

God’s Prophet (S) went to see Ayesha when she was putting her bulging long-necked bottle in the sun. He (a.s.) said, “O Homayra (Aa’isha)! What is this?” She said, “I want to wash my head and body.” He (a.s.) said, “Do…

“Imagine that two people are on a journey. One of them passes away and the other one is in a state of major ritual impurity. There is only enough water for making the ablution of the corpse or the ablution of the person…

On the surface it seems that this is because it has been taken from the five daily prayers. However, there is another reason for that. Indeed the Honorable the Exalted God has made it incumbent upon His servants to…

When the servants (people) enter the state of ritual consecration for the Hajj the Honorable the Exalted God addresses them and says, ‘O My servants and slaves! I forbid the Fire from you as you forbade things for…

“For how many people is the offering of a camel (for sacrifice on the ‘Eid ul-Adha) enough of an offering?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, “One.” Then he asked, “What about offering a cow?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, “For five…

sins of one who goes on the Hajj pilgrimage are not recorded for four months?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, “It is because the Sublime God has forbidden the entry of the atheists into the Shrine for four months as He says,…

Indeed after the migration from Mecca (to Medina), Ali (a.s.) never spent the night in Mecca until the Honorable the Exalted God took back his soul.” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) was asked, “Why?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “Ali (a.s.)…

“Why is the nuptial gift five hundred Dirhams?” He (a.s.) replied, “It is because the Blessed the Sublime God made it incumbent upon Himself that if any believer says God is the Greatest one hundred times, Praise be to…

nuptial gift for women is set at five-hundred Dirhams equivalent to 12.5 Okes.” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, “The Honorable the Exalted God has made it incumbent upon Himself that if any believer says God is the Greatest…

I asked Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) about the reason why a woman who has been divorced three times cannot be married to her original husband again, until after she marries someone else (and her new husband either dies or divorces…

The women divorced thrice by you (the Shiites) are not legitimate for others, but the non-Shiite’s divorced women are legitimate for you. This is because you do not consider their divorcing thrice to be right, but they…

I asked Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “Why was the Prophet’s (a.s.) nickname Abul Qasim?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “It was because he had a son named Qasim. That was why his nickname was Abul Qasim.” I asked him, “O son of…

One day Al-Ma’mun told Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘O Abal Hassan Al-Ridha’ (a.s.)! Tell me, why is it that your grandfather Ali - the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) became the one to divide up Paradise and Hell. What is meant…

I asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘Why did the Commander of the Faithful (Imam Ali) (a.s.) not return Fadak to its true owner after he (a.s.) took charge of the people?’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘That is because the…

I heard Ibrahim ibn Al-Abbas narrate that Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) quoted on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) that a man asked Aba Abdullah (as-Sadiq) (a.s.), “What is the reason that propagating or studying…

I asked Imam al-Ridha (as) about what the Prophet (s) meant when he said, 'My companions are like the stars. Whichever one you follow will guide you.’ And I asked about what the Prophet (s) meant when he said, ‘Leave my…

after the conquest of Mecca, God’s Prophet (S) expressed that ‘You are of the good ones, and my companions are of the good ones’ to those who expressed submission to God and became Muslim when many of them had gathered…

May God damn those who fought the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.).” Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told him, “Say: except for those who have repented and improved themselves.” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) then added, “The sin of those who…