On Various Traditions From Imam Ali Ibn Musa al-Ridha (s)

“I asked Abil Hassan Al-Ridha (s), ‘Is it possible for the Earth to exist with no Divine Leader present on it?’ The Imam (s) replied, ‘No. In such a case the Earth will take in all its residents.’”

I asked Abil Hassan Al-Ridha (s), ‘Will the Earth be left without a Divine Leader?’ The Imam (s) said, ‘No.’ I said, ‘It has been narrated for us on the authority of Abi Abdullah (as-Sadiq) (s) that it will not be left…

I asked Abil Hassan Al-Ridha (s), ‘Will the Earth be left without a Divine Leader?’ The Imam (s) said, ‘No.’ I said, ‘It has been narrated for us that it will not be left without one. Otherwise God deals hard with the…

I asked Al-Ridha (s), ‘Will the Earth be left without a Proof?’ The Imam (s) said, ‘No. If the Earth is left without a Proof for even a moment, it will take in all its residents.’”

I asked Abil Hassan Al-Ridha (s), ‘O son of the Prophet of God! What is your opinion about the following tradition narrated on the authority of As-Sadiq (s)? (The traditions says,) When the Riser (s) comes, he (s) will…

I see my followers when they will not find the third from my progeny. They will be looking for someone to take charge of their affairs, but they will find no one to do so.” I asked, “O son of the Prophet of God! Why?”…

“One must only wash the outside of the mouth with soap. The inside of the mouth does not get oily.”

“God’s Prophet (s) has admonished against talking with others or answering them while one is busy in the toilet.”

“Please describe death for us.” He (s) said, “Death is like a good-scented flower for a believer. He smells it and faints due to its good scent and his pains stop. However, it is like a cobra or scorpion’s bite or even…

Go to that town’s jurisprudent and present your question. Act against whatever he decrees since that is the right thing to do.’”

“White hair in front of the head is a good omen, on the side of the face it is a sign of generosity, on the forehead it is a sign of braveness, and on the back of the head it is a bad omen.”

The Honorable the Exalted God revealed the following to one of His Prophets, ‘When you leave the house in the morning, eat the first thing that you encounter, hide the second thing, accept the third thing, do not…

“I heard Al-Ridha (s) say, ‘Wealth cannot be accumulated unless it is a result of five deeds: extreme jealousy, great aspirations, a lot of greed, cutting off ties of kinship, and preferring this world to the…

This is a form of permission and not an obligation.”

A white cock has five of the traits of the Prophets (s): to know the times to pray, zeal, generosity, courage and making love often.”

O Ali! I asked my Lord - the Honorable the Exalted - for five things regarding you. He granted them to me. The first thing was that when the Earth is rent asunder I will be the first one to be resurrected and wipe the…

It is fine to withdraw in six cases (during intercourse): from a woman you are sure she will not get pregnant; an old woman; a lewd woman; a shameless woman; a woman who will not nurse her child; and a slave woman.”The…

I asked Al-Ridha (s) about the number of times the opening to the call to prayer (Allahu Akbar) must be said. He (s) replied, “It is seven times.” I said, “It has been narrated that God’s Prophet (s) said only one.” The…

When Gabriel brought the news of the death of al-Najashi to God’s Prophet (s), the Prophet (s) cried very hard for him and said, “Your brother whose name is al-Najashi has died.” The Prophet (s) then went to the desert…

Cut your nails short on Tuesdays. Take a bath on Wednesdays. Go to perform blood-letting on Thursdays and put on your best perfumes on Fridays.”

“It is not proper for a man to smell bad on any day. If it is not possible for him to put perfume on everyday, he should at least do so every other day. Even if he cannot do so, he should try to do it once a week and not…

The Companions of the Garden are those who obey me, and submit to Ali ibn Abi Talib (s) after me. The Companions of the Fire are those who hate his Mastery, are jealous of him, break their covenants and fight with him…

Soleiman ibn Hafs visited both Musa ibn Ja’far (s) and Al-Ridha (s) and I do not know from which of the two Imams (s) this tradition has been narrated on the authority of.”

When a servant (i.e. a person) falls asleep while he is prostrating, the Blessed the Sublime God will say, ‘I took away the spirit of My servant while he was obeying Me.’”

“The world is all ignorance except for the positions of knowledge. All knowledge is considered to be a proof against man,unless it is acted accordingly. All acts are out of hypocrisy, unless they are done sincerely.…

Ali is the Divine Leader for all the believers after me.”

Prostrating after performing the obligatory prayers is a way of expressing gratitude to God - Exalted is His Remembrance - for the servant’s success in performing the obligatory deed. The minimum that should be said…

“Someone asked Imam As-Sajjad, ‘Why are the people who say night prayers the most pleasant-looking people?’ Imam As-Sajjad (s) replied, “It is because they have had private times at night with God and God has enveloped…

“What is meant by the following Words of the Honorable the Exalted God - ‘…But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them: (We commanded) only the seeking for the Good Pleasure of…

a man went to see the Commander of the Faithful (s) and said, ‘Please tell me what the interpretation of the following Words of the Honorable the Exalted God is, ‘Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the…

I asked Abul Hassan Al-Ridha (s) about the ‘Al-Haram (Mosque) and why some of the signs marking its boundary are closer to each other, while others are farther away from each other. The Imam (s) said, ‘When the Honorable…

I heard from Abul Hassan Musa ibn Ja’far (s) that Amr ibn Obayd al-Basri went to see Abi Abdullah (as-Sadiq) (s). After greeting him and sitting down, Amr recited the following verse said by the Honorable the Exalted…

I said, ‘They say that when Adam (s) first descended to the Earth in India, he (s) cried for Paradise. His tears flowed, dropped on the Earth and penetrated the Earth in the form of roots which then turned into good…

Whoever makes love when the moon is in the position of the scorpion will not get a good result. Whoever makes love at the end of the month should expect a miscarriage.”

“God will not divulge the theft of a servant (someone) for as long as his penalty is less than (the expiation for) his hand. However, if the expiation for the theft is as much as (the expiation for) the thief’s hand,…

virgin women are like fruits of the tree. When the fruits ripen there is no way but to pick them, or else the sun and the wind will ruin them. When virgin girls mature and understand what women understand, then there is…

I will not do that.” They asked, “Why?” The Imam (s) said, “I heard my father say, ‘Advice is bitter.’”

Whoever refers to the doubtless (muhkam) in the Quran regarding the doubtful things (mutashabih) in it will be guided towards the straight path.” He (s) then added, “There are also some doubtful things among our…

“Paradise is assured for whoever fasts on the first day of the (Arabic) month of Rajab hoping to be rewarded by the Honorable the Exalted God. The intercession of whoever fasts on one of the middle days of that month on…

Do you see him?” The man said, “Yes.” The Prophet (s) said, “This is God’s Friend! Whoever loves him is God’s friend and whoever is his enemy is God’s enemy. Therefore, love Ali (s). Be the enemy of Ali’s enemies and be…

“I heard Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s) say, ‘God will forgive the sins of whoever asks for forgiveness seventy times during the (Arabic) month of Ramadan even if his sins are as numerous as the stars.’”

Whoever likes to board the Ship of Salvation, grab the Reliable Grip and guard himself with God’s Strong Rope, should love Ali after me and be the enemy of Ali’s enemies. He should follow the Divine Leaders to Guidance…

You are getting angry on behalf of God. Therefore do not get more angry than God would in such a case.”

I asked Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s) about the night of the middle of Sha’ban. The Imam (s) said, “It is the night to get released from the Fire. On that night major sins will be forgiven.” I said, “Are there any additional…

In fact, the (Arabic) month of Ramadan is a great month. During that month, God will multiply one’s good deeds many times. He will eliminate the wicked deeds and raise the ranks during that month. God will forgive…

O Ali! You are my brother, my Vizier, the holder of my flag in this world and the Hereafter. You are the owner of my Pool (in Pasradise). Whoever loves you loves me, and whoever despises you despises me.”

The eyes of whoever remembers our calamities, cries and makes others cry will not be crying on the Day on which all eyes will be crying. The heart of whoever attends a meeting and revives our affairs will not perish on…

O people! The month of God (Ramadan) has come to you with blessings, mercy, and forgiveness. This is the noblest of the months to God. Its days are the noblest of the days. Its nights are the noblest of the nights. It is…

There are many who are ignorant and make a piece of clothing to wear but it becomes their burial shroud, and build a house in which to live but that house will be their burial place.’”

28-50 According to the same documentation, the Commander of the Faithful (s) was asked, “What is preparedness for death?” He (s) said, “Performing the obligatory deeds, avoiding the forbidden deeds, and being…

28-51 According to the same documentation, in one of his sermons, the Commander of the Faithful (s) said, “O people! This world is to passthrough and the Hereafter is Eternal. Take things from this passage way for your…

God will provide for the needs of this world and the Hereafter of whoever does not try to provide for his needs on the Day of Ashura. The Honorable the Exalted God will make the Resurrection Day a day of pleasure and…

“I went to see Imam al-Ridha (as) on the first day of Muharram. He said, ‘O Ibn Shabeeb! Are you fasting?’ I answered, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Today is the day on which Zakariya prayed to his Lord saying «My Lord, grant me from…

Honorable the Exalted God said, “I have divided the Opening of the Book (Chapter ‘Al-Fatiha) between Me and My servant. Half of it is Mine and the other half belongs to My servant. My servant can get whatever he asks…

Commander of the Faithful (Imam Ali) (s) said, “‘In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful’ is one of the verses from the Opening Chapter of theBook. This Chapter consists of seven verses which are perfected…

I see that you still have some strength.’ The man said, ‘It is for you - O Commander of the Faithful!’”

I am crying for two reasons: fear of what I will encounter (death) and separation from the loved ones.”

O Ali! You are the oppressed one after me. Woe be to whoever oppresses you! Blessed be whoever follows you and does not prefer anyone else over you. O Ali! You are the one with whom others will fight with after me. Woe…

‘O Aba Abdullah! Welcome. We only sent for you to pay off your debts.’ He then gently asked about his household and added, ‘God has paid off your debts and has determined your reward. O al-Rabee’, do not do the third…

“The following Words of the Honorable the Exalted God, ‘Show us the straight way’ means ‘guide us to the straight path - that is a path which will make us love You and take us to Your Religion, and hinders us from…

I asked Abul Hassan Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s) about the following Words of the Honorable the Exalted God, ‘We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it,…

Al-Ridha (s), “O son of the Prophet of God! Please tell me about the tree from which Adam and Eve ate. What was it? There are differences among the people about that matter. There are some people who say it was wheat.…

I like that a believer be an innovator.” Obayd ibn Hilal asked the Imam (s), “What do you mean by innovator?” The Imam (s) replied, “I mean that he be one who understands things.”

May God have Mercy upon anyone who revives our affairs.’ Al-Harawi asked the Imam (s), “How can one revive your affairs?” The Imam (s) said, “He can learn our knowledge and teach it to the people. If the people get…

Abil Hassan (s), “How much of one’s wealth should be used, if one has willed that some of his wealth be spent in a certain way?” The Imam (s) said, “One-seventh of one-third.”

a man named Abi Sa’eed al-Mukari went to see Al-Ridha (s) and rudely asked, “Have you reached the point at which you claim to be what your father also claimed to be?” The Imam (s) told him, “None of your business! May…

Abstaining from something does not imply abandoning it. Rather it implies doing it less often.”

a letter to Abil Hassan (s) through my father in which I wrote, “May I be your ransom! The Shiites differ with each other regarding what a sa’ is. Some say that the alms tax for fasting should be calculated based on the…

That tradition applies to a woman whose husband is a Shiite - not one whose husband is a Sunni - since whoever accepts a religion is bound to abide by its rules.”

What is that tradition?” Al-Hussein ibn Khalid al-Kufi said, “He narrated on the authority of Obayd ibn Zorara that he met Aba Abdullah (s) in the year in which Ibrahim ibn Abdullah ibn Al-Hassan had revolted. He told…

Abul Hassan Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s) about the location of the tomb of Fatima (s). The Imam (s) said, “She (s) was buried in her own house. When the Umayyads added onto the mosque, her grave became a part of the…

Commander of the Faithful (s) said, “No one but a donkey would reject honoring and respect.” Al-Hassan ibn Al-Jahm asked, “What is mean by that?” The Imam (s) said, “I mean things like making room for someone in a…

No one but a donkey would reject honoring and respect.” Ali ibn Al-Jahm asked the Imam (s), “What kind of honoring do you mean?” The Imam (s) said, “I mean things like using good scent and any other form of honoring that…

No one but a donkey would reject honoring and respect.” The Imam (s) was referring to good scent and a comfortable couch for resting on.

May we be your ransom! What is it?” The Imam (s) said, “It is a breeze that comes from Paradise. It has the looks of a man who accompanies the Prophets (s). It was descended upon Abraham (s) while he was building the…

It implies abstaining from the lawful for fear of the Reckoning, and abstaining from the forbidden for fear of punishment.”

regarding the Words of the Honorable the Exalted God, ‘Then let them complete the rites prescribed for them, perform their vows…’ Abul Hassan (s) said the following, “The rites consist of cutting the nails, cleaning the…

The diseases of the previous nations - being animosity and jealousy - have infiltrated you.”

O Lord! What is that good deed?” God said, “It is causing relief from sorrow for a believer even if it be by using one date.” David (s) said, “Truly, whoever recognizes You must never lose hope of You.”

The Prophet of God (s) damned whoever causes an affliction or hides someone who has done so.” Al-Hassan ibn Bint Elias asked, “What is meant by causing an affliction here?” The Imam (s) replied, “Killing.”

Abu Bakr is like my ears, Umar is like my eyes and Uthman is like my heart.”Al-Hussein ibn Ali (s) added, “The next day I went to see him when the Commander of the Faithful (Ali ibn Abi Talib (s)), Abu Bakr, Umar and…

O son of the Prophet of God! We like meat and our homes are not without meat. What should we do?” The Imam (s) said, “It does not mean what you thought. What is meant by meat is a house in which the people’s flesh is…

Both of them. Whoever illegitimately makes love during the fasting of Ramadhan or breaks his fast using some forbidden things to eat should pay an expiation three times: free one slave; fast for two consecutive months;…

Al-Ridha (s), “May I be your ransom! Why do the Arabs put such names as Dog, Tiger, Cheetah and the like on their children?” The Imam (s) replied, “It is because the Arabs were warriors and they wanted to frighten their…

The acts of the people are created.” Abdul Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi asked the Imam (s), “O son of the Prophet of God! What does created mean?” The Imam (s) said, “It means they are destined.”

Whoever does so before putting on a new item of clothing will have no difficulties in his life as long as the threads of it remain.’The author of this book (Sheikh Sadooq) said, “Yasir - the servant lived at the time of…