Various Traditions From al-Ridha (s)

O Son of the Prophet! We are amazed by this situation. Your son has died and you are acting this way.’ The Imam (s) said, ‘Why should I not be this way, while I have been given the news of the most honest messengers? You…

O Son of the Prophet of God! How brilliant is the sky and how bright the stars are?’ As-Sadiq (s) said, ‘That is what you say. However, the four agent angels Gabriel, Michael, Israfil and the Angel of Death lookthat is…

I am fed up with this world and ask God for my death.’ The Imam (s) told him, ‘It is better that you ask God to live so that you can obey Him. It is better for you to live and obey God, than to die and have neither…

There are times when one’s sins create a distance between a servant (i.e. a person) and Paradise equal from here to the Throne (of God). However, it may be that he repents of his many sins and cries, fearing the…

It is God’s punishment for some people and His Mercy upon others.’ They asked, ‘How could Punishment be Mercy?’ The Imam (s) said, ‘Don’t you know that the Fire of Hell is Punishment for the atheists but is God’s Mercy…

There are many who laugh having fun, but will cry a lot on the Resurrection Day. There are many who cry due to fear for the sins they have committed, and will be laughing a lot on the Resurrection Day and in Paradise.”

I am optimistic about God, but I am sorry for my daughters. Nothing but thinking about them has made me ill.’ As-Sadiq (s) said, ‘Rely on the same One you hope to increase your good deeds, and eliminate your evil deeds…

“If you wish your deeds to have a good ending - so that when you die you have done the best you can - honor God’s right and do not use His Blessings in disobeying Him, and do not be too proud, since God is patient with…

We have goods which the robbers may steal. Will you keep them for us? It may happen that when the robbers see that they are your goods, they will not take them away.’ The Imam (s) said, ‘How do you know? They maybe after…

As-Sadiq (s) saw a man who was wailing over the death of his child. The Imam (s) said, “O the one who is crying over the minor calamity and is neglecting the major calamity! Had you prepared yourself for the loss of your…

Whenever my father (s) left the house he (s) said, “In the Name of God the Beneficent, the Merciful. I left home using God’s Strength and Power, and not by my own strength and power. O Lord! I am seeking sustenance…

first verse which was revealed was, ‘In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Proclaim! (or read!) in the Name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created’ and the last verse that was revealed was, ‘When comes the…

“O Ali! You are the Proof of God. You are the Gate to God. You are the Road to God. You are the Great Tidings. You are the Straight Path. You are the Supreme Example. O Ali! You are the Leader of the Muslims. You are the…

Abil Hassan Al-Ridha (s) told me, ‘There will be a terrible sedition which will cause the cessation of any family ties and friendships. That will be when the Shiites lose my third descendant. At that time all the…

I heard Al-Ridha (s) say, ‘The state in which a servant (i.e. a person) is closest to the Honorable the Exalted God is when he is prostrating. This is what the Blessed the Sublime God said, ‘…But bow down in adoration,…

Praying is the best means to approach God for any pious person.”

I was prostrating when a strong wind started to blow. All the people there went to find a corner to hide in, but I just remainedstubbornly in my position of prostration in worship of my Lord - the Honorable the Exalted -…

“I saw Abul Hassan Al-Ridha (s) when he was prostrating in prayer. He (s) slowly moved one of three fingers one after the other as if he was counting the number of glorifications recited. Then he raised his head. I also…

Whenever a servant (i.e. a person) falls asleep while he is prostrating, the Honorable the Exalted God will tell the angels: Look at My servant! I took away his soul while he was obeying Me.”

“I saw the following in a letter by Abil Hassan Al-Ridha (s) written to his son Abi Ja’far, ‘O Aba Ja’far! I have heard that when you mount your horse and want to go out, the servants take you out of the small door so…

My daughter (the Blessed Lady) Fatima (s) will be resurrected on the Resurrection Day with a shirt stained with blood, will grab onto one of the pillars of the Throne and say, ‘O the Judge of the judges! Judge between me…

I heard my uncle Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s) narrate on the authority of his father (s), on the authority of his grandfather (s), on the authority of the Commander of the Faithful (s) that God’s Prophet (s) said, ‘Anyone…

I was walking with the Prophet (s) in the lanes of Medina, when we ran into a tall, broad-shouldered, old man with a long beard. He greeted the Prophet (s) and expressed his respect. He then looked at me and said, ‘O the…

“Fatima (sa) and I went to see God’s Prophet (sw) and saw that the Prophet (sw) was crying hard. I said, ‘May my father and mother be your ransom! Why are you crying so hard?’ The Prophet (sw) said, ‘O Ali! On the night…

“O Ibn Arafat! In fact, God’s Blessings are like a camel tied up near a river where it rests. The people can gain benefits from it for as long as they treat it well. However, as soon as they mistreat it, it will leave…

Generous people eat other people’s food so that others eat their food, but stingy people do not eat other people’s food so that others do not eat their food.”

Generosity is a tree rooted in Paradise with its branches extended out all over this world. Whoever grabs onto one of its branches will go to Paradise.’”

Al-Ridha (s) say, “One of the worshippers from the Children of Israel only worshipped after remaining silent for ten years.”

“The Commander of the Faithful (s) said the following regarding the Honorable the Exalted God’s words,‘It is He Who hath created for you all things that are on earth; Moreover His design comprehended the heavens, for He…

“God’s Prophet (s) said, There is a companion and one who distinguishes truth from falsehood for every nation. The one for this nation is Ali ibn Abi Talib. He is the ship of salvation. He is its gate of repentance. He…

One of the men from the Children of Israel killed one of his relatives. He then took the corpse and put it along the path of one of the noblest of the offspring of Israel and then went and demanded blood money. The…

I asked Al-Ridha (s), ‘O my Master! Hisham ibn Ibrahim Al-Abbasi has narrated that you have permitted listening to music.’ Imam Al-Ridha (s) said, ‘That hypocrite has lied. He asked me about this issue and I told him…

All the Prophets which the Honorable the Exalted God sent, forbade wine and confessed that God would do whatever He wills. The Prophets (s) would leave behind ‘al-Kondor (chewing gum) as inheritance.” Al-Salt also…

It is forbidden to eat mud, just as it is to eat dead flesh, blood, and pork. Admonish them not to eat mud.’”Ali ibn Ibrahim said, “Yasir narrated that once on a Friday when Al-Ridha (s) was returning from the mosque, he…

Can I leave the state of ritual consecration for the Hajj now that I have performed my circumambulations around the House (of God) and performed the ‘Tamatu (major) Hajj pilgrimage?” The Imam (s) told him, “Yes.”…

I asked Abil Hassan (s), ‘What did you do last year?’ He (s) said, ‘I performed the Umra (minor) pilgrimage in the (Arabic) month of Rajab, and performed the ‘Tamatu (major) Hajj pilgrimage during the prescribed times…

I was with Abil Hassan Al-Ridha (s) during the circumambulations.When we arrived at the Yemeni corner, the Imam (s) stopped, raised his hands up and said, ‘O God! O Master of health! O Creator of health! O Grantor of…

I saw Abul Hassan Al-Ridha on a Friday at noon while he was in the state of ritual consecration for the Hajj (or wearing ‘Ihram) and performing a phlebotomy at the roadside.”The author of this book (Sheikh Sadooq) - may…

I heard Al-Ridha (s) narrate on the authority of his father, on the authority of his forefathers, on the authority of Ali (s), ‘God’s Prophet (s) performed a phlebotomy even when he was fasting and in the state of ritual…

I saw Abul Hassan Al-Ridha (s) when he wanted to leave the ‘Umra (minor pilgrimage) and had come to the position at the head of the Prophet’s (s) tomb after the evening prayer. He (s) sent his best to the Prophet (s) and…

“I saw Abil Hassan Al-Ridha (s) in the state of ritual consecration (wearing the ‘Ihram) with a ring on his finger.”

I will leave with the belief that there is no god but Thee.’”

I saw Al-Ridha (s) say farewell to the House (of God). When he wanted to leave the mosque door, he (s) fell into prostration. Then he stood up, faced the Qibla - direction of prayer - and said, ‘O my God! I will return…

I asked Al-Ridha (s) about the proper place to say the ‘Qunut in the ‘Al-Fajr and ‘Al-Watr prayers. He (s) replied, ‘Before bowing down.’ I asked him (s) about beer. He (s) expressed his utmost hatred and dislike of it.…

In fact, the Honorable the Exalted God has forbidden the forbidden things, has allowed the allowed things, and has made incumbent the incumbent deeds. One cannot rely on or act according to any traditions which allow…

“Do vomiting, nosebleeds, pus and blood void the ablutions?” The Imam (s) replied, “No. Neither one of these will void the ablutions.”

I asked Al-Ridha (s) about an anal fistula. The Imam (s) said, ‘The only things that void the ablutions are defecation, farting or pissing.’”

“I asked Abil Hassan Al-Ridha (s): ‘Can someone whose hand has been wounded and is covered with medication just perform his ablutions over the covered area?’ The Imam (s) replied, ‘Yes. He can wash over it. That would…

“It suffices that he wets that place with the moisture from other parts of his body.’”

When they took the decapitated head of Al-Husayn (as) to Syria, Yazid - may God curse him - ordered that it be put somewhere and the tablecloth be spread. He and his companions started to eat and drink beer. When they…

The first person for whom beer was made during the era of Islam in Syria was Yazid - may God damn him. He was sitting at the spread-out tablecloth with the decapitated head of Al-Hussein (s) there, when they brought him…

Acting justly and speaking fairly result in the continuation of blessings. And there is no power nor any strength save by God.”The first volume of Uyun Akhbar Al-Ridha (s) authored by Abi Ja’far Muhammad ibn Ali ibn…