Today, we continue to discuss Imamate of the 8th Infallible Successor to Prophet of Islam, Imam Reza (AS).

As a reminder, last week we partly spoke of Imam Reza’s life, noting that the Infallible Imam was forced to leave Medina and reside in the capital of the Abbasid Dynasty, the city of Marv, upon the insistence of the Abbasid caliph, Ma’amoun. This Abbasid caliph intended to instate Imam Reza (AS) as his crown prince in order to fulfill his goals in the community. Upon bringing Imam Reza to the capital of his caliphate, the Abbasid caliph aimed to control the protests and movements of his opponents and to establish and reinforce his power.

Now, let’s discuss the period of resistance of Imam Reza in the city of Marv, which lasted roughly three years.

The Abbasid caliph, Ma’amoun urged Imam Reza to be his crown prince. This proposal was a political tactic of the Abbasid caliph to somehow earn his community’s trust. Initially, Imam Reza rejected this offer. However, upon the insistence of Ma’amoun, Imam Reza (AS) was forced to accept it. Meanwhile, a number of the officials of Abbasid regime protested against this decision and intention of the Abbasid caliph. However, Ma’amoun’s response to them revealed some of his concealed goals in taking this measure. The Abbasid caliph said: Imam Reza conceals his deeds from us and calls on people to swear allegiance with him. Therefore, upon instating him as the crown prince, he would invite people to serve us, and will admit to our caliphate.

Ma’amoun wrongly imagined that if Imam Reza would accept his offer to be instated as crown prince, the legitimacy of the Abbasid ruler’s caliphate would be confirmed, which would have been a huge concession for the Abbasid caliph. Ma’amoun wanted to calm down unrests of his opponents throughout the territory of the Abbasid regime, and to somehow monitor Imam Reza (AS), given that he felt that the Infallible Imam posed a threat to him. It seemed as though Ma’amoun’s plot was a fully calculated scheme.

However, in an intelligent move, Imam Reza, in a keynote speech, presented a number of conditions for acceptance of the Abbasid caliph’s offer. For instance, the Infallible Imam pointed out that in case of acceptance of this offer, he would not be involved in political and judicial affairs, and he would not appoint or dismiss anyone. The Infallible Imam, through taking this measure, did not accept any involvement in the suppressive rule of the Abbasid caliph so that the unjust acts of Ma’amoun would not be attributed to the Infallible Imam, and people would realize the Infallible Imam’s disapproval of the Abbasid caliphate.

In the era of Imam Reza, some deviated views had infiltrated the World of Islam, which motivated the Infallible Imam to stand up against deceptive views. Thus, Imam Reza, throughout his residence in the city of Marv, carried out constructive measures for the growth and elevation of people’s religious beliefs. Upon the presence of Imam in the city of Marv, the Abbasid caliph held several scientific meetings in the presence of thinkers and scientists, inviting them to hold debates and discussions with the Imam. Meanwhile, Imam also seized the raised opportunity and made use of these debates in order to introduce the divine religion of Islam and to respond to doubts. In these complicated scientific debates, the Infallible Imam held discussions with the leading figures of other religions. These debates led to development and growth of the religious insight of people and elevation of the ideas of thinkers. Every scientist that debated with Imam Reza confessed to the Infallible Imam’s vast knowledge, virtues, and superiority and bowed down to the Infallible Imam’s transparent and persuading reasons.

These debates which were convened in a calm and amicable atmosphere, showed the Infallible Imam’s profound insight and knowledge. The debates usually revolved round creation, monotheism, and the characteristic traits of the divine prophets.

Imam Reza (AS), via adoption of this approach, took an important step for introduction of the divine religion of Islam to non-Muslim thinkers. This was certainly the case in Imam Reza’s debates with People of the Book, and the representatives of Christianity, Judaism, and other religions.

In one of these debates with Imam Reza (AS), the Abbasid caliph invited prominent Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian, and Sabean scientists. The Infallible Imam, in his debate with these thinkers, presented interesting and valuable points about Islamic teachings. At the end of this debate, the Infallible Imam asked whether anyone who opposed Islam, wanted to present a question. At this point, Imran Sabi, who was a Sabean scholar, said that he had traveled to different cities. But he had never found anyone who would be able to prove the principle of monotheism. He went on to add that he wanted to ask Imam Reza to prove that God Almighty is the one and only creator of the universe.

At this point, everyone present remained silent to find out the outcome of this debate.

Imran Sabi asked about the goal of God in creation of creatures, and whether God needed to create His creatures?

In response, Imam Reza pointed out: “We believe that God has always existed and we also believe in monotheism. God Almighty created different creatures. Then, He divided creatures into different groups. But, He did not need them. If God had created the world because of a need, He would have created a lot more creatures due to His omnipotence; given that, in this case, the further His creatures, the better it would have been for God. So, we realize that God has not created the universe and creatures to meet a need.”

The Infallible Imam’s debate with Imran Sabi was long and we only mention a part of it. Throughout this debate, the Infallible Imam’s powerful and sound logic highly influenced the attendants in the debate.

Later on, Imran Sabi asked whether creation of the universe changes the nature of God. Imran Sabi knew that any measure humans take, leads to a change and development in them, and based on this prejudgment, he compared God with mankind.

In response, Imam said change has no meaning in relation to God Almighty. He is the manifestation of all perfections and there is no shortcoming in Him.

Imran Sabi went on to ask about the location of God. In response, the Infallible Imam said God is the creator of all locations and does not need a location.

Thereafter, Imran asked a number of questions about the nature of God and at times asked the Infallible Imam to further elaborate his answers.

Imran was highly influenced by the powerful logic of Imam Reza (AS). Imran contemplated for a while. Then in the presence of everyone, he prostrated toward Kiblah and converted to the sacred religion of Islam.  The scientists, who had attended this debate, knew that Imran Sabi was highly skilled in debates and reasoning and that no one had defeated him before. So, upon observation of this scene, they came to realize the grandeur of the scientific status of Imam Reza (AS).

MR/ME