Imam Reza’s (AS) proclamation as Heir Apparent

As per Islamic teachings, it is highly recommended to arrange for the Iftar or breaking of fast of fellow Muslims.

Accordingly, many people, especially philanthropists, contribute to the Iftar meals at mosques, at husseainiyahs, and at the shrines of Imamzadehs or descendants of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny) that dot the length and breadth of the Islamic Republic. But do you know that the largest table-spread in Iran, brings together some twenty thousand Guests of God each evening for the Iftar at the holy shrine of the Prophet’s 8^th Infallible Heir, Imam Reza (AS).

It is indeed a grand spiritual scene to see fasting men and women, and even children, sitting in the sprawling courtyard after performing the evening prayers, to partake of a simple meal that includes dates, bread, cheese, and some juice to break the day’s fast. Perhaps, some might ask, as to how Imam Reza (AS) came to Mashhad all the way from distant Medina. It is an interesting question, and today the 6^th of blessed Ramadhan, provides us the answer.

If you remember, on the eve of the start of the blessed month of Ramadhan, we had presented to you the full text of the Prophet’s sermon on fasting, as narrated by Imam Reza (AS). Here is a beautiful statement regarding the benefits of the month of fasting from the 8^th Imam, who on the 6th of Ramadhan was proclaimed Heir Apparent on arrival in Khorasan in 201 AH, albeit against his will, by the crafty Abbasid caliph, Mamoun, who had made the Khorasani city of Merv (presently in Turkmenistan), his capital:

"Invoke Allah, ask for forgiveness, recite the Qur'an and repent to Allah for your sins more frequently, so that the blessings of the month of Ramadhan may come to you, while you are sincere to Allah, the Exalted.”

This is indeed a mind-stimulating advice from the 8^th Imam to one of his companions on the blessings of God in fasting Ramadhan! No doubt, throughout history many did benefit, and continue to benefit from this and similar statements regarding the “Divine Banquet of Fasting” from Imam Reza (AS) and the other Infallible Imams, who were repositories of the celestial knowledge that God had granted their illustrious ancestor, the Messenger of Mercy – the Recipient of Revelation from Heaven.

There were many, however, who failed to benefit from such bezels of wisdom and still fail to see the realities because of intransigence and blind attachment to the passing pleasures and power of the transient world that have sealed their hearts and minds. Among the contemporaries of the 8th Imam that were oblivious to these words of guidance was the self-styled Abbasid caliph, Mamoun, and his circle of power-drunk courtiers for whom neither Ramadhan had any spiritual meaning nor did they bother to acquaint themselves with the philosophy of keeping fasts, although to deceive the masses they at times did show outward respect to religious injunctions, while their hearts were devoid of any conviction and sincerity.

If not, these hypocrites would not have held such a gala celebration – complete with iftar – this day on the 6th of Ramadhan in Merv, as part of an elaborate plot to deceive the masses, after forcing the 51-year old Imam Reza (AS), under pressures and threats of assassination, to agree to be the Heir Apparent of Mamoun.

Poets sang praises, and had their hands and even mouths stuffed with pearls and jewels from the public treasury – the looted wealth of the Muslim people. The Black Insignia of the Abbasids was replaced by the Green Insignia of the Alawids or the descendants of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS). And to give the impression of seriousness to these theatrics, coins were struck proclaiming the Prophet’s 8th Infallible Heir as Heir Apparent to the Abbasid usurper, whose great-grandfathers, Mansour Dawaniqi and Abu’l-Abbas Saffah, had seventy years ago hijacked the caliphate on the slogan of returning the rule of the Islamic realm to the Ahl al-Bayt from the Godless Omayyads. In those days, Imam Ja’far Sadeq (AS), well aware of the evil intentions of the victors had, without opening the sealed letter, coolly burnt in the flame of a lamp the offer of caliphate by a general, since his God-given “wilayat al-mutlaqa” was far greater than any transient temporal rule. Now in 201 AH on his forced arrival in Merv from Holy Medina, Imam Reza (AS), without an iota of doubt in Mamoun’s devilish insincerity, had politely refused the offer of caliphate with the words: "If the caliphate is really yours, you ought not give to others what God has given you as a trust; and if it does not belong to you, how can you give to others what is not yours."

A flabbergasted Mamoun finding his plot evaporate into thin air, resorted to the tactic of implicit threats against the life of the Imam. Imam Reza (AS) saw through the plot and agreed to be the Heir Apparent, on condition of not being bothered with state affairs. In this way, he safeguarded the dignity of the Ahl al-Bayt, which the caliph wished to tarnish, and also saved the Ummah from falling prey to the Abbasid plot on the superficial transfer of the caliphate to the Alawids.

Mamoun’s grand celebration this day turned to be short-lived. During his two years in Khorasan, before achieving martyrdom at the hands of the stupefied caliph, the 8th Imam, through his prudent policy of shunning politics, and through his memorable debates with the scholars of various religions and philosophical schools, proved the dynamism of Islam and the path of the Ahl al-Bayt. At the same time he exposed the fallacy of the caliphate that owed its illegal origins to the scandalous gathering of Saqifa Bani Sa’da , where the right of political leadership of Imam Ali (AS), the divinely-designated vicegerent, was usurped.      

Thus the 6th of Ramadhan is indeed a day of celebration for the faithful because of the backfiring of the elaborately-hatched plot of the crafty Mamoun, who lies in some unmarked grave in Syria or Turkey, while his victim continues to reign over the hearts of Muslims throughout Iran, and all over the world, from his grand golden-domed mausoleum in Khorasan.

It is a day to rejoice on rediscovering through the aphorisms of Imam Reza (AS) the philosophy of fasting, the awareness of the plight of the poor and the hungry, and the way to build our personality by restraining desires, in order to achieve salvation and lasting bliss on the Day of Judgement. Here is another wise statement on the benefits of fasting Ramadhan from Imam Reza (AS):

"God forgives the sins of whoever asks for forgiveness seventy times during the month of Ramadhan even if his sins are as numerous as the stars."

AS/SS