Saed News: We have shared the stories of Imam Reza (A.S.) for you, dear friends. Ali ibn Musa ibn Ja'far (A.S.), known as Imam Reza (148–203 AH), is the eighth Imam of the Twelver Shi'a sect.
According to the religion and faith service of Saed News, Imam Reza (A.S.) was summoned from Medina to Merv in Khorasan by the order of Mamun in the final years of his life and became Mamun's crown prince. Historians and Shi'a scholars consider Imam Reza's (A.S.) appointment as crown prince to be the most significant political event of his life, and they state that the Imam reluctantly accepted this position under Mamun's compulsion.
A man from the descendants of the Ansar came to Imam Reza (A.S.) and presented him with a silver-colored box. He said:
"Master! I have brought you a gift that no one else has brought before."
He then opened the box and took out several strands of hair, saying: "These seven strands of hair are from the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.), which have been passed down to me from my ancestors."
Imam Reza (A.S.) reached out and took four strands from the seven, saying: "Only these four strands are from the Prophet's hair."
The man looked at the Imam with surprise and slight disappointment but did not say anything.
When Imam Reza (A.S.) realized the man was upset, he placed the remaining three strands of hair in the fire.
All three strands burned, but as soon as the four strands of the Prophet's hair were placed on the fire, they began to shine, and their light illuminated the face of the Arab man.
It is written that when Imam Reza (A.S.) entered Baghdad, he told Rajab Ali, the superintendent of the bathhouse: "I intend to enter the bathhouse."
The bathhouse superintendent ordered the bath to be cleaned and secured. Suddenly, a man suffering from leprosy (al-bars) approached the superintendent and said: "Take these 50 dirhams and allow me to hide in a corner of the bathhouse so that perhaps I can come into the presence of the Imam and seek a cure."
The superintendent agreed, and when the Imam entered the bathhouse, he immediately brought the sick man to the Imam and said: "O son of the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.), please have mercy on me."
Imam Reza (A.S.) filled a container with bath water, recited Surah Al-Fatiha over it, and poured it on the man's head. Immediately, the man was cured. When his relatives heard about the miraculous healing, five hundred of them and their friends embraced Shia Islam.
When Imam Reza (A.S.) was compelled by the order of Ma'mun to travel from Medina to Khorasan, he passed through Basra to Baghdad and then continued towards Qom. The people of Qom welcomed him with great enthusiasm, and many invited him to their homes. Eventually, Imam Reza (A.S.) said: "Wherever my camel stops, I will stay there."
The camel stopped at the house of a righteous man who had seen in a dream that Imam Reza (A.S.) would be his guest.
Imam Reza (A.S.) dismounted and became the guest of that man. Today, that house is known as the Rezaieh Seminary (Madreseh Rezaviyeh) located on Azar Street in Qom.
This event, which is summarized here, highlights the special religious significance of Qom in the late second century of the Hijra. Imam Reza (A.S.) visited Qom on his way to Khorasan in the year 200 AH, one year before the arrival of Lady Fatimah Masuma (A.S.) in Qom, as she arrived in 201 AH.
The Famous Story of the Guarantor of the Deer
A hunter in a desert set out to hunt a deer. The deer ran for a significant distance, leading the hunter on a chase, and eventually, it sought refuge in the presence of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (A.S.), who happened to be in the area at the time.
When the hunter approached to catch the deer, he was stopped by Imam Reza (A.S.). However, since the hunter believed the deer was his rightful prey, he insisted on claiming it. Imam Reza (A.S.) offered to pay more than the value of the deer so that the hunter would release it. The hunter refused, saying, "I want only this deer, which is my rightful possession."
At that moment, the deer spoke and addressed Imam Reza (A.S.), saying, "I have two fawns who are hungry and waiting for me to go and nurse them. This is the reason I fled. Now, please give your guarantee to this unjust hunter so that I may go feed my young and return to surrender myself to him."
Imam Reza (A.S.) then gave his guarantee to the hunter and offered himself as a pledge in place of the deer. The deer swiftly went to its fawns, fed them, and returned to the hunter, surrendering itself.
Seeing the deer's faithfulness, the hunter was moved and realized that the one who had pledged himself was none other than Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (A.S.). Immediately, the hunter freed the deer and fell at the feet of the Imam, apologizing and seeking forgiveness. Imam Reza (A.S.) graciously rewarded the hunter with a generous amount of money, and additionally, promised to intercede for him on the Day of Judgment before his grandfather, the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.).
The hunter was sent on his way, happy and grateful. The deer, now free, asked for permission to leave and ran off to its home.
Speaking with the Jinn
Hakeema, the daughter of Imam Kazim (A.S.), says: "I saw my brother, Imam Reza (A.S.), standing in the firewood storage and speaking softly. I saw no one else there except for Imam Reza (A.S.), so I asked him, 'Who were you speaking to?'"
Imam Reza (A.S.) replied, "This is Amir Zahraani, one of the leaders of the jinn. He came to me, asking questions and complaining about certain matters."
Hakeema said, "O Master, I would love to hear his words."
Imam Reza (A.S.) replied, "If you hear his voice, you will suffer from fever for a year due to fear and terror."
Hakeema said, "Still, I would like to hear his voice."
Imam Reza (A.S.) said, "Then listen."
Hakeema said, "I listened, and I heard a sound similar to a whistle. As a result, I became ill with fever for an entire year."
The Rain of Salvation
On a Monday, one of the years of the Imamate of the eighth Imam, a memorable day filled with anticipation for an event that would certainly take place, but the time had not yet come.
A man stood in the midst of the crowd in the desert. The sun had risen now, and the heat was increasing with each passing moment. The eighth Imam climbed to the top of a hill. The man tried to push through the crowd to get closer, now able to see him more clearly. His gaze moved from the face of the Imam to the hands that were raised toward the sky. He heard a murmur that was unclear. As the voices gradually faded, the murmur became clearer: "O Lord, You have recognized the right of us, the Ahlul Bayt, as significant, and as You have commanded, they have turned to us, seeking Your mercy..."
The man observed the eighth Imam closely, listening intently to his prayer. Strangely, he felt a deep need to hear his words. It had been a long time since the rain had fallen, and the year had been one of drought. A few days ago, Ma'mun had asked the Imam to pray for rain. The Imam had agreed, and announced that the people should fast for three days and gather in the desert on this Monday to pray.
Those years were full of unexpected events: the arrival of the eighth Imam in Merv, the Eid al-Fitr prayer incident, and now the prayer for rain... In the days leading up to this, there had been whispers.
"He is not telling the truth."
"He doesn’t have that power."
"It’s impossible."
The man did not want to hear the words, but he had heard them, perhaps unintentionally. He hadn’t believed them, but deep inside, something lingered that he couldn’t understand, something that troubled him. Maybe a vague doubt... that he didn’t like.
So, hoping that he was wrong, he had come to do something for himself. It was clear that sooner or later, everything would be revealed.
"O Lord! Send down Your rain of mercy upon them and delay it not, except until the people return to their homes."
A wind blew, and black clouds gathered directly above the crowd. Then, the sound of thunder followed. The people began to stir. The man was happy. Immersed in the certainty that was taking shape within him, he heard the Imam's voice.
"O people, do not be afraid and remain calm. These clouds are not for your land; they are going to another city."
The clouds that had moved above the crowd passed by. Then, a few minutes of relative calm passed, and suddenly, another set of clouds approached. Once again, the people scattered, and the Imam called out loudly, "Do not move; this cloud will not rain on you, it is for another city."
This happened a few more times. The man was losing patience. With every rumble of thunder, something within him was stirred. A new doubt, perhaps? He felt as though there was nothing to rely on. Then, a voice from one corner: "We better go back. No rain will fall."
Some of the people had become discouraged. The eleventh cloud arrived. The Imam said, "O people! God has sent this cloud for you, so thank Him. Return to your homes so that you may not suffer in the rain."
Then he descended from the top of the hill. Suddenly, through the roar and twisting of the clouds, the rain began to fall. The weary man’s face lit up, and within seconds, all the judgments and ridicule disappeared. The man looked at the crowd, who were now dazed. The raindrops were so heavy that he couldn’t keep his eyes open. The people ran toward their homes.
But the man, free of his earlier discomfort and under a kind of enchantment that was beyond his control, quietly followed the Imam from the edges of the streets. He moved at a measured distance, not getting too close to the Imam.
Thus, he could not hear the murmurs of a voice that said: "O Lord, guide him more and more towards that which has enchanted him, towards salvation."
The Spring Restored by the Imam: "The Footsteps of Nishapur"
Imam Reza (peace be upon him) visited a neighborhood in Nishapur where there was a bathhouse and a spring, but the water was scarce.
The Imam decided to stay there and made the decision to renovate and cleanse the spring. He called upon the people who were skilled in digging wells, and under his instructions, they cleaned and renovated the spring. As a result, the water from the spring increased.
Then, Imam Reza (peace be upon him) instructed that water be poured into a pool at the base of the spring. The Imam himself entered the pool, performed a ritual bath (ghusl), and then prayed behind the pool. This practice became a tradition for the people—coming to the pool to perform the ghusl and then praying behind it, asking God to fulfill their needs and increase His blessings upon them.
This practice has remained as a lasting legacy of Imam Reza (peace be upon him) among the Shi'a, and the spring is known as the "Kohlan Spring."
In Our Memory
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Ibrahim Ghafari
I was poor and struggling to make ends meet. One of my creditors was putting a lot of pressure on me to pay what I owed. So, I set out for Saria to visit Imam Reza (peace be upon him).
I wanted to ask him to intercede on my behalf, requesting that they give me some time to repay the debt.
When I arrived at the Imam’s service, he was having a meal. He invited me to join him and have some food.
After the meal, we discussed various topics, and I completely forgot the reason I had come to Saria in the first place. After some time had passed, Imam Reza (peace be upon him) signaled for me to lift a corner of the prayer mat beside me.
Under the mat, there were 340 dinars. There was also a note next to the money. On one side of the note, it read: "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, Ali is the Wali of Allah."
On the other side, I read these words: "We have not forgotten you. Use this money to pay your debt! The rest is for the upkeep of your family."
The Meeting with the Hidden Friend
His name was Seyyed Younes, and he was from the city of Azarshahr in Azerbaijan. He set out to visit the eighth Imam, Imam Reza (peace be upon him), and made his way to Mashhad. However, after arriving and performing his first visit, all his money was lost, and he was left without any funds.
Feeling helpless, he turned to Imam Reza (peace be upon him) and sought his intercession. For three consecutive nights, he was instructed in a dream on where and from whom he should obtain the money for his journey. This is the remarkable story of his life, as it unfolded and was narrated by him.
He says: After my money was lost, I went to the shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him) and, after greeting him, I said: "My master, you know that my money is gone, and here in this unfamiliar land, I have no way, nor can I beg. I will not tell anyone but you."
I returned home, and that night, in a dream, I saw the Imam. He said: "Seyyed Younes, tomorrow at dawn, go to the bottom of the street, stand under the drum tower, and when the first person comes, tell him your secret so that he can help you."
I woke up before dawn, made my ablution, and went to the shrine. After performing the visitation, before the break of dawn, I went to the spot I had seen in my dream. I looked around to see the first person, and suddenly I saw "Agha Taqi Azarshahri" coming. Unfortunately, in our city, some people used to call him "Taqi, the one without prayer" because he didn't sit among the congregational prayers. I hesitated: "Should I tell him my problem? After all, he's accused of not praying in the congregation." So, I didn’t say anything, and he passed by and went to the shrine.
I returned to the shrine again, shared my worries with a heavy heart, and came back home. That night, I saw the Imam in my dream again, who gave me the same instructions. This happened for three nights in a row, and on the third night, I thought there must be a secret behind these dreams. So, on the morning of the third day, I went early, and the first person to enter the courtyard was none other than "Agha Taqi Azarshahri." I greeted him, and he kindly asked, "I've seen you here for three days now, do you need anything?"
I told him about the loss of my money, and he not only provided me with the funds for my month-long stay in Mashhad, but also gave me money for my souvenirs. He said, "After a month, meet me on such-and-such day at such-and-such hour, at the end of the market in the Sereshui Square, and I’ll arrange for your return to your city."
I thanked him and left. After a month, I bid farewell to the shrine, bought my souvenirs, gathered my belongings, and went to the designated spot at the appointed time. Exactly on time, Agha Taqi arrived and asked, "Are you ready to leave?" I said, "Yes!" He said, "Very well, come! Come closer."
I went with him. He said, "Sit, take your bags and everything you have, and put them on your shoulder." I was astonished and asked, "Is that possible?" He replied, "Yes!" I sat down, and suddenly, it seemed as though Agha Taqi was flying. I quickly realized that the cities and villages between Mashhad and Azarshahr were passing beneath us at an incredible speed. After a short time, I found myself at the entrance of my house in Azarshahr. As I looked closely, I saw it was indeed my home, and my daughter was cooking food inside.
Agha Taqi was about to leave, but I grabbed his robe and said, "I swear to God, I won’t let you go. In our town, they have accused you of not praying, and now it’s clear that you are among the special friends of God. How did you reach this level, and where do you pray?"
He said, "My dear friend, why do you investigate?" I swore to him again, and after he made me promise not to reveal his secret until his death, he said: "Seyyed Younes, through faith, self-purification, piety, love for the Ahlul Bayt, and service to the good and the needy, especially with devotion to Imam al-Zamana (may peace be upon him), I have been granted divine favor. I pray wherever I am, using the power of movement, to serve Him, and I pray under the leadership of the Imam."
Yes!
Freed by Imam Reza (peace be upon him)
There were two brothers: one was a student of religious sciences and a cleric, while the other was a government employee. The religious brother decided to go on a pilgrimage to visit Imam Reza (peace be upon him) and, before leaving, went to his brother’s house to bid him farewell. Since his brother wasn’t at home, he said goodbye to his family and set off for Khorasan.
When the brother, who was a government employee, came home and learned of his brother’s journey, he mounted his horse and left the city to see his brother and bid him farewell. When he caught up with him, they said their goodbyes, and as he was about to turn back, he thought, "It would be good if I also joined my brother on the pilgrimage to Imam Reza (peace be upon him)." He made a firm decision and set off for Khorasan with his brother and other pilgrims.
Since the brother was a government employee involved in oppressive work and accustomed to cursing and mistreating others, he could not refrain from causing harm during the journey. He continued his rude behavior, insulting and troubling people. The people, distressed by his behavior, complained to his religious brother, who constantly advised him, but it was to no avail. Despite the advice, he persisted in his ways, and his religious brother felt embarrassed by the situation.
Eventually, during the journey, the oppressive brother fell ill and passed away before reaching Mashhad. His religious brother washed his body, wrapped him in a shroud, placed him on his horse, and brought him to Mashhad. There, he performed the rites of pilgrimage for him and buried him in the vicinity of Imam Reza’s shrine.
That night, the religious brother saw a dream. It was as though he had completed his pilgrimage and was leaving the shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him). He found himself in a beautiful garden beside the holy courtyard. He wandered through the garden, admiring the flowing rivers, fruit trees, magnificent buildings, and many servants.
In the midst of this, he saw a dignified person surrounded by attendants. He wondered who this person was with such high status. Suddenly, the person stood up and came toward him, bowing at the feet of the religious man. When he looked closely, he recognized that it was his brother, who had recently passed away. He asked, “How did you reach this lofty station, considering you were a helper to the oppressors?” His brother responded, "All these blessings you see are a result of your deeds. When I was on the verge of death, the moment of my passing became difficult for me. As I lay in agony, you placed me in the coffin and on the horse, and at that moment, two fierce and terrifying figures came to me, armed with fiery weapons. They tortured me relentlessly, and no matter how much I cried out to you or the other pilgrims, no one came to my aid. I was in torment and flames until we entered the city.
When we reached the holy courtyard, those two figures disappeared, and the coffin was free of fire. But they continued to watch me from afar, not daring to come near.
In the evening, when you brought my body to the shrine for the pilgrimage, I saw Imam Reza (peace be upon him) standing by my grave, with a revered sheikh by his side. I greeted the Imam, but he turned his face away from me. The sheikh told me to beg for forgiveness, and I did, but the Imam did not acknowledge me. During the second round of the pilgrimage, the sheikh again instructed me to beg for forgiveness, and I pleaded, but the Imam remained silent.
In the third round, the sheikh urged me to beg again, and he swore me by the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) lineage to ask for forgiveness, otherwise, I would be tormented again as I was on the road. I turned to the Imam and said, "I swear by your grandfather, please forgive me. I am one of your pilgrims and cannot bear the torment."
At that moment, the Imam turned to the sheikh and said, "The actions of those who do such things leave no room for our intercession." Then, with his own hand, the Imam gave me a paper and I was taken out of the shrine.
As I was leaving the shrine, a voice called out, "This soul has been freed by Imam Reza (peace be upon him)." I was then brought directly to this garden, and I never saw the two tormentors again. Had you not brought me to this sacred place, I would have remained in torment until the Day of Judgment."
