40-42. [3] Tazyeen al-Aswāq. Fawāt al-Wafayāt...

40-42. [3] Tazyeen al-Aswāq. Fawāt al-Wafayāt, vol. 4, p. 225. (Ibrāhim) wore. He beat Ibrāhim, so he (Ibrāhim) stood up and took off his garments, but Hārūn al-Rashid refused to wear them and said to him: Woe upon you! I wear your garments? Yes, by Allah, replied Ibrāhim, if you want to treat (me) with justice; if you do not treat (me) with justice, then you are powerful and able. Woe upon you! Shall I pay a ransom on your behalf? Yes, he answered. What is the ransom? asked al-Rashid.

You suggest, O Commander of the faithful, replied Ibrāhim, for you are more appropriate for power. I will give all the garments I am wearing, al-Rashid retorted. Then order them (to be given to me), demanded Ibrāhim. As a result Hārūn al-Rashid called for garments other than those he was wearing, and then he took off the garments he was wearing and gave them to Ibrāhim. [1] He played chess when he traveled by the Tigris.

[2] These are some acts which have been transmitted regarding Hārūn al-Rashid, and they clearly show that he was mean and did not cling to the teachings of the True Religion. Hārūn al-Rashid went too far in practicing pleasures; his palace was a theater for all kinds of prostitution and dissoluteness; it was rarely void of dancing and singing parties and drinking wine; therefore, his government did not represent Islam.

Hārūn al-Rashids Attitude toward Imām al-Ridā When Hārūn al-Rashid assassinated Imām Mūsā b. Jafar, peace be on him, he sent a band of his security forces to spy upon the affairs of Imām al-Ridā, peace be on him, and to inform him of his tendencies and inclinations. [1] Abū al-Farajj al-Asfahāni, al-Aghāni, vol. 5, pp. 69-70. [2] Ibid., vol. 9, p. 64. The Imām, peace be on him, understood that, so he intended to get rid of Hārūn al-Rashid.

He went to market while the detectives were following him. He, peace be on him, bought a rooster, a dog, and a ewe. The detectives informed Hārūn al-Rashid of that. When he (Hārūn al-Rashid) came to know of that, he became free from worry and fear of the Imām and knew that he was not ready to establish any movement against him, and then he ordered his detectives to return to Baghdad.

As for Imām al-Ridā, peace be on him, he busied himself with spreading the laws of Allah and the teachings of Islam and explaining the sides of the Imāmate. Accordingly, some eminent figures of his Shiites feared that Hārūn al-Rashid would subject him to a reprehensible deed.