The BARMAKIS were the group that continuously incited the...

The BARMAKIS were the group that continuously incited the rulers against IMAM AL-RIDHA. They had plotted against his father IMAM AL-KADHIM through the Imam' nephew ALI IBN ISMAEL who openly envied his uncle. They started their plots against his son, IMAM AL-RIDHA (AS). YAHYA AL-BARMAKI said to AL-RASHID one day, "You can see it now. ALI IBN MUSA ahs succeeded his father and claimed the Imamate. You have sworn to kill whoever claims Imamate after him".

AL-RASHID said angrily, "Has it not been enough what we have already done to his father?! Do you want me to kill them all?" Those words of AL-RASHID indicated the atrocities which he had committed against IMAM AL-KADHIM (AS). However, that did not halt his attempt to get rid of AL-RIDHA (as). He often tried but failed because Allah's will protected the Imam (as) who one day said in reference to AL-RASHID'S attempts, "By Allah, he cannot do anything to me which I hate.

This is clear from words reached me from my grandfather the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.)". Allah, the Manager of all affairs, provided IMAM AL-RIDHA with protection against AL-RASHID'S oppression, just as He protected the Prophet's offspring: IMAM ZAIN AL-ABIDIN survived the battle of KERBALA and assumed his role in the Imamate. HAROUN AL-RASHID died after having entrusted caliphate to his son AL-AMIN and, after him, to his other son AL-MAMOUN. AL-AMIN spent his life in fun and frolic.

He neglected the affairs of the large Muslim world. He also betrayed his brother AL-MAMOUN by depriving him of his right to the caliphate according to AL-RASHID'S will. He entrusted it to his young son MUSA whom he named as the successor. This division between the two brothers stirred wars among the two brothers' followers and supporters. At last, AL-AMIN was killed and AL-MAMOUN became the caliph. The division in the ABASSI clan led the authority to cease watching IMAM AL-RIDHA (AS).

This gave him time to carry out his mission quietly and spread the Islamic tenants. The bloody wars between both brothers motivated the Muslims to ponder and to have second thoughts. They realized that both brothers were not qualified to be the Muslims' leaders. Again the people turned to the ALAWIS to assume their role. Moreover, the ABBASIS themselves were angry with AL-MAMOUN who killed his own brother.

IMAM AL-RIDHA (AS) AND AL-MAMOUN AL-MAMOUN chose the city of MARO (MERV) to be his capital in order to express his gratitude to the KHURASANIS who helped him achieve power.