64 بابُ ما حَدَثَ بِه أَبُو حَبيبِ هَرثَمَةُ بنُ أَعيَنَ مِن...

The servant entered first and then I entered. I saw my master sitting in the yard. When Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) saw me he (a.s.) said, ‘O Harthama!’ I said, ‘Yes, my master!’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘Sit down.’ Then I sat down and Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘O Harthama! Listen carefully to what I tell you. Now it is time for me to return to God the Highest and join my grandfather and my forefathers (a.s.). My life has come to an end.

This rebel (al-Ma’mun) has decided to poison me with chafed grapes and pomegranates. He has poisoned a thread, and has put it through the grapes using a needle and has poisoned the pomegranates by having one of his servants rub poison on his hands, and the servant has peeled the pomegranates and pulled out all the seeds, thereby covering them with poison. Then tomorrow Al-Ma’mun will invite me (to his house), offer me these grapes and pomegranates, and he will ask me (i.e. force me) to eat them.

Then I will eat them. The decree will come to happen and I will die. Once I (Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.)) die, Al-Maa’mun will say, ‘I must perform the ceremonial burial ablutions of his body with my own hands.’ Once Al-Ma’mun says that, you should privately tell him that I (Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.)) told you to tell him (Al-Ma’mun) not to perform the ceremonial burial ablutions for me, shroud me or bury me; else the Divine Punishment that is to brought upon him (Al-Ma’mun) later will be brought upon him sooner.

And that which he is trying to avoid will rush towards him. Then Al-Ma’mun will accept this and give up.’ Then Harthama added, “I said, ‘Yes my master!’ Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) continued, ‘Then Al-Ma’mun will appoint you to perform the ceremonial burial ablutions for me. Al-Ma’mun himself will sit at a high point to watch you wash my body.