12 بابُ ذكر مَجْلِسَ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَعَ أَهْل...
Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl gathered them together (in Al-Ma’mun's palace), and then he informed Al-Ma’mun about the meeting. Al-Ma’mun granted them permission to enter and received them with hospitality and honor. Then he presented before them what he intended to do by saying, “I have gathered you for (a.s.omething) good and want you to have a debate with my cousin from Medina, who will come to me. Come to me tomorrow morning. None of you should be absent.” They said, “O Commander of the Faithful!
We listen and obey you. God willing, we will be here first thing in the morning.” Al-Nawfali said, “We were talking to Abil Hassan (a.s.) when Yasir - the servant who was in charge of serving Abil Hassan (a.s.) entered and told him, “O my master! Indeed the Commander of the Faithful expressed his greetings to you and said, May your brother be your ransom! Indeed the chief scientists, scholars from all religions and masters of speech from all nations have all gathered together here with me.
Would you like to come to us and have a discussion with them? If you do not wish to do so, do not bother yourself. Even if you prefer, we do not mind coming to you. Then Abul Hassan said, “Express my greetings to him and tell him that I understand what you mean. God willing, I will come to you myself tomorrow morning.” Al-Hassan ibn Muhammad al-Nawfali said, ‘When Yasir went out, the Imam (a.s.) turned to me and said, ‘O Nawfali! You are an Iraqi, and an Iraqi’s heart is not hard.