Then Al-Ma’mun said, “O Abul Hassan! Have there not been traditions blaming those who unrightfully claim to be the Divine Leader?” Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “Zayd did not make any such unrightful claims. He was much more pious than that. He used to invite the people to a pleasant member of the Household of Muhammad (a.s.).
Those traditions are about the people who claim that God has appointed them to be a Divine Leader, invite the people to a religion other than God’s religion and mislead the people so as to deviate them from the way of God. I swear by God that Zayd was one who was addressed by the following verse, ‘And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive, (with sincerity and under discipline).
He has chosen you…’ [^1] The author of this - Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Al-Husayn - may God be pleased with him - said, “Zayd ibn Ali has many nobilities narrated by the Imams other than Al-Ridha’ (a.s.).