Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Uyun Akhbar Ar-Ridha Volume 1 Chapter 23: On Al-Ridha’’s Debates With Al-Ma’mun Regarding The Difference Between Family (Itra) And Nation 23-1 Ali ibn Al-Husayn ibn Shazawayh al-Mo’addib and Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Masroor - May God Be Pleased with Them - narrated that Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Ja’far al-Himyari quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of al-Ryan ibn al-Salt, “Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) attended a session held by Al-Ma’mun in Marv in which some of the scholars of Iraq and Khorasan were present.
Then Al-Ma’mun said, “Tell me about the meaning of the following verse, ‘ Then We have given the Book for inheritance to such of Our Servants as We have chosen…’ [^1] They answered that the verse refers to all the nation. Then Al-Ma’mun said, “O Abul Hassan! What do you think?” Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) answered, “I do not agree with them.
I say that the Honorable the Exalted God exclusively refers to the immaculate progeny of the Prophet (S).” Al-Ma’mun asked, “How is it that God refers to the immaculate progeny of the Prophet (S) and not the nation?” بْنِ طاهِرٍ قالَ: كُنْت واقِفاً عَلَى رَأْس أَبي وَعنْدَهُ أَبُوالصَّلْتِ الهَرَوِيِّ وَإِسْحاق بْنِ راهْوَيْه، وَأَحمَدِ بنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَنبَلٍ فَقالَ أَبي: لِيُحَدِّثني كُلِّ رَجُلٍ مِنْكُمْ بِحَدِيثٍ، فَقالَ أَبُو الصَّلْتِ الهَرَوِيِّ: حَدَّثني عَلِيُّ بنُ موسَى الرِّضاعَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ - وَكانَ وَاللَّه رَضِىَ كَما سُمِّي- عَنْ أَبيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، عَن أَبيهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَن أبِيهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِىّ، عَن أَبيهِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحُسَيْن، عَن أَبِيهِ عَلِيِّ، عَن أَبِيهِ عَلِىِّ بنِ أَبي طالِب عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ قالَ: قالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: الإِيمَانُ قَوْلٌ وَعَمَلٌ؛ فَلَمَّا خَرَجْنَا، قَالَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ: مَا هَذَا الإِسْنَادُ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبِي: هَذَا سَعُوطُ الَْمجَانِينِ إِذَا سُعِطَ بِهِ الَْمجْنُونُ أَفَاقَ.