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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biographies of Leaders of Islam The Eighth Imam 'ali Ar-rida (as) NAME AND PARENTAGE His name is 'ALI IBN MUSA. AR-RIDA (AS) and ABU AL-HASAN are his titles. His mother was the pious lady UMM AL-BANIN AT-TAHIRA. BIRTH He was born on the 11th of THU AL-QI'DA 148 A.H. (December 29, 765 A.D.). His grandfather IMAM JA'FAR AS-SADIQ (AS) died one month before the birth of the Imam to-be ALI BIN MUSA AR-RIDA (AS).

The family may have been consoled by his birth which took place after such a great loss. UPBRINGING He was brought up and instructed by his affectionate father under whose supervision he passed his boyhood and youth. He availed himself of the instruction of his learned parent for thirty-one years till the latter was taken to Baghdad to suffer the hardship of imprisonment for four years till his death.

SUCCESSION IMAM MUSA AL-KAZIM (AS) could foresee that the hostile government would not to allow him to live peacefully and circumstances would take such a turn that his followers would not be able to see him or inquire about his successor prior to his death. So while free and undisturbed in Medina, he felt the need to introduce his successor to his followers.

He, therefore, assembled seventeen prominent dignitaries from the descendants of Imam Ali (as) and proclaimed that IMAM ALI IBN MUSA AR-RIDA (AS) would succeed him. He also wrote his will on which 60 respected elders of Medina signed as witnesses. Such elaborated arrangements were never made by any other Imam, and they proved to be most appropriate due to controversy about the Imamate which ensued after the death of IMAM MUSA AL-KAZIM (AS).

IMAMATE IMAM AR-RIDA (AS) was 35 when his father died and the responsibilities of Imamate devolved on him. At the time, HARUN AR-RASHID was the absolute ruler of Baghdad and the descendants of Imam Ali (as) were passing through trials and tribulations because of him. Yet IMAM AR-RIDA (AS) carried on the responsibility of administering the Divine Law of SHARI'AH.

PROFOUND KNOWLEDGE All the Imams who descended from the Prophet of Islam (p) achieve the highest among of knowledge; they therefore were revered by friends and respected by foes. But some members had better chances to propagate the divine teachings than others. After IMAM JA'FAR AS-SADIQ (AS), IMAM AR-RIDA (AS) was blessed with the most conducive environment for this purpose.