The Delight Of Imam Ar-Redha (A.

The Delight Of Imam Ar-Redha (A.S) Waves of delight and joy overcame Imam ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) after the birth of his blessed newborn son. He began saying, “The like of Moses son of Imran, the splitter of the seas, and the like of Jesus son of Mary, blessed be the mother that bore him… has been borne to me.”[^13] Imam ar-Ridha’ (a.s) turned to his companions and told them the good news of his newborn son.

He said, ‘Allah has granted me one who will inherit me and inherit the children of Dawood….’ ^14 He told them that that newborn child would be the imam after him. He received that great newborn with tremendous joy and delight because that child was the awaited spiritual leader of the umma for that period. Amongst his companions, there was Di’bil al-Khuza’iy,[^15] a poet of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s).

He participated with the Ahlul Bayt (a.s) in their joys and delights over the birth of Imam al-Jawad (a.s). Ceremonies Of The Birth Imam ar-Ridha’ (a.s) took his newborn son and carried out the ritual ceremonies for him.

He recited the adhan in his right ear and the iqama[^16] in his left ear and then placed him back in his cradle.[^17] His Surname Imam ar-Ridha’ (a.s) gave his son Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (a.s) the surname of Abu Ja’far, like the surname of his grandfather Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s). It is differentiated between them by saying Abu Ja’far the first for Imam al-Baqir (a.s) and Abu Ja’far the second for Imam al-Jawad (a.s).

His Epithets As regards his noble epithets, they show his great personality and exalted self. The most common are as follows: Al-Jawad (the generous): he was thus called because of his abundant acts of good, beneficence and charity towards the people. Al-Taqiy (the pious): he was thus called because he feared Allah and turned and resorted to Him. He never responded to any incitement of desire or fancy.

Al-Ma’moon, the Abbasid caliph, had tried him with different types of provocations, but he was not deceived. He turned to Allah and preferred His obedience to anything else. Al-Qani’ (the satisfied). Al-Murtadha (being satisfied with).[^18] Al-Radhiy (the satisfied). Al-Mukhtar (the elect). Al-Mutawakkil (the reliant (on Allah)). Al-Zakiy (the pure).[^19] Bab al-Murad (the gate of desires and hopes).

He was known by this epithet amongst the Muslims who believed that he was a gate from the gates of the Divine Mercy, to which afflicted and needy people resorted in order to rid themselves of their misfortunes and afflictions.