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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Fourteen Luminaries of Islam The Tenth Infallible, Hadhrat Imam ‘Ali b. Musa al-Ridha, The Eighth Imam The tenth Infallible and the eighth Imam of the Shi‘a, Imam ‘Ali b. Musa, was named as al-Ridha (as). Imam al-Ridha (as) was born on Dhu'l-Qa‘da 11, 148/December 29, 765 in Medina. His honorable mother was Tuktam who was also called Najmah. When the seventh Imam (as) was martyred in Baghdad prison, ‘Ali b.

Musa al-Ridha (as) took over the Imamate and leadership of the Muslims as well as the guardianship and promulgation of the Islamic Ma‘arif and truth at the age of 35 by Allah's command and his noble ancestors’ appointment. At the beginning of his Imamate, Imam Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali b. Musa al-Ridha (as) was contemporary with Harun al-Rashid and later on with his son, Amin, and finally with Ma’mun. The holy Imam's residence was in Medina, wherefrom his holiness later on left for Iraq and Iran.

The Imamate of his holiness lasted 20 years, of which the first 10 years coincided with the caliphate of Harun, the next 5 years with that of Amin and the last part with the caliphate of Ma’mun in Khurasan. His Martyrdom is recorded to have happened in 203/818, indicating that he lived to the age of 55. After Harun's death, a severe conflict erupted between his two sons, Amin and Ma’mun, eventually leading to bloody fighting. Amin was killed and an apparent peace was established.

This way, Ma’mun could take over the rule and dominate over the Islamic lands. The Abbasid caliphs were very antagonistic toward ‘Ali (a.s.)'s household, i.e. the ‘Alawi Sadat. Frequent uprisings by the ‘Alawi Sadat would sporadically threaten the ruling system.

Although the noble Imams (as) and the real successors of the Holy Prophet (S) would not go along with these uprisings, but the caliphs who had spread out and cherished an aristocratic and hedonistic way of life, were weakened and alarmed by these uprisings. Followers of the pure Imams (as) who were rapidly increasing in number detested the aristocratic ruling system of the Abbasids and held obeisance to the Infallible Imams (as) as obligatory.

The injustice and tyranny by Harun and other Abbasid caliphs had also caused the Iranians to acquire a very deep and hearty liking for ‘Ali (as)'s household. Among the Abbasid's atrocities was that Harun had given his governor, Humaid b.