Ali al-Ridha, the Imam, the Sayyid, Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Alawi al-Madani.
From Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha, from his father, who said: “When the world favours a person, it grants them the virtues of others, and when it turns away from them, it strips them of their own virtues.”
Al-Sha’bi said: “The most boastful verse ever recited is what the Ansar said on the day of Badr:
‘At the well of Badr, when their faces were turned back,
Gabriel was under our banner, and so was Muhammad.'”
Al-Suli said: “More boastful than that is what al-Hasan ibn Hani (Abu Nuwas) said about Ali ibn Musa al-Rida:
‘They told me, “You are unique among people,
In every word of speech, you are spontaneous.
In the essence of speech, you have a brilliance
That yields pearls in the hands of those who gather them.”
So why have you neglected to praise Ibn Musa
For the qualities that are gathered in him?’
I said, ‘I cannot find a way to praise an Imam
Whose father was served by Gabriel.'”
I (Imaam Ad Dhahabi) say: This last statement cannot be accepted without explicit evidence. Rather, Gabriel was the teacher of our Prophet (peace be upon him), and peace be upon Gabriel.
Ali al-Rida was indeed a figure of great stature and worthy of the caliphate. However, the Rafidah (Shi’a extremists) lied about him and exaggerated his status in ways that are impermissible. They claimed infallibility for him and went to extremes in their praise, but Allah has set a measure for everything.
He is innocent of the fabricated narrations attributed to him, such as:
- From his father, from his grandfather, from his ancestors, marfu’an (attributed to the Prophet): “Saturday is for us (the Ahl al-Bayt), Sunday is for our Shi’a, Monday is for Banu Umayyah, Tuesday is for their Shi’a, Wednesday is for Banu al-Abbas, Thursday is for their Shi’a, and Friday is for all people.”
- Also: “When I was taken on the Night Journey, some of my sweat fell, and from it grew roses.”
- Also: “Use violet oil, for it is cool in summer and warm in winter.”
- Also: “Whoever eats a pomegranate with its peel, Allah will illuminate his heart for forty nights.”
- Also: “Henna after removing body hair is a protection from leprosy.”
- Also: “When the Prophet (peace be upon him) sneezed, Ali would say to him, ‘May Allah elevate your mention,’ and when Ali sneezed, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would say to him, ‘May Allah raise your status.'”
These are fabricated hadiths and falsehoods invented by the misguided.
(Siyar A’laamun Nubalaa: 9/387)
