Imam Reza (A.S.) – The Gharib al-Ghuraba and Light of Khurasan

Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (A.S.), known by titles such as Gharib al-Ghuraba (The Stranger of Strangers), Moeen-uz-Zoafa-e-wal-Fuqara (Helper of the Weak and Poor), and Shah-e-Khurasaan (King of Khurasan), is the eighth Imam of the Ahlul Bayt (A.S.). Born in the holy city of Madinah on 11th Zi al-Qadah 148 A.H. (29 December 765 A.D.), his noble lineage links him to Imam Musa al-Kazim (A.S.), the seventh Imam, and Bibi Najma, also known as Ummul-Baneen. His agnomen, Abul Hasan, is remembered with reverence in Shia tradition.

Early Life and Imamate

Imam Reza (A.S.) was named Ali by his father, Imam Musa al-Kazim (A.S.), who publicly affirmed him as his successor. Upon the martyrdom of Imam Musa al-Kazim (A.S.) in 183 A.H., Imam Reza (A.S.) assumed the sacred mantle of Imamat at the age of 35, guiding the Ummah for the next two decades through spiritual and intellectual leadership.

During this period, three Abbasid caliphs reigned: Harun al-Rashid, his son Amin, and finally Ma’mun, under whom Imam Reza’s (A.S.) influence and persecution reached their peak.

The Forced Journey to Khurasan

Following Amin’s death, Caliph Ma’mun, struggling with internal political turmoil, sought to stabilise his rule by bringing Imam Reza (A.S.) to his court in Marw (present-day Merv, Turkmenistan). This was not an invitation of respect but a forced exile masked as honour. Imam Reza (A.S.) left Madinah with a heavy heart, bidding his family farewell for the last time, aware that he would not return.

The journey from Madinah to Marw passed through Basrah, Ahwaz, Rey, Neyshabur, Sanabad, and Sarakhs. In Neyshabur, the Imam (A.S.) narrated the famous Hadith Qudsi known as Silsilat al-Dhahab before an audience of over 120,000 scholars and believers. He declared:
“La ilaha illallah is My fortress, and whoever enters My fortress is safe from My punishment.”
He then added, “…with its conditions, and I am among its conditions,” thereby affirming the essential role of the Imams in divine guidance.

Imam-e-Zaamin (A.S.): The Guarantor of the Deer

On this same journey, an incident further elevated his title as Imam-e-Zaamin. In a forest, he encountered a hunter about to kill a deer. Imam Reza (A.S.) requested the hunter to release the deer, promising its return after feeding its fawns. The hunter, sceptical yet respectful, agreed. True to her word, the deer returned — a miraculous event that earned the Imam the title “Zaamin,” meaning “The Guarantor.” This title remains widely cherished, especially when embarking on travel, as believers carry a token in his name for protection.

Reluctant Political Role

Upon reaching Marw, Imam Reza (A.S.) was offered the caliphate, which he firmly declined. Ma’mun then proposed he accept the position of crown prince, which the Imam (A.S.) also rejected. Eventually, he was coerced into accepting it under the condition that he would not be involved in administrative decisions or state governance. Even in this constrained role, his presence was a beacon of justice and truth, which unsettled the Abbasid court.

During the Eid al-Fitr prayer in 202 A.H., Imam Reza (A.S.) insisted on performing the ritual in the manner of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). Appearing barefoot and modest, he led a sea of believers in humble reverence. The emotional tide of this procession so alarmed Ma’mun that he ordered its cessation out of fear of its influence.

Scholarship and Debates

Imam Reza (A.S.) was not only a spiritual guide but also an intellectual giant. Ma’mun frequently hosted debates in his palace where scholars of various faiths and ideologies attempted to challenge the Imam. Yet, Imam Reza (A.S.) always emerged victorious, asserting Islamic principles with profound logic and wisdom.

Among his scholarly legacies is the Risalah al-Dhahabiyyah (The Golden Dissertation in Medicine), a significant medical treatise commissioned by Ma’mun. This work remains a testament to the Imam’s broad knowledge and continues to be studied in traditional Islamic medicine.

Martyrdom and Shrine

Fearing Imam Reza’s (A.S.) rising popularity and moral authority, Ma’mun poisoned him in 203 A.H. (818 A.D.) in Sanabad. His noble soul departed this world at the age of 55. He was buried in the very place he had once prophesied — a palace that would transform into Mashhad, meaning “the place of martyrdom.”

Mashhad, now one of the most visited pilgrimage sites globally, is known as The Land of Miracles. The magnificent shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.) is a complex of mosques, libraries, museums, hospitals, and universities. It is also home to Naqqar Khana, where kettle-drums are beaten at sunrise and sunset, and during miraculous healings, a practice dating back to a miraculous cure in 1455 A.D.

Ziyarah and Spiritual Rewards

Numerous traditions praise the virtues of visiting Imam Reza’s (A.S.) shrine. The spiritual reward (thawab) of this ziyarah is equated to the martyrdom at the Battle of Badr and sometimes even to that of performing Hajj. Countless pilgrims have testified to miraculous healings and answered prayers at his sacred tomb.

A Living Light

Imam Reza (A.S.) continues to guide hearts and illuminate minds through his sayings, life, and sacred presence in Mashhad. One of his famous hadiths states:

“He who likens Allah to His creations is a polytheist; and he who attributes to Him what He has forbidden is an infidel.” (Wasail ush-Shia, Vol. 18, p. 557)

He remains the Imam of Compassion, the Guarantor of the Deer, and the shining star of Khurasan — a legacy of knowledge, humility, and divine light that continues to inspire millions across the world.