20 countries mark Imam Reza (AS) birth anniversary

On the Happy and Auspicious Occasion of the Birthday Anniversary of Imam Reza (A.S.), Iranians and Muslims residing in more than 20 countries held especial celebrations.

Friday, October 30, marks the birth anniversary of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Imam of the noblest Messenger of Allah Hazrat Mohammad’s infallible household.

By participating different ceremonies, real followers of Imam Reza (AS) in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Albania, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia as well as Germany, Austria and Britain celebrated the auspicious birth anniversary of the great Imam to remind his memory.

Imam Reza was born on Zulqadih 11, 148 A.H. His father was the seventh Imam and his mother was a very virtuous lady called Najmeh. He was called Ali after his grandfather’s name.

According to the history, there were other nicknames for him too. Among them the most noticeable ones are Abol-Hasan, Reza, Sabir, Razi, and Fazil.

When he was 35, Imam Kazim (AS) (his father) became martyr and then he took the control of the Muslims affairs.

The period of his Imamate was about 20 years and it was along the three kings of Abbasid dynasty. Their political policies were full of tyranny and deceits. They followed this policy while facing Prophet’s family and Shiis to prevent the potential uprising of the believers of the infallible Imams, against them.

Adhering to this policy, they respect Imam Reza (AS) a lot. They handed over the garden of Fadak, the Shiis were granted highly, valued status. However; Imam was totally aware that it was nothing but a trick and the reason was that his followers were controlled. Imam Reza (AS) spent the most of his life in Medina and a great deal of attention was paid to him by the Muslims.

Abu Saraya rising was formed under the shadow of Imam’s guidance aimed at the overthrow of the Abasid and enforcing of Imam Ali’s progeny.

Adhering to their tricky policy the Abasids could suppress that revolt. However; his followers had been identified for many years as the followers of Imam Ali’s progeny and the enemies of the Abasids in Mecca, Yemen, and Basra.

This public attention and the other movements directed by Imam Reza (AS) and Alavians (the followers of Imam Ali) made Ma’moon to arrange a plot. This would mean that he forced Imam Reza (AS) to move from Medina to Khorasan so that he could observe him closely, besides he could disintegrate the Shiis.

Being an obligatory invitation and no desirable at all, Imam left for Cufah and Basra. However; he was stopped by the Abasid Caliph and the next destinations had to be Basrah, Ahwas and Fars.

Imam Reza (AS) went to Khorasan in 201 (AH). He was welcomed dearly in accordance with Ma’oon’ command, in Marv. At the beginning it appeared that Imam was going to be appointed as the Caliph. Having rejected the idea, Imam was threatened to accept Ma’oon’s heir presumptive.

Imam Reza’s life, which was after the scientific movement of Imam Baqir (AS) and Imam Sadiq (AS), was the age of the Islamic scientific progress. The spirit of the Islamic school of thought was well known every where. However; Imam Reza (AS) was the most outstanding scientist ever existed in that era.

There have been historical documents, which are indicative of many scientific discussions between Imam Reza (AS) and the great religious figures of that era.