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Centre of Divine Gravity in Iran
By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz
Yesterday, millions of mourners converged on Mashhad to pay homage at the mausoleum that stands out as the most blessed spot on Iranian soil. They came from all over Iran and from every strata of society. Among those beating their chests in grief were visitors from different lands, some of whom who stood out in their traditional native clothes such as the faithful from Arab lands and the subcontinent. Others with distinctive features or skin colour indicated they were from Central Asia and Africa respectively. Whatever their ethnicity or the language these few spoke, these Muslims were unanimous with the Iranian masses in the rhythmic cry of “Ya Imam Reza.”
Who was Imam Reza (AS)? What is the mystery behind the irresistible pull of his shrine that continues to attract people from all over the world despite the fact that 1223 lunar years have passed since this resident of the Prophet’s city, Medina, was laid to rest after a brief two-year stay in the then distant land of Khorasan, following the abortive bid of the crafty Abbasid caliph, Mamoun, to taint the Imamate as part of the plot to prolong the pervert rule of his dubious house.
The answers to the questions are obvious. All it requires is a little bit keenness to delve through God’s Revealed Word, the Holy Qur’an, and the Prophet’s sayings, the Hadith, to discover his superlative status, his transcendental authority and the sanctified environs of his shrine.
In fact, Imam Reza (AS) himself provided the answers when he was asked to elaborate on the issue of Imamate or leadership of the ummah that is decreed directly by God and beyond the petty politics of election, selection, nomination, military occupation and diplomatic usurpation. He said:
“Almighty Allah did not made His Prophet die before He had perfected the religion for him. He revealed to him the Qur’an in which there is explanation of everything and the manifestation of the halal (permitted), haram (prohibited), doctrinal provisions, rulings, and everything that mankind may need completely. Allah the Majestic says: “We have not left out anything from the Book.” (6:38)
“During the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Weda) in the last days of the Prophet’s life, Allah revealed to him (at Ghadeer); “This day I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favours upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion” (5:3). The Imamate is thus a part of the perfection of the religion. The Prophet (S) did not depart this world before he had manifested to his ummah the points of the religion, showed them the right (course) that they should take, pointed them the right path, and assigned (Imam) Ali as the Leader and Imam for them…He, whoever claims that Allah had not perfected the religion is denying the Book (Qur’an), and whoever denies the Book, is falling into atheism.”
In this lengthy discourse, preserved so beautifully in books of hadith and history, Imam Reza (AS) went on to clarify every minute detail of the Imamate, drawing attention to God’s granting of this exclusive status to Abraham (2:124) after He had already made that patriarch a Prophet and an Intimate of God (Khalil-Allah). Then pointing to God’s words to Abraham’s query whether the Imamate will continue among all his descendants: “My pledge does not extend to the unjust,” (2:124), Imam Reza (AS) said:
“How can fallible persons exercise their opinions to choose the imamate? Imamate is the rank of the Prophets and the heritage of the Prophet’s Testamentary Legatees. Imamate is the representation of Allah the Majestic and His Messengership, the position of Amir al-Momineen (Imam Ali) and the right of (Imam) Hasan and (Imam) Husain. The Imam is the head of religious affairs, the system of the Muslims, prosperity of the world, the bastion of the believers…”
It should thus be clear who Imam Reza (AS) was and why people from all over Iran and the world continue to pay their respects in growing numbers at his shrine when all traces have long vanished of the Abbasid oppressors, who forced him to come to Khorasan and in desperation poisoned him to death. The following saying should suffice any believer:
“If anyone visits me in the foreign land, I would be obliged to visit him (intercede for him) on Resurrection Day. By Allah, Who granted the prophethood to Muhammad (SAWA) and selected him over everyone, if anyone of you says his prayer by my tomb, he (she) will be avail God’s forgiveness on Resurrection Day. By Allah, Who testified to our Imamate and leadership after Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), and made us his successors, the pilgrims to my tomb will be the most respected guests of God on the Resurrection Day. Every believer shedding tears while visiting my tomb receives not the fire of hell by God’s command.”
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