Questions about Al-Ridha

Politics at his Time37 QuestionsA.S. Hashim, MD

Questions about Al-Questions about Al-RidhaRidha

22

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Definition of Terms in this Slide ShowDefinition of Terms in this Slide Show

• Institute of Ahlul Bayt:Institute of Ahlul Bayt: Refers to the teachings Refers to the teachings and discussions by Ahlul Bayt. This was and discussions by Ahlul Bayt. This was conducted at:conducted at:• The house of the ImamThe house of the Imam• Masjid Al-NabawiMasjid Al-Nabawi• At or near the Grand Mosque during HajAt or near the Grand Mosque during Haj

• Piety-minded:Piety-minded: Refers to the many Schools of Refers to the many Schools of thought: Like that of Ibn Abbas, of Ibn Omar, thought: Like that of Ibn Abbas, of Ibn Omar, Jabriah, Qadariyah, Murj’iah, Ahlul Raa’y, Jabriah, Qadariyah, Murj’iah, Ahlul Raa’y, Ahlul Qiyas, etc.Ahlul Qiyas, etc.

3


Give a historical perspective of Imam Al-Ridha's lifetime.

a. Al-Ridha was born during the reign of Al-Mansoor,

b. and he lived throughout the reign of 6 Benu Abbas' Rulers.

c. Al-Ridha's life-span coincided with Benu Abbas at the height of their power.

d. a+b+c+ The cultural achievement of the Ummah was very high at this time.

Questions, Al-Ridha, Politics at his Time

4


To how many Khalifas of Benu Abbas was Imam Al-Ridha contemporary?

a. 6 Khalifasb. 4 Khalifasc. 8 Khalifasd. 9 Khalifas


5


Enumerate on some situations facing Al-Ridha at the beginning of his Imamah.

a. The Institute of Ahlul Bayt was restricted due to the pressure put on it by Benu Abbas.

b. The Shi'a were spread over vast areas of the Ummah.

c. The Conversion to Islam of much of the indigenous Christian, Jewish, and Zoradusht population was more or less complete by now.

d. a+b+c+ The Continued need for Ahlul Bayt to explain the Ideal Islam as Muhammad (pbuh) had taught it, but under different conditions than any time before.


6


Provide a description of Khalifa Al-Rashid’s court life in Baghdad.a. Along with poetry and song, Al-Rashid's

courtly life was supplanted with more sober learning and seeming piety.

b. Even so some eminent U'lamaa refused to be found too close to the Khalifa's Court;

c. a+b+ but Al‑Rashid —between his bouts of wine‑drinking— paid attention to their exposition of the religious law.

d. Al‑Rashid paid reverence to Ahlul Bayt for their support


7


Portray life in Baghdad at the time of Haroon Al-Rashid's Khilaafah.a. Al Rashid's immediate family concentrated

the largest spending in their own hands.b. His wife Zubaydah was famous for her

charities, causing numerous wells to be dug along the Haj trail from Iraq to Medina for the use of the Haj pilgrims.

c. a+b+ The dynasty of Wazirs, the Persian Al-Barmaki family, showered out almost as many gifts as the Khalifa himself.

d. Al-Ma’Moon decreed to dig wells for the pilgrims


8


What did life in Baghdad attract at the time of Al-Rashid?

a. The big spenders of Baghdad attracted 1. artists, and poets, 2. scholars, and philosophers, 3. as well as tricksters and sheer career men.

b. Luxury was most evident at the capital —and probably most insecure there.

c. a+b+ But the well-to-do could lead a very comfortable life even in the provinces.


9


Tell us about Abul Atahiya.

a. Abul Atahiyah, of Arab stock, transformed the poetic tradition to be

1. Islamic, ascetic, 2. and of a speculative turn of mind.

b. Yet, a loyal Muslim of Shi'i sentiments, Abul Atahiyah dedicated his verse to a philosophic bend

c. which proved more popular in the market place than at court of the Khalifa.

d. a+b+c+ Abul Atahiyah's lines formed a mine of soberly pious quotations for future popular writers.


10


Give an account of Al-Barmaki dynasty.a. The Barmaki family had been Buddhist

priests at Balkh (in Central Asia) before their conversion to Islam.

b. Khalid Al-Barmaki became a top ranking Kaatib (Secretary of the Khalifa) and trusted adviser of the Khalifa.

c. a+b+ Khalifa Al-Mahdi son of Al-Mansoor had placed Khalid's son Yahya in charge of Al Rashid’s affairs.

d. a+ The Barmaki family were cousins of Benu Abbas


11


Explain more about Al-Barmaki.

a. Haroon Al-Rashid grew up as a close friend with Yahya's son Ja'far.

b. When Al-Rashid became Khalifa he retained Ja'far as chief courtier and companion of his leisure hours.

c. a+b+ Al-Rashid also made Ja'far's brother, Al-Fadhl Ibn Yahya Al-Barmaki, head of affairs during most of his reign.

d. a+b+ Al-Rashid’s sister was married to Ja’far Al-Barmaki


12


Explain the possible reasons for ousting the Barmaki family.a. Imam Al-Kadhim was detained in the house

of Al-Fadhl Al-Barmaki for almost one year,

b. a+ Al-Kadhim was treated with honor and respect by Al-Fadhl.

c. Al-Kadhim was treated very harshly by Al-Fadhl.

d. Al-Kadhim was released by Al-Fadhl.


13


Give more reasons for ousting the Barmaki family.a. Haroon Al-Rashid grew resentful of the

enormous power of the Barmakis. b. Al-Rashid gave dramatic orders to behead

Ja'far Al-Barmaki, which was immediately carried out.

c. The head was publicly displayed next day, to prove that Ja'far was dead and beyond help from any coup.

d. a+b+c Ja'far's brother, al-Fadhl, and their father, Yahya Al-Barmaki, were imprisoned and died not long after.


14


Describe the decision of Haroon Al-Rashid about the future control of the Ummah.

a. Al‑Rashid decreed that the control of the Islamic empire was to be divided on his death between his two sons: Al-Amin and Al-Ma'Moon:

b. To Al-Amin would go the Fertile Crescent (Iraq and Syria), Arabia, Yemen, and the western provinces.

c. To Al-Ma'Moon would go Khurasan (Iran) and the eastern provinces, with an army and full autonomy (and the right of subsequent succession),

d. a+ But Al‑Ma'Moon was bound to obey Al‑Amin in ultimate matters.


15


What did Al-Rashid do about his decree?

a. Al‑Rashid posted his decree in the Ka'ba to give it sacred authority.

b. a+ There was not a single social element in the state strong enough to gainsay this dismemberment of the hard‑built political structure for a personal whim.

c. a+ Al‑Rashid posted his decree in Medina d. a+ Al‑Rashid posted his decree in

Baghdad


16


Tell us about Al-Ridha at the time of Al-Rashid

a. Al-Ridha was not harmed by Haroon Al-Rashid, neither before nor after Al-Kadhim had died in prison.

b. Though vocal, Al-Ridha's teaching activity was restricted.

c. The Institute was somewhat limited in scope.d. a+b+c+ Al-Rashid was 30 years old when he

imprisoned the 51 year old Al-Kadhim, at which time Al-Ridha was 31 year old.


17


Give an account of Khalifa Al-Amin's background and rule.

a. Zubaydah, Al-Amin's mother, was the sister of Al-Mansoor.

b. a+ Al-Amin grew in luxury with a distinction that his aunt was Zubaydah.

c. Al-Amin was known not to be clever or bright.

d. c+ He was reckless, imprudent, insensible, and unheeding.


18


Describe Baghdad during the civil war between Al-Amin and his brother Al-Ma'Moon.

a. Baghdad held out against Al‑Ma'Moon's besieging general Tahir for over a year and a half despite:

• fire, much property destruction, and perilous insecurity,

• famine because of cutting the lines of food supplies, andlack of any support from the provinces.

b. a+ Baghdad held out but for 3 monthsc. a+ Baghdad held out but for 9 monthsd. a+ Baghdad held out but for 36 months


19


Who was in support of Al-Amin against his brother Al-Ma’Moon?

a. Al‑Amin had the support of Benu Abbas families

• and of the populace in the capital, • who evidently feared the Khurasani

orientation of Al‑Ma'Moon;

b. Al-Ma'Moon kept his headquarters at Maru in Khurasan

c. a+b+ and had Persians for the military and administration.


20


Describe the works of Imam Al-Ridha during Khalifa Al-Amin's rule.

a. Al-Ridha intensified his works for Islam since he was not hampered

b. the activity of the Institute was at much higher level than before.

c. students and scholars of various fields flocked to Medina to learn at the hands of Al-Ridha.

d. a+b+c+ The popularity of and sentiment for Ahlul Bayt was quite high among people especially Iraq and Khurasan.


21


List important points about Khalifa Al-Ma'Moon's background.a. Al-Ma'Moon's mother was not of a

nobility stock, she was a Persian slave-mother.

b. Al-Ma'Moon's mother died soon after childbirth.

c. a+b+ Al-Ma'Moon was very intelligent, astute, and shrewd, a fact his father Al-Rashid valued highly.

d. b+ Al-Ma'Moon's mother was very instrumental in his education.


22


List more important points about Khalifa Al-Ma'Moon's background a. Ma'Moon was more self-reliant and independent,

thus not maneuverable.b. Because of Al-Rashid's accord, Al-Ma'Moon had

to be in Khurasan after his father's death. c. a+b+ Al-Ma'Moon became increasingly Persian-

oriented since he:1. kept his headquarters at Maru in Khurasan,2. had Persians as ministers.3. had Persian armed forces and Persian generals (such

as Tahir).d. b+ Ma'Moon was in Basrah after his father’s

death.


23


Specify some points of importance about Khalifa Al-Ma'Moon's administration.a. Al-Ma'Moon was an astute, perceptive, and a

canny politician.

b. Al-Ma'Moon triumphed over his brother, Al-Amin, after a 2½ year of civil war in which:

c. a+b+ his brother was beheaded and Al-Amin's head was brought to him from Baghdad.

d. Al-Ma'Moon triumphed over his brother, Al-Amin, after a 2 months of negotiations


24


Mention more points of importance about Al-Ma'Moon's administration.a. Al-Ma'Moon was able to put down simultaneous

revolts:1. especially of the Kharijis in Persia,2. a revolt in Iraq that made a potent bid for power, and3. Revolts in Yemen and Medina.

b. Al-Ma'Moon was the undoubted master of most of the Islamic empire during his Khilaafah.

c. a+b+c+ Though scarred and damaged, Baghdad continued to be at the height of magnificence during his reign.


25


What were the circumstances befalling Al-Ma'Moon's early on?a. Al-Ma'Moon had said, “When I was struggling against Al-

Amin, the people of Sistan and Kirman revolted, and there was unrest in Khurasan too.

• My treasury was empty, so I could not rely on my fighters whom I did not pay.

• In such a perilous circumstances, I prayed to Allah, taking the oath that

b. if I overcome all the odds and accede to the throne, I would hand the Khilaafah over to its real and rightful master,

c. Meaning to the most suitable among Imam Ali's descendants.

d. a+b+c+ It was only after taking this vow that my affairs improved.”


26


Give an account of the agreement between Imam Al-Ridha and Al-Ma'Moon.

a. Al-Ma'Moon urged Al-Ridha to accept the Khilaafah or Vice-regency.

b. a+ After an initial refusal Imam Al-Ridha (being pressured) agreed to be the Khalifa-in-succession (Vice-regent), on certain conditions

c. a+ Imam Al-Ridha was eager to succeed to the Khilaafah

d. Imam Al-Ridha was adamant in not accepting any offer.


27


What conditions did Al-Ridha agree to about being Khalifa-in-succession?a. That Al-Ridha does not appoint or dismiss

any official.

b. That Al-Ridha does not carry out tasks in the administration.

c. a+b+ That Al-Ridha would give counsel and advice when asked.

d. a+b+ That Al-Ridha would help in the day-to-day affairs of Khurasan


28


For how long did Al-Ridha live after the agreement with Al-Ma’Moon?

a. Al-Ridha died within 3 years after the agreement

b. a+ He was with Khalifa Al-Ma'Moon on his way moving to Baghdad.

c. a+ He was on his way to Medina

d. a+ He was on his way to Mecca for Haj


29

Click for the answerWhat marriage relationship evolved

between Imam Al-Ridha and Khalifa Al-Ma'Moon?

a. Al-Ma'Moon gave his sister in marriage to Al-Ridha.

b. At the same time Al-Ma'Moon gave his daughter in marriage to Al-Jawaad,

c. Al-Ridha. gave his sister in marriage to Al-Ma'Moon

d. Al-Ridha. gave his aunt Fatima in marriage to Al-Ma'Moon.


30


Comment about Commerce in Baghdad at the time of Al-Ridha.

a. Commerce and markets flourished freely, hence possibilities for new investment, were expanding.

b. Merchants, buying cheap and selling dear, found it profitable to carry exotic goods long distances

c. Hence luxuries were available not only at Baghdad but in many other places in unusual abundance.

d. a+b+c+ Of the wealth so released, at least a part went to encourage still further economic activity.


31


Describe the Banking System at the time of Al-Ma’Moon.

a. To supply the needs of far flung merchant houses, a regular banking business grew up,

b. which evidently had developed out of money changing business.

c. Bankers accepted draughts drawn in one place on funds deposited far distant.

d. a+b+c The government naturally made use of these bankers in accelerating its tax collecting and in other operations of its bureaucracy.


32


Describe the postal service and Al-Bareed during Imam Al-Ridha's time.a. Far flung contacts were maintained through

regular postal services, b. This was arranged by private individuals,

over the most important sea and land routes;c. Usually these were slow, but some seem to

have been express services.d. a+b+c+ Example: a merchant stationed in

Gujarat [in India] might have a relative traveling in Spain or be planning a commercial venture to the Oxus basin or the Volga valley


33


Describe the fashion at that period.

a. The fashions set at the court in social life, and in literary and artistic taste were spread to all the provincial centers,

b. The court itself was a melting pot in which all cultural traditions confronted each other.

c. a+b+ A key trait of the new common culture was cultural openness

d. a+b+ The Muslims began to emphasize personal worth on domination over others to the extreme.


34


Discuss the men of arts and letters during Imam Al-Ridha's time.a. Men of arts and letters were constantly on

the move, rarely residing in the town of their birth, and usually able to report visits to many widely distant cities.

b. The courtiers clung to some elements of hereditary position, which had been very important in Persian times.

c. Sometimes they wrote as if this were essential to Adab, to polite cultivation.

d. a+b+c+ The Alawi were very much looked up to.


35


Explain about the man of Talent at the time of Al-Ma’Moon:a. At Baghdad under the Abbasi rule a man of

talent could make a fortune or reach the highest positions with little regard for his birth.

b. What mattered even at court was his personal Adab (Polite Cultivation), especially his literary cultivation.

c. a+b+ This made for a new common regional pattern of culture.

d. a+b+ Personal Adab (Polite Cultivation), was looked down upon, it was regarded for the charlatans.


36


Describe the Bureau of Genealogy during Al-Ma’Moon’s time.a. There were special governmental bureaus to

register the generations of these families, so that genuine descent could be guaranteed,

b. This was to regulate the considerable properties and privileges accruing to the families as such.

c. a+b+ The Piety minded among the Muslims had further helped to lower the pride both of the Arab tribesmen, with their pagan ancestors, and of the formerly infidel gentry.

d. a+ This was a move to keep track for collecting taxes


37


Review the social patterns during Imam Al-Ridha's time.a. The Islamic spread altered the social

relations of several traditions of high culture. b. By now Muslims no longer formed merely a

small ruling class, c. Muslims were becoming a substantial part of

the population at large, in some places a majority.

d. a+b+c+ Consequently, there were no longer simply many religious communities divided from each other in geography, in language, and in lettered traditions.


38


Evaluate the influence of the Qassass [Popular Story Tellers]a. Popular story tellers (quasars) held forth the

wonders of the Prophets and other tales, all conceived within an Islamic framework.

b. A popular Islam arose further, complete with its own history, ethics, and eschatology.

c. a+b+ When the towns had become primarily Muslim, their innumerable links with the dependent village populations assured the gradual conversion of the villages to Islam also.

d. a+b+ Popular story tellers (quasars) were highly discouraged by Benu Abbas.


39


How were the new converts identified under the rule of Benu Abbas?

a. Under the Abbasi, the new converts no longer had to be identified with any Arab tribe,

b. for such tribes themselves gradually were losing their privileges.

c. a+b+ Islam became a badge, a status symbol, not of a ruling class, but of a cosmopolitan, urban oriented mass;

d. it became a symbol of the newly intensified social mobility. a+ for such tribes were ignored

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