Rida (title)

Riḍā (Arabic: الرّضا), the most famous title of Imam 'Ali b. Musa al-Rida (a), means "the praised one".

According to a hadith reported in the book 'Uyun akhbar al-Rida, God bestowed the title "Rida" upon the eighth Shiite Imam. In this hadith, it is stated that Ahmad b. Abi Nasr al-Bazanti asked Imam al-Jawad, "Some of your opponents claim that al-Ma'mun gave your father the title of al-Rida because he accepted the position of crown prince." Imam al-Jawad replied, "By God, they have lied and acted unjustly. Rather, God named 'Ali b. Musa as al-Rida because he was pleasing to God in the heavens and pleasing to the Prophet and the other Imams on earth." The hadith continues, with al-Bazanti asking, "Were not all your forefathers (the Imams) pleasing to God, the Prophet (s), and the Imams (a)? Why, then, was your father specifically named al-Rida among them?" The Imam (a) replied, "Because both his enemies and his opponents, as well as his friends and supporters, were pleased with him. None of his forefathers were like this; therefore, my father was uniquely given the title al-Rida." Additionally, according to another hadith transmitted by Sulayman b. Hafs al-Marwazi in the book 'Uyun akhbar al-Rida, his father, Imam al-Kazim (a), called him al-Rida and used this title for him.

According to some historical sources, when 'Ali b. Musa (a) accepted the position of crown prince under al-Ma'mun al-Abbasi, al-Ma'mun gave him the title "al-Rida" and referred to him as "al-Rida min Al Muhammad". According to Wilferd Madelung, the German Islamic and Shia studies scholar (d. 2023), the phrase "al-Rida min Al Muhammad" (the accepted one from the family of Muhammad (s)) was previously used for individuals from the family of Muhammad whose caliphate was accepted by all Muslims. Sayyid Ja'far Murtada 'Amili, a Shiite researcher and biographer (1364- 1441 AH/ 1945- 2019), based on a letter from Fadl b. Sahl, al-Ma'mun's vizier, addressed to Imam al-Rida in which the title "al-Rida" was used, argued that "Rida" was already a title of the Imam. However, al-Ma'mun, inspired by this letter, made it the Imam's official title.

Ayatollah Jawadi Amuli interprets the title "Rida" for the eighth Imam as a unique divine title. He explains that whenever a person, in any circumstance, wishes to be content (radi, from the same root as rida) with something, it is through the mediation of the grace of Rida. For this reason, no one at any time will find satisfaction with anything or anyone except through the mediation of the exalted station of Rida.

See Also

• Sadiq
• Kazim
• Baqir al-'Ulum
• Guarantor of the Gazelle