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ʿAlī b. Mūsā (a) (b. 148/765 – d. 203/818) is the eighth Imam of Twelver Shia. His teknonym was Abū l-Ḥasan and his most famous title was al-Riḍā. He was an Imam for twenty years. Imam al-Rida (a) was born in Medina and was martyred in Tus.
Al-Ma'mun al-'Abbasi brought Imam al-Rida (a) to Khorasan by force and despite Imam's will made him heir apparent. The debate sessions that al-Ma'mun al-Abbasi held between Imam al-Rida (a) and personalities from other religions and schools of thought are well known.
Al-Ma'mun martyred him in Tus. The holy shrine of Imam al-Rida (a) is located in Mashhad, and every year millions of Muslims from different countries visit it.
His lineage is mentioned as 'Ali son of Musa son of Ja'far son of Muhammad son of 'Ali son of Husayn son of 'Ali b. Abi Talib. His teknonym was Abu l-Hasan. His most famous title was al-Rida. Some sources said al-Ma'mun gave him this title but Imam al-Jawad (a), in a hadith, said Allah gave his father this title (al-Rida). Al-Sabir, al-Radi, and al-Wafi are among his titles. He is also known as "the knowledgeable among the progeny of the Prophet (s)". It is reported that Imam al-Kazim (a) would address his children saying: "Your brother, Ali b. Musa, is the knowledgeable among the progeny of the Prophet (s)."
Imam al-Rida's (a) birthday has been reported to be on Thursday or Friday, Dhu l-Qa'da 11, Dhu l-Hijja, or Rabi' I of 148/765, 766 or 153/770. Al-Kulayni reported Imam's (a) birthday in 148/765, which is agreed by most historians.
Al-Shaykh al-Saduq wrote about Imam's (a) mother that, "she was a concubine called Tuktam when Imam al-Kazim (a) owned her. When Imam al-Rida (a) was born, Imam al-Kazim (a) named her Tahirah. Al-Saduq says, "Some have said that the name of Imam al-Rida's (a) mother was Sakan al-Nawbiyya. She was also called al-Arwi, Najma, and Samana, and her teknonym was Umm al-Banin.
In another account, it is mentioned that Imam's (a) mother was a pious concubine called Najma who was bought by Hamida, Imam al-Kazim's (a) mother, and gifted to Imam al-Kazim (a), who called her Tahira after she gave birth to Imam al-Rida (a). It has been said that Imam al-Rida's (a) mother was from Nawba.....
Other featured articles: Marja' – Nahj al-balagha (book) – Imam Muhammad b. Ali al-Baqir (a)