Summoned to Marw: In 200 AH (816 CE), the Abbasid caliph Ma'mun in Baghdad invited — in truth, ordered — Imam al-Rida (as) to come to Marw in Khurasan, in the east of the Muslim world, in present-day Iran and Central Asia.
Heir apparent — by force: Ma'mun named the Imam as his heir apparent, the crown prince after him. Historians explain this in different ways, but in Shia accounts the Imam accepted only because he was forced, and he made clear that he would not take part in the work of government.
The journey to Marw: The long journey from Madinah to Marw passed through many cities. Along the way, crowds came out to see the Imam, to hear his words, and to receive his blessings. In Nishapur, a great crowd of scholars asked him for a Hadith.
Example
Good from a forced journey: Sometimes a person is taken far from home, not by choice, but a greater good still comes from it. The journey of Imam al-Rida (as) to Khurasan spread knowledge to lands that had never heard him teach in person.
Key Terms
- Khurasan (خراسان) — a large eastern region of the Muslim world, in present-day Iran and Central Asia
- Ma'mun (مامون) — the Abbasid caliph who brought the Imam to Khurasan
- Wilayat al-Ahd (ولایت العہد) — being named heir apparent, crown prince
Quran or Hadith
The Hadith of the Golden Chain (Hadith al-Silsilah al-Dhahab), narrated by Imam al-Rida (as) in Nishapur on the journey to Marw, beginning "La ilaha illallah is My fortress" — exact wording, chain, and translation — to be checked.
Fresh diagram to be drawn: Simple map — Madinah to Nishapur to Marw, showing the journey east.
- In 200 AH (816 CE) Imam al-Rida (as) was taken from Madinah to Marw in Khurasan.
- Ma'mun named him heir apparent; the Imam accepted only under pressure and stayed out of government work.
- On the journey he taught in many cities, including Nishapur.