Uyoun Akhbar Al-Ridha
 A handwritten page dated to 1897 documenting al-Rida’s debates, recorded in Uyun Akhbar al-Rida. | |
| Author | Ibn Babawayh |
|---|---|
| Genre | Hadith, History of Islam |
| Publication date | 961 CE |
| Media type | book |
Uyoun Akhbar al-Rida (Arabic: عُيُون أَخْبَار ٱلرِّضَا, "Sources of the Traditions of al-Rida") is a hadith collection about the life, works, and narrations of Ali al-Rida, the eighth Shia Imam. Written by Ibn Babawayh, it is one of the most comprehensive and authoritative Islamic books on jurisprudence, ethics, biography, and theology.[1]
Ibn Babawayh compiled the book in recognition of Sahib ibn Abbad, the Grand vizier of the Buyid Empire, and presented it to him as a gift. The hadiths are organized into 69 chapters. Some of them contain the sayings of Imam Reza himself, while others consist narrations by him from the seven Imams before him. The book has been translated into more than ten languages, and printed numerous times in various countries.
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Compiler
[edit]Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn 'Ali ibn Babawayh al-Qummi, better known as Ibn Babawayh or Sheikh al-Saduq, was born circa 923 in Qom and died 991 in Ray. He was also author of one of the authoritative four books of Hadith Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih.[2] Ibn Babawayh was also the compiler of Man la Yahdaruhu al-Faqih (He Who Has No Jurisprudence with Him), which was later considered the second great collection of Shia hadith, after Kulayni's al-Kafi, and numerous other collections of the Imams’ traditions. Ibn Babawayh collected many traditions from his father. His Uyoun Akhbar al-Rida (Sources of the Traditions of al-Rida), was the product of a sojourn to Greater Khorasan in search of the traditions of the eighth Imam ‘Ali al-Rida (d. 202/818).[3][4]
Similar books
[edit]There are two books which titled by the name of Al Ridha. In other words they are also concerned to Imam Ridha' Life before Uyun Al Akhbar. They Are as follow: Wafat al-Rida written by Abu Salt Herawi; Akhbar Ali b. Musa al-Rida (a) written by Abd al-Aziz b. Yahya Juludi.[5] Also there are three books with the title of Uyun, as named below:
- 'Uyun al-akhbar and 'Uyun sihah al-akhbar fi manaqib al-abrar, which were both written by Yahya b. Bitriq (7th century AH).
- 'Uyun al-akhbar written by Abu Muhammad 'Abd al-Rahman b. Abi Bakr Neyshaburi Razi.
- 'Uyun al-akhbar wa l-athar fi dhikr al-Nabi al-Mustafa al-mukhtar wa wasiyyat Ali b. Abi Talib qatil al-kuffar wa alih al-a'immat al-athar written by 'Imad al-Din Idris b. Hassan Abdullah al-Anaf.[6]
Importance
[edit]The book counted as the reference Hadith book among Shia Muslims such that many valuable books such as Bihar al-Anwar refer to it. The book also was respected by great philosophers like Mirdamad one of the great masters of Philosophical school of Isfahan. He says about Uyun Akhbar Al Ridha: "Uyun Akhbar al-Reza polishes the blight of sadness off the heart. There has never been anything to the world like it for the onlookers of the east and the west, and any knowledge in its parts suffice you like the sun of guiding light which fulfills desires of the heart."[7]
Motive of writing
[edit]According to Ibn Babawayh in the introduction to the book, when Sahib ibn Abbad composed poems praising Imam Reza and presented them to him, Ibn Babawayh gifted Uyoun Akhbar al-Rida as a tribute to Sahib ibn Abbad and dedicated it to him. Ibn Babawayh writes: “I found no better gift than this book, compiled from the boundless knowledge of Imam Reza, to send in response to Ibn Abbad’s poems.”
He included Sahib ibn Abbad’s poems in the introduction to the book: “O you who travel to Tus, the pure place and sacred land! Convey my greetings to al-Rida and stay beside the finest grave, whose occupant is the best of those buried. By God, an oath spoken by one sincere and devoted to the love of the Ahl al-Bayt, if fulfilling my wishes were within my power, I would reside before the house of al-Rida. And I would hasten like swift camels toward a shrine covered in light and radiance, where one honored by light and exalted in rank lies buried and dwells.”[8]
Content
[edit]The book's chapters:[8]
Chapter One: Why was the Imam called “al-Rida”?
Chapter Two: Information about the mother of Imam Reza.
Chapter Three: The birth of Imam Reza.
Chapter Four: Narrations from the Seventh Imam concerning the succession of Imam Reza.
Chapter Five: The will of Imam Musa al-Kazim.
Chapter Six: The Imamate of Imam Reza.
Chapter Seven: The encounters of Imam Musa al-Kazim with Harun al-Rashid.
Chapter Eight: The martyrdom of the Seventh Imam.
Chapter Nine: The descendants of the Prophet whom Harun had killed.
Chapter Ten: The Waqifiyya.
Chapter Eleven: Sermons by Imam Reza concerning the oneness of God.
Chapter Twelve: Imam Reza’s debates concerning the oneness of God.
Chapter Thirteen: Imam Reza’s debate with Sulayman al-Marwazi.
Chapter Fourteen: Debates with scholars of other religions.
Chapter Fifteen: A debate concerning the infallibility of the prophets.
Chapter Sixteen: The Companions of the Rass.
Chapter Seventeen: The verse, “And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.”
Chapter Eighteen: The saying of the Prophet Muhammad, “I am the son of the two sacrificed ones.”
Chapter Nineteen: The signs of an infallible Imam.
Chapter Twenty: The status and rank of the Imam.
Chapter Twenty-One: The marriage of Imam Reza.
Chapter Twenty-Two: The status and various degrees of faith.
Chapter Twenty-Three: Imam Reza’s debate with al-Ma'mun concerning the difference between the Ahl al-Bayt and the Muslim community.
Chapter Twenty-Four: An account concerning Ali ibn Abi Talib.
Chapter Twenty-Five: Zayd ibn Ali.
Chapter Twenty-Six: Various branches of knowledge.
Chapters Twenty-Seven: Harut and Marut.
Chapters Twenty-Eight to Thirty-One: Various matters narrated by Imam Reza.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Letters to Muhammad ibn Sinan.
Chapter Thirty-Three: Narrations of Fadl ibn Shadhan.
Chapter Thirty-Four: The strengths of Islam and Islamic law.
Chapter Thirty-Five: Imam Reza’s presence in Nishapur and the house he entered.
Chapter Thirty-Six: The Imam’s residences and movements.
Chapter Thirty-Seven: A rare narration.
Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Imam’s journey to Tus and then to Merv.
Chapter Thirty-Nine: The acceptance of the position of heir apparent and those who opposed or supported it.
Chapter Forty: The prayer for rain and the events surrounding it.
Chapter Forty-One: Al-Ma'mun’s mistreatment of Imam Reza.
Chapter Forty-Two: Poems recited by the Imam in response to al-Ma'mun’s treatment of him.
Chapter Forty-Three: The Imam’s virtuous character and acts of worship.
Chapter Forty-Four: Al-Ma'mun’s debates concerning the superiority of Imam Ali and Imam Reza.
Chapter Forty-Five: The Ahl al-Bayt’s mastery of knowledge and the refutation of the extremist sects.
Chapter Forty-Six: Forty-two reports establishing the authority of the Imam.
Chapter Forty-Seven: The Imam’s curse against one of his enemies.
Chapter Forty-Eight: Reports in which Imam Reza foretold events concerning al-Ma'mun’s future.
Chapter Forty-Nine: The cursing of the Barmakids and the Imam’s prediction concerning Harun’s inability to harm him.
Chapter Fifty: A narration concerning the burial place of Imam Reza and establishing his legitimacy and Imamate.
Chapter Fifty-One: The Imam’s foreknowledge of his poisoning and burial.
Chapter Fifty-Two: Narrations concerning the virtues of Imam Reza and the love of his followers for him.
Chapter Fifty-Three: The Imam’s knowledge of all languages.
Chapter Fifty-Four: The Imam’s answers to the questions of al-Hasan ibn Ali al-Washsha before they were asked.
Chapter Fifty-Five: The Imam’s answers to Abu Qurra’s questions.
Chapter Fifty-Six: The debate with Yahya al-Dahhak al-Samarqandi.
Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Imam’s conversation with his brother Zayd ibn Musa.
Chapter Fifty-Eight: The poisoning of Imam Reza.
Chapter Fifty-Nine: A narration concerning the succession of Imam al-Jawad.
Chapter Sixty: Al-Ma'mun’s plot and deception in giving poison to the Imam.
Chapters Sixty-One to Sixty-Five: The Imam’s poisoning, the poison itself, and the events surrounding it.
Chapter Sixty-Six: The reward for visiting the Fatima al-Ma'suma Shrine.
Chapter Sixty-Seven: The proper manner of visiting the Imam Reza Shrine.
Chapter Sixty-Eight: The farewell pilgrimage to Imam Reza.
Chapter Sixty-Nine: The prescribed visitation prayer for Imam Reza and all the Imams, as well as the miracles of Imam Reza.
Translation and gloss
[edit]It was also translated into Persian by Muhammad Taqi Najafi Isfahani (d. 1914) and was published in 1908 in Isfahan. The book was also translated to English by Dr. Ali Peiravi and published by the Asnariyan Publication in 2 volumes.[8] Seyyed Nemat Allah Jazayeri wrote an explanation for this book, called “The Shiny Light”. Aqa Bozorg Tehrani mentioned six glosses or commentary written on the book. Some of them are as follow:
- Persian commentary of Shaykh Muhammad Ali Hazin Zahedi Gilani (d. 1181 AH)
- The commentary written by Mawla Hadi Bonabi (d. 1281 AH) among students of Shaykh Murtada Ansari
- Persian commentary of Sayyid Ali Asghar Shushtari
- Marginal notes of Sayyid Hussayn Mujtahid Qazwini
- Glosses written by Sayyid Hussayn b. Hassan 'Amili Karaki[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Meri, Josef W., ed. (2006). Medieval Islamic Civilization. Vol. 1 A-K, index. Taylor & Francis. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-415-96691-7.
- Āghā Buzurg Ṭahrānī (1982). Al-Dharīʿa ilā taṣānīf al-Shīʿa. Vol. 15, (1403 AH).
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
- ↑ "نگاهی به کتاب «عیون الاخبار الرضا» شیخ صدوق" (in Persian). Retrieved 19 February 2026.
- ↑ "EBN BĀBAWAYH (2)". Encyclopædia Iranica. 1997-12-15. Retrieved 2019-10-04.
- ↑ Meri 2006, p. 352: Newman, Andrew J, "Ibn Babawayh".
- ↑ "زندگینامه ابوجعفر محمد بن علی اب بابویه قمی" (in Persian). Retrieved 19 February 2026.
- ↑ al-Najasshi (1995). Rijal al-Najasshi. Jami'ah al-Mudarrisin. pp. 245–246, (1416 AH).
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - 1 2 Al-Dhari'ah, p. 375.
- ↑ Al-Dhari'ah, p. 376.
- 1 2 3 as-Saduq, Shaykh (2006). Uyun Akhbar Ar-Ridha. Vol. 1. Translated by Peiravi, Ali. Qum: Ansariyan Publications. Retrieved 2019-10-04 – via Al-Islam.org.
External links
[edit]- Nasr, Seyyed Hossein; Dabashi, Hamid; Nasr, Seyyed Vali Reza (1988). Shi'ism: Doctrines, Thought, and Spirituality. SUNY Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-88706-689-4.
- Cooperson, Michael (2000). Classical Arabic Biography: The Heirs of the Prophets in the Age of al-Ma'mun. Cambridge University Press. p. 73. ISBN 978-1-139-42669-5.