Imam Reza (a.s.) prayed to
Almighty Allah for rain in Khorasan and winds and clouds accompanied with
lightning thunder appeared. When the people wanted to move out of the open and
return to their homes, His Eminence said: “Hold it, these clouds are not sent
for you, they are supposed to rain elsewhere.”
When those clouds moved away,
another wind, clouds, lightning and thunder came. His Eminence said: “These
clouds are also not supposed to rain here.”
This continued till clouds
appeared ten times and went away.
When clouds appeared for the
eleventh time, the Imam (a.s.) said: “God has sent these clouds for you; so
thank the Lord and return to your homes. It would start raining when you reach
your homes and it wouldn’t rain till you do so.”
The rain of mercy began to
fall as soon as they reached their homes. The people were elated and due to the
presence of the Imam, blessings increased in Khorasan. After that poets
composed a large number of poems in praise of the Holy Imam (a.s.).
An opponent of the Imam,
named Hamid bin Mehran committed a number of audacities and uttered statements
of infidelity in the presence of Mamun.
Among them he said to Mamun:
“Has anyone committed such a serious crime like you that he expelled caliphate
from his family and gave it to someone else?”!
Mamun said: “This man [Imam
Reza (a.s.)] invites people towards himself surreptitiously. I wish to appoint
him as my crown prince so that he invites people to me and also confesses to
our caliphate.
In this way, even those, who are enchanted by him, would realize
that his claim is not valid. I fear that if I do not appoint him as the crown
prince, he would create a great rift in our caliphate and we wouldn’t be able
to repair it. Now that our worries are over it is not proper to leave him to
his devices. So, as long as I can, I would not be deficient in reducing his status.”
Hamid bin Mehran said: “Leave
this matter to me. If there was no fear from you, I would have thrown him from
reliability and respect.” Mamun said: “In my view this is the most important of
all matters.” He said: “Gather the elders of the kingdom, judiciary,
intellectuals and people of the country and society, so that I may expose his
defects.”
Thus, a huge gathering was
organized and Mamun gathered the elders of the kingdom and made Imam Ali Reza
(a.s.) sit on his throne. Hamid, the profligate, turned to the eighth Imam, the
Wali of Allah and the Divine Proof and said:
“People have resorted to
extremism regarding you and exaggerated your praise. Rain, which sometimes
falls and sometimes does not, people think that it fell due to your
supplications and regarded it as your miracle. You should reject these liars.”
Imam Ali Reza (a.s.) said:
“I will not stop
those, who narrate about divine bounties and graces upon me, neither do I
intend to pride or boast upon it.”
That villain said: “If you
are truthful, make the image of the lions on Mamun’s throne alive and to attack
me, so that it may be a miracle for you and not rain, which fell due to
supplications of some people and the effect of your supplications in it was
definitely not more than that of others.”
Suddenly, that caliph of God
and the Waliullah became infuriated and called out to the images of the two
lions:
“Seize this transgressor,
tear him up and don’t leave any of his trace!”
Suddenly, those two images
leaped out from the picture and changed into two living beasts. They tore up
the profligate Hamid, broke up his bones and ate up his flesh, skin and hair.
In other words, they did not
leave any trace of his; they even licked each drop of his blood. Others also
witnessed this in utter bewilderment and silence.
When the lions finished off
that villain, they said aloud in eloquent tongue: “O Wali of the Lord, we are
waiting for your command. If you permit, we will make Mamun join his friend!”
When Mamun heard this, he fell down unconscious in fright.
However, Imam Ali Reza (a.s.)
said: “Be still.” And he ordered them to sprinkle
water on Mamun’s face to revive him. Again those two lions said: “Master, allow
us to make this man join his friend!” His Eminence replied: “No, destined
matters remain, which must come to pass.” They said: “Then what do you command
us?” He replied: “Return to your places and assume your previous form.” They
returned and assumed the form of two images.
Mamun said: “Thanks to Allah
that He removed the mischief of Hamid bin Mehran from us!” Then he said: “O son
of Allah’s Messenger, this issue of caliphate was the right of your
grandfather, His Eminence, Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and after that it is
your right. If you like, I will abdicate in your favor [so that I may come under
your discretion].”
Imam Ali Reza (a.s.) said:
“If I wanted, I would
not have posed request to you (that is I was not needful of your abdication).
As Almighty Allah made these pictures of the lions obedient to me, He has
placed all creatures under my command; except for the ignorant human beings,
who have put themselves into loss. [Allah wanted human beings to act according
to their will and this discretion was not taken away from them]. Divine destiny
will come to pass and Almighty Allah has commanded that I should not raise
objection against you and remain as we are; as He commanded Yusuf (a.s.) to act
according to the orders of the Firon of Egypt.” Thus, Mamun was humiliated.
(Isbaatul Wilayah of Ayatullah Haaj Shaykh Ali Namazi Shahroodi (r.a.) Section Seven: Obedience of animals and their pictures to Prophet and Holy Imams (a.s.), Behaarul Anwaar, vol. 49, p. 18.)
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