4. Ma’mun’s Decision & Its Consequences
FinallyImam ar-Ridha arrived atMarw. Ma’munoffered himfirstthe
caliphateandthenthe successionto thecaliphate.The Imammadehis
apologiesandturneddowntheproposal, buthewasfinallycompelled
toacceptthe successorship—theImam acceptedthe successorshipwith
the conditionthat hewould not interfereingovernmentalaffairs orin
the appointment or dismissal of government agents.
Thiseventoccurredin200/814.ButsoonMa’munrealizedthathehad
committedanerror,fortherewasarapidspreadofShi‘ism,agrowthin
theattachment ofthe populaceto theImam,andan astoundingrecep-
tion wasgiven to the Imam bythe people and even bythe army and
govenment agents.
Forexample,oncejustafewdaysbeforean‘idd,Ma’munaskedImam
ar-Ridha to lead the ‘idd prayer. The Imam refused at first, but then
Ma’muninsisted. Finally, theImam accepted butonthe conditionthat
hewouldleadtheprayerthewaytheProphetusedtodo.Onthedayof
‘idd,allthehighrankingofficialsofMa’muncametotheImam’shouse
andwaitedforhimoutside.Therewerealsomanycommonpeoplewait-
ingforthe Imamaswell. TheholyImam cameoutof thehouse, bare-
footed,andstartedwalkingcalmlywithawalkingstickinonehand.The
officialssteppeddownfromtheirhorsesandstartedwalkingbehindthe
Imam.After every fewsteps hewould stopand looktowards the sky
andsay“AllahuAkbar.”The officialentourageandthemassesfollowed
the Imam in what he was doing. Soon the entire city of Marw was
ringingwiththesoundof“AllahuAkbar”.Ma’munwasinformedbyhis
spies that if this procession continues to the prayer area, the masses
couldeasilyturnagainstthe‘AbbāsidsandinfavouroftheAhlulBayt.
Ma’mun immediately sent an emissary with the message to the Imam
thatbyinsistingthatyouleadtheprayer,wehaveputyouindifficulty
sopleasereturntoyourresidenceandthe‘iddprayerwillbeledbythe
regularimam.TheImamorderedthathisshoesandhorsebebrought,he
gotonitandreturned home.Thisepisodemadeitclearforthepeople
thatMa’mun wasnotsincere inhis showof respecttowards Imamar-
Ridha:hewould respecthimaslongasthat didnotendangerhisown
caliphate.