Journal of Razavi Culture

Abstract  
A significant portion of Imam Reza’s (a) hadiths is dedicated to the subject of Imamate. Thus, examining these hadiths from various perspectives is of considerable importance. This article aims, using a historical approach, to identify the components of Imamate from the Imam’s viewpoint and to understand their connection to the historical context of his time. Accordingly, the research question here is: what meaningful relationship exists between the historical context contemporary with Imam Ali ibn Musa (a) and the thematic diversity of the hadiths on Imamate attributed to him?
Based on the political and cultural atmosphere of the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries AH, it is evident that issues of leadership and Imamate in the Islamic community were still among the most contentious challenges among Islamic sects and denominations. Consequently, the numerous hadiths of Imam Reza (a) on the topic of Imamate are directly related to the crises and challenges of his time, including issues of caliphate and elective leadership, the permissibility of appointing a lesser figure over a more qualified one, the prioritization of caliphs, intra-Shi’a sects, and extremist factions. Among the Imam’s most significant actions to address these doubts and challenges was establishing the legitimacy of the Imamate of Ahl al-Bayt (a) by focusing on the components of divine appointment and the elevated status of the Imams, the virtues and superiority of Imam Ali (a), knowledge and infallibility, divine authority, and the obligatory obedience to the Imam. Each of these components clearly reflects Imam Ali ibn Musa’s (a) views on the differences, weaknesses, and errors in the perspectives of contemporary sects.

Abstract This article attempts to present and examine some aspects of netilization and the dimensions of the discursive conflict in the process of accepting Imam Reza's viceroy. Since the acceptance of the Supreme Leader by Imam took place in a particular political atmosphere, his extensive efforts to get away from the intellectual, political and social system of the enemy (rival discourse) and its negation is important in linguistic and practical ways. What is certain is that Raḍavī's political discourse, in the context of the general discourse of Imamate and Wilāyat, and influenced by historical and prolonged conflicts over the discourse of "caliphate and monarchy," has shown various aspects of conflict and oppression.
The results of this study show that Raḍavī's discourse has succeeded in expanding its semantic system and political thought in public opinion of the society and becoming a comprehensive discourse (hegemonic). The use of literature and the methodology of discourse analysis, especially the proposed approach by Laclau and Mufa, is a distinguishing feature of this article that has so far been less widely considered and used.

Abstract The issue of Imam Reza's succession to Caliphate in Abbasid Court was the most important political matter ever happened during the political history of the Imams. Al-Ma'mun offered the caliphate seat, for which his ancestors fought and struggled for many years and he willingly killed his own brother to have, to his family's rival through insist and threats and without any price to pay. Despite his ancestors' legitimate struggle to take back this seat, Imam Reza refused to accept the succession.
  This event brought up different assumptions for many researchers. With a political hypothesis and exploring some opinions that attribute Mu'tazilites or Shiite notions to al-Ma'mun, an with a brief eye on the issue of Imamate from the Shiite and Mu'tazilites points of view, this paper examines the succession issue outside the boundaries of political motivations and introduces the religious beliefs of the both parties involved as well as their political stands as effective factors in their insists and denials over the issue.