Role and Effects of Imam Ridha's Cultural Management on the Shiite Society | ||
Role and Effects of Imam Ridha's Cultural Management on the Shiite Society Hussein Khakpour and Marzieh Mahumdi
In Islam, cultural management refers to training people based on Quranic and Ahlul Bayt's ideals. According to the Shiism insight, the necessity and importance of the management must be sought after in the great principle of Imamah. In Imam Ridha's era, especially his heir apparent issue, provided an opportunity by which he revived the half-dead body of Shiism and pure Islam through cultural management. This paper tries to consider certain items of the cultural management in Imam's life: role of Holy Quran and Ahlul Bayt in escalating mankind position in his society, reviving the Holy Prophet's tradition and Infallible Imams, explaining and establishing of Imamah principle, growth and development, organizing, protection and guidance, illumination, insight generation, etc. Management is so important for God that God swears at "And those who govern the event" (An-Naziat/ 5) in Quran. Imam Ridha (AS) played a very vital role in development and excellence of the Shiism culture. He was forced by Mamun to accept Crown Prince position which was associated with an opportunity for followers of other religions to promote their thoughts and question Islam. Although Imam accepted this position and journey from Hijaz to Iran reluctantly, it is considered as one of aspects of Imam's cultural management, because if Imam's journey was covert and without public announcement of the Government, its promotional and informative aspect would be weak, perhaps very small number of close Shiites would be aware of Imam's presence in the cities in his way to Marv. However, this journey and immigration to Khorasan was done while it has been planned by the government and since the government intended to take political advantages of this immigration, it has invested considerably in its promotional aspect. Imam started to promote Islamic concept and doctrines through active participation in debates and scientific discussions and also played an active role in confronting with doubts and nullifying the wrong opinions and attracting attentions of other schools' scholars; in practice, Imam promoted intellectual thoughts of Shiism through intellectual and cultural management. The wise management of Imam Ridha (AS) escalated the position of both Quran and I'trat (the prophet's household) in the society; he also explained and described the important principle of Imamah through reviving the real Islam on the one hand and helped development and improvement of cultural and scientific growth of Shiism School in his time. While organizing Shiite beliefs, Imam escalated theological principles of Shiism and protected Shiites against deviation and damages.
Concepts Management Management, in particular, means governing and running an organization towards a predefined and certain purpose (Nilipour, 2011, vol. 1: 153). In other words, management refers to working with others and using the limited resources, as best as possible, to materialize the organizational targets (Ahmadi, 2003: 16). However, management, in general, includes guiding and governing a society. Here, in this paper, we refer to management concept in its general meaning. In Islamic references, Imamah and Wilayah have been used as equals for management (Nilipour, 2011, vol. 1: 153). Thus, in the light of Imamah principle, management means governing a society based on holy Quran and the Holy Prophet's Sunnah (Tradition) and also leading the society to the perfection (Alvani, 1995: 36).
Culture In Persian language, "culture" is an extensive terms indicating the concept of decorum, wisdom or art, etc. (Naini, 2010: 27). Culture, in light of its popular meaning, refers to lifestyles people living in a society learn, participate and hand down from a generation to another (Cohen, 2009: 72). Survival of a society depends on maintenance, establishment, refining, transferring and promoting the culture (Haji Deh Abadi, 2006: 19). Cultural Management Islamic cultural management means training people based on Quran and Ahlul Bayt ideals (Nilipour, 2011. Vol. 1: 29). Islam considers a very splendid and important position for leadership and management and introduces it as one of the most fundamental principles of a society and Islam. According to the Shiite perspective, management's necessity must be sought after in the Imamah principle. Imamah in a Muslim society is legitimate because it is related to Imamah and whenever it is cut, all other movement will lose their essence (Taghavi Dameghani, 1989: 51).
Escalating Role of Imam The holy prophet has state, in the Thaghalayin Hadith, that the sole way of rescue is relying on Quran and Itrat; however, after demise of the great prophet of Islam Itrat was ignored practically by the rulers and Quran also took a marginal role; but Imam Ridha (AS) revived and escalated them once more.
Escalation of Quran Position In Radhavi school is considered as the revelation and the most original resource of recognizing religious facts and epistemological and theological concepts. Imam Ridha (AS) reminded the Quran's great position through various ways. Imam refers numerously to Quranic verses, either in his debates or in other scientific discussions, in order to demonstrate his remarks on establishing the great position of Quran and used to introduce the Quran's speech unquestionable. However, referring to Quran in debates is possible when the other side is Muslim and believes in legitimacy of Quran; Imam used to refer to intellectual reasons and other resources when his opponent in the debate was a non-Muslim scholar.
Reflecting on Quran Verses Moreover, Imam Ridha (AS) advised Shiites to recite and reflect on the Quran. Imam Ridha (AS) was asked about his idea about Quran, Imam said, "Quran is the Almighty God's words, don’t trespass it, follow its instructions and use it as a sun to find your right way, because if you use other resource or book but Quran you will lose your way (Ibn Baboyeh, 1997: 546). Imam used to document his words with Quran verses (Tabarsi, 2011: 438; Arbali, 2003: vol. 3: 56).
Reviewing the Itrat's Position Imam Ridha used to seize any opportunity to define and demonstrate the great position of Itrat for people. Imam says: "Imam's are the Almighty God's caliphs on the earth" (Koleini, 1990, vol. 1: 275). Imam refers to Ahlul Bayt's Imamah as an indispensable concept and emphasizes the divine caliph position of Imam. Imam Ridha (AS) defined Imam a mean to revive Salat, Zakat and Hajj (ibid, Ibn Babouyeh, 1997: 676).
Reviving Role Imam Ridha (AS) used to seize any opportunity to revive the Holy Prophet and Infallible Imams tradition in order to refine all deviations made and imposed by the time rulers in the society. For example, when Mamun ordered him to say the Eid al-Fitr's prayers, Imam initially denied, but when Mamun insisted, Imam accepted to do so on one condition: to say prayers as the Prophet and Imam Ali (AS) used to say prayers and Mamun accepted this condition. So, Imam and his close companions walked in the city barefoot, it made the Fazl bin Sahl to feel danger and asked Mamun to order Imam to return (Masoudi, 1983: 397-396; Ghetal Shirazi, 1987: 373-374; Mofid, Bita. Vol. 2: 256-257). It clearly shows how much Imam was determined to revive the original Islam.
Explanatory and Establishing Role Without doubt, Imamah has the most pivotal role and position in the theological thought of Shiism. Believing in "immunity against sins" on the one hand and the role Shiism considers for the spiritual position of Imam, i.e. the exclusive religious leadership, indicates how important that position was (Muhammadzadeh, 2009: 453). Insisting Imam's purity and infallibility indicates efforts made to match the leadership qualities with the holy prophet's qualities and it also shows maintenance of dignity of the society's leaders. There was disputation on successor and Imamah between Muslims since the Prophet's demise. The ruling powers and the greedy one inflamed such disputes and as a result the Islam's Ummah was dispersed and divided into various denominations. The most important denominations of Islam are Sunni, who believe in caliphate of four caliphs after demise of the Holy Prophet and Shia who believe in Imamah and think that it was Imam Ali (AS) and his offspring who was entitled to be successor of the holy prophet. Each of these denominations have reasons to demonstrate their legitimacy. However, the Ahlul Bayt's reasons are relied on clear traditions handed down from the holy prophet. With regard to various intellectual current in Imam Ridha's time, the main difference was between Shiism and other Islamic sects and denominations and Shiite Imamah was among the most important issues on which they had different viewpoints. Understanding the fact, Imam Ridha (AS) started to introduce and promote the Shiite Imamah and cleared the great dignity and position of Imams as complete as possible. As the result of all cultural efforts and activities taken by Imam the Imamah's position institutionalized in the shia thought. Hence, it is one of important fruits and results of Imam Ridha's cultural management. Not only as a religious and moral leader of a certain group, but also as someone who was expert in presenting Imamah and Wilayah principle, Imam Ridha (AS) started to analyze and examine all covert and overt angles and aspects of leadership principle in the Shia thinking and school. He used any opportunity to answer questions and doubts raised about Imamah and Wilayah of Imams, as people considered him and his words as the criterion and standard to find something right and true. It is worthy to say that a great part of Imam Ridha's mission (AS), like other Imams of Shia, was promoting and describing Imamah. Imam Ridha (AS) was in a condition in which he had to negate the time' rulers and to introduce himself as the real authority who can lead people to bliss and resumption. Sometimes, Imam did not restrict himself to just demonstrate his right to be Imam, but he enumerate the righteous former Imams and his ancestors. There are many narratives which illustrate and indicate this fact. According to these narratives the precondition of monotheism is Imamah. As the result of Imam's efforts and endeavors, Imamah became the most important principle in Shiism doctrine. After Imam Sadiq (AS), growth and development in all aspects owes to Imam Ridha's thought and management.
Cultural and scientific growth of Islamic civilization and Shiism Improvement of cultural and scientific level of the Muslim society is one of important results of Imam Ridha's cultural management, the important position of Science and knowledge, among other civilization maker aspects and elements, is clear and its effective role in formation and continuance of the human civilization is not doubtful. The close relationship between science and Islamic culture and civilization is obvious in his era. However, despite Islam's efforts to train scientists and scholars, Muslims' incentives were not strong because of some social and political obstacles during the first and second centuries of Islam's history. However, relying on his wise tactics, Imam found his way to promote science and culture in the Muslim, especially Shia, society. Here we point to some of them: Refining Muslims' view to religion, science and Shiite principles Because of various jurisprudential and theological schools, the years before Imam Ridha (AS) has become an arena for deviated thoughts including deviations caused by translation of foreign books which had targeted the original religious beliefs. The most optimal and wise measure in this situation is promotion of the religious culture and the original Islamic beliefs through offering ways to differentiate right from wrong and in fact an epistemological activity on the popular beliefs in order to demonstrate the righteous beliefs of Imam Ridha (AS). Imam used to go to centers of these deviated thoughts including Basra, Kufa and to discuss with their scholars (Mortezavi, 1996: 28-30). During his stay in Marv, the scientific and administrative center of Khorasan, Imam spared no efforts to improve and escalate thinking and beliefs of people of Khorasan. During he was Crown Prince of Mamun, many cultural and political incidents occurred as Imam's popularity grew very quickly; as some suggest that Imam's immigration from Medina to Khorasan was not very effective, but if we consider and analyze this movement we will find out that it was very useful and fruitful for Shias. In general, in these three years of political and cultural revolution Imam conducted some deep and extensive activities for Shias, which, after Imam Sadiq's scientific movement, are unique in the Shia's history. This Cultural Revolution determined the original principles of Shiism in the highest level. The debate sessions, held by Mamun, in which Imam discussed with Muslim and non-Muslim scholars were very useful. Many materialistic scholars became convinced by Imam's remarks and confessed on the weakness of their beliefs. Many Sunni scholars were astonished from hearing Imam's answers (see: Ibn Baboyeh, 1398 AH, 420-27; Tabarsi, 1403 AH, vol. 2: 416-421, etc.) and such measures strengthened and empowered the Shia culture.
Education along with Guidance Apparently, Mamun confirmed and encouraged Imam to express and promote the Shiism principles. In this era, when Mamun, as the most knowledgeable Abbasid caliph, took power, a good condition was provided for improving scientific level of the society. In this time, Imam followed two agenda: guiding and leading the mass and moving them towards what Quran and Itrat say on the one hand and training people and making the interested in science and fighting against various sorts of doubts, which finally they promoted and improved cultural principles of Shiism thinking.
Pervasive Growth of all Sciences It is necessary to consider that the sciences taught in the Imam Ridha's school were beyond the Shiism. For example, promotion and growth of Medicine during Imam's lifetime can be considered as one of features of this time. Imam play a key role in development and promotion of Medicine in this time, as he has very important pamphlets on this regard: Dhahabia Risala and it encouraged the Abbasid rulers to convince people on researching in this issue and they made many measures as well. Likewise, the Theology was another science which has been considered and various discussions by different theologists were posed in defense of their beliefs, which in turn encouraged people to research and study more on theological issues. Although, various sects, which suffered from belief deviations and spared no effort to demonstrate their false claims, were formed and developed in this epoch of Islam history, the fundamental role of Imam Ridha and his companions and pupils to nullify and undermine intellectual and discursive principles of these sects and reveal their deviations for people.
Development of a proper scientific space Speaking about Imam Ridha's (AS) role in promotion and development of Islamic principles and concepts, we should not restrict ourselves to just say that Imam Ridha (AS) trained many great scholars on various sciences; because it shows a simple perception on his cultural management. Imam's major role in science development was forming and developing a proper scientific to offer opposite theories and thoughts and strengthening the speech freedom in the society. Therefore, both third and fourth centuries were accompanied with culmination of the Islamic civilization in three cultural, scientific and industrial and technological dimensions.
Promotion of Shiism in Imam Ridha's Time Development and promotion of Shiism is another important consequence of Imam Ridha's cultural management. Although Ashura Tragedy somehow affected public opinion, especially shia, and attracted them towards Ahlul Bayt (AS). Imam Sajjad, Imam Baghir, Imam Sadigh conducted very important cultural activities in order to promote Shiite principles and doctrine. Imam Kazim (AS), despite passed most years of his life in Abbasid jails, seized any opportunity to promote Shiism culture; however, the Umayyad and Abbasid's propaganda against Shiism was very strong and extensive, as Shias had no room to promote their thinking explicitly. These governments fought against Shiism in political and social arenas. In culture front, they used to distort and counterfeit Ahadith in order to deface Shiism. During Imam Ridha's lifetime, there was an opportunity, i.e. introducing Imam as the Mamun's crown prince, which let Shias to act and work more freely than before. The Shiite society grew in Imam Ridha's time in most parts of the Abbasid territory, especially in Khorasan. If we return to the past era, we will see that development of Shiism depended on several factors such as dispatching missionaries to various parts of Khorasan who were tasked with making people familiar with the true current of Imamah. Another factor which helped promotion of Shiism in Khorasan was Abbasid missionaries who worked in this area under the slogan of AL-REZA Min Aale Muhamamd, (Ridha Son of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). According to the authenticated and valid historical resources, Shiism was developed not only in Khorasan, but also in Medina, Kufa, Baghdad and Qom in Imam Ridha's time (Ibn ShahrAshub Mazandarani, 1405 AH, vol. 4; 220). For this reason, Imam Ridha moved to Marv from Basra route instead of the main route in which there was main Shia cities such as Kufa and Qom. In general, Shias enjoyed a relative convenience during Imam Ridha's Imamah.
Conclusion Relying on cultural management, Imam Ridha revived the semi-dead body of Shiism, which after Imam Sadiq's scientific movement is unique and unprecedented in the Shiism history, the role and influence of this cultural revolution can be considered in several areas such as the reviving role of Imam Ridha to revive the pure and real Islam, Quran and Alavid traditions, Imam explained the most pivotal factor of Shiism, i.e. Imamah, and established it in Muslims' thoughts, Imam improved cultural and scientific level of the society, Imam refined and improved Muslims' viewpoints and perspectives and developed all sciences and provided a proper scientific space. Moreover, Imam's certain style to discourse and dialogue was very important as it helped Imam to solve many cultural problems of his society.
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