Al-Mamoon Backs Off and Apologizes

Such a reaction stirred the reservations of al-Mamoon as seen in a letter he wrote after the death of Imam al-Rida (A.S.) and during his march to Iraq. Ibn al-Athir writes:

"When he (al-Rida (A.S.)) died, al-Mamoon wrote al-Hassan ibn Sahl informing him of Ali's death and his calamity of losing him, and he wrote to the residents of Baghdad, to the Abbasides and their subjects informing them of his death and inviting them to enter into his loyalty, and they wrote him back in the most rude manner."106

Such a violent challenge in which the Abbasides reacted to al-Mamoon and the latter's fears that they might persist in their rebellion lead the historian to conclude that al-Mamoon used one of his tricks to eliminate Imam al-Rida (A.S.) in order to put an end to the anger of the Abbasides and other residents of Baghdad who were outraged because of the nomination of al-Rida (A.S.) which was the reason why they terminated their loyalty to him.

Notes:

106 Ibn al-Athir, Vol. 5, p. 193

Adapted from: "Imam al-Ridha (a.s.), A Historical and Biographical Research" by: "Muhammad Jawad Fadlallah"