Waqfism Spreads and Gains Momentum

These individuals fooled a select group from among the followers of the Imam (A.S.) and convinced them to believe, through casting doubts and suspicions, in Waqfism, so they finally fell to it and embraced the innovation. Among them were Abdul-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj, Rifa'a ibn Mousa, Younus ibn Ya'qoob, Jameel ibn Darraj, Hammad ibn Isa, Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Naseer, al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha, and other dignitaries who used to be companions of the Prophet's Progeny. But they came back to their senses, recognized the Imamate of al-Rida (A.S.), and abandoned Waqfism. Others whose adherence to Waqfism was bought with a lot of money did not listen to any argument and preferred to uphold their beliefs and died wronging their own souls such as Hamza ibn Bazee' who was described by Imam al-Rida (A.S.) as the "wretch."

Ibrahim ibn Yahya ibn Abul-Ballad is quoted saying: "Al-Rida once inquired, `What did this wretch Hamza ibn Bazee' do?' I said that he became an old man. He said, `He claims that my father is still alive! Today, they all doubt their own claim, but tomorrow they will die atheists.' Safwan said that he told himself he understood what the Imam (A.S.) meant by saying that they were doubtful, but he did not understand his reference to atheism. After a short while, Safwan continues, one of their men was reported to have said at the time of his death that he disbelieved in the God of his Imam (meaning Imam Mousa ibn Ja'fer, A.S.). Safwan said, `This is the interpretation of the (Imam's) hadith.'"67 Imam al-Rida (A.S.), indeed, suffered a great deal while fighting them and refuting their false beliefs, unveiling their real intentions and disclosing their reality before the public so that no weaklings would be duped by them.

Notes:

67 Shaikh al-Toosi's Al Ghayba, p. 50.

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