Story No. 422 – IMAM RAZA (AS) AND RITUAL OF EID FITR PRAYER
| When Eid day fell, Mamun Rashid ordered that the Imam Raza (as) should lead the Eid Fitr (Festival at the end of the month of Ramadan) prayers, and all the notable offer their prayers with him. To begin with, Imam Raza (as) did not accept it. But when Mamun Rashid insisted, he was obliged to accept it. But he made it conditional that he will hold the prayer (assembly) the way his grandfather the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) did. Mamun Rashid accepted this. Imam Raza (as) put on clean clothes in the morning of Eid Fitr, perfumed himself and wore a white (Amama) turban upon his head and calling Takbir “Allah-o-Akbar”, moved towards the outskirts of the city, bare footedly.
All the people moved along with him calling the slogans of Takbir (Allah-o-Akbar). The thundering of Takbir made the city tremble. The people were so lost and immersed in emotions that they were weeping loudly and were uttering praise and salutations to Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his descendants. The condition was such as if the sky and earth and all the beings and creatures had joined voice in calling Takbir with the Imam Raza (as). When Fazal Bin Sahal, the minister of Mamun Rashid, observed that the state of affairs had become dangerous he informed him that, if Imam Raza (as) offers his prayers in this manner a riot and revolt would take shape. The official were all afraid that their lives were at risk. Therefore, he (Mamun Rashid) must at once send a word for Imam Raza (as) to turn back. Mamun Rashid at once sent an official to tell Imam Raza (as) to come back as soon as possible and not to hold the prayer assembly. Imam Raza (as) put on his shoes and rode the horse and returned and showed to the people that all of those things were a part of Mamun Rashid’s game. The anger and hate of the people for Mamun Rashid went up and their love and attraction towards Imam Raza (as) increased. All the people perceived and understood the hypocrisy and public deceiving attitude of Mamun Rashid. They appreciated that all that he had been doing about Imam Raza (as) had political motives. |