On The Reasons why Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha عليه السلام accepted the succession to the throne from Al-Ma’mun, what Went On, those who were displeased and those who were pleased

40-2 Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja’far al-Hamadani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of al-Rayyan ibn al-Salt, “I went to see Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ عليه السلام and told him, “O son of the Prophet! The people say that although you show asceticism, you have accepted the succession to the throne.” He عليه السلام replied, “Indeed God knows how much I hated this. However when I was only given the choice to either accept this or be killed, I chose this (the acceptance of the succession to the throne) over being killed. Woe be to them! Do they not know that Joseph عليه السلام, who was a Prophet, said the following to the King of Egypt when it was necessary to do so, ‘Set me over the store-houses of the land: I will indeed guard them, as one that knows (their importance).’I was also forced to accept this (the acceptance of the succession to the throne) even though I did not like to. I unwillingly accepted it when I was about to be killed. I accepted this affair like one who has no interest in it. And I will take my complaint to God on this issue and seek His Assistance.