On Ar-Ridha’s Words on the Reasons for Various Things

32-15 Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taliqani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father, “I asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ عليه السلام, ‘Why did the people quit making pledges of allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام and were attracted to other people, even though they knew the Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام was superior and they knew his rank in the presence of the Prophet of God عليه السلام?’ He عليه السلام replied, ‘They quit making pledges of allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام and were attracted to other people, even though they knew he wassuperior and they knew his rank in the presence of the Prophet of God عليه السلام, since the Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام had killed many of their fathers, uncles, and other relatives who were the enemies of God’s Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. That is why they disliked him in their hearts. They did not like him to be their master. They did not have such a feeling in their heart towards others, since others were not like Ali عليه السلام in the battles. They had not seen from them what they had seen from Ali عليه السلام in the battles. That is why they turned away from Ali عليه السلام and became inclined towards others.’”