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

32-30 Tamim ibn Abdullah ibn Tamim al-Qurashi narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Ali Al-Ansari, that Abi Salt al-Harawi said, “One day Al-Ma’mun told Ar-Ridha’ عليه السلام, ‘O Abal Hassan Al-Ridha’ عليه السلام! Tell me, why is it that your grandfather Ali - the Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام became the one to divide up Paradise and Hell. What is meant by this? I have thought a lot about this.” Then Ar-Ridha’ عليه السلام told him, “O Commander of the Faithful (i.e. Al-Ma’mun)! Has it not been narrated by your father, on the authority of your forefathers, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Abbas to have said that he had heard God’s Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم say, “Liking Ali is the same as faith, and despising him is the same as atheism.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Yes.” Then Ar-Ridha’ عليه السلام added, “Therefore, he is the one who divides up Paradise and Hell as it is loving him which equals faith, and despising him which equals atheism.” Then Al-Ma’mun said, “O Abal Hassan (Ar-Ridha’)! May God not let me live after you! I testify that you are the inheritor of the knowledge of God’s Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم.” Abi Salt (al-Harawi) added, “When Ar-Ridha’ عليه السلام returned home, I went to see him عليه السلام and said, “O son of God’s Prophet! How nice did you respond to the Commander of the Faithful’s (al-Ma’mun) question!” Ar-Ridha’ عليه السلام said, “O Aba Salt! I answered him using the same way that he was reasoning. I heard my father عليه السلام narrate on the authority of his forefathers عليه السلام, on the authority of Ali عليه السلام that God’s Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم told him, “O Ali! You are the one to divide up Paradise and Fire on the Resurrection Day. You will order the Fire to let go of some saying that they are yours, and tell the Fire that some are for the Fire to capture and they belong to it.’”