Martyrdom of Imam Ali al-Ridha (as)

The Treacherous Heir Apparency

Ma'mun forced Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) to accept the position of heir apparent (Wali al-Ahd) to quell Shia uprisings and legitimize his rule. However, when he saw the Imam's massive popularity, especially after the famous Eid prayer incident and his victory in debates, Ma'mun realized his plan had backfired. (Source: Tarikh al-Yaqubi)

The Martyrdom in Tus

Filled with jealousy and fear, Ma'mun secretly poisoned the Imam with poisoned grapes (or pomegranates) in the city of Tus. The Imam achieved martyrdom on the last day of Safar 203 AH. He is famously known as 'Gharib al-Ghuraba' (the loneliest of the lonely) because he died far away from his home and family in Medina.

Aamal for the Last Day of Safar

Millions of pilgrims flock to his holy shrine in Mashhad, Iran, to mourn his martyrdom. Reciting his specific Ziyarat (Ziyarat-e-Mukhtasar or Ziyarat-e-Jame'a), shedding tears, and performing a two-Rakat prayer for the Imam are highly recommended acts.