Rida

For people with the name, see Reza (name).

Rida (Arabic: رضا, Riḍā) is one of the Islamic virtues discussed in Sufism as well as early Islamic belief. The term "riḍā" literally means 'the fact of being pleased or contented; contentment, approval[1]'. In religious context, this term is interpreted as satisfaction or "perfect contentment with God's will or decree".[2] It is also frequently given as a male first name in Shīʻa Muslim communities, however is it also a male name given in the Arab Christian (Arab Christians) community, and in the Druze (Druze) community. Sometimes alternately spelled: Ridha, after the eighth Shīʻa Imām, ʻAlī ibn Mūsā al-Riḍā (Ali ar-Ridha).[3]

Within Islam

Riḍā is often found rather vaguely within the English translation of the Qur'an, and in the life accounts of Sufi saints such as Rābiʻa al-ʻAdawiyya al-Qaysiyya (Rabia al-Adawiyya). According to Annemarie Schimmel, author of Mystical Dimensions of Islam, "riḍā is closely related to shukr, or gratitude", another virtue within Islam.[4] Other possible related virtues would be sabr, faqr, tawwakul, and zuhd; all coalescing to form "perfect sincerity" or ikhlas.

Within the Qur'an

The following are some examples of possible interpretations of riḍā within the Qur'an:

Rabi'a

The following are a couple examples of riḍā within the life of Rabi'a, a female Sufi saint:

One day on the street, she fled from the indignity. She fell and broke her hand. She put her face on the ground and said,'I am a stranger without mother or father. I am captive and my hand is broken. None of this saddens me. All I need is for you to be pleased with me, to know whether you are pleased with me or not.'

She heard a voice say, 'Do not be sad. Tomorrow a grandeur will be yours such that the closes of the heavenly company will take pride in you.'"[5]

She said, 'When he is as thankful for tribulation as he is for bliss.' They asked, 'When a sinner repents, does He accept him or not?' She said, 'How can he repent, unless the Lord gives him repentance and accepts him? Until He gives him repentance, he cannot repent.'"[6]

References

  1. Ed(s). "Riḍā." Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th. Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2010. Brill Online. Augustana. 8 April 2010 <http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/entry?entry=islam_COM-0920>
  2. Annemarie Schimmel, Mystical Dimensions of Islam (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1975), 53.
  3. Bearman, Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition.
  4. Shimmel, Mystical Dimensions of Islam, 126.
  5. Attar, "Memorial of the Friends of God," in Early Islamic Mysticism, ed. and trans. Michael A. Sells (New York: Paulist Press, 1996),156.
  6. Attar, Ibid, 163.
Bibliography

External links

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