On Proof of Ar-Ridha’’s Rightfulness Due to Predicting that He (a.s.) Would not See Baghdad, And Neither Would Baghdad See Him (a.s.)

حَدَّثَنا أَبُو عَلِي الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أحْمَد الْبِيْهَقِيُّ قالَ حَدَّثَني مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الصُّوليُّ قَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ يَوْماً لِلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ نَدْخُلُ بَغْدَادَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ نَفْعَلُ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَقَالَ لَهُ تَدْخُلُ أَنْتَ بَغْدَادَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَلَمَّا خَلَوْتُ بِهِ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ شَيْئاً غَمَّنِي وَذَكَرْتُهُ لَهُ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا حُسَيْنٍ وَكَذَا كَانَ يَكْنِينِي بِطَرْحِ الأَلْفِ وَاللامِ وَمَا أَنَا وَبَغْدَادُ لا أَرَى بَغْدَادَ وَلا تَرَانِي. وَاَخبارِهِ‏ بِما يَجْرِي عَلَيْهِم وَبِأَنَّهُ لا يُصَلِّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الرَّشِيد مَكْرُوه

Abu Ali Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowli quoted on the authority of Oun ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abi Abad that one day Al-Ma’mun told Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “When we enter Baghdad, God willing we will do this and that.” Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told him, “O Commander of the Faithful! You will enter Baghdad.” Abi Abbad added, “When others had left, I heard something which made me feel sad. Then I told the Imam (a.s.) what I had heard. Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘O Husayn! What do I have to do with Baghdad? I will never see Baghdad, neither will Baghdad ever see me.’”