2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim and Muhammad ibn Humran from al-Walid ibn Sabih who has said the following: “I once went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, and I met Zurarah who received me when he was coming out of the presence of the Imam. He (the Imam) said to me, ‘O Walid, is it not strange to you that Zurarah asks me about working for these people? What does he want me to say? Does he want me to say no, so that he can narrate it from me?’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘O Walid, when did the Shi ’ah ask about working for them? The Shi ’ah would only say, ‘You can eat their food, use their drink and live under their protection.’ When did the Shi‘ah ask about it (working for them)?”’

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from Hadid who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, saying, ‘You must maintain piety before Allah and protect your religion by means of restraint from sins and strengthen your religion by means of taqiyah (caution), and self-sufficiency with Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. Whoever is submissive before al-Sultan and those who oppose one’s religion seeking thereby the worldly things in their hands, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, suppresses his mention and hates him and leaves him to his own self. If he finds something of the worldly things Allah will take away blessings thereof and will not reward him for anything that he may spend thereof for al-Hajj, setting free slaves or for any good cause.’”

4. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Bandar has narrated from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq from ‘Abd Allah ibn Hammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “I had a young friend who worked as clerk for Amawide rulers. He asked me to ask permission for a meeting with abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, I asked for permission and it was granted. He came for the meeting, offered greeting of peace and sat down. He then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I worked in the offices of these people (Amawide rules) and I received from their world a large amount of wealth. I did not object to what he demanded.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, then said, ‘If the Amawides did not find people who would work for them as clerks, collect taxes for them, fight for them and join their community, our rights would not have been taken away from us. Had people left them alone with what they have in their hands, they would not find more than what they had.’” He (the narrator) has said, “The young man then asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, is there a way for me to safety?’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘If I said, “Yes, there is a way” will you then follow?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I will follow.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Come out of all that you have gained from their offices. Return all the properties of those people whom you can find and give in charity on behalf of those whom you cannot find. I guarantee for you paradise from Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’” He (the narrator) has said, “The young man bent down his head for a long time and then said, T have done it, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause.’” Ibn abu Hamzah has said, “The young man returned with us to al-kufah. He did not leave anything on earth without moving himself away therefrom even clothes that he wore.” He (the narrator) has said “I then assigned a share for him. We bought clothes for him and provided him provisions. After a few months he became ill and we would visit him during his illness. After one day when he was about to die, he opened his eyes and then said to me, ‘O Ali, by Allah, your friend has kept his promise to me.’” He (the narrator) has said, “He died and we took care of his funeral. I then left to visit abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam. He (the Imam) looked at me and said, ‘O Ali, we by Allah fulfilled our commitment to your friend.’ He (the narrator) has said, T then said, “You have spoken the truth, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause. This is what exactly he said at the time of his death.’”

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about working for them (sultans). He (the Imam) said, ‘O abu Muhammad, no, not even for moving a pen. For whatever one finds from them of the worldly things, one’s religion is harmed proportionately or that he (the Imam) said that until his religion is harmed; - uncertainty is from ibn abu ‘Umayr.’”

6. Ibn abu ‘Umayr has narrated from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “I once was sitting in the presence of abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, near the door of his house and he (the Imam) looked at the people passing in throngs and mobs. He (the Imam) asked someone near him, ‘Has anything happened in al-Madinah?’ He replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, a new governor is assigned for al-Madinah and people are served lunch to welcome and congratulate him.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The man serves people lunch to receive their congratulation and he is a door of the doors of the fire.’”

7. Ibn abu ‘Umayr has narrated from Bashir from ibn abu Ya’fur who has said the following: “Once I was in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, when a certain man of our people came and said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, one of us may face hardship and straitened conditions and is called to construct a building, work a canal or a dam. What is your decision in such case? He (the Imam) replied, ‘I do not like it. I have knotted for them a knot and tied down the opening end of the bag of ‘no’. It is no and not even the moving of a pen. The helpers of the unjust ones on the Day of Judgment will be kept in chambers of fire until Allah will judge all of His servants.’”

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Yahya ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhajir who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘So and so has offered you Salam (greeting of peace) and so also is so and so.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Greeting of peace is upon them.’ I then said, ‘They request you to pray for them.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What is the matter with them?’ I said, ‘Abu Ja‘far, (Abbaside ruler) has imprisoned them.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘What they had to do with him and what had he to do with them?’ I replied, ‘He appointed them as his agents and then imprisoned them.’ ‘What is the matter with them and what is the matter with him? Had I not prohibited them, had I not prohibited, had I not prohibited them from the fire, from fire, from fire?’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘O Lord, plan for them against their ruler.’ I (the narrator) then left Makkah and asked about them and found out that they were released three days after (my) conversation (with him (the Imam)).”

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Dawud ibn Zurbiy who has said the following: “A Mawla’ (servant or friend) of Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, told me, ‘I was in al-Kufah when abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, came to al-Hirah and I went to see him. I said to him (the Imam), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, can you speak to Dawud ibn Ali or others of these people to admit me in anyone of these states (government)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I will never do so.’ I then returned home and thought about it and said to myself that he (the Imam) did not refuse except for fear that I may do injustice and transgress. By Allah I will go to him and provide all kinds of guarantees and swear extremely seriously, like divorce, freeing slaves and so on, not to do injustice and transgression. I then went to him (the Imam) and said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I thought about your refusal to speak for me and I thought you have refused and disliked it just because of your fear of my doing injustice and transgression against someone instead of acting with justice.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Why did you say that?’ I then repeated my demand and swearing. He (the Imam) raised his head to the sky and said, ‘Your reaching the sky is easier than what you want me to do for you.’”

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from Jahm ibn Humayd who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, once said to me, ‘Do you use the power of these people for cover?’ I replied, ‘No, I do not do so.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Why do you not do so?’ I replied, ‘It is because of my running away with my religion.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Are you determined in this issue?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I am determined.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Now your religion is safe for you.’”

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from and Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasaniy from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Sulayman al-Minqariy from Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about several issues of earning. He (the Imam) prohibited and said, ‘O Fudayl, the losses these people cause to this nation are more severe than the losses that Turks and Daylam may cause.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I then asked him (the Imam) about abstaining from people.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Restraining (to stay away from sin) are those who restrain from committing what Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made unlawful and to stay away from these people. If one does not stay away from doubtful matters, he becomes involved in unlawful matters. These people know it. When one sees an unlawful matter and does not dislike when he is able to do so, he has loved to disobey Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and one who loves to disobey Allah, has defied Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, with animosity, and one who loves to see the unjust survive has loved to disobey Allah. Allah, most Blessed, most High, has praised Himself because of His destroying the unjust, ‘He then cut down the end of the people who had committed injustice, all praise belongs to Allah, cherisher of the worlds.’” ( 6 : 45 )

12. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad in a marfu’ manner the following: “About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘You must not take sides with the unjust ones; consequently the fire will touch you,’ (11:13) he (the Imam), ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘This is a man who works with the sultan and loves his remaining in power so that he can have a hand in his achievements and receive grants from him.’”

13. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Muhammad ibn Hisham from those whom he has mentioned who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘A people of those who believed in Musa, ‘Alayhi al- Salam decided to join the army of Pharaoh so that they can benefit from their worldly gains and if Musa ‘Alayhi al-Salam succeeded to join him. They did as they had decided to do. When Musa ‘Alayhi al-Salam and his followers went to the sea running away from Pharaoh, those people also rode their stumpers and rushed to join Musa ‘Alayhi al-Salam and his army to remain with them but Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent an angel who turned the faces of their stumpers toward the Pharaoh and his army, as a result, they drowned along with those who drowned.”’ Ibn Faddal has narrated from Ali ibn ‘Uqbah from certain persons of our people who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘It is a right on Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, to make you with those whom you loved in the world.’”

14. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqiy from Ali ibn abu Rashid from Ibrahim ibn al-Sindiy from Yunus ibn Hammad who has said the following: “I once spoke to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about certain people who believe in Divine Authority of ‘A’immah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, but work for the Sultan. He (the Imam) said, ‘They have achieved authority, therefore, they benefit you and help you.’ I (the narrator) then said, ‘Certain ones among them do so and certain others do not do so. ‘He (the Imam) said, ‘You must denounce those of them who do not help and benefit you as Allah has denounced them.’”