2. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘ Abd al-Jabbar from ibn abu Najran from ibn Sinan from Habib from abu Basir who has said the following: “In the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, a man of this group (followers of ‘A’immah) was mentioned and that he had become the in charge person of an official position of the rulers. He (the Imam) asked, ‘How is his dealing with his brothers in belief ? 5 I (the narrator) replied, ‘There is nothing good in him in this issue . 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘It is awful. They involve themselves in something which they are not supposed to do; then they do not do anything good for their brothers in belief . 555

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from those whom he has mentioned from Ali ibn Asbat from Ibrahim ibn abu Mahmud from Ali ibn Yaqtin who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘How is working for these people ? 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘If you do not have any choice, you must observe caution about properties of al-Shi 5 ah . 5 He (the narrator) has said that Ali told me, ‘He would collect funds from al-Shi 5 ah in public, then return it to them secretly . 555

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Hassan ibn al-Husayn al-Anbariy who has said the following: “I wrote to abu al-Hassan, al-Rida 5 , ‘Alayhi al-Salam, for fourteen years asking his permission to work for Sultan. In the last letter I wrote saying that I fear for my life if I did not work for the Sultan, because he calls me a Rafidiy (rejecter) saying, ‘We have no doubt that you have refused to work for the Sultan because of your rejection . 5 Abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, wrote to me, ‘I have noted what you have mentioned in your letter and your fear for your life. If you know that on accepting to work for him you will not violate what the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has commanded you to do and employ people from your nation to work for you as clerks and helpers, and if you gain anything you will assist the poor believing people until your gains and help is equal, otherwise, it (permission) is negative.’”

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn al-Husayn from his father from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Mehran ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, saying, ‘With every tyrant there is a believing person with whom Allah defends the believing people, and he (such believing person) receives the least of rewards in the next life because of his association with the tyrant.’”

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from al-Sayyariy from Ahmad ibn Zakariya al-Saydalaniy from a man of banu Hanifah from the people of Bust and Sajistan who has said the following: “I accompanied abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, in the year that he performed al-Hajj in the beginning of the Khilafat of al-Mu‘tasam. I once said to him (the Imam) when I was with him (the Imam) on the table in the presence of a group of the supporters of the Sultan, ‘Our governor, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, is a man who supports you, Ahl al-Bayt and loves you. In his office there are taxes due on me. If you consider it proper, please write. I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, write to him a letter for me to kindly help me in this matter. He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not know him.’ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, as I mentioned, he is one who loves you Ahl al-Bayt and your letter will benefit me in his office.’ He (the Imam) picked up a piece of paper and wrote, ‘In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Thereafter, the bearer of this letter that I have written has spoken good things about you. You must take notice that of your deeds what is for you is what you do good. Thus, do good to your brothers in belief. You must also take notice that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, will question you about things as small as an atom and mustard seeds.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘When I arrived in Sajistan the news reached al-Husayn ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Naysaburiy, the governor. He came two farsakh from the city (twelve miles) away to meet me. I gave him the letter. He kissed it and placed it on his eyes. He then asked me about the kind of help I needed. I said, ‘In your office payable taxes are recorded against me and I need relief.’ He commanded to write it off, and said, ‘You do not have to pay taxes as long as I will have this work.’ He then asked about my family and their condition which I explained to him and he commanded to appropriate a certain amount for them enough for our expenses and with something extra. I did not pay taxes as long as he had that work and lived and he did not discontinue the grant that he had assigned for us.’”