He was greatly hostile towards them and exceeded the...

He was greatly hostile towards them and exceeded the preceding rulers in his hatred. He ordered the demolition of Imam HUSAIN'S shrine in KERBALA and flooded the area with water in order to remove all traces of the holy shrine. He killed many of its visitors, the devotees of the martyred Imam. He knew that such visits incited people to revolt against unjust and oppressive rulers.

Despite all hardship and oppression, the sacred shrine was traced out and is still visited by thousands of devotees from all over the world, throughout the year. The holy QUR'AN says, {They desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths, and Allah will not consent save to perfect His light, though the infidels are averse thereto}. [AL-TAWBA: 32]. Many poets composed poetry denouncing AL-MUTAWAKKIL'S crimes against the Prophet's progeny (as).

One of those poets says: By Allah, it was an unjust crime of the UMAYYADS: To murder the Prophet's grandson, The son of Fatima. Yet his father's kin (the ABBASIS) had it done: A similar crime: demolishing his shrine. It was a pity; not to have a hand in that killing. Thus, they chased his bones in their dwelling. The ABBASI injustice was not different from that of the UMAYYADS regarding the Prophet's offspring who suffered torture and death and were chased by both dynasties.

The ABBASIS surpassed the UMAYYADS in their hostility towards AHLUL BAYT, hence the Imam's shrines were demolished while the living Imams suffered hardship at their hands despite the blood relation and the ABBASI claim of devotion to them. AL-MUTAWAKKIL was informed of the Imam's popularity among the masses. This caused him to be greatly concerned. It enraged him to see people gather around IMAM AL-HADI with such devotion and respect.

Yet he could not find an excuse to put an end to him or even to accuse him of some guilt. He employed the old means of the previous rulers. He summoned the Imam to Baghdad on the pretext of liking to see him close to him. He wrote a letter full of flattery and hypocrisy. It said, "… the caliph longs to see you. If you visit him and settle with your family near him, it will be done for your ease and comfort… you are free to leave whenever you wish.

Seek Allah's guidance and come to see the caliph who offers you the highest office and considers you in better status than all of his sons and near ones…. Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you". AL-MUTAWAKKIL ordered one of his men, YAHYA IBN HARTHAMA, to carry his letter to the Imam.