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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books History of Shi'ism: From the Advent of Islam up to the End of Minor Occultation Lesson 13: The Shi‘ah during the Period of ‘Abbasid Caliphate Shi‘ism from the beginning of the ‘Abbasid period (132 AH) up to the end of the minor occultation { ghaybah as-sughra } (329 AH) was a longer period compared to the Umayyad period. The Shi‘ah were scattered in the furthest points of the vast Muslim land.

For example, a complaint was lodged to (the ‘Abbasid caliph) Harun (ar-Rashid) against Imam Musa al-Kazim ( ‘a ) for receiving khums [^1] from east and west.[^2] When Imam ‘Ali ibn ar-Ridha ( ‘a ) arrived in Nayshabur, two hadith keepers named Abu Zar‘ah ar-Razi and Muhammad ibn Aslam at-Tusi came to the Imam ( ‘a ) along with innumerable groups of knowledge seekers and requested that he face them.

The Imam ( ‘a ) faced them, in the presence of various classes of people, to narrate the silsilah adh-dhahab hadith . This hadith was recorded in 20 thousand books by different writers.[^3] Similarly, Imam ar-Ridha ( ‘a ), in reply to (the ‘Abbasid caliph) Ma’mun who had many expectations from him after his (forced) acceptance of the heir-apparency, said: “…This affair (heir-apparency) has never added favor to me.

When I was in Medina, amputation of the thief’s hand was used to be implemented in the east and west.”[^4] Also, the admission of the Sunni jurist { fuqih }, Ibn Abi Dawud, who was himself a stern enemy and adversary of the Shi‘ah, is significant.

Following the ‘Abbasid caliph Mu‘tasim preference of Imam al-Jawad ( ‘a ) view to that of the Sunni jurists regarding the amputation of the thief’s hand, Ibn Abi Dawud privately reminded the caliph that in the presence of the courtiers, governors, ministers, and scribes he preferred the view of a person whose Imamate is acknowledged by half of the ummah to the view of all ‘ulama’ of his assembly.[^5] Shi‘ism had even penetrated the ranks of the governors and dignitaries of the ‘Abbasid rule.

As Yahya ibn Harthamah narrates, The ‘Abbasid caliph Mutawakkil dispatched me to summon Imam al-Hadi ( ‘a ) to Medina. When I arrived along with the Imam in Baghdad, I went to Ishaq ibn Ibrahim at-Tahiri, the governor of Baghdad. He said to me: “O Yahya! This man is the son of the Messenger of Allah (S). You also know Mutawakkil.