It is thus recorded in the book...

It is thus recorded in the book, Tarikh-e ‘Asr-e Ghaybat {History of the Minor Occultation}: “The most important of all is the enhancement and spread of the covert institution of deputyship—an institution which was founded during the time of Imam as-Sadiq ( ‘a ) and further developed during the time of ‘Askariyyin.”[^17] In this regard, Professor Pishva’i thus writes: The critical conditions of the Shi‘ah Imams during the ‘Abbasid period prompted them to look for a new means of establishing and maintaining their contact with their followers.

This new means was nothing but the communication network of representation and the Imam’s appointment of deputies and trustees in the various regions.

The main function of this institution was the collection of khums , zakat {alms-rate}, nadhr {vow endowments}, and gifts { hadaya } from the various regions through the deputies and remitting the same to the Imam as well as for the Imam to reply to the ideological and juristic questions and issues of the Shi‘ah and their political justification through the Imam’s deputies.

This institution had pivotal role in advancing the objectives of the Imams.[^18] The places where the infallible Imams ( ‘a ) had deputies and proxies are Kufah, Basrah, Baghdad, Qum, Wasit, Ahwaz, Hamedan, Sistan, Bast, Rey, Hijaz, Yemen, Egypt, and Mada’in.[^19] Shi‘ism during the 4th…