‘Ali bin Yaqtin belonged to a prominent Shi‘a family in Kufa.

‘Ali bin Yaqtin belonged to a prominent Shi‘a family in Kufa. After the ‘Abbasid revolution, Hārun ar-Rashid offered him the position of minister in his government. He approached Imam Musa al-Kādhim (a.s.) who told him to accept it but refrain from ever confiscating the money or property of the Shi‘as. So ‘Ali bin Yaqtin, to show his loyalty to the government, would confiscate the money of the Shi‘as but would then secretly return it to them.

Once Imam al-Kādhim (a.s.) told ‘Ali bin Yaqtin: “You promise me one thing; and I guarantee you three things: you won’t be killed, neither face poverty nor suffer imprisonment.” ‘Ali: “What do I have to promise you?” Imam (a.s.): “Promise me that whenever a follower of ours comes to you, you would honour him and not turn him away.” Death in Prison During Hārun’s reign, Imam Musa al-Kādhim (a.s.) lived in very difficult times, in hiding, until finally Hārun went on the hajj and in Medina had the Imam arrested while praying in the Mosque of the Prophet.

He was chained and imprisoned, then taken from Medina to Basra and made a prisoner in the house of ‘Isa bin Ja‘far, the governor of that city. ‘Isa was so much impressed by the Imam’s personality that he requested Hārun to relieve him of this responsibility. Imam al-Kādhim (a.s.) was moved from Basra to Baghdad where for years he was transferred from one prison to another. * * * During his imprisonment in Baghdad, he was taken to meet Hārun from time to time.

In one such meeting, an interesting conversation took place. We will reproduce just a section from that conversation: Hārun: “Why do you allow the people to address you by words like ‘O son of the Prophet’ while you are in reality sons of ‘Ali?

People are mostly known by their paternal lineage; whereas your are related to the Prophet through your grandmother [i.e., Fātimah].” Imam (a.s.): “If the Prophet becomes alive and comes to you, and asks for the hand of your daughter in marriage — would you accept his proposal?” Hārun: “Praise be to Allah! Why not?