‘Isa al‑Jarrah asking him to solve his financial problems...

‘Isa al‑Jarrah asking him to solve his financial problems, but the vizier would not listen to him. Therefore al‑Nawbakhti sent a message to al‑‘Aqiqi and solved his difficulties[^9]. This narration gives some indication of the social position of al‑Nawbakhti while he was still an agent of the second Saf’ir . The Installation of the Third Saf’ir As we have already seen, (106‑7) the ten eminent agents in Baghdad expected that Ja’far. b. Ahmad b.

Matil would take over the office of the second Saf’ir when he died. But on his death bed, when the agents were all gathered together, he appointed Ibn Ruh al‑Nawbakhti, saying that the Twelfth Imam had ordered him to do so[^10]. At that time the Imamites put forward different reasons for the designation of Ibn Ruh al‑Nawbakhti.

Umm Kulthum, the daughter of the second Saf’ir , thought that Ibn Ruh was promoted to the office of the deputyship ( sifara ) because of his close relationship with her father. She reports that her father even used to reveal to him what had occurred between himself and his slave‑girls[^11]. However, according to the agent Ibn Qurd, the other nine agents in Baghdad, especially Ibn Matil, were closer to the second Saf’ir than Ibn Ruh[^12].

It seems most likely that Ibn Ruh had personal qualifications which made him a suitable Saf’ir . Indeed we have a report attributed to Abu Sahl al­ Nawbakhti to support this point. The latter was asked by some Imamites as to why he had not been promoted to the sifara instead of Ibn Ruh. He answered, "They (the Imams) know best about whom they have selected for this office. I am a person who meets opponents and argues with them.

If I had known what Abu al‑Qasim (Ibn Ruh) knows about the Imam, perhaps in the course of my arguments, having found myself under the attack of enemies to give them well­founded reasons for the existence of the concealed Imam, I would have pointed out his whereabouts.

But if Abu al‑Qasim had the Imam underneath his garments, and if his flesh was being cut into pieces to make him reveal his whereabouts, he would not yield or reveal his presence to his foes." [^13] This document indicates that Ibn Ruh was promoted to the sifara mainly because of his loyalty and the shrewdness which he had shown on several occasions.