ভূমিকা
Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Life of Imam Hasan Al-'Askari Political Life The political life in the age of Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was very bad and unstable. Oppression, injustice, and seditions prevailed everywhere, and many revolts broke out. That, as I think, was due to the domination of the Turks over the reins of government, and their absolute control over all affairs of the state, though they were expert neither in politics nor in administration.
They oppressed people, transgressed the rules, and spread terrorism. The other reason behind this was the ignorance of the Abbasid kings, their indulging in pleasures and lusts, and their inadvertence to the interests of people, which caused many political crises at that time. Oppressing the Alawids The Alawids were severely tried and extremely burdened during most periods of the Abbasid rule. The Abbasid kings officially oppressed the Alawids, and pursued and punished them severely.
They imposed on them economical blockade until they were in utmost neediness. Historians say that during the reign of al-Mutawakkil, the Alawids suffered neediness and deprivation so bitter and horrible that could not be described. They had nothing but one cloak, and whenever an Alawid man or an Alawid woman wanted to go out, he or she put it on. People refrained from associating with them for fear of the tyrannical government.
One day, Muhammad bin Salih (bin) al-Husayn asked Ibrahim bin al-Mudbir (to be as a mediator) to ask ‘Isa bin Musa al-Jarmi’s daughter’s hand. The father of the girl refused and said to the mediator, ‘I just tell you the truth.
By Allah, I do not know one nobler or more honorable than him, but I refused him just because I fear from al-Mutawakkil and his sons after him for my life and wealth.’[^1] Muslims refrained from contacting the Alawids, and even from greeting them, because the Abbasid governments punished severely whoever showed any kind of respect and regard towards the Alawids. The worst period the Alawids underwent was the reign of al-Mutawakkil who poured all his rage and spite on them.
They ran away to all towns and villages[^2] for fear that the government might arrest and lead them either to graveyards or prisons. The Imam’s Amulet Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) suffered different kinds of oppression and cruelty during the reign of al-Mutawakkil and other Abbasid kings whom the imam was contemporary with.