They roved in the streets of Baghdad on their horses paying...

They roved in the streets of Baghdad on their horses paying no attention to people. They trod on old people, women and children. The people of Baghdad clamored against their oppression and inadvertence.[^8] Al- Mu'tasim was under the control of the Turks to a far extent. With Imam Al-Jawad Al-Mu'tasim’s heart was full of spite and malice against Imam al- Jawad (a.s). He burst with rage whenever he heard the virtues and exploits of Imam al-Jawad (a.s) being mentioned.

His envy towards him had led him to assassinate him as we shall explain later on. Bringing Imam Al-Jawad To Baghdad Al-Mu'tasim had ordered Imam al-Jawad (a.s) to come to Baghdad and he arrived in it in Muharram, 220 AH.[^9] When Imam al-Jawad (a.s) came to Baghdad, al-Mu'tasim house- arrested him to know all his affairs and activities. He ordered his men to watch him and he prevented him from connecting with his followers and those who believed in his imamate.

Betraying The Imam Indeed, it was unfortunate that that betrayal had come from Abu Dawod as-Sajistani, who was one of the prominent jurisprudents of that time. That which led him to do that was his envy towards Imam al-Jawad (a.s). Envy is a malicious disease that always throws people in great evils. Abu Dawod was so spiteful towards Imam al-Jawad (a.s) when al- Mu'tasim followed his (Imam al-Jawad’s) opinion on a jurisprudential matter and left aside the opinions of all other jurisprudents.

Since then, Abu Dawod was filled with rage against Imam al-Jawad (a.s) and tried to betray him and manage to kill him. Zarqan, the close friend of Abu Dawod, said, ‘One day, he (Abu Dawod) came back from al-Mu'tasim distressedly. I asked him what the matter was and he said, ‘A thief confessed that he had committed theft and the caliph wanted to purify him by punishing him. He gathered the jurisprudents in his meeting and sent for Muhammad bin Ali (al-Jawad).

He asked us how the thief’s hand would be cut. I said, ‘His hand should be cut from the wrist because Allah has said when talking on Tayammum, (…and wipe your faces and your hands) .