ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Intellectual, Political and Social Status of the Shiites On the Verge of Occultation Political Situation Transferring 'Askarīyān (A.S) from Medina to Samarra and strict Control Over Them In that period, the policy of the 'Abbasid Caliph Mutawakkil was the same as Ma'mūn's against Imam Ridā (A.S) and Imam Jawād (A.S) and that was to draw Imam Hādī (A.S) nearer to the court and limit him to the periphery of government to be able to control Imam totally and to know about all his movements and to isolate him from the Shi'ites.

The same policy was followed with respect to Imam 'Askarī (A.S); therefore, similar to his father, he was kept under control in Samarra and had to call the Caliph's palace every Monday and Thursday.1 The reason for calling Imam Hādī (A.S) to Samarra was the reports that Mutawakkil had received about Imam's activities in Medina and people's attention and interest about him.2 They brought Imam from Medina to Samarra forcibly 3 and kept him under strict control and attacked his house at midnight and inspected it on the slightest pretext, such as that Imam had hidden money and weaponry.

4 After Imam Hādī (A.S) passed away, Imam 'Askarī (A.S) became the next Imam at the age of 22 and until his martyrdom at the age of 28, he was under control of the Caliph's agents in Samarra.

‘Askariyān’s different methods of political oppositions 'Askariyān's political oppositions, similar to their intellectual oppositions, had different approaches and aspects; from the policy of taqīyah to allowing some Shi'ites to assume positions in the government (in order to help the poor and the opressed),5 preservation of the Shi'ites6 , fulfilling their needs7 , approving and supporting some opposing groups8 and most of all, developing and reinforcing the secret network of deputies; a network which was founded at the time of Imam Sādiq (A.S) and in 'Askarīyān's period came to develop at a faster pace.

More about this network and the factors of its development in that period, its importance, features and historical course will be discussed in detail in the next section; and are mentioned here just to introduce the matter. We will have a brief look at the policy of taqīyah as the key to understand Imamate history. With respect to taqīyah, it should be briefly stated that it is a complex form of opposition.