Therefore...

Therefore, if Imam Sajjad (as) had made this statement in a big gathering, it would have reached us and others as well. Most probably, what Imam Sajjad (as) had said in secret', Imam Baqir (as) said in the public'.

The answer of Imam Baqir (as) to the question of the old man was: "Given your characteristics and morale, if you die, you will join the holy Prophet, Imam Ali, Imam Hassan, Imam Husayn, and Imam Sajjad (as); you will be relieved, your soul will attain salvation, your eyes will see the true light, and you will be relieved with felicitation and flowers of the angels of God.

If you remain alive, you will witness a period which will bring comfort to you when you will be with us in the high positions." ^3 Such statements are found in the remarks of Imam Baqir (as), indicating his attempts to raise hope in the hearts of the Shiites: "If you die, you will be with the holy Prophet and the friends of God, and if you remain alive, you will be with us." In another tradition cited in the book "Kafi", the Imam determines a time for the uprising: "The Almighty had ordained the year 70 hijra for the establishment of an Alawi government.

The martyrdom of Imam Husayn (as) outraged the Almighty Who postponed it until 140 hijra. We informed you about this moratorium, you exposed it and therefore God has not told us any other specific time. When God decides, He generates or degenerates and the Written Book lies with Him." The year 140 marks the final stages of Imam Sadiq's (as) life.

Before I come across this tradition, through studying the trend of the lives of the infallible Imams, I had realized that the way Imam Sajjad (as) and Imam Baqir (as) had worked, the path had been paved for the establishment of a government during the time of Imam Sadiq (as). Imam Sadiq was martyred in 148 hijra; God's promise had indicated that the Alawi government would be established in 140. Before 140, there was the crucial and effective incident of 135 hijra when Mansur came to power.

If Mansur had not come to power or the issue of the Abbasside had not come to the fore, the Divine providence had ordained the establishment of the divine, Islamic government in 140. Whether the infallible Imams were aware of the Divine providence or they themselves too were hopeful of setting up the government, is another issue that requires a separate discussion. Right now I am discussing the situation during the time of Imam Baqir (as).