For this reason al- Sadiq adopted two attitudes...

For this reason al- Sadiq adopted two attitudes: He sometimes became severe to reveal the truth and sometimes became lenient to save his life from al- Mansur’s oppression and aggression.

The following are some of al- Sadiq’s severe attitudes which he adopted to reveal the truth, paying no attention to the authority of al- Mansur and the cruelty of his governors: One day al- Mansur asked al- Sadiq, peace be on him, about those flies which were attacking and annoying him:” Abu Abd Allah, why did Allah create flies?” Al- Sadiq, peace be on him, answered:” To humiliate the tyrants with them.”’[1] Al- MansfIr kept silent because he knew that if he answered in kind, al- Sadiq would give him a severer answer.

Al- Mansur wrote a letter in which he asked al- Sadiq: “Why do you not fear us as people do?” al- Sadiq, peace be on him, answered:” We have nothing to fear you for, nor have you a thing for which we hope you in the hereafter, nor are you in a blessing (for which) we congratulate you, nor see you (authority) wrath (from Allah) for which we condole you, then why do we feet fear of you?’ So aI- Mansur wrote him a letter:” Be a companion of us to advise us.” al- Sâdiq answered:” Whoever likes the life in this world should not advise aou, and whoever likes the hereafter should not be a companion of you.[2] I (the author) say: Indeed, al- Mansur did not want advise for what improved him.

If he had wanted to improve himself, he would have withdrew from authority test he should draw on himself the sin of this nation. But he wanted to make friends with al- Sâdiq to make him among his followers. So, men would know that al- Mansur became the Imam beyond dispute. In the meantime the ShVa would not consult al- Sadiq under the pretext that he followed al- Mansur while the Imam would not be a follower for the masters -of authority optionally.

And al- Sadiq was aware of al- Mansur’s intention. The above- mentioned words of al- Sâdiq gives us an important lesson about the attitudes of men towards kings and rulers and about the positions of those who flatter them, and how the attitudes of the clergy men should be towards them. One day, al- Mansür was full of anger. He summoncd al- Sadiq, peace be on him.

When al- Sadiq came to him, he (al- Mansür) said to him:” Ja’far, I have known that Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said to your grandfather ‘Ali b.