Resemblance of Islamic Faith in Imam al-Naqi’s Life

Reza Soltani

Imam al-Naqi (AS), the tenth Imam was born on the 15^th of Dhu al-HIjjah, 212 A.H. in Subra near the holy city of Medina. He was six years old when his father Imam Mohammad al-Javad (AS) died. In the first five years of the reign of al-Wathiq, Imam Ali al-Hadi lived peacefully. After al-Wathiq, al-Mutawakkil came to power. Being too occupied in state affairs, al-Mutawakkil did not get any time to harass Imam and his followers for four years. But as soon as he freed himself from state affairs, he showed cruelty towards Imam. The tenth Imam devoted himself to the sacred mission of preaching in Medina and did thus earn the faith of the people as well as their allegiance and recognition of his great knowledge and attributes.

The governor of Medina wrote to al-Mutawakkil that Imam Ali al-Hadi had been maneuvering a coup against the government and a multitude of Shiites were pledged to his support. Although enraged by this news, al-Mutawkkil still refused to arrest Imam. Under the garb of pretended respect and love towards the Imam, he planned to put him under life imprisonment after inviting him to his palace. He wrote to Imam that having been acquainted with his great personality, his matchless knowledge and his peerless attributes, he was impatiently looking forward to the honor of seeing him, and he most cordially invited him to Samarra.

Although Imam was well aware of al-Mutawakkil's treacherous intentions, anticipating the fatal consequences of refusing the offer, he reluctantly decided to leave Medina. But when the Imam arrived at Samarra and al-Mutawakkil was informed about it, he took no notice of the Imam's arrival. He then ordered that the Imam should be put up in the inn meant for beggars, destitute and homeless people. Al-Mutawakkil, who was a deadly enemy of the Ahlal-Bayt, removed the Imam from this inn and entrusted him to the custody of a stone-hearted brute named Zurafah. But, by the grace of Allah, his enmity was, in a short time, transformed into love and devotion towards Imam. When al-Mutawakkil learnt about it, he shifted Imam into the custody of another cruel man called Sa'id. The Imam remained under his strict surveillance for a number of years, during which he was subjected to boundless tortures. But even in this miserable imprisonment, Imam kept devoting himself at all times to the worship of Allah.

When Fath ibn Khaqan became the vizier of al-Mutawakkil, being a Shiite, he could not stand the idea of the Imam's captivity. He endeavored to have him released from imprisonment and arranged for his comfortable residence in a personally purchased house at Samarra. Still al-Mutawakkil could hardly refrain from his antagonism to the Imam and he appointed spies to watch the Imam and his connections

Once al-Mutawakkil was informed that the Imam was preparing a revolt against him, thereupon, he ordered a detachment of the army to launch a raid on the Imam's residence. When the soldiers entered his house, they found him sitting on a mat, reciting the Holy Qur'an. Not only al-Mutawakkil, but his successors' opposition to the Imam was fierce. After the death of al-Mutawakkil, al-Mustansir, al-Musta'in and al-Mu'tazz carried on some mission of harassment against the family of the Imam. Al-Mu'tazz, understanding the uncontrollable and intense devotion of the people towards the Imam, eventually contrived the Imam's assassination. He got him poisoned through an ambassador which resulted in the Imam's death within a few hours.