كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ سَنَةً أَسْتَأْذِنُهُ فِي عَمَلِ السُّلْطَانِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ فِي آخِرِ كِتَابٍ كَتَبْتُهُ إِلَيْهِ أَذْكُرُ أَنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَى خَبْطِ عُنُقِي وَ أَنَّ السُّلْطَانَ يَقُولُ لِي إِنَّكَ رَافِضِيٌّ وَ لَسْنَا نَشُكُّ فِي أَنَّكَ تَرَكْتَ الْعَمَلَ لِلسُّلْطَانِ لِلرَّفْضِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلام ) قَدْ فَهِمْتُ كِتَابَكَ وَ مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ إِذَا وُلِّيتَ عَمِلْتَ فِي عَمَلِكَ بِمَا أَمَرَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ثُمَّ تُصَيِّرُ أَعْوَانَكَ وَ كُتَّابَكَ أَهْلَ مِلَّتِكَ فَإِذَا صَارَ إِلَيْكَ شَيْءٌ وَاسَيْتَ بِهِ فُقَرَاءَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَتَّى تَكُونَ وَاحِداً مِنْهُمْ كَانَ ذَا بِذَا وَ إِلَّا فَلَا .
Translation
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, form Ali Bin Al Hakam, from Al Hassan Bin Al Husayn Al Anbary, (It has been narrated) from Abu Al-Hassan Al-Reza<sup>asws</sup>, said, ‘I wrote to him<sup>asws</sup> for fourteen years seeking permission regarding working for the Sultan (ruling authorities). So when it my last letter to him<sup>asws</sup>, I mentioned that I am fearing of the strike upon my neck and that the ruling authorities are saying to me, ‘You are a rejector (<span class="iTxt">Rafizy</span>), and we have no doubts that you are neglecting the working for the Sultan due to the rejection (of our beliefs)’. So Abu Al-Hassan<sup>asws</sup> wrote back to me: ‘I<sup>asws</sup> have understood your letter and what you mentioned from the fear upon yourself. So if you know (for certain) that when you are with authority you would work in your work with what Rasool-Allah<sup>saww</sup> had ordered with, then you would be taking on employees and your officers from the people of your Religion. So when something (wealth) comes to you, you would help the poor Believers until one of them would be with the same as that, or else, so (the answer is) no’.
Compiled by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Kulayni
Source
License: Free for educational and research use (Thaqalayn Data API)
Provided for research and educational purposes. Original source: Thaqalayn Project. Open License.