5. His letter to another one of his followers
Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) sent a letter to one of his followers expressing his grief from some rabble of the Shia who had deviated from the right path. He said,
“No one of my fathers had been afflicted like what I have been afflicted with the suspicions of this group…if this matter (imamate) was a matter that you had believed in and kept on it until a certain time and then stopped, then suspicion would have certain case, but if it (imamate) is continuous as long as the affairs of Allah are continuous, then what is the meaning of this suspicion?...’[113]
6. His letter to Abdullah al-Bayhaqi
Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) sent the following letter to Abdullah bin Hamdwayh al-Bayhaqi:
“I have sent Ibrahim bin Abdah so that the (other) districts and the people of your district pay my dues on you to him and I made him my trust and agent before my followers there. Let them fear Allah and pay the dues and they have no excuse in not doing that or delaying it. May Allah not distress them for disobeying His guardians and may He have mercy on them and on you through my mercifulness to them, and Allah is Ample-giving, Generous.”[114]
7. His letter about Ibrahim
Imam Abu Muhammad al-Askari (a.s.) had appointed Ibrahim bin Abdah as his agent to receive the legal dues and to spend them on religion and on the needy, and given him a letter mentioning in it his reliability and high position. Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was asked whether this letter was written by him or not, and he replied,
“My book that came to Ibrahim bin Abdah on appointing him as my agent to receive my rights from our followers there…yes, it was my book written by my hand to him. I have appointed him to them in their country. It is true and not false. Let him fear Allah as He should be feared, and let them take out my rights and give them to him, for I have permitted him to do with them as required. May Allah give him success and save him from failure.”[115]
8. His letter to his followers
He sent this letter to some of his followers:
“May Allah gift you with asceticism in this life and success as He pleases, assistance for His obedience, protection from disobedience, guidance from deviation, and may He gather for us and for our followers the good of the two abodes (this life and the afterlife).
I was informed of the disagreement of your hearts, and the separation of your desires, and the incitement of Satan until he caused separation among you, disbelief in religion, attempting to destroy what your ancestors had built in the religion of Allah and proved the rights of His guardians. He (Satan) took you to the way of deviation, and away from the path of the truth, and so many of you receded as if you had not read the Book of Allah and not understood any of His commands and prohibitions. I swear that if your fools rely on their delusions and fabricate false traditions, they shall deserve torment, and if you are satisfied with that from them and do not deny it by your hands, tongues, hearts, and intentions, you shall be participants with them in what they have fabricated against Allah, His messenger, and the guardians after him. If it was not so, the people of az-Zabad would not lie in their claim, nor al-Mughirah in their disagreement, nor al-Kaysaniyyah on their man, nor other liars and the deviants who have turned away from us. Indeed, you are worse than them…and most of them were obliged to submit to the command of Allah, except some group that if I want, I shall mention it by the name…Satan has overcome them and made them forget the mention of Allah, and whoever forgets the mention of Allah…Allah will throw him into Fire, and it shall be an evil abode.
My this book is an authority on them, and an authority for your absents on your presents, except one who is informed and carries out his duty. I pray Allah to gather your hearts on guidance, protect you by piety, and make you do what pleases Him, and peace, blessing, and mercy of Allah be on you.’[116]
9. His letter to one of his adherents
Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) said in this letter to one of his followers:
“Every predestined thing would come true. Rely on Allah the Almighty and He will suffice you, and trust in Him and He will not disappoint you! You have complained against your brother. Know well that Allah does not help in the rapture of relations, and Allah is over any oppression of every oppressor. Whoever is oppressed surely Allah will help him, and Allah is Strong, Mighty. You have asked me to pray for you. May Allah the Almighty keep you safe, and be your helper and protector. I pray Allah the Generous, Who has made you know His right and the right of His guardians that others than you were ignorant of, not to remove from you any blessing He has endowed you with, He is Patron worthy of all praise.’[117]