The Reign Of Al-Mu’tamid
The caliphate came to al-Mu’tamid while he was twenty-five years old.[471] Historians say, ‘He was dissolute, and interested in lusts and amusements. He was busy with music and singing paying no attention to his subjects. He committed sins that made people hate him.’[472]
In his reign, Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) died after meeting distresses and misfortunes from him.
He ordered his men to arrest Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) and his brother Ja’far and put them into prison. He instructed the jailer Ali bin Jurayn to inform him of his news and his talks at all time. The jailer told the caliph that the imam did not do anything that might oppose the Abbasid policy, and that he turned his back to this world and turned to Allah the Almighty. He fasted the day and spent the night in worships. Another time, the caliph asked the jailer to inform him about everything the imam did or said, and he answered with the same. He ordered him to set the imam free, send him his greeting, and apologize to him. The jailer hurried to the imam and found him ready to get out. He had put on his clothes and shoes. The jailer wondered at that. He informed the imam of the decision of al-Mu’tamid. Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) rode on his horse but did not move. The jailer asked him why and he said, ‘Until Ja’far comes.’
The jailer said, ‘But he ordered me to set you free alone without him.’
The imam said, ‘Go and tell him that I and he were taken together from the house. If I go back alone, there will be something that you know!’
The jailer went and told al-Mu’tamid what the imam said. He ordered him to set Ja’far free too. Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) left the prison while reciting,(They intend to put out the light of Allah with their mouths but Allah will perfect His light, though the unbelievers may be averse) [473] . [474]
Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) suffered different kinds of harms and distresses from al-Mu’tamid. He surrounded the imam with detectives and policemen to watch him and to chase anyone of jurisprudents, ulama, or the Shia who tried to meet him. He remained under watch until he was assassinated with poison by the order of al-Mu’tamid.
Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was contemporary with these Abbasid kings, who oppressed him, threw him into prison, and tried to do away with him, but Allah protected him from that by afflicting those kings with important events like rebellions or the domination of the Turks over them.