To meet the needs of the growing Shia community, Imam Sadiq had established a networking organization of his trusted companions as his representatives in various cities around the Islamic territory. Imam Kazim took advantage of this organization effectively during his Imamat. He began by proving himself as the next Imam for the representatives who had travelled to Medina to transfer the Muslims’ charity dues (Zakat) and to ask their Islamic questions from him. At the time, the Abbasid spies were closely monitoring the Imam’s activities. There were serious threats against his life and the Imam could not be the center of communication with his Shia followers. The Abbasid rulers were especially in great fear of allowing the transfer of the Muslims’ charity dues to the Imam in Medina, as they thought this could facilitate the Imam’s potential for an uprising against them. Thus, the Imam expanded this organization as an effective method of leading the Shia community. The Imam would guide his representatives on how to spend the Muslims’ charity dues and responded to their questions through letters. The Imam had also advised his representatives to avoid meeting him directly in Medina, and to instead contact his chosen representative in Medina, Mufazzal ibn Umar. Overall, many aspects of this organization have not been recorded in history due to its hidden nature. During Haroon’s rulership, there was excessive pressure and surveillance on Imam Kazim and his Shia followers by the government. The Imam had introduced the Abbasids as an oppressive government, and had given strict advice to his followers to avoid any relationship with them. The Imam did not even allow simple business deals with the government. In one incident, the Imam confronted one of his companions who had rented his camels to Haroon for travelling to Mecca to perform Hajj. The Imam told him that by providing this rental, you expect Haroon to return safely from his travel to pay you and return your camel. The Imam then said that anyone who expects them to be alive is from them, and his eternal place in the hereafter is in the hellfire along with them. By this strict advice, the Imam’s companion sold all of his camels to avoid doing business with the government. Despite the general order of the Imam to boycott any relationship with the oppressive Abbasid government, the Imam allowed his pious companions to be involved in some sensitive positions in the government. This was one of the Imam’s important strategies in leading the Shia community. The Imam’s intention for this exception was to save the wealth and lives of his Shia followers from persecution and oppression of the government. Ali ibn Yaqteen was one of these pious companions. He became close to the government due to his father’s loyalty and status to the Abbasid government. Ali ibn Yaqteen was unlike his father. He was a loyal companion of the Imam. With the Imam’s approval, Ali ibn Yaqteen held a high-ranking position in the Abba
