Saffah and Imam Sadiq (AS)

Saffah was suspicious of the Imam since the beginning of his government. He selected his uncle, Dawood ibn Ali, as the governor of Hijaz. When Dawood came to Medina, he delivered a speech, warning the people that he would suppress any opposition using lashes and swords. He summoned Mu'alla ibn Khunais, the Imam’s servant and close companion, to force the names of the Imam’s companions from him. Mu'alla resisted, even under severe torture, and was martyred without revealing any names. The Imam was in Mecca when this incident happened. Upon his return, he heard the news of Mu'alla’s martyrdom. The Imam was extremely saddened, and protested to Dawood. The Imam did not leave his court until justice was ordered for Mu'alla’s killer, the head of Dawood’s army. When Dawood continued his harassment against the Imam, the Imam prayed for him to be cursed. As a result, Dawood died immediately. Dawood’s death saved the Imam’s companions from prosecution. The Imam’s prayers and perseverance showed the Abbasids that he would not respond to their injustice and oppression with military action.
Despite the Imam’s peaceful activities, Saffah feared him. He exiled the Imam to his capital, Heerah, so that he could oversee his activities. The Imam’s policy at that time was to convince Saffah that he did not have any plans for an uprising against him, and to decrease his sensitivity towards him. After about two years of staying in Heerah, Saffah allowed the Imam to return to Medina. The Imam could continue his scientific activities in Medina, albeit with more restrictions compared to the time before the establishment of the Abbasid government.
When the Imam was in Heerah, he was surrounded by crowds of Muslims, and would answer their questions. Large numbers of Iraqis who had heard about the Imam, but did not have the chance to visit him in Mecca or Medina during the Hajj travel, used this opportunity to seek him out. At that time, the Imam would guide his loyal companions secretly, telling them there was no difference between the Umayyad and the Abbasid government. The Imam advised them to distance themselves from the government, and to avoid helping the Abbasids, even if it was for building a mosque. With the passing of time, the cruelty of Saffah towards the Imam increased. He limited the Imam’s interaction with the people, to the extent that it was very hard for Shias to contact the Imam, and to ask him their usual questions about the Islamic laws.
The Imam would frequently visit the hidden grave of his forefather, Imam Ali (AS), in Najaf, which was close to Heerah. The Imam would often take his close companions with him to show them this hidden location. Thus, at the time of Imam Sadiq, the Shia scholars became aware of the location of the holy grave, and would visit it while it was still not publicly known. The Imam would also visit and pray in other holy sites in Iraq. As a result of the Imam’s prayers, there are currently sanctuaries labelled with his nam