44-6 Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja’far al-Hamadani - may God have Mercy upon him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abdul Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi, “I went to the house in Sarakhs in which Ar-Ridha’ was imprisoned and he was in a bind there. I asked the prison guard for permission to visit. He said, “There is no way for you to visit him.” I asked him, “Why?” He said, “It is because the Imam says one-thousand units of prayers in each twenty-four hours. He only stops to pray for a short time early at daybreak, before the end of the day near dusk, and at times of the yellowness of the sun. Even at these times, he sits at the place where he prays and chants for his Lord.” Then I said, “Please ask him to grant me permission to visit him.” The prison guard sought his permission and I went to see the Imam at the appointed time. He was sitting where he prayed and was thinking. I asked the Imam , “O son of God’s Prophet! What is this that the people have spread around about you?” He asked, “What is it?” I said, “They say that you claim that the people are your slaves.” He said, “O God! The Creator of the heavens and the Earth! You are aware of the invisible and the visible world. You are a witness that I have never said this. I have never heard any of my forefathers say this. You are aware of the oppressions imposed upon us by these people. And this is one such caseof oppression.” Then he faced me and said, “O Abdul Salam! If they are right about their claim that the people are all our slaves, then have them tell you from whom we have bought them.” I said, “O son of God’s Prophet! You are right.” Then Ar-Ridha’ said, “O Abdul Salam! Do you deny what the Sublime God has made incumbent upon you in regards to our Mastery as others do?” I said, “I take refuge in God! No. I bear witness to your Mastery.”