After the imam’s death the ‘Alids remained quiescent for the ten years which remained of Hārūn al-Rašīd’s reign (he died in 193/808). During that period they abandoned their overt activities and began to operate clandestinely, adopting a policy of what they called taqiyya 3 «dissimulation» and kitmān «concealment». These were the circumstances under which ‘Alī b. Yaqṭīn lived. ‘Alī b. Yaqṭīn’s Life4 ‘Alī b. Yaqṭīn’s Life 4
Wakati Mfalme Mamun alipotangaza kuwa amemteua Imamu Ali Ridha [a] kuwa mrithi wake (wa kiti cha Ufalme) aliona ulazima wa kuwepo uhusiano bora na watu wa ukoo wa Bani Fatimah badala ya watu wa ukoo wa Bani Abbas; hivyo, kwa kujipendekeza kwa Mashia, alidhania kuwa itakuwa ni busara kuanzisha uhusiano mpya na watu wa ukoo wa Bani Fatimah, badala ya ule wa kiwahenga wa watu wa ukoo wa Bani Abbas na Bani Fatimah kuwa wote ni Bani Hashim.