The Killing of Our Master Al-Bāqir (may his glory be exalted)
Then, in the time of our Master Al-Bāqir (may his glory be exalted), who informed about their condition:
Our Master Al-Bāqir (may his glory be exalted) said: "If all people were our followers (Shī‘ah), three-quarters of them would be doubters regarding us, and the other quarter would be foolish."1
He avoided political intervention and uprising, like his father our Master Zayn Al-‘Ābidīn (may their glory be exalted), due to the lack of supporters. Even his killer was from his relatives, his cousin Zayd, who, according to another narration, exposed him to the authorities.
Our Master Al-Ṣādiq (may his glory be exalted) said: "Then Zayd went to a saddle and poisoned it, then he brought it to my father and implored him, 'You must ride this saddle.' My father said: 'Woe to you, Zayd! How great is what you are bringing, and what will happen by your hands! I know the tree from which you picked [the poison], but this is destiny. Woe to the one through whose hands Allah decrees evil!' So, he saddled it for him, and my father rode. He went down the road with swelling [from the poison]. He ordered shrouds for himself, and among them was a white garment in which he had performed Iḥrām, and he said: 'Place it in my shrouds.' He lived for three [days], then passed away (may his glory be exalted) to his path."2
The Scarcity of Supporters and Shī‘ah in the Time of Our Master Al-Ṣādiq (may his glory be exalted)
Ma’mūn Al-Raqqī said: I was with my Master Al-Ṣādiq (may his glory be exalted), when Sahl ibn Al-Ḥasan Al-Khurāsānī entered. He greeted him, then sat down and said: "O son of the Messenger of Allah, you have compassion and mercy, and you are the Household of Imāmate.