Mu'tasim and Imam Hadi (AS)

After the martyrdom of Imam Javad, Mu’tasim was concerned about the Shias gathering around Imam Hadi as their next Imam. He asked Umar ibn Faraj, his governor in Medina, to assign the Imam’s upbringing and training to a teacher trusted by the government. Mu’tasim’s intention was to train the Imam with non-Shia teachings and restrict his interactions with his followers. Umar ibn Faraj gathered a group of people from Medina that were against the Shias and inquired about such a teacher. He was then referred to Junaidi, who was well-known for his hostility to the Shias. He selected Junaidi as the Imam’s private teacher, and asked him to restrict the Imam’s interactions with his Shia followers.
After a while, someone asked Junaidi about the situation of the boy that he was training. Junaidi responded with surprise as to why he called the Imam a boy, and not a respected elder. He then said, “I am the master in science and literature over all others in Medina. I say something regarding the literature and think that my opinion is at its perfection and maturity. However, he completes my statement with many new scientific facts.” Junaidi then said, “the people think I am his teacher, but in reality, he is my teacher.” After a while, the same person met Junaidi for the second time and asked about the Imam’s whereabouts. Junaidi responded that the Imam is the best person on the earth and the most virtuous person that God has ever created. He then admitted that the Imam has the entire Quran in memory, has the best voice in recitation of the Quran, and has the full knowledge of the interpretation and the true meaning of the Quran. Junaidi, who was greatly influenced by the Imam’s holy character and divine knowledge, eventually became a Shia follower of the Imam.