“I was in the presence of al-Rida (a.s.) in Khurasan with a group of Hashemites, among them was Ishaq ibn Musa ibn ‘Isa from the Abbasids, and the Imam (a.s.) said to him, “O Ishaq, I hear that people say we think they are our slaves. I swear upon my close relation with the Messenger of Allah (sw) that I have never said such a thing nor have I ever heard any such thing from my ancestors, nor I have received any such report from my ancestors who may have said any such thing. But I must say that people are our slaves in the matters of obedience to us. They are our friends in religion. Those present here must tell this to those who are not present here.”