In Ikhtiyar Marifat al-Rijal by Shaykh al-tusi, Vol 1, P349, from an authentic chain we read that imam jafar(as) says to Abdullah the son of zurarah as follows:


"Convey my greetings to your father and say to him: 'Indeed, the only reason I speak ill of you is to defend and protect you. For people—and especially our enemies—rush to harm anyone whom we praise or show closeness to. They try to bring pain and destruction upon those we love and draw near.
They target them because of their love and nearness to us. And on the other hand, they praise those whom we criticize and speak ill of.
So, I criticize you because you have become well known for your affiliation with us, and because of your love and inclination toward us. Because of this, the people see you as blameworthy and disreputable.
I wanted to publicly criticize you so that the people would instead praise your religious character, and see you in a better light because of my rebuke. That way, their harm would be deflected from you.
Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says:
'As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to damage it, because there was a king behind them who seized every good ship by force.' (Qur’an 18:79)
This is a divine allegory, and by God, the ship had no fault—except that the damage was done to protect it from the oppressive king.
And by Allah, you are more beloved to me than anyone else. You are the most beloved of my companions, both alive and deceased.
You are the best ship in that vast and stormy sea. Behind you is a tyrant king, watching for every righteous ship that sails from the sea of guidance, so he may seize it and those aboard by force.
May Allah’s mercy be upon you in life and after death. Indeed, your two sons, al-Hasan and al-Husayn, have conveyed your message to me. May Allah protect and preserve them, just as He protected the two orphan boys because of the righteousness of their father.'"
The Imam continued:
"So do not let your heart be burdened by what I said to you—neither by what my father ordered me to do, nor by what I commanded you.
Abū Basīr has expressed a different view than what we instructed. But by Allah, neither we nor he said anything except what was within your and our capacity to act upon.
Every matter has its explanation and deeper meaning with us, all of which align with the truth. And if we were permitted to explain, you would come to know that the truth lies in what we have commanded you.
So return the matter back to us. Submit to our judgment. Be patient with our rulings. Be pleased with them.
The one who has separated you is your shepherd, whom Allah has appointed over His creation. He knows what’s in the best interest of his flock when their affairs are at risk.
If he wills, he separates them so they may be safe. And if he wills, he brings them back together so they may find security and protection from their enemy.
Await the command from us and your own resolution through us. And when our Qā’im rises and our spokesman speaks, he will teach you the Qur’an and the laws, rulings, obligations, and all that Allah revealed to Muhammad—anew and completely—as you are people of insight.
But on that day, most of you will reject it fiercely.
And the only way you will return to the true path and the religion of Allah will be under the edge of the sword, upon your necks."

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