قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنِّي لَمْ أَزَلْ وَالِياً مُنْذُ زَمَنِ الْحَجَّاجِ إِلَى يَوْمِي هَذَا فَهَلْ لِي مِنْ تَوْبَةٍ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ ثُمَّ أَعَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَا حَتَّى تُؤَدِّيَ إِلَى كُلِّ ذِي حَقٍّ حَقَّهُ.
‘I have been working as a governor from the time of al-Hajjaj to this time, can my repentance be accepted?’ The Imam remained quiet. I repeated my question and then he said, ‘No, until you pay back everything that you owe to the people.’”