قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ اكْتُبْ لِي إِلَى إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ الْكَاتِبِ لَعَلِّي أُصِيبُ مِنْهُ قَالَ أَنَا أَضَنُّ بِكَ أَنْ تَطْلُبَ مِثْلَ هَذَا وَ شِبْهَهُ[1] وَ لَكِنْ عَوِّلْ عَلَى مَالِي[2].
“Once I said to abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, please write for me to Isma’il ibn Dawud al-Katib. 1 hope I will receive something from him.’ The Imam said, ‘I resent that you ask from him or similar persons. Allow it (financial help) to be paid from my property.’”