Sufyan ibn Mehran Jamal was, although a close associate of the Caliph’s regime and had a long history with the caliphate, especially with Harun al-Rashid, still a follower and Shi’a of the Ahl al-Bayt.
Sufyan says: One day I came to the service of Imam al-Kadhim (peace be upon him). The Imam said: “Sufyan! Everything about you is good, except for one thing.” I said: “May I be sacrificed for you, what is that?” The Imam (peace be upon him) said: “It is that you rent your camels to Harun al-Rashid.” I replied: “By God, I do not rent them for pride, boasting, hunting, or amusement, but only for the trip to Makkah. Moreover, I will not accompany them, but I send some of my people with them.” Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (peace be upon him) said: “O Sufyan! Do they owe the rental money or do they pay in advance?” I said: “They pay after performing the Hajj.”
Then the Imam said: “Do you wish them to stay alive until they pay you the rental money?” I said: “Yes.” At that moment, Imam al-Kadhim (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever desires that the oppressors remain alive, for any reason, will be counted among them, and it is clear that anyone who is counted among the oppressors will be cast into the fire.”
Sufyan says: “I went and sold all my camels. When Harun found out about this, he summoned me and said: ‘It was reported that you sold your camels.’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He asked: ‘Why?’ I replied: ‘I have become old, and the servants do not work properly.’ He said: ‘By no means! I know who has advised you to do this; Musa ibn Ja’far has pointed you to this action.’ I said: ‘What does Musa ibn Ja’far have to do with me?’ He replied: ‘Be silent! By God, if it were not for the good companionship you have, I would have killed you…'”
Source: Wasā’il al-Shi’ah, Vol. 17, p. 182, authored by Shaykh Hurr al-`Amili.