This meant feigning the opposite of what was in one's conscience, so that its owner would be denied the opportunity. The men of this elevated government, from the time of Ali, formed a government within the government, headed by an Imam who would appear when circumstances called for it and disappear when circumstances called for it. When he appeared, he would announce the Mahdi and claim to be sent to fill the earth with justice after it had been filled with injustice. The authority of the official Caliphs and their power was divided between managing the affairs of the country and warding off the Alawites. They were like the parties today, with about half their strength directed towards managing the affairs of life and the other half directed towards warding off the evil of opponents. If all their strength had been directed towards the benefit of the country, the course of history would have changed. Every incident was a thorn in the side of the state, threatening its existence and shaking its throne, whether the official Caliphs were victorious or defeated. Finally, after many incidents, the state collapsed. This was the case with the Umayyad state and the Alawites, especially after the martyrdom of Hussein. His martyrdom was a cause for sympathy towards the Alawites. When the sons of Hussein grew up, they resolved to avenge their father. Massacres continued at the hands of the Umayyad Caliphs, and the