Ismailis allegations against the 12 Immami Shias – Our reply

Introduction:

This is a reply to a chapter (4) forwarded to us by Ismailis followers of Agha Khan, attached as an appendix at the end of this document.  Our reply is based on the Holy Verses of Quran and Ahadith of Ahl Al-Bayt^-asws. They have presented several proofs (1-9),  the write-up from Ismaili author is attached at the end of the reply.

The First point [1] uploaded at ‘www.thebohras.com/imam’ is the ‘Nuss’.

Proof # 1:

Basically in proof # 1, it is alleged:

• The twelve Imams (Commanders) are not mentioned in Shia Ahadith;
• The Nuss of the 7^th Imam^-asws was not established in earlier Shia Ahadith compilations.

The author of the chapter 4 has conveniently neglected so many Shia Ahaidth which clearly state that there will be 12 Imams (Commanders) after Rasool Allah^-saww, the author has tried unsuccessfully to create doubts that Ismail the eldest son of Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq^-asws did not die but Imam^-asws (nouzobillah) faked his son (Ismail’s) funeral – this is beyond the dignity of a Divine Imam^-asws to fake death of his successor, as Allah^-azwj has Promised to Protect His Hujja even if unbelievers would not like it (61:8)[1].  There is also no plausible reason stated or can be imagined at all for faking Ismail’s funeral – to achieve what?

Then all presented Ahadith and historical accounts confirm that the eldest son of Imam Jafar Sadiq^-asws had passed away during the life time of the Imam^-asws and the 6^th Imam^-asws continued with his Divine responsibilities as an Imam for several years and finally leaving behind his legatee Musa Ibn Jafar^-asws, as a 7^th Imam.

There is a lengthy discussion on Zurarah (narrator of many Ahadith) who sends his son to enquire the successor to the 6^th Imam^-asws, eventually his son (Ubayd) brings back the news that the 6^th Imam nominated Musa^-asws Ibn Jafar^-asws as his legatee.  Why Zurarah had to do this? There could be many reasons, e.g., to clarify the doubts of other people as there was a prevailing belief that Ismail Ibn Jafar has gone into occultation[2] – or to refute earlier remours (of fake funeral of Ismail – nouzobillah), however, the end result is Ubayd confirms that Musa^-asws Ibn Jafar^-asws was declared as the 7^th Imam^-asws by Jafar-e-Sadiq^-asws!

Below we present some Ahadith from the very first Shia book, ‘Kitab Sulym Ibn Qais Hilali’ the compiler of Ahadith was a companion of Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws – Ali^-asws Ibn Abi Talib^-asws.  He heard Ahadith directly from Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws as well as the close companions of Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws.  His Ahadith book was later presented to 4^th and 6^th Imams^-asws and both verified and approved the Ahadith written in the ‘Kitab Sulym Ibn Qais Hilali’.  In his compilation of Ahadith, Ahadith clearly reveal that Rasool Allah^-saww gave the news of 12 successor after him^-saww.

Ahadith of 12 Imams^-asws after Prophet Mohammed^-saww:

There are, besides ‘Kitab Sulym Ibn Qais Hilali’ so many Ahadith on 12 Imam^-asws, where even the names of the Imams are mentioned.  We start with Hadith no. 16 from ‘The Book of Sulaym Bin Qays Al Hilali’.

The Progeny^-asws of Mohammed^-saww are the best of the creation of Allah^-azwj in His^-azwj Earth –

فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله – واغرورقت عيناه بالدموع -: يا فاطمة، أوما علمت إنا أهل بيت اختار الله لنا الآخرة على الدنيا، وإنه حتم الفناء على جميع خلقه وإن الله تبارك وتعالى اطلع إلى الأرض اطلاعة فاختارني منهم فجعلني نبيا. ثم اطلع إلى الأرض ثانية فاختار بعلك وأمرني أن أزوجك إياه، وأن أتخذه أخا ووزيرا ووصيا وأن أجعله خليفتي في أمتي. فأبوك خير أنبياء الله ورسله، وبعلك خير الأوصياء والوزراء، وأنت أول من يلحقني من أهلي. ثم اطلع إلى الأرض إطلاعة ثالثة فاختارك وأحد عشر رجلا من ولدك وولد أخي بعلك منك. بشارة النبي بالأئمة الاثني عشر عليهم السلام

The Messenger of Allah^-saww said, and he^-saww had tears in his^-saww eyes: ‘O Fatima^-asws, don’t you^-asws know that Allah^-azwj has Chosen for us^-asws, the People^-asws of the Household, the Hereafter instead of the world, and destruction has been Ordained for all creatures, and that Allah^-azwj Looked at the earth and Chose me^-saww from them, and Made me^-saww to be a Prophet^-saww. Then He^-azwj Looked at the earth for a second time, and He^-azwj Chose your^-asws husband and Ordered me^-saww to marry you^-asws to him^-asws and I^-saww took him^-asws as a brother, and a Vizier^-asws, and made him^-asws to be my^-saww Caliph in my^-saww community. Your^-asws father^-saww is the best of the Prophets^-as of Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Messengers^-as, and your^-asws husband^-asws is the best of the successors^-as and the Viziers, and you^-asws will be the first one to meet me^-saww from my^-saww Family. Then He^-azwj looked at the earth for a third time. He^-azwj Chose you^-asws and eleven men^-asws from your^-asws sons^-asws and the sons^-asws of my^-saww brother^-asws who^-asws is your^-asws husband’. The Prophet^-saww thus gave the good news of the twelve Imams^-asws. (Hadith no. 16 continues)

Twelve Imams^-asws

قلت: يا نبي الله، ومن شركائي؟ قال: الذين قرنهم الله بنفسه وبي معه، الذين قال في حقهم: (يا أيها الذين آمنوا أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول وأولي الأمر منكم) فإن (خفتم التنازع في شيئ فارجعوه إلى الله وإلى الرسول وإلى أولي الأمر منكم. قلت: يا نبي الله، ومن هم؟ قال: الأوصياء إلى أن يردوا علي حوضي كلهم هاد مهتد لا يضرهم كيد من كادهم ولا خذلان من خذلهم. هم مع القرآن والقرآن معهم، لا يفارقونه ولا يفارقهم. بهم ينصر الله أمتي وبهم يمطرون، ويدفع عنهم بمستجاب دعوتهم.

I^-asws said: ‘O Prophet^-saww of Allah^-azwj, and who are my^-asws associates?’ He^-saww said: ‘The ones^-asws whom Allah^-azwj has Made to be in His^-azwj Proximity and with Him^-azwj, regarding whom He^-azwj has Said “[4:59] O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger”. I^-asws said: ‘O Prophet^-saww of Allah^-azwj, and who are they?’ He^-saww said: ‘The successors^-asws until they^-asws come to me^-saww at the Fountain. All of them^-asws are Guides and Guided ones^-asws. Neither will the plots of the plotters harm them^-asws, nor the betrayal of those that abandon them^-asws. They^-asws are with the Quran and the Quran is with them^-asws. Neither will they separate from it nor will it separate from them^-asws. It is due to them^-asws that Allah^-azwj will Help my^-saww community, and due to them^-asws that He^-azwj will Make it rain, and Remove from them (calamities) due to the Answering of their^-asws supplications.

فقلت: يا رسول الله، سمهم لي. فقال: ابني هذا – ووضع يده على رأس الحسن عليه السلام – ثم ابني هذا – ووضع يده على رأس الحسين عليه السلام – ثم ابن ابني هذا – ووضع يده على رأس الحسين عليه السلام – ثم ابن له على اسمي، اسمه (محمد) باقر علمي وخازن وحي الله، وسيولد (علي) في حياتك يا أخي، فاقرأه مني السلام. ثم أقبل على الحسين عليه السلام فقال: سيولد لك (محمد بن علي) في حياتك فاقرأه مني السلام. ثم تكملة الاثني عشر إماما من ولدك يا أخي.

So I^-asws said, ‘O Messenger of Allah^-saww, name them^-asws for me^-asws’. He^-saww said: ‘This son of mine^-asws’ – and he^-saww placed his^-saww hand upon the head of Al-Hassan^-asws – ‘then this son of mine^-saww’ – and he^-saww placed his^-saww hand upon the head of Al-Husayn^-asws’ – then the son of this son of mine^-saww’ – and placed his^-saww hand upon the head of Al-Husayn^-asws – ‘then the son of his^-asws son whose name is Ali^-asws, his^-asws name is my^-saww name (Muhammad), spreader of my^-saww knowledge and treasurer of the Revelation of Allah^-azwj, and he^-asws will come to this (world) during your^-asws lifetime, my^-saww brother, so convey my^-saww greetings to him^-asws’. Then he^-saww turned towards Al-Husayn^-asws and said: ‘Then will come to you^-asws son (Muhammad Bin Ali^-asws) in your^-asws lifetime, so convey my^-saww greetings to him^-asws’. Then twelve Imams^-asws will be completed from your^-asws sons, O my^-saww brother’.

فقلت: يا نبي الله، سمهم لي. فسماهم لي رجلا رجلا. منهم – والله يا أخا بني هلال – مهدي هذه الأمة الذي يملأ الأرض قسطا وعدلا كما ملئت ظلما وجورا. والله إني لأعرف جميع من يبايعه بين الركن والمقام وأعرف أسماء الجميع وقبائلهم.

I said, ‘O Prophet^-saww of Allah^-azwj, name them^-asws for me^-asws’. He^-saww named them^-asws for me^-asws, person by person. Among them – by Allah^-azwj, O brother of the Clan of Hilal-– is the Mahdi^-asws of this community who will fill the earth with peace and justice just as it would have been filled with injustice and tyranny. By Allah^-azwj, I^-saww recognise all the ones who will pay allegiance to him^-asws between the Rukn and Al-Maqaam (Places by Kabah), and recognise all their names and their tribes’.

يا أيها الناس، إن الله نظر نظرة ثالثة فاختار منهم بعدي اثني عشر وصيا من أهل بيتي وهم خيار أمتي منهم أحد عشر إماما بعد أخي واحدا بعد واحد كلما هلك واحد قام واحد منهم. مثلهم كمثل النجوم في السماء كلما غاب نجم طلع نجم لأنهم أئمة هداة مهتدون، لا يضرهم كيد من كادهم ولا خذلان من خذلهم بل يضر الله بذلك من كادهم وخذلهم.

O you people! Allah^-azwj Looked (Considered) for a third time, so He^-azwj Chose from among them, after me^-saww, Twelve (12) Successors from the People^-asws of my^-saww Household, and they^-asws are the best of my^-saww community. Among them^-asws are Eleven Imams^-asws after my^-saww brother^-asws, one after the other. Whenever one of them^-asws passes away, another one^-asws will take his^-asws place from them^-asws.

Their^-asws example is like the example of the stars in the sky. Whenever a star disappears, another one rises, because they^-asws are the Guiding Imams^-asws who are Guided (by Allah^-azwj). The plots of the plotters do not adversely affect them^-asws, nor does the abandonment of the ones who abandon them^-asws, but Allah^-azwj will Ensure that the ones who plotted, and the ones who abandoned will be the ones to be adversely affected by that.

فهم حجة الله في أرضه وشهداءه على خلقه. من أطاعهم أطاع الله ومن عصاهم عصى الله. هم مع القرآن والقرآن معهم، لا يفارقونه ولا يفارقهم حتى يردوا على حوضي.

So, they^-asws are the ‘Hujjat Allah’ (Proofs of Allah^-azwj) in His^-azwj earth, and His^-azwj Witnesses over His^-azwj creatures. The one who obeys them^-asws has obeyed Allah^-azwj, and the one who disobeys them^-asws has disobeyed Allah^-azwj. They^-asws are with the Quran and the Quran is with them^-asws. Neither will they^-asws separate from it, nor will it separate from them^-asws until they^-asws return to me^-saww at the (Divine) Fountain (in the Hereafter).

أول الأئمة أخي علي خيرهم، ثم ابني الحسن ثم ابني الحسين ثم تسعة من ولد الحسين، وأمهم ابنتي فاطمة، صلوات الله عليهم. ثم من بعدهم جعفر بن أبي طالب ابن عمي وأخو أخي، وعمي حمزة بن عبد المطلب.

The first of the Imams^-asws is my^-saww brother Ali^-asws who is the best of them^-asws. Then, my^-saww son Al-Hassan^-asws, and my^-saww son Al-Husayn. Then, nine from the sons^-asws of Al-Husayn^-asws, and their^-asw mother is my^-saww daughter Fatima^-asws, may Peace be upon them^-asws (Hence 12 Imams^-asws).  Then, after them^-asws, the best is Ja’far Bin Abu Talib^-asws the son of my^-saww uncle^-asws and the brother of my^-saww brother^-asws, and my^-saww uncle Hamza Bin Abd Al-Muttalib^-asws.

ألا إني محمد بن عبد الله. أنا خير المرسلين والنبيين، وفاطمة ابنتي سيدة نساء أهل الجنة، وعلي وبنوه الأوصياء خير الوصيين، وأهل بيتي خير أهل بيوتات النبيين وابناي سيدا شباب أهل الجنة.

Nay! I^-saww am Muhammad Bin Abd Allah^-saww. I^-saww am the best of the Messengers^-as and the Prophets^-as, and Fatima^-asws my^-saww daughter is the Chieftess of the women of the Paradise, and Ali^-asws and his^-asws successor sons^-asws are the best of the successors^-as, and the People^-asws of my^-saww Household are the best of the people of the households of the Prophets^-as, and my^-saww two sons^-asws are the Chiefs of the youths of the Paradise.

أيها الناس، إن شفاعتي ليرجوها رجاءكم، أفيعجز عنها أهل بيتي؟ ما من أحد ولده جدي عبد المطلب يلقى الله موحدا لا يشرك به شيئا إلا أدخله الجنة ولو كان فيه من الذنوب عدد الحصى وزبد البحر.

O you people! As for my^-saww intercession, it is what you hope for, and it is your desire. Do you reckon that the People^-asws of my^-saww Household will be deprived of it? There is none from the children of my^-saww grandfather Abd Al-Muttalib^-as who will meet Allah^-azwj as a ‘Mushrik’ (Monotheist), not having associated the slightest of anything by it, but he will enter the Paradise, even though his sins may equal the number of the pebbles, and the foam of the sea.

أيها الناس، عظموا أهل بيتي في حياتي ومن بعدي وأكرموهم وفضلوهم، فإنه لا يحل لأحد أن يقوم من مجلسه لأحد إلا لأهل بيتي. إني لو أخذت بحلقة باب الجنة ثم تجلى لي ربي تبارك وتعالى فسجدت وأذن لي بالشفاعة، لم أوثر على أهل بيتي أحدا.

O you people! Magnify the Members^-asws of my^-saww Household in my^-saww lifetime and after me^-saww, and honour them^-asws and prefer them^-asws, for it is not permissible for anyone to stand up from his place for anyone else except for the people^-asws of my^-saww Household. If I^-saww were to grab hold of the Door of the Paradise, then my^-saww Lord^-azwj Blessed and High is Manifested for me^-saww, so I^-saww will prostrate and He^-azwj will Permit me^-saww for the intercession, I^-saww will not give priority to anyone over the People^-asws of my^-saww Household.

أيها الناس، انسبوني من أنا؟ فقام إليه رجل من الأنصار فقال: نعوذ بالله من غضب الله ومن غضب رسوله، أخبرنا – يا رسول الله – من الذي آذاك في أهل بيتك حتى نضرب عنقه وليبر عترته. فقال: انسبوني، أنا محمد بن عبد الله بن عبد المطلب بن هاشم حتى انتسب إلى نزار، ثم مضى في نسبه إلى إسماعيل بن إبراهيم خليل الله، ثم قال: إني وأهل بيتي بطينة طيبة من تحت العرش إلى آدم نكاح غير سفاح لم يخالطنا نكاح الجاهلية.

O you people! Look at my^-saww lineage. Who am I^-saww?’ So a man from the Helpers stood up and said, ‘We seek refuge with Allah^-azwj from the Wrath of Allah^-azwj, and from the wrath of His^-azwj Messenger^-saww. Inform us, O Messenger of Allah^-saww, who is the one who has hurt you^-asws with regards to the People^-asws of your^-saww Household, so that we may strike his neck-off and his family becomes ineffective’.

So he^-saww said: ‘I^-saww will introduce my^-saww lineage. I^-saww am Muhammad^-saww Bin Abd Allah^-asws bin Abd Al-Muttalib^-asws Bin Hashim^-asws’ – until he^-saww mentioned the lineage up to Nazaar, then continued in his lineage up to Ismail^-as bin Ibrahim^-as, the Friend (Khaleel) of Allah^-azwj, then said – ‘I^-saww and the People^-asws of my^-saww Household are by the good clay from underneath the Throne, up to Adam^-as, our (lineage) is through (holy) matrimony and not through adultery (as some of you). Do not include us^-asws in (those who were born as a result of) the marriages of the ignorance. (Hadith no. 16 continues)

The Prophet^-saww and the twelve Imams^-asws in the Books of Isa Bin Maryam^-as

وتلك الكتب عندي إملاء عيسى بن مريم وخط أبينا بيده، وفيها كل شيء يفعل الناس من بعده ملك ملك، وكم يملك وما يكون في زمان كل ملك منهم، حتى يبعث الله رجلا من العرب من ولد إسماعيل بن إبراهيم خليل الرحمن من أرض تدعى (تهامة) من قرية يقال لها (مكة)، يقال له (أحمد)، الأنجل العينين، المقرون الحاجبين، صاحب الناقة والحمار والقضيب والتاج – يعني العمامة – له اثنا عشر اسما.

And those Books are in my possession as dictated by Isa Bin Maryam^-as in the writing of our father by his hand, and in these is everything that the people will be doing, king after king, and for how long they will rule, and what will transpire in the reign of every king from among them until Allah^-azwj Sends a man from the Arabs, from the Children of Ismail Bin Ibrahim^-as, the Friend of the Beneficent^-azwj, from the land called Tahaamat from a village called Mecca. His^-saww name will be Ahmad^-saww. He^-saww will have two wide eyes with connected eyebrows. He^-saww will be the owner of the camel, and the donkey, and the staff, and the crown – meaning the turban. He^-saww will have twelve names for him^-saww.

ثم أخوه صاحب اللواء يوم القيامة يوم الحشر الأكبر، وأخوه ووصيه ووزيره، وخليفته في أمته، وأحب خلق الله إلى الله بعده علي بن أبي طالب ولي كل مؤمن بعده. ثم أحد عشر إماما من ولد أول الاثني عشر، اثنان سميا ابني هارون شبر وشبير وتسعة من ولد أصغرهما وهو الحسين، واحدا بعد واحد، آخرهم الذي يصلي عيسى بن مريم خلفه). فيه تسمية كل من يملك منهم ومن يستسر بدينه ومن يظهر. فأول من يظهر منهم يملأ جميع بلاد الله قسطا وعدلا، ويملك ما بين المشرق والمغرب حتى يظهره الله على الأديان كلها.

Then his^-saww brother^-asws will be the owner of the Banner on the Day of Judgement, the Day of the Great Resurrection, Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws, his^-saww brother, and his^-saww successor^-asws, and his^-saww Vizier, and the Caliph in his^-saww community, and the most beloved of the creatures of Allah^-azwj after him^-saww is the Guardian of every believer after him^-saww. Then eleven Imam^-asws from the Children of the first of the twelve, two of his^-asws sons will be named after the sons of Haroon^-as, Shabbar and Shabbir, and nine from the children of the younger of the two, and he^-asws is Al-Husayn^-asws, one after the other, the last one^-asws of them^-asws being the one^-asws behind whom^-asws Isa^-as Bin Maryam^-as will Pray. (Hadith no. 16 continues)

The news about Abu Bakr and Umar and Usman and the rest of the usurpers in the Books of Isa^-as

وفي هذا الكتاب – يا أمير المؤمنين – إن اثني عشر إماما من قريش من قومه يعادون أهل بيته ويمنعونهم حقهم ويقتلونهم ويطردونهم ويحرمونهم ويتبرؤون منهم ويخيفونهم، مسمون واحدا بعد واحد بأسمائهم ونعوتهم، وكم يملك كل رجل منهم وما يملك، وما يلقى منهم ولدك وأنصارك وشيعتك من القتل والخوف والبلاء. وكيف يديلكم الله منهم ومن أوليائهم وأنصارهم وما يلقون من الذل والحرب والبلاء والخزي والقتل والخوف منكم أهل البيت.

And in this Book – O Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws – are twelve Imams from the Qureish from his^-saww nation who will be the enemies of the People^-asws of his^-saww Household, and they will prevent them^-asws from their^-asws rights, and will fight against them^-asws and will expel them^-asws, and deprive them^-asws and distance them^-asws, and frighten them^-asws. They have been named, one after the other by their names and their ‘Kuniya’ (teknonyms), and how long each man from them will rule and what his kingdom will be, and what will be meted out (grudges) to your^-asws children, your^-asws helpers, and your^-asws Shiahs, regarding the killings, the fear and the afflictions. And how Allah^-azwj will Protect you^-asws – the People^-asws of the Household, – and the ones who befriend them^-asws, and their^-asws helpers, from disgrace, and from battles, and from afflictions, the disgrace, the killings, and the fear.[3] (An extract from Hadith no. 16).

The 12 Imams are revealed by Rasool Allah^saw, in a Hadith narrated from 6^th Imam^-asws:

وَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ الْبَنْدَنِيجِيُّ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُوسَى الْعَلَوِيِّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ‏ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ: الْوَصِيَّةُ نَزَلَتْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص كِتَاباً مَخْتُوماً وَ لَمْ يُنْزَلْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص كِتَابٌ مَخْتُومٌ إِلَّا الْوَصِيَّةُ فَقَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذِهِ وَصِيَّتُكَ فِي أُمَّتِكَ إِلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَيُّ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ فَقَالَ نَجِيبُ اللَّهِ مِنْهُمْ وَ ذُرِّيَّتُهُ‏ لِيُوَرِّثَكَ عِلْمَ النُّبُوَّةِ قَبْلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ‏ وَ كَانَ عَلَيْهَا خَوَاتِيمُ فَفَتَحَ عَلِيٌّ ع الْخَاتَمَ الْأَوَّلَ وَ مَضَى لِمَا أُمِرَ فِيهِ‏ ثُمَّ فَتَحَ الْحَسَنُ ع الْخَاتَمَ الثَّانِيَ وَ مَضَى لِمَا أُمِرَ بِهِ ثُمَّ فَتَحَ الْحُسَيْنُ ع الْخَاتَمَ الثَّالِثَ فَوَجَدَ فِيهِ أَنْ قَاتِلْ وَ اقْتُلْ وَ تُقْتَلُ‏ وَ اخْرُجْ بِقَوْمٍ لِلشَّهَادَةِ لَا شَهَادَةَ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَعَكَ فَفَعَلَ ثُمَّ دَفَعَهَا إِلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع وَ مَضَى- فَفَتَحَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ الْخَاتَمَ الرَّابِعَ فَوَجَدَ فِيهِ أَنْ أَطْرِقْ وَ اصْمُتْ‏ لِمَا حُجِبَ الْعِلْمُ ثُمَّ دَفَعَهَا إِلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ع فَفَتَحَ الْخَاتَمَ الْخَامِسَ فَوَجَدَ فِيهِ أَنْ فَسِّرْ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَ صَدِّقْ أَبَاكَ وَ وَرِّثِ ابْنَكَ الْعِلْمَ وَ اصْطَنِعِ الْأُمَّةَ وَ قُلِ الْحَقَّ فِي الْخَوْفِ وَ الْأَمْنِ وَ لَا تَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَفَعَلَ ثُمَّ دَفَعَهَا إِلَى الَّذِي يَلِيهِ فَقَالَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ وَ أَنْتَ هُوَ فَقَالَ مَا بِكَ فِي هَذَا إِلَّا أَنْ تَذْهَبَ يَا مُعَاذُ فَتَرْوِيَهُ عَنِّي‏ نَعَمْ أَنَا هُوَ حَتَّى‏ عَدَّدَ عَلَيَ‏ اثْنَيْ‏ عَشَرَ اسْماً ثُمَ‏ سَكَتَ فَقُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَنْ فَقَالَ حَسْبُكَ.

Ali bin Ahmad Al-Bandaneeji narrated from Abu Obaydillah bin Musa Al-Alawi from Ali bin Al-Hasan from Isma’eel bin Mihran from Al-Mufadhdhal bin Salih from Ma’ath bin Katheer, who says:

Abu Abd Allah Ja’far^-asws (6^th Imam^-asws) bin Muhammad^-asws had said:

The Will had been revealed from the Heaven to the Prophet^-asws. It was a sealed book. No other sealed book had been revealed to the Prophet^-asws except the Will. Gabriel^-as said: O Muhammad^-saww, this is your Will to your^-saww family^-asws among your^-saww umma. The Prophet^-saww said: “O Gabriel^-as, which of my^-saww family^-asws?” Gabriel^-as said: “The one^-asws, whom Allah^-azwj has Chosen, and his^-saww progeny^-asws. He^-asws is to inherit you^-saww with the knowledge of Prophet-hood (as did) before (you^-saww Prophet) Abraham^-as.”

The Will had seals. Ali^-asws opened the first seal and went whereto (to the better world) he^-asws had been ordered. Then Al-Hasan^-asws opened the second seal and went whereto he had been ordered. Then Al-Husayn^-asws opened the third seal and found in it: “Fight, kill and you^-asws are to be killed. Set out with some people towards martyrdom. They will not be martyred except with you^-asws.” He^-asws gave the will to Ali^-asws bin Al-Husayn^-asws and went. Ali^-asws bin Al-Husayn^-asws opened the fourth seal and found in it: “Ponder long and be silent for knowledge is veiled.” Then he^-asws gave it to Muhammad^-asws bin Ali^-asws, who opened the fifth seal and found in it: “Interpret the Book of Allah^-azwj, confirm your father^-asws’s knowledge, bequeath knowledge to your^-asws son^-asws, instruct the umma and announce the truth in fright and safety and do not fear except Allah!” He^-asws did and gave the Will to the next one^-asws.” Ma’ath said: “Is it you^-asws?”

Imam Al-Sadiq^-asws said: “O Ma’ath, you are not but to go and narrate this from me^-asws. Yes, it is me^-asws.” He^-asws mentioned twelve names and then became silent. I (Ma’ath) said: “Then who?” He^-asws said: “It is just so!”^[4]

The Twelve Seals for the 12 Imams:

أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ الْبَنْدَنِيجِيُّ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُوسَى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ الْقَلَانِسِيُ‏ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: دَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع صَحِيفَةً مَخْتُومَةً بِاثْنَيْ عَشَرَ خَاتَماً وَ قَالَ فُضَّ الْأَوَّلَ وَ اعْمَلْ بِهِ وَ ادْفَعْهَا إِلَى الْحَسَنِ ع يَفُضُّ الثَّانِيَ وَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ وَ يَدْفَعُهَا إِلَى الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَفُضُّ الثَّالِثَ وَ يَعْمَلُ بِمَا فِيهِ ثُمَّ إِلَى وَاحِدٍ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ وُلْدِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع.

Ali bin Ahmad Al-Bandaneeji narrated from Obaydillah bin Musa from Muhammad bin Ahmad Al- Qalanisi from Muhammad bin Al-Waleed from Younus bin Ya’qoob, who says:

Abu Abd Allah^-asws had said: “The Prophet^-saww had given Ali^-asws a book sealed with twelve seals and said to him: “Open the first seal and do according to it and then give it to Al-Hasan^-asws to open the second and to do according to it. Then Al- Hasan^-asws is to give it to Al-Husayn^-asws to open the third and to do according to it and then from one to another of the progeny of Al-Husayn^-asws.”^[5]

12 Imams after Rasool Allah – as the number of the months in a year

أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو سُلَيْمَانَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ هَوْذَةَ أَبِي هَرَاسَةَ الْبَاهِلِيُ‏ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ النَّهَاوَنْدِيُّ سَنَةَ ثَلَاثٍ وَ سَبْعِينَ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ‏ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ حَمَّادٍ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ سَنَةَ تِسْعٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ شِمْرٍ عَنِ الْمُبَارَكِ بْنِ فَضَالَةَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْبَصْرِيِّ يَرْفَعُهُ قَالَ: أَتَى جَبْرَئِيلُ النَّبِيَّ ص فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَأْمُرُكَ‏ أَنْ‏ تُزَوِّجَ‏ فَاطِمَةَ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ أَخِيكَ فَأَرْسَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا عَلِيُّ إِنِّي مُزَوِّجُكَ فَاطِمَةَ ابْنَتِي سَيِّدَةَ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ وَ أَحَبَّهُنَّ إِلَيَّ بَعْدَكَ وَ كَائِنٌ مِنْكُمَا سَيِّدَا شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ الشُّهَدَاءُ الْمُضَرَّجُونَ‏ الْمَقْهُورُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ بَعْدِي وَ النُّجَبَاءُ الزُّهْرُ الَّذِينَ يُطْفِئُ اللَّهُ بِهِمُ الظُّلْمَ وَ يُحْيِي بِهِمُ الْحَقَّ وَ يُمِيتُ بِهِمُ الْبَاطِلَ عِدَّتُهُمْ عِدَّةُ أَشْهُرِ السَّنَةِ آخِرُهُمْ يُصَلِّي عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ ع خَلْفَهُ.

Abu Sulayman bin Hawtha Al-Bahili narrated from Ibraheem bin Iss’haq an-Nahawandi from Abu Muhammad Abdullah bin Hammad Al-Ansari from Amr bin Shimr from Al-Mubarak bin Fudhala that Al-Hasan bin Abul Hasan Al-Basri had said:

“Gabriel^-as came to the Prophet^-saww and said: “O Muhammad^-saww! Allah^-azwj Ask you^-saww to marry Syeda Fatima^-asws to your brother Ali^-asws.” The Prophet^-saww sent for Ali^-asws and said to him^-asws: “O Ali^-asws, I^-saww will marry my^-saww daughter Fatima^-asws, the head lady of the women of the world and the most beloved one to me^-saww, to you^-asws and there will be from you^-asws the two masters of the martyrs of Paradise, the oppressed bloodstained martyrs on the earth after me^-saww and the highborn progeny, with whom Allah^-azwj will Defeat injustice, Revive the truth and Finish-off the untruth. Their number is like the number of the months of a year (the 12 Imams). Behind the last one^-asws of them^-asws Prophet Jesus^-as the son of Blessed Virgin Mary^-as will offer the Salat.”^[6]

Hazrat Al-Khidr^-as Narrated the Names of 12 Imams – a Hadith from the 6^th Imam^-asws:

أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يُونُسَ الْمَوْصِلِيُ‏ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هَاشِمٍ دَاوُدُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ الْجَعْفَرِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ع‏ عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع قَالَ: أَقْبَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ وَ مَعَهُ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ وَ سَلْمَانُ الْفَارِسِيُّ وَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مُتَّكِئٌ عَلَى يَدِ سَلْمَانَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَدَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ فَجَلَسَ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ رَجُلٌ حَسَنُ الْهَيْئَةِ وَ اللِّبَاسِ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ جَلَسَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَ قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ ثَلَاثِ مَسَائِلَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَلْنِي عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِنْسَانِ إِذَا نَامَ أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ رُوحُهُ وَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ كَيْفَ يَذْكُرُ وَ يَنْسَى وَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ كَيْفَ يُشْبِهُ وَلَدُهُ الْأَعْمَامَ وَ الْأَخْوَالَ فَالْتَفَتَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِلَى الْحَسَنِ وَ قَالَ أَجِبْهُ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع لِلرَّجُلِ أَمَّا مَا سَأَلْتَ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَمْرِ الرَّجُلِ إِذَا نَامَ أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ رُوحُهُ فَإِنَّ رُوحَهُ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِالرِّيحِ وَ الرِّيحُ بِالْهَوَاءِ مُعَلَّقَةٌ إِلَى وَقْتِ مَا يَتَحَرَّكُ صَاحِبُهَا بِالْيَقَظَةِ فَإِنْ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى بِرَدِّ تِلْكَ الرُّوحِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ الْبَدَنِ‏ جَذَبَتْ تِلْكَ الرُّوحُ الرِّيحَ وَ جَذَبَتِ الرِّيحُ الْهَوَاءَ فَاسْتَكَنَتْ فِي بَدَنِ صَاحِبِهَا وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَأْذَنِ اللَّهُ بِرَدِّ تِلْكَ الرُّوحِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ الْبَدَنِ جَذَبَ الْهَوَاءُ الرِّيحَ وَ جَذَبَتِ الرِّيحُ الرُّوحَ فَلَا تُرَدُّ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا إِلَى وَقْتِ مَا يُبْعَثُ-

وَ أَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ أَمْرِ الذُّكْرِ وَ النِّسْيَانِ فَإِنَّ قَلْبَ الْإِنْسَانِ فِي حُقٍ‏ وَ عَلَى الْحُقِّ طَبَقٌ فَإِذَا هُوَ صَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَاةً تَامَّةً انْكَشَفَ ذَلِكَ الطَّبَقُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ الْحُقِّ فَأَضَاءَ الْقَلْبُ وَ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلُ مَا نَسِيَ وَ إِنْ هُوَ لَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ أَوِ انْتَقَصَ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ أَغْضَى عَنْ بَعْضِهَا انْطَبَقَ ذَلِكَ الطَّبَقُ عَلَى الْحُقِّ فَأَظْلَمَ الْقَلْبُ وَ سَهَا الرَّجُلُ وَ نَسِيَ مَا كَانَ يَذْكُرُهُ وَ أَمَّا مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْمَوْلُودِ يُشْبِهُ الْأَعْمَامَ وَ الْأَخْوَالَ فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا أَتَى أَهْلَهُ فَجَامَعَهَا بِقَلْبٍ سَاكِنٍ وَ عُرُوقٍ هَادِئَةٍ وَ بَدَنٍ غَيْرِ مُضْطَرِبٍ اسْتَكَنَتْ تِلْكَ النُّطْفَةُ فِي جَوْفِ الرَّحِمِ فَخَرَجَ الْمَوْلُودُ يُشْبِهُ أَبَاهُ وَ أُمَّهُ وَ إِنْ هُوَ أَتَى زَوْجَتَهُ بِقَلْبٍ غَيْرِ سَاكِنٍ وَ عُرُوقٍ غَيْرِ هَادِئَةٍ وَ بَدَنٍ مُضْطَرِبٍ اضْطَرَبَتْ تِلْكَ النُّطْفَةُ فَوَقَعَتْ فِي حَالِ اضْطِرَابِهَا عَلَى بَعْضِ الْعُرُوقِ فَإِنْ وَقَعَتْ عَلَى عِرْقٍ مِنْ عُرُوقِ الْأَعْمَامِ أَشْبَهَ الْمَوْلُودُ أَعْمَامَهُ وَ إِنْ وَقَعَتْ عَلَى عِرْقٍ مِنْ عُرُوقِ الْأَخْوَالِ أَشْبَهَ الْوَلَدُ أَخْوَالَهُ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ لَمْ أَزَلْ أَشْهَدُ بِهَا وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ لَمْ أَزَلْ أَشْهَدُ بِهَا وَ أَقُولُهَا وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ وَصِيُّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ الْقَائِمُ بِحُجَّتِهِ وَ لَمْ أَزَلْ أَشْهَدُ بِهَا وَ أَقُولُهَا وَ أَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ قَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ وَصِيُّهُ وَ الْقَائِمُ بِحُجَّتِهِ وَ لَمْ أَزَلْ أَقُولُهَا وَ أَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى الْحَسَنِ ع وَ أَشْهَدُ عَلَى الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ أَنَّهُ وَصِيُّهُ وَ الْقَائِمُ بِحُجَّتِهِ وَ لَمْ أَزَلْ أَقُولُهَا وَ أَشْهَدُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ أَنَّهُ الْقَائِمُ بِأَمْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ وَ أَشْهَدُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ أَنَّهُ الْقَائِمُ بِأَمْرِ عَلِيٍّ وَ أَشْهَدُ عَلَى جَعْفَرٍ أَنَّهُ الْقَائِمُ بِأَمْرِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَشْهَدُ عَلَى مُوسَى أَنَّهُ الْقَائِمُ بِأَمْرِ جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَشْهَدُ عَلَى عَلِيٍ‏ أَنَّهُ وَلِيُّ مُوسَى‏ وَ أَشْهَدُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ أَنَّهُ الْقَائِمُ بِأَمْرِ عَلِيٍّ وَ أَشْهَدُ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ أَنَّهُ الْقَائِمُ بِأَمْرِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَشْهَدُ عَلَى الْحَسَنِ أَنَّهُ الْقَائِمُ بِأَمْرِ عَلِيٍّ وَ أَشْهَدُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ وُلْدِ الْحُسَيْنِ لَا يُسَمَّى وَ لَا يُكَنَّى حَتَّى يُظْهِرَ اللَّهُ أَمْرَهُ يَمْلَأُ الْأَرْضَ عَدْلًا وَ قِسْطاً كَمَا مُلِئَتْ جَوْراً وَ ظُلْماً وَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَمَضَى فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لِلْحَسَنِ ع يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ اتَّبِعْهُ فَانْظُرْ أَيْنَ يَقْصِدُ قَالَ فَخَرَجْتُ فِي أَثَرِهِ فَمَا كَانَ إِلَّا أَنْ وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ خَارِجَ الْمَسْجِدِ حَتَّى مَا دَرَيْتُ أَيْنَ أَخَذَ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَأَعْلَمْتُهُ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ تَعْرِفُهُ قُلْتُ لَا وَ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعْلَمُ فَقَالَ هُوَ الْخَضِرُ ع.

Abdul Wahid bin Abdullah bin Younus Al-Moossili narrated from Muhammad bin Ja’far from Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Khalid from Abu Hashim Dawood bin Al- Qassim Al-Ja’fari, who says:

Imam Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali Al-Baqir^-asws had narrated from his forefathers^-asws:

“One day Amir-ul-Mo’mineen^-asws came with his^-asws son Al-Hasan^-asws and Salman Al-Farisi where Amirul Mo’mineen^-asws was leaning on Salman^-ra’s hand. They came into the masjid and sat down. A handsome and neat man came, greeted Amir-ul-Mo’mineen^-asws and sat before him^-asws. He said: “O Amir-ul-Mo’mineen^-asws, I want to ask you^-asws three questions.” Amir-ul-Mo’mineen^-asws said: “Ask whatever you like.” The man said: “Would you^-asws tell me if man sleeps where his soul goes to? How does man remember and forget? How do man’s children look like their uncles; their father’s brothers and mother’s brothers?” Amir-ul-Mo’mineen^-asws turned to his son Al-Hasan^-asws and said to him^-asws: “O Abu Muhammad^-asws, answer him!” Imam Al-Hasan^-asws said to the man: As for your question that when man sleeps whereto his soul goes, his soul is hanging in the air until he moves during his wake, so if Allah^-azwj Permits that that soul is to go back to the body, the soul attracts the air to settle in its body but if Allah^-azwj does not Permit that soul to get back to that body, the air will attract the soul away from the body until the Day of Resurrection.

But as for what you asked about remembering and forgetting, the heart of man has been created to comply with the truth and there is a cover on the truth. If he prays Allah^-azwj to have blessing upon Muhammad^-saww and his^-saww family^-asws in a perfect way, that cover will be removed from upon the truth and the heart will shine then one will remember what he has forgotten but if he does not pray Allah^-azwj to have Blessing upon Muhammad^-saww and his^-saww family^-asws or his prayer is imperfect, the cover will get closed on the truth and the heart will be dark and then he will forget what he has remembered.

As about a newborn baby that looks like the uncles, if a man goes to bed with his wife with calm heart, tranquil nerves and undisturbed body, his seed will settle inside the womb and the baby will looks like either its father or its mother. If a man goes to bed with his wife with upset heart, unquiet nerves and disturbed body, the seed also will upset and fall on some veins. If it falls on a vein of the father’s brothers, the baby will look like the father’s brothers and if it falls on a vein of the mother’s brothers, the baby will look like the mother’s brothers.”

The man said: “I witness that there is no god but Allah^-azwj and I will keep on that. I witness that Muhammad^-saww is the messenger of Allah^-azwj and I will keep on that. (He pointed to Imam Ali^-asws with his hand and said) I witness that you^-asws are the Wali (guardian) of the messenger of Allah^-saww and the successor of his^-saww authority and I will keep on it.

(He pointed to Imam Al-Hasan^-asws and said) I witness that you^-asws are his^-asws Wali and the successor of his authority and I will keep on it. I witness that Al-Husayn^-asws bin Ali^-asws is his^-asws (Al-Hasan’s) Wali and the successor of his^-asws authority and I will keep on that. I witness that Ali^-asws bin Al-Husayn^-asws is the Wali of Al-Husayn^-asws. I witness that Muhammad^-asws bin Ali^-asws is the Wali of Ali^-asws bin Al-Husayn^-asws. I witness that Ja’far^-asws is the Wali of Muhammad^-asws (bin Ali^-asws). I witness that Musa^-asws is the Wali of Ja’far^-asws. I witness that Ali^-asws (bin Musa^-asws) is the Wali of Musa^-asws. I witness that Muhammad^-asws (bin Ali^-asws bin Musa^-asws) is the Wali of Ali^-asws (bin Musa^-asws). I witness that Ali^-asws (bin Muhammad^-asws) is the Wali of Muhammad^-asws. I witness that Al-Hasan^-asws is the Wali of Ali^-asws and I witness that a man from among the offspring of Al-Husayn^-asws, who is not named or surnamed until he appears by the Will of Allah^-azwj to spread justice all over the earth after it has been filled with injustice and oppression, is the Wali of Al-Hasan^-asws bin Ali^-asws. Peace, mercy and blessing of Allah^-azwj be upon you^-asws, O Amir-ul-Mo’mineen^-asws.”

Then he left. Then Amir-ul-Mo’mineen^-asws said to Imam Al-Hasan^-asws: “O Abu Muhammad^-asws, follow after him and see where he goes to!” Imam Al-Hasan^-asws said: “I^-asws followed after him, but since he put his leg out of the gate of the masjid I could not know where he disappeared. I^-asws came back and told Amir-ul-Mo’mineen^-asws. He^-asws said to me^-asws: “O Abu Muhammad^-asws, do you know who he is?” I^-asws said: “No, Allah^-azwj, His messenger^-saww and Amir-ul-Mo’mineen^-asws are more aware.” He^-asws said: “He is Al-Khidr^-as.”^[7]

Hadith of Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq^-asws with names of 12 Imams!

حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالا حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ جَمِيعاً عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ وَ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ طَرِيفٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ وَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُوسَى بْنِ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ مَاجِيلَوَيْهِ وَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ نَاتَانَةَ وَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ الْهَمَدَانِيُّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ هَاشِمٍ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: قَالَ أَبِي ع لِجَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ إِنَّ لِي إِلَيْكَ حَاجَةً فَمَتَى يَخِفُّ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ أَخْلُوَ بِكَ فَأَسْأَلَكَ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ جَابِرٌ فِي أَيِّ الْأَوْقَاتِ شِئْتَ فَخَلَا بِهِ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ لَهُ يَا جَابِرُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ اللَّوْحِ الَّذِي رَأَيْتَهُ فِي يَدَيْ أُمِّي فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ مَا أَخْبَرَتْكَ بِهِ أَنَّهُ فِي ذَلِكَ اللَّوْحِ مَكْتُوباً فَقَالَ جَابِرٌ أَشْهَدُ بِاللَّهِ أَنِّي دَخَلْتُ عَلَى‏ أُمِّكَ فَاطِمَةَ ع فِي حَيَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أُهَنِّؤُهَا بِوِلَادَةِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‏ فَرَأَيْتُ فِي يَدِهَا لَوْحاً أَخْضَرَ ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ مِنْ زُمُرُّدٍ وَ رَأَيْتُ فِيهِ كِتَابَةً بَيْضَاءَ شَبِيهَةً بِنُورِ الشَّمْسِ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا بِأَبِي أَنْتِ وَ أُمِّي يَا بِنْتَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ مَا هَذَا اللَّوْحُ فَقَالَتْ هَذَا اللَّوْحُ أَهْدَاهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى رَسُولِهِ ص فِيهِ اسْمُ أَبِي وَ اسْمُ بَعْلِي وَ اسْمُ ابْنَيَّ وَ أَسْمَاءُ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ وُلْدِي فَأَعْطَانِيهِ أَبِي لِيَسُرَّنِي بِذَلِكَ قَالَ جَابِرٌ فَأَعْطَتْنِيهِ أُمُّكَ‏ فَاطِمَةُ ع فَقَرَأْتُهُ وَ انْتَسَخْتُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبِي ع فَهَلْ لَكَ يَا جَابِرُ أَنْ تَعْرِضَهُ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَمَشَى مَعَهُ أَبِي ع حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى مَنْزِلِ جَابِرٍ فَأَخْرَجَ إِلَى أَبِي صَحِيفَةً مِنْ رَقٍّ فَقَالَ يَا جَابِرُ انْظُرْ أَنْتَ فِي كِتَابِكَ لِأَقْرَأَهُ أَنَا عَلَيْكَ فَنَظَرَ جَابِرٌ فِي نُسْخَتِهِ‏ فَقَرَأَهُ عَلَيْهِ أَبِي ع فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا خَالَفَ حَرْفٌ حَرْفاً قَالَ جَابِرٌ فَإِنِّي أَشْهَدُ بِاللَّهِ أَنِّي هَكَذَا رَأَيْتُهُ فِي اللَّوْحِ مَكْتُوباً بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم‏ هَذَا كِتَابٌ‏ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ‏ لِمُحَمَّدٍ نُورِهِ وَ سَفِيرِهِ وَ حِجَابِهِ وَ دَلِيلِهِ‏ نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ‏ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ عَظِّمْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَسْمَائِي وَ اشْكُرْ نَعْمَائِي وَ لَا تَجْحَدْ آلَائِي إِنِّي‏ أَنَا اللَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا أَنَا قَاصِمُ الْجَبَّارِينَ وَ مُبِيرُ الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ وَ مُذِلُّ الظَّالِمِينَ وَ دَيَّانُ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِنِّي‏ أَنَا اللَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَمَنْ رَجَا غَيْرَ فَضْلِي أَوْ خَافَ غَيْرَ عَدْلِي عَذَّبْتُهُ‏ عَذاباً لا أُعَذِّبُهُ أَحَداً مِنَ الْعالَمِينَ‏ فَإِيَّايَ فَاعْبُدْ وَ عَلَيَّ فَتَوَكَّلْ إِنِّي لَمْ أَبْعَثْ نَبِيّاً فَأُكْمِلَتْ أَيَّامُهُ وَ انْقَضَتْ مُدَّتُهُ إِلَّا جَعَلْتُ لَهُ وَصِيّاً وَ إِنِّي فَضَّلْتُكَ عَلَى الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ فَضَّلْتُ وَصِيَّكَ عَلَى الْأَوْصِيَاءِ وَ أَكْرَمْتُكَ بِشِبْلَيْكَ بَعْدَهُ وَ بِسِبْطَيْكَ الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ وَ جَعَلْتُ حَسَناً مَعْدِنَ عِلْمِي بَعْدَ انْقِضَاءِ مُدَّةِ أَبِيهِ وَ جَعَلْتُ حُسَيْناً خَازِنَ وَحْيِي وَ أَكْرَمْتُهُ بِالشَّهَادَةِ وَ خَتَمْتُ لَهُ بِالسَّعَادَةِ فَهُوَ أَفْضَلُ مَنِ اسْتُشْهِدَ وَ أَرْفَعُ الشُّهَدَاءِ دَرَجَةً جَعَلْتُ كَلِمَتِيَ التَّامَّةَ مَعَهُ وَ الْحُجَّةَ الْبَالِغَةَ عِنْدَهُ بِعِتْرَتِهِ أُثِيبُ وَ أُعَاقِبُ أَوَّلُهُمْ عَلِيٌّ سَيِّدُ الْعَابِدِينَ وَ زَيْنُ أَوْلِيَائِيَ الْمَاضِينَ وَ ابْنُهُ سَمِيُّ جَدِّهِ‏ الْمَحْمُودِ مُحَمَّدٌ الْبَاقِرُ لِعِلْمِي وَ الْمَعْدِنُ لِحِكْمَتِي سَيَهْلِكُ الْمُرْتَابُونَ فِي جَعْفَرٍ الرَّادُّ عَلَيْهِ كَالرَّادِّ عَلَيَّ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ مِنِّي لَأُكْرِمَنَّ مَثْوَى جَعْفَرٍ وَ لَأَسُرَّنَّهُ فِي أَوْلِيَائِهِ وَ أَشْيَاعِهِ وَ أَنْصَارِهِ وَ انتحبت [أُتِيحَتْ‏] بَعْدَ مُوسَى فِتْنَةٌ عَمْيَاءُ حِنْدِسٌ‏ لِأَنَّ خَيْطَ فَرْضِي لَا يَنْقَطِعُ‏ وَ حُجَّتِي لَا تَخْفَى وَ أَنَّ أَوْلِيَائِي لَا يَشْقَوْنَ أَبَداً أَلَا وَ مَنْ جَحَدَ وَاحِداً مِنْهُمْ فَقَدْ جَحَدَ نِعْمَتِي وَ مَنْ غَيَّرَ آيَةً مِنْ كِتَابِي فَقَدِ افْتَرَى عَلَيَّ وَ وَيْلٌ لِلْمُفْتَرِينَ الْجَاحِدِينَ عِنْدَ انْقِضَاءِ مُدَّةِ عَبْدِي مُوسَى وَ حَبِيبِي وَ خِيَرَتِي أَلَا إِنَّ الْمُكَذِّبَ بِالثَّامِنِ مُكَذِّبٌ بِكُلِّ أَوْلِيَائِي وَ عَلِيٌّ وَلِيِّي وَ نَاصِرِي وَ مَنْ أَضَعُ عَلَيْهِ أَعْبَاءَ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ أَمْتَحِنُهُ بِالاضْطِلَاعِ يَقْتُلُهُ عِفْرِيتٌ مُسْتَكْبِرٌ يُدْفَنُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ الَّتِي بَنَاهَا الْعَبْدُ الصَّالِحُ ذُو الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِلَى جَنْبِ شَرِّ خَلْقِي حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ مِنِّي لَأُقِرَّنَّ عَيْنَهُ بِمُحَمَّدٍ ابْنِهِ‏ وَ خَلِيفَتِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَهُوَ وَارِثُ عِلْمِي وَ مَعْدِنُ حِكْمَتِي وَ مَوْضِعُ سِرِّي وَ حُجَّتِي عَلَى خَلْقِي جَعَلْتُ الْجَنَّةَ مَثْوَاهُ وَ شَفَّعْتُهُ فِي سَبْعِينَ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ كُلُّهُمْ قَدِ اسْتَوْجَبُوا النَّارَ وَ أَخْتِمُ بِالسَّعَادَةِ لِابْنِهِ عَلِيٍّ وَلِيِّي وَ نَاصِرِي وَ الشَّاهِدِ فِي خَلْقِي وَ أَمِينِي عَلَى وَحْيِي أُخْرِجُ مِنْهُ الدَّاعِيَ إِلَى سَبِيلِي وَ الْخَازِنَ لِعِلْمِيَ الْحَسَنَ ثُمَّ أُكْمِلُ ذَلِكَ بِابْنِهِ رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ عَلَيْهِ كَمَالُ مُوسَى وَ بَهَاءُ عِيسَى وَ صَبْرُ أَيُّوبَ سَتَذِلُّ أَوْلِيَائِي فِي زَمَانِهِ وَ يُتَهَادَوْنَ رُءُوسُهُمْ كَمَا تُهَادَى ‏رُءُوسُ التُّرْكِ وَ الدَّيْلَمِ فَيُقْتَلُونَ وَ يُحْرَقُونَ وَ يَكُونُونَ خَائِفِينَ مَرْعُوبِينَ وَجِلِينَ تُصْبَغُ الْأَرْضُ مِنْ دِمَائِهِمْ وَ يَفْشُو الْوَيْلُ وَ الرَّنِينُ فِي نِسَائِهِمْ‏^[8] أُولَئِكَ أَوْلِيَائِي حَقّاً بِهِمْ أَدْفَعُ كُلَّ فِتْنَةٍ عَمْيَاءَ حِنْدِسٍ وَ بِهِمْ أَكْشِفُ الزَّلَازِلَ وَ أَرْفَعُ عَنْهُمُ الْآصَارَ^[9] وَ الْأَغْلَالَ‏ أُولئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَواتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَ رَحْمَةٌ وَ أُولئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ‏ قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ سَالِمٍ قَالَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ لَوْ لَمْ تَسْمَعْ فِي دَهْرِكَ إِلَّا هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ لَكَفَاكَ فَصُنْهُ إِلَّا عَنْ أَهْلِهِ.

Narrated to us my father and Muhammad bin Hasan – May Allah be pleased with them – they said: Narrated to us Saad bin Abdullah and Abdullah bin Ja’far Himyari, all of them from Abil Hasan Salih bin Abi Hammad and Hasan bin Tareef, all of them from Bakr bin Salih and narrated to us my father and Muhammad bin Musa bin Mutawakkil and Muhammad bin Ali Majilaway; and Ahmad bin Ali bin Ibrahim; and Hasan bin Ibrahim bin Natana; and Ahmad bin Ziyad Hamadani – May Allah be pleased with them – they said: Narrated to us Ali bin Ibrahim from his father Ibrahim bin Hashim from Bakr bin Salih from Abdur Rahman bin Saalim from Abi Baseer from Abi Abdullah ^-asws that he said:

“My father^-asws said to Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari, ‘I have some work with you. So, when is it possible for you to give me some time that I may ask you something?’ Jabir replied, ‘Whenever you wish.’ Thus, when my father^-asws met him in privacy, he asked him, “O Jabir! Inform me about the Tablet which you saw in the hand of my mother, (Syeda) Fatima^-asws, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah^-saww and what did she^-asws tell you as to what was written in it?” Jabir replied, ‘I hold Allah^-azwj as Witness that I went to visit your^-asws mother^-asws, Fatima ^-asws during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah^-saww to congratulate her for being blessed by Hussain^-asws. I saw in her^-asws hand a green Tablet, which I thought to be of emerald and its writing was as bright as sunlight. I asked her^-asws, ‘May my parents be sacrificed for you, O daughter of Rasool Allah^-saww! What is this Tablet?’ She^-asws replied, ‘This is the Tablet, which Allah^-azwj, to whom belong might and majesty, has gifted to the Messenger of Allah^-saww. In it is the name of my father^-saww, the name of Ali^-asws, the name of my^-asws two sons^-asws and the names of the successors from my progeny. In turn, my father gave it to me that I may rejoice through it.’

Jabir said, ‘Thus, your mother (Syeda) Fatima^-asws gave it to me. I read it and copied it.’

My father^-asws asked, ‘O Jabir! Can you show it (the copied manuscript) to me^-asws?’

He replied in the affirmative. My father ^-asws accompanied Jabir to his house where he took out a scroll of parchment and gave it to my father saying, ‘I hold Allah^-azwj as Witness that this is what I^-asws saw written in the Tablet:

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. This is a Book from Allah^-azwj, the Mighty, the Wise to Muhammad^-saww, His^-azwj Light, His^-azwj ambassador, His^-azwj Veil and His^-azwj Proof. The trustworthy Spirit has descended with it from the Lord of the worlds. O Muhammad^-saww! Magnify My^-azwj Names, be grateful for My^-azwj bounties and do not deny My^-azwj endowments. Verily, I^-azwj am Allah^-azwj, there is no god but Me^-azwj, the Destroyer of the oppressors, the Degrader of the tyrants and the Establisher of the Day of Judgment.  Verily, I^-azwj am Allah^-azwj, there is no god but Me. Whoever expects grace from other than Me^-azwj or fears other than My^-azwj justice and My^-azwj punishment, I^-azwj will Punish him in such a way that I^-azwj will not punish anybody in this manner in the worlds. Hence, worship only Me^-azwj and rely only on Me^-azwj. Indeed, I did not raise a messenger, completed his days and terminated his duration but that I appointed for him^-as a successor^-as. Certainly, I^-azwj Made you^-saww superior over all other Prophets^-as and Made your^-saww successor superior over all other successors. After him^-asws, I^-azwj Honoured you^-saww with your^-saww two grandsons, Hasan^-asws and Husain^-asws. I made Hasan^-asws the mine of My^-azwj Knowledge after the end of the days of his^-asws father^-asws and I^-azwj Made Husain^-asws the treasure chest of My^-asws Revelation, I^-azwj Honoured him^-asws with martyrdom and sealed it for him^-asws with eternal bliss. So, he^-asws is the best of the martyrs and the highest of them in grade before Me^-azwj. I^-azwj have Placed My^-azwj ‘Perfect Word’ with him^-asws and the complete Proof near him^-asws. Through his^-asws Progeny, I^-azwj shall reward and punish.

The first of them^-asws is the chief of the worshippers and the adornment of My past friends, then his son^-asws (Muhammad) who resembles his^-asws grandfather al- Mahmood1, the splitter of My knowledge and the mine of My^-azwj Wisdom. Soon, those who doubt concerning his son Ja’far^-asws will be destroyed. He who rejects him has rejected Me^-azwj. I^-azwj Speak the truth, I^-azwj will Indeed honour the position of Ja’far^-asws and make him^-asws happy vis-à-vis his^-asws Shias, his^-asws helpers and his^-asws friends. After him, I^-azwj have Selected Musa^-asws and there will be a blinding, dark corruption so that the spark of My^-azwj Obedience is not terminated, My^-azwj Proof is not hidden and My friends are not afflicted with misfortune. Beware! Whoever denies even one of them^-asws has denied My^-azwj Bounty. Whoever changes one verse from My^-azwj Book, then indeed has attributed a lie unto Me^-azwj. Then woe unto the liars, the deniers with the termination of the duration of My^-azwj servant, My^-azwj beloved and My^-azwj Chosen one, Musa^-asws. Verily, the one who denies the eighth is as if he has denied all My^-azwj Friends (Imams). Ali^-asws is My^-azwj Friend, My^-azwj Helper and the one upon whom I^-azwj have Placed Prophethood’s burden of proof and conferred upon him Master-ship. An arrogant devil will murder him^-asws. He^-asws will be buried in a city, which the righteous servant has built, next to the worst of My^-azwj creatures. I^-azwj Speak the Truth, I^-azwj will Soothe his^-asws eyes with Muhammad^-asws, his son and his successor after him^-asws. He^-asws is the heir of My^-azwj knowledge, the mine of My^-azwj Wisdom, the place of My^-azwj Joy and My^-azwj Proof upon My^-azwj creatures.

None shall believe in him^-asws but that the paradise will be his abode and I^-azwj will Allow him^-asws to intercede for seventy of his family members, even if all of them are eligible for hell. I^-azwj will Complete his^-asws bliss with his^-asws son Ali^-asws, My^-azwj friend^-asws, My^-azwj Helper, My^-azwj Witness amongst My^-azwj creatures and My^-azwj trustee upon My^-azwj Revelation. From him, I^-azwj will Bring forth Hasan^-asws, the caller to My^-azwj Path and the treasurer of My^-azwj Knowledge. Thereafter, I^-azwj will Complete this (chain of Imamate) with his^-asws son, م.ح.م.د. mercy for the worlds. He^-asws will possess the perfection of Musa, the brightness of Isa and the patience of Ayyub. Soon, My friends will be humiliated in his time and their heads will be gifted as trophies like the heads of the Turks and the Dailamites. They will be killed, they will be burnt, they will live in a state of fear, terror and trepidation. The earth will be coloured with their blood and wailing and sobbing will be commonplace among their womenfolk. They are My^-azwj true friends! Through them I will repel all blinding and dark mischief, remove the earthquakes and remove with the burdens and the chains.

أُولَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ

They are those upon them is the blessings of their Lord and mercy. And they are the guided ones (2:157)

Abdur Rahman bin Salim says: Abu Baseer says, ‘If you do not hear in your time anything but this tradition, it will suffice for you. Hence, conceal it except from those who are worthy of it.’^[10]

The 12 Imams in the Divine Tablet:

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ شَاذَوَيْهِ الْمُؤَدِّبُ وَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ الْقَاضِي رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالا حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ الْفَزَارِيِّ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنْ مَالِكٍ السَّلُولِيِ‏ عَنْ دُرُسْتَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ أَبِي السَّفَاتِجِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ الْجُعْفِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْبَاقِرِ ع عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى مَوْلَاتِي فَاطِمَةَ ع وَ قُدَّامَهَا لَوْحٌ يَكَادُ ضَوْؤُهُ يَغْشَى الْأَبْصَارَ فِيهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ اسْماً ثَلَاثَةٌ فِي ظَاهِرِهِ وَ ثَلَاثَةٌ فِي بَاطِنِهِ وَ ثَلَاثَةُ أَسْمَاءَ فِي آخِرِهِ وَ ثَلَاثَةُ أَسْمَاءَ فِي طَرَفِهِ فَعَدَدْتُهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ اثْنَا عَشَرَ اسْماً فَقُلْتُ أَسْمَاءُ مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ قَالَتْ هَذِهِ أَسْمَاءُ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ أَوَّلُهُمْ ابْنُ عَمِّي وَ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ مِنْ وُلْدِي آخِرُهُمُ الْقَائِمُ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ قَالَ جَابِرٌ فَرَأَيْتُ فِيهَا مُحَمَّداً مُحَمَّداً مُحَمَّداً فِي ثَلَاثَةِ مَوَاضِعَ وَ عَلِيّاً وَ عَلِيّاً وَ عَلِيّاً وَ عَلِيّاً فِي أَرْبَعَةِ مَوَاضِعَ.

Narrated to us Ali bin Husain bin Shazawiya Moaddab; and Ahmad bin Harun al-Qadi – May Allah^-azwj be Pleased with them – they said: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Ja’far Himyari from his father from Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Malik Fazari Kufi from Malik Saluli from Durust bin Abdul Hameed from Abdullah bin Qasim from Abdullah bin Jabala from Abi Safatij from Jabir Jofi from Abi Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir^-asws from Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari that he said:

“One day I came to Lady Fatima^-asws and before her was a tablet from which an amazing light emanated. There were twelve names in this tablet. Three on the outer side and three on the inner, three in the end and three in one direction. Thus, there were twelve names in all. I asked: Whose names are these?

She^-asws replied: These are the respected names of successors, the first of whom is my cousin, and eleven shall be from my^-asws progeny. The last of them will be Qa’im^-asws, bliss of Allah^-azwj be on them all^-asws. Jabir says: I saw the name of Muhammad at three places and Ali at four places.”^[11]

وَ حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الْعَطَّارُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى فَاطِمَةَ ع وَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا لَوْحٌ مَكْتُوبٌ فِيهِ أَسْمَاءُ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ فَعَدَدْتُ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ آخِرُهُمُ الْقَائِمُ ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنْهُمْ مُحَمَّدٌ وَ أَرْبَعَةٌ مِنْهُمْ عَلِيٌّ ع.

And narrated to us Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Yahya al-Attar^-ra: Narrated to me my father from Muhammad bin Husain bin Abil Khattab from Hasan bin Mahboob from Abil Jarud from Abi Ja’far ^-asws from Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari that he said:

“One day I visited (Syeda) Fatima^-asws and before her^-asws was a tablet inscribed with the names of successors from her^-asws progeny. I counted twelve names, the last of whom was ‘Al-Qa’im^-asws. There were three Muhammads^-asws and four Alis^-asws – (Bliss of Allah^-azwj be on them all).”^[12]

وَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ حَمْزَةَ الْعَلَوِيُّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ دُرُسْتَ السَّرْوِيُّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِمْرَانَ الْكُوفِيُّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ وَ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الصَّادِقِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ: يَا إِسْحَاقُ أَ لَا أُبَشِّرُكَ قُلْتُ بَلَى جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ وَجَدْنَا صَحِيفَةً بِإِمْلَاءِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ خَطِّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِيهَا بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم‏ هَذَا كِتَابٌ‏ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ‏ وَ ذَكَرَ حَدِيثَ اللَّوْحِ كَمَا ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي هَذَا الْبَابِ مِثْلَهُ سَوَاءً إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي آخِرِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع يَا إِسْحَاقُ هَذَا دِينُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ الرُّسُلِ فَصُنْهُ عَنْ غَيْرِ أَهْلِهِ يَصُنْكَ اللَّهُ وَ يُصْلِحْ بَالَكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ ع مَنْ دَانَ بِهَذَا أَمِنَ عِقَابَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

And narrated to us Abu Muhammad al-Hasan bin Hamza Alawi^-ra: Narrated to us Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Husain bin Durust Sarrawi from Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Malik that he said: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Imran Kufi from Abdur Rahman bin Abi Najran; and Safwan bin Yahya from Ishaq Ibne Ammar from Abi Abdullah as-Sadiq ^-asws that he said: “O Ishaq, shall I give you a glad tiding? I said: Please do, may I be sacrificed on you, O son of Allah’s Messenger. The Imam said: I saw in the scroll dictated by Rasool Allah^-saww and written by Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws the following:

“In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. This is a Book from Allah^-azwj, the Mighty, the Wise and then he narrated the tradition (of tablet) mentioned above exactly except that at the end there is the sentence:

Then Imam Ja’far Sadiq^-asws: O Ishaq, this is the religion of the angels and messengers. Protect it from those unworthy of it. May Allah protect you and reform your children. Then he said: One who has recognized this (religion) is safe from the chastisement of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.”^[13]

حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِدْرِيسَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى وَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ هَاشِمٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى فَاطِمَةَ ع وَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا لَوْحٌ فِيهِ أَسْمَاءُ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ فَعَدَدْتُ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ اسْماً آخِرُهُمُ الْقَائِمُ ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنْهُمْ مُحَمَّدٌ وَ أَرْبَعَةٌ مِنْهُمْ عَلِيٌّ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ.

Narrated to us Husain bin Ahmad bin Idrees (r.a.): Narrated to us my father from Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Isa and Ibrahim bin Hashim, all of them from Hasan bin Mahboob from Abil Jarud from Abi Ja’far^-asws from Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari that he said:

“One day I visited (Syeda) Fatima^-asws and in her hands was a tablet inscribed with the names of successors from her^-asws progeny. I counted twelve names, the last of whom was ‘Al-Qa’im^-asws’. There were three Muhammads^-asws and four Alis^-asws – bliss of Allah^-azwj be on them^-asws all.”^[14]

The Introduction of the 12^th Imam^-asws to Sincere Followers by the 11^th Imam^-asws:

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ مَاجِيلَوَيْهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْعَطَّارُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ الْفَزَارِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ حُكَيْمٍ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ نُوحٍ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ الْعَمْرِيُّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالُوا عَرَضَ عَلَيْنَا أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ع وَ نَحْنُ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ وَ كُنَّا أَرْبَعِينَ رَجُلًا فَقَالَ هَذَا إِمَامُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي وَ خَلِيفَتِي عَلَيْكُمْ أَطِيعُوهُ وَ لَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا مِنْ بَعْدِي فِي أَدْيَانِكُمْ فَتَهْلِكُوا أَمَا إِنَّكُمْ لَا تَرَوْنَهُ بَعْدَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا قَالُوا فَخَرَجْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ فَمَا مَضَتْ إِلَّا أَيَّامٌ قَلَائِلُ حَتَّى مَضَى أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع.

Narrated to us Muhammad bin Ali Majilaway^-ra: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Yahya al-Attar: Narrated to me Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Malik Fazari: Narrated to me Muawiyah bin Hukaim and Muhammad bin Ayyub Ibne Nuh and Muhammad bin Uthman Amari (r.a.), they said:

“Abu Muhammad Hasan Askari^-asws acquainted us, forty persons, with his newborn son, His Eminence, Mahdi, while we were present at his house. He said: ‘This son of mine is my Imam and Caliph for you after me. Obey him and after me do not become disunited in your religion, that you be destroyed. But you should know that, after this day, you will not see him.’ They said: We left his place and after only a few day he [Imam Askari^-asws] passed away.”[15]

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ مَاجِيلَوَيْهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْعَطَّارُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ النَّيْسَابُورِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ أَبِي الْفَتْحِ قَالَ: جَاءَنِي يَوْماً فَقَالَ لِيَ الْبِشَارَةُ وُلِدَ الْبَارِحَةَ فِي الدَّارِ مَوْلُودٌ لِأَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع وَ أَمَرَ بِكِتْمَانِهِ قُلْتُ وَ مَا اسْمُهُ قَالَ سُمِّيَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ وَ كُنِّيَ بِجَعْفَرٍ.

Narrated to us Muhammad bin Ali Majilaway^-ra: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Yahya al-Attar: Narrated to us Husain bin Ali Nishapuri: Narrated to us Hasan bin Mundhir that:

“One day Hamza bin Abil Fath came to me and said: Greetings, that last night a child was born to His Eminence, Abu Muhammad. And he ordered that we should keep it confidential. He instructed that 300 goats be slaughtered for his Aqiqa ceremony.” I asked: What is his name? He replied: He is named M-H-M-D and his Kunniyat is Abu Ja’far.”[16]

Proof # 2 –

In Proof # 2, the author tries to create confusion by reporting Ahadith from Shia sources about the eldest son ((Ismail) of Imam Jafar Sadiq^-asws.

There are of course Ahadith, which were fabricated and some were issued during the time of severe Taqeeya, so one has to only take authentic Ahadith – in agreement with Holy Quran and other authentic Ahadith.  Overall, however, from the presented Ahadith that the 6^th Imam^-asws shows affection and love for Ismail^-as, and also demonstrate that Ismail was not at the status of infallibility, and Allah^-azwj did not Decree the Divine Status for Imamat for him (Ismail).  This is consistent with the reply of Allah^-azwj to Prophet Ibrahim^-as:

وَ إِذِ ابْتَلى إِبْراهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِماتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قالَ إِنِّي جاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِماماً قالَ وَ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي قالَ لا يَنالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ

“And when his Lord tried Ibrahim with commands, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will make you an Imam for mankind. (Ibrahim) said: And of my offspring (will there be leaders)? He said, my covenant does not include the unjust”. (2:124)

Simply, Allah^-azwj Tested people with Bestowing Ismail to the 6^th Imam^-asws and then Taking him back to Heavens.  Since it was Destined by Allah^-azwj that there will be 12 Imams (as in reply to Proof 1), so Allah^-azwj Made Imamat to be in Imam Musa^-asws Ibn Jafar^-asws and his his son and so on until the 12^th Imam^-asws.

The proof of the Imamat is to exhibit the proofs when asked and so did the all 12 successor of the Rasool Allah^-saww, including the six Imams from the descendant of the 6^th Imam^-asws:

The Divine Proofs:

The Prophets^-as and their Imams^-as, as Established by Allah^-azwj on the earth, came with the undeniable Proofs, in the form of Miracles. For example, the ‘Staff’ of Moses^-as, the ‘Seal’ of Suleiman^-as as well as with the Divine Knowledge (including that of the unforeseen/future), such as Prophecies of the Rasool Allah^-azwj about the clan of Ummaid and Bani Abbas’s unjust rule.  Since the Divine Imam is the Imam-ul-Mobeen (the Guide for all ‘Jin-o-Ins’ (Janis and human beings), he^-asws should be able to communicate with both species in their own languages and teach them the Divine Instructions.

Some Proofs of Imamate (being a successor of the Holy Prophet^-saww) are reviewed along with the Imamat of the 12 Imams^-asws.  One of the Proofs, among these, is to have the procession of the ‘’السِّلَاحِ ‘Tabarakat’ (holy belongings/signs) of Allah^-azwj’s Prophets^-as.

We present some Ahadith to demonstrate that the’ ‘Tabarakat’ were in the possession of the remaining 12 Shia Imams^-asws (Imam Musa-e-Kazim^-asws, Imam Ali Reza^-asws, Imam Mohammed Taqi^-asws, Imam Ali Naqi^-asws, Imam Hassan Askri^-asws and the Imam Al-Mehdi^-asws).

It is also important to note that like the Divine Knowledge, ‘السِّلَاحِ’ was ‘Protected’ and no one could steal any, for example, we will present a Hadith in which Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq^-asws makes the ‘السِّلَاحِ’ of the Holy Prophet^-saww appear from the stone of his^-asws ring, and replaces it.

First, we present a Hadith of Rasool Allah^-saww where all the names of 12 Shia Imams^-asws are mentioned by Rasool Allah^-saww, as reported by Amir-ul-Momineen Ali^-asws Ibn Abi Talib^-asws.

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ بِمَ يُعْرَفُ الامَامُ قَالَ فَقَالَ بِخِصَالٍ أَمَّا أَوَّلُهَا فَإِنَّهُ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ قَدْ تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ أَبِيهِ فِيهِ بِإِشَارَةٍ إِلَيْهِ لِتَكُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ حُجَّةً وَيُسْأَلُ فَيُجِيبُ وَإِنْ سُكِتَ عَنْهُ ابْتَدَأَ وَيُخْبِرُ بِمَا فِي غَدٍ وَيُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ بِكُلِّ لِسَانٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ أُعْطِيكَ عَلامَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ تَقُومَ فَلَمْ أَلْبَثْ أَنْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ خُرَاسَانَ فَكَلَّمَهُ الْخُرَاسَانِيُّ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ فَأَجَابَهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِالْفَارِسِيَّةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْخُرَاسَانِيُّ وَالله جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا مَنَعَنِي أَنْ أُكَلِّمَكَ بِالْخُرَاسَانِيَّةِ غَيْرُ أَنِّي ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّكَ لا تُحْسِنُهَا فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ الله إِذَا كُنْتُ لا أُحْسِنُ أُجِيبُكَ فَمَا فَضْلِي عَلَيْكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّ الامَامَ لا يَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ كَلامُ أَحَدٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَلا طَيْرٍ وَلا بَهِيمَةٍ وَلا شَيْ‏ءٍ فِيهِ الرُّوحُ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ هَذِهِ الْخِصَالُ فِيهِ فَلَيْسَ هُوَ بِإِمَامٍ.

Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad Ibn Ali from abu Basir who has said that he asked (the following) from Imam Abu Al-Hassan^-asws:

“May I be sacrificed for you, what proof is needed to determine who is a (Divine) Imam^-asws?” He^-asws said, ‘Through several Qualities;

The first one is that his^-asws father^-asws must have introduced him^-asws (to others). And that when asked he would answer and if one remain silent he would begin to speak on the issue and inform of the things that would happen the next day(s) (Ilm-ul-Ghaib) and he can speak to people in their own languages.”

Then he^-asws said to me, “O Abu Muhammad, allow me to give you an example before you leave. A man from Khurasan came. He spoke to the Imam^-asws in Arabic but Abu Al-Hassan^-asws replied him in Persian. He (the man from Khurasan) said, “I swear by Allah^-azwj, “May Allah^-azwj Take my soul in service for your^-asws cause, the only thing that stopped me from speaking to you^-asws in Persian was I thought you^-asws might not know Persian.”

The Imam^-asws then said, “Glory belongs to Allah^-azwj, If I^-asws am unable to answer you (in Persian) then how would I^-asws have any excellence over you?”

The Imam^-asws said to me, “O Abu Muhammad, “No one’s language is unknown to the Imam^-asws nor the language of birds, animals and any living things. Whoever does not have these qualities, he is not an Imam^-asws.^[17]

So, whethear the existing Ismaili Imam can communicate in all languages of the world that would be a compelling argument for him to be a true imam of present time! Can he exhibit those signs which were shown by the Imams Appointed by Allah^-azwj?

Proof #3

Here the author presents a ‘khabar e Wahid’ and makes lots of assumptions and reveals for the first time the beliefs of Ismaili sect: ‘ Imam Hassan Ibn Ali was not one of the permanent Imams and Imam as-Sadiq was the fifth Imam, then there was an imam and then finally the Qaim?  Indeed a very strange and unfounded assumption!  Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain were of equal status, the Chief of the youth of people of Paradise!  Imam Hassanasws’ Imamat span is from 40 AH to 50 AH (10 years), followed by the Imamat of Imam Hussain Ibn Ali from 49 to 61 AH (12 years).  On what basis the Imamat of Imam Hassan is assumed to be temporaty?

And what was the purpose of the 7^th imam as being the Qaim as per Ismaili beliefs? What did the Ismailis Qaim (the one who stands against oppressors) achieved in his lifetime?

Below we present some Ahadith on Al-Qaim^-asws from 12 Imami Ahadith sources:

Who would be the Qaim^-asws and What will he Achieve?

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْبَغْدَادِيِّ عَنْ وَهْبِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ أَبِي الرَّبِيعِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ أُمِّ هَانِئٍ قَالَتْ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ ( عليه السلام ) عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ الْجَوارِ الْكُنَّسِ قَالَتْ فَقَالَ إِمَامٌ يَخْنِسُ سَنَةَ سِتِّينَ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَظْهَرُ كَالشِّهَابِ يَتَوَقَّدُ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الظَّلْمَاءِ فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتِ زَمَانَهُ قَرَّتْ عَيْنُكِ.

Ali Bin Muhammad, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad, from Musa Bin Ja’far Al Naghdady, from Wahab Bin Shazan, from Al Hassan Bin Abu Al Rabie, from Muhammad Bin Is’haq, from Umm Hany who said,

‘I asked Abu Ja’far Muhammad^-asws Bin Ali^-asws (5^th Imam) about the Words of Allah^-azwj the Exalted: But no! I swear by the concealed one [81:15] , The one who runs his course, the hidden one [81:16].

So he (5^th Imam^-asws) said: ‘The Imam^-asws would be in concealment in the year two hundred and sixty (260), then he^-asws would appear like the meteor shooting in the dark night. So, if you were to come across his^-asws time, it would delight your eyes’.^[18]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ أُسَيْدِ بْنِ ثَعْلَبَةَ عَنْ أُمِّ هَانِئٍ قَالَتْ لَقِيتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ ( عليه السلام ) فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ فَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ الْجَوارِ الْكُنَّسِ قَالَ الْخُنَّسُ إِمَامٌ يَخْنِسُ فِي زَمَانِهِ عِنْدَ انْقِطَاعٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ عِنْدَ النَّاسِ سَنَةَ سِتِّينَ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَبْدُو كَالشِّهَابِ الْوَاقِدِ فِي ظُلْمَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتِ ذَلِكِ قَرَّتْ عَيْنُكِ .

A number of our companions, from Sa’ad Bin Abdullah, from Ahmad Bin Al Hassan, from Umar Bin Yazeed, from Al Hassan Bin Al Rabie Al Hamdany who said, ‘Muhammad Bin Is’haq narrated to us, from Aseyd Bin Sa’alba, from Umm Hany who said,

‘I met Abu Ja’far Muhammad Bin Ali^-asws, so I asked him^-asws about this Verse [81:15] But nay! I swear by the Concealment, [81:16] (The stars) that run their course (and) hide. He^-asws said: ‘The concealment is the Imam^-asws who would be in concealment during his^-asws time during the cutting off from his^-asws knowledge with the people in the year two hundred and sixty (260). Then he^-asws would appear like the shooting meteor during a dark night. So, if you come across that, it would delight your eyes’.^[19]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ الْخَزَّازِ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَنْتَ صَاحِبُ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ فَقَالَ لَا فَقُلْتُ فَوَلَدُكَ فَقَالَ لَا فَقُلْتُ فَوَلَدُ وَلَدِكَ هُوَ قَالَ لَا فَقُلْتُ فَوَلَدُ وَلَدِ وَلَدِكَ فَقَالَ لَا قُلْتُ مَنْ هُوَ قَالَ الَّذِي يَمْلَأُهَا عَدْلًا كَمَا مُلِئَتْ ظُلْماً وَ جَوْراً عَلَى فَتْرَةٍ مِنَ الْأَئِمَّةِ كَمَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) بُعِثَ عَلَى فَتْرَةٍ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ .

Ahmad Bin Idrees, from Muhammad Bin Ahmad, from Ja’far Bin Al Qasim, from Muhammad Bin Al Waleed Al Khazzaz, from Al Waleed Bin Uqba, from Al Haris Bin Ziyad, from Shuayb, from Abu Hamza who said,

‘I went over to Abu Abdullah^-asws and I said to him^-asws, ‘Are you^-asws the Master^-asws of this command (i.e., Al-Mahdi^-asws)?’ So he^-asws said: ‘No’. So I said, ‘So, your^-asws son^-asws?’ So he^-asws said: ‘No’. So I said, ‘So, a son^-asws of your^-asws son^-asws, is him^-asws?’ He^-asws said: ‘No’. So I said, ‘So, a son^-asws, for a son^-asws of your^-asws son^-asws?’ So he^-asws said: No’. I said, ‘Who is he^-asws?’ He^-asws said: ‘The one who would be filling it (the earth) with justice just as it had been filled with injustice and tyranny upon an interval from the Imams^-asws, just as Rasool-Allah^-saww was Sent upon an interval from the Rasools^-as’.^[20]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِذَا فُقِدَ الْخَامِسُ مِنْ وُلْدِ السَّابِعِ فَاللَّهَ اللَّهَ فِي أَدْيَانِكُمْ لَا يُزِيلُكُمْ عَنْهَا أَحَدٌ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّهُ لَا بُدَّ لِصَاحِبِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ مِنْ غَيْبَةٍ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ عَنْ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ مَنْ كَانَ يَقُولُ بِهِ إِنَّمَا هِيَ مِحْنَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ امْتَحَنَ بِهَا خَلْقَهُ لَوْ عَلِمَ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَ أَجْدَادُكُمْ دِيناً أَصَحَّ مِنْ هَذَا لَاتَّبَعُوهُ

Ali Bin Muhammad, from Al Hassan Bin Isa Bin Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Ja’far, from his father, from his grandfather,

(It has been narrated) from Ali son of Ja’far^-asws, from his brother Musa^-asws Bin Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘When the fifth one from the sons^-asws of the seventh (7^th Imam) is missing (in Occultation), so Allah^-azwj, Allah^-azwj, with regards to your Religion. Do not let anyone remove you from it, O my^-asws children. An Occultation is inevitable for the Master^-asws of this command, to the extent that he would retract from this matter, the one who used to be saying with it. But rather, it would be an ordeal from Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic to Test His^-azwj creatures by it. Had your fathers and your grandfathers known of a Religion more correct that this, they would have followed it’.

قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا سَيِّدِي مَنِ الْخَامِسُ مِنْ وُلْدِ السَّابِعِ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ عُقُولُكُمْ تَصْغُرُ عَنْ هَذَا وَ أَحْلَامُكُمْ تَضِيقُ عَنْ حَمْلِهِ وَ لَكِنْ إِنْ تَعِيشُوا فَسَوْفَ تُدْرِكُونَهُ .

He (the narrator) said, ‘So I said, ‘O my Chief^-asws! Who is the fifth from the sons^-asws of the seventh?’ So he^-asws said: ‘O my^-asws son^-asws! Your intellects are too little from this, and your forbearances are too narrow from bearing it, but if you live, so soon you would be realising it’.^[21]

Proof #4

The writer in proof #4 supports the Ismaili belief by analysing the concept of ‘bada’ in taking an extensive route and basically objecting to the Decree of Allahazwj regarding why Musa Ibn was Made Imam instead of Ismail who was elder!

The same argument perished Qabeel who said he was elder so that was his right to inherent the Divine Status and not his younger brother Habeel!

As far as the ‘bada’ regarding the Ismail and Musa Ibn Jafar, it was alreasy revealed in the earlier Ahadith who will be the seventh Imam (as in Hadith of Al-Khidr^-as as narrated by the 6th Imam^-asws) so all the holy names of the 12 Imams were written in the Divine Tablet, accessable to the Ahl Al-Bayt^-asws, which was shown to the righteous followers, as demonstrated in Ahadith presented earlier.

Now we look at the ‘Bada’ concept in more detail as presented in Proof #4, by the author of Chapter 4, where it is written that (nouzobillah); God would somehow ‘change his mind’ after new facts were ‘presented to Him.

This disbelief in Allah^-azwj, as Allah^-azwj Does whatever He^-azwj Wishes, as there is a trail of people in it but nothing will increase or decrease Allah^-azwj’s Knowledge as His^-azwj Knowledge encomposes everything:

وَوَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ۚ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَأَصْلِحْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ {142}

And We Appointed thirty nights for Musa and Completed it with ten (more), so the complete time with his Lord was of forty nights. And Musa said to his brother Haroun: ‘Be my Caliph among my people and be righteous, and do not follow the way of the mischief makers’ [7:142]

There was a trail for the followers of Prophet Musa^-as, whether they will remain patient or not and did not! As per a Hadith:

عن الفضيل بن يسار، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام)، قال: «إن موسى لما خرج وافدا إلى ربه واعدهم ثلاثين يوما، فلما زاد الله على الثلاثين عشرا قال قومه: أخلفنا موسى. فصنعوا ما صنعوا».

From Al Fazeyl Bin Yasaar, from,

Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘Musa^-as, when he^-as went out to his^-as Lord^-azwj, promised them (his people) thirty days. So when Allah^-azwj Increased thirty by ten, his^-as people said, ‘Musa^-as has left us behind (abandoned us)!’ So they made what they made’.[22]

Afterward author truns to Ilmul Rijal, which a basis from Sunnis, and we find the entire discuss fruitless and bizarre!  In order to establish the authenticity of Hadith, one must, as per Ahadith, need to turn to the Holy Quran and other Ahadith, we present one Hadith, for example:

وعن محمد بن يحيى ، عن عبدالله بن محمد ، عن علي ابن الحكم ، عن أبان بن عثمان ، عن عبدالله بن أبي يعفور ، قال : وحدثني الحسين بن أبي العلاء ، أنه حضر ابن أبي يعفور في هذا المجلس ، قال : سألت أبا عبدالله ( عليه السلام ) عن اختلاف الحديث ، يرويه من نثق به ، ومنهم من لا نثق به ، قال : إذا ورد عليكم حديث فوجدتم له شاهدا من كتاب الله أو من قول رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ، وإلا فالذي جاءكم به أولى به .

And from Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Abdullah Bin Muhammad, from Ali Ibn Al Hakam, from Aban Bin Usman, from Abdullah Bin Abu Ya’four who said that it was narrated to him from Al Husayn Bin Abu Al A’la, who was present with Ibn Abu Ya’four in this gathering, says:

‘I asked Abu Abd Allah^-asws (the 6^th Imam^-asws) about the differences in Hadith, narrated from one whom we trust and from those whom we do not trust’. He^-asws said: ‘If a Hadith is referred to you and you find a witness for it from the Book of Allah^-azwj or from the statements of the Messenger of Allah^-saww, then its authentic, otherwise give it back to the one who brought it’.[23]

Proof # 5

Here sighting of Ismail Ibn Jafar after his death is highlighted, through two Ahadith, but when we look at both Ahadith, the 6^th Imam^-asws is warning his followers that Satan is coming in the appearance of his dead son to create doubts in people’s minds, so why Imailis are deying the fact that Ismail Ibn Jafar passed away during the life time of his father and any reported sightings of him, were from Satan, as confirmed by Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq^-asws!  All presented Ahadith in Chapter 4 hightligh the same fact that Ismail passed away, there was his funeral and Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq^-asws appointed Musa Ibn Jafar as his successor when the time for his departure arrived.

Hence there is nothing in Proof #5, except for the hair splitting exercise!  Allah^-azwj has never left His Hujja at the mercy of opinions of people and script writers but had Bestowed them with clear and undeniable proofs – which were exhibited by all 12 Imams^-asws when asked!  Is present Ismaili imam – which they think is infallible and appointed by Allahazwj prepared to show such miricles? I wonder if they will even prepared and have the courage to propose to him to come forward and proved what he/they ascribe to him!

Proof # [6]

Here again, the author is dwelling into why Zurarah did not know about the appointment of Musa^-asws Ibn Jafar and got confused?  Basically no new information is presented here apart from an attempt to allege that Ismail was victimised and was not accepted as an Imam in occultation!

Proof #7

In Proof # 7, the author has brought up the issue of ‘Tahreef’ in the Holy Quran. True, indeed Ahadith exist in both Sunnis and Shias Ahadith books about the ‘Tahreef’ in the Holy Quran, so what is the issue?  The Quran which we read these days is the ‘Vulgate of Usman’ (compiled and released by the third Muslim Caliph – Usman Ibn Affan – was he infallible?).  However, Allahazwj has Saved from distortion what people will need, but the issue of ‘Tahreed’ in the holy Quran existed before and we present a Hadith here.

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّا نَسْمَعُ الْآيَاتِ فِي الْقُرْآنِ لَيْسَ هِيَ عِنْدَنَا كَمَا نَسْمَعُهَا وَ لَا نُحْسِنُ أَنْ نَقْرَأَهَا كَمَا بَلَغَنَا عَنْكُمْ فَهَلْ نَأْثَمُ فَقَالَ لَا اقْرَءُوا كَمَا تَعَلَّمْتُمْ فَسَيَجِيئُكُمْ مَنْ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ .

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Muhammad Bin Suleyman, from one of his companions,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Al-Hassan^-asws, said, ‘I said to him^-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! We tend to hear the Verses in the Quran which are not with us just as we are hearing these to be, nor are we good in reciting it just as it reached us from you^-asws. So are we sinning?’ So he^-asws said: ‘No. Recite it just as you have learned it, so there would be coming, one (Al-Qaim^-asws) who would be teaching you all’.^[24]

Then how Ahaidth are to be verified? we have already quoted a Hadith in Proof # 4 that a Hadith needs to be verified from the holy Quran as well as other traditions of Rasool Allah^-saww.

Proof # 9

There is only a summary under proof #8, basically repeating the earlier claims and allegations! So we move to proof # 9 ‘Asrar an-Nutaqa’

The Proof # 9 is slanderous and is written with a ‘hot-mind’, while initially claiming to resolve the issue of the 7^th Imam through intellect!  Since earlies lies did not stack-up, i.e., no Ahadith about 12 Imams in Shia sources, no Nuss for the 7^th Imam, in # 9 the author shows his true colours by becoming foul mouthed!  There is no need to reply after proving to his earlier lies, however, we for the benefits of neutral reader provide a short reply here.

In #9, Many man-made criteria have been devised for example an Imam will never be humiliated or defeated, a complete nonsense and against what we have observed in many cases, Prophet^-as and Imams were blamed for heinous crimes, killed, cut into pieces, and their^-as belongings were looted and their home were burnt down, no need to even give references!!

Then the slandering continues about the Musa Ibn Jafar and Ali Ibn Musa, without any sensible proofs, just what his forefathers were told by the Abbasids propaganda, since Ismaili imams never had anything to show for their status, so they only criticise the next 6 Shia Imams, who on the contrary show many Miracles and Proofs of their Divine Status.  The author with foul mouth says Ali Ibn Musa did not answer the questions of Ma’mun regarding Quran, which is completely out of malicious and based on blatant lies.  We, however, present some Ahadith in Appendix 9.1, here, whereas the author has purposely avoid citing any Ahadith:

Appendix 9.1: Abbasid Caliph Haroon admits to his Son that Musa Ibn Jafar^-asws is the Real Imam^-asws

حَدَّثَنا عَلِىُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّه الوَرَّاقُ؛ وَالحُسَيْنُ بْنُ إِبْراهيمَ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ هِشامِ المُكَتَّبُ؛ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ زِيادِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْهَمَذانيُّ؛ وَالحُسَيْنُ بْنُ إِبْراهيمَ بْنِ ناتانَةَ وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمَ بْنِ هاشِمٍ؛ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِى ماجِيلوَيْه؛ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُوسَى بْنِ المُتَوَكِّل – رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ – قالُوا: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىُّ بْنُ إِبراهِيمَ بْنِ هاشِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عُثْمانِ بْنِ عِيسَى، عَنْ سُفْيانَ بْنِ نَزارٍ قالَ: كُنْتُ يَوْماً عَلَى رَأْسِ الْمَأمُونِ، فَقالَ: أَتَدْرُونَ مَنْ عَلَّمَني التَّشَيُّعَ؟ فَقالَ القَوْمُ جَمِيعاً: لا وَاللَّهِ ما نَعْلَمُ؟ قالَ: عَلَّنِيهِ الرَّشِيدُ، قِيلَ لَهُ: وَكَيْفَ ذلِكَ وَالرَّشِيدُ كانَ يَقْتُلُ أَهْلَ هذا الْبِيْتِ؟ قالَ: كانَ يَقْتُلُهُمْ عَلَى المُلْكِ، لأَنَّ المُلْكِ عَقِيمٌ وَلَقَدْ حَجَجْتُ مَعَهُ سِنَةً، فَلَمَّا صارَ إِلى المَدِينَةِ تَقَدَّمَ إِلى حُجَّابِهِ وَقالَ: لا يَدْخُلَنَّ عَلِيَّ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ المَدِينَةِ وَمَكَّةِ مِنْ أبْناءَ المُهاجِرِين وَالأَنْصارِ و بَنِي هاشِمٍ وَسائِرِ بُطُونِ قُرَيْشٍ إِلاّ نَسَبَ نَفْسَهُ، وَكانَ الرَّجُلُ إِذا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ قالَ: أَنَا فُلانُ بْنُ فُلانٍ حَتّى‏ يَنْتَهِي إِلى جَدِّهِ مِنْ هاشِميٍّ أَوْ قُرَشِيّ‏ٍّ أَوْ مُهاجِرِيٍّ أَوْ أَنْصارِيٍّ، فَيَصِلُهُ مِنَ المالِ بِخَمْسَةِ آلافَ دِينارٍ وَما دُونَها إِلى مِأَتَيْ دِينارٍ، عَلَى قَدْرٍ شَرَفِهِ وَهِجْرَةِ آبائِهِ.

فَأَنَا ذاتَ يَوْمٍ واقِفٌ إِذْ دَخَلَ الفَضْلُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعُ فَقالَ: يا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنينَ عَلَى البابِ رَجُلٌ يَزْعَمُ أَنَّهُ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ‏ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنا وَنَحْنُ قِيامٌ عَلَى رَأسِهِ، وَالأَمِينُ وَالمُؤْتَمَنُ، وَسائِرُ القَوَّاد، فَقالَ: احْفَظُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ، ثُمَّ قالَ لِآذِنِهِ: أِئْذَنْ لَهُ، وَلا يَنْزِلْ إِلاّ عَلَى بَساطِي.

فَإِنَّا لَكَذلِكَ إِذْ دَخَلَ شَيْخٌ مُسَخَّدٌ، قَدْ أَنْهَكَتْهُ العِبادَةُ، كَأَنَّهُ شَنٌ بالٍ قَدْ كُلِمَ مِنَ السُّجُودِ وَجْهُهُ وَأَنْفُهُ، فَلَمَّا رَأى‏ الرَّشِيدَ رَمى‏ بِنَفْسِهِ عَنْ حِمارٍ كانَ راكِبَةُ، فَصاحَ الرَّشِيدُ: لا واللَّه إِلاّ عَلَى بَساطِي، فَمَنَعَهُ الحُجَّاب مِنَ التَّرَجُّلِ، وَنَظَرْنا إِلَيْهِ بِأَجْمَعِنا بِالْإِجْلالِ وَالإِعْظام فَما زالَ يَسِيرُ عَلَى حِمارِه حَتّى‏ صارَ إِلى البِساط، وَالحُجَّابُ وَالقَوَّادُ مُحْدِقُونَ بِهِ، فَنَزَلَ فَقامَ إِلَيْهِ الرَّشِيدُ وَاستَقْبَلَهُ إِلى آخِرَ البِساط، وَقَبَّلَ وَجْهُهُ وَعَيْنَيْهِ وَأَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ حَتّى‏ صَيَّرَهُ فِي صَدْرِ الَمجْلِسِ وَأَجْلِسَهُ مَعَهُ فِيهِ، وَجَعَلَ يُحَدِّثُهُ وَيُقْبِلُ بِوَجْهِهِ عَلَيْهِ وَيَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ أَحْوالِهِ.

ثُمَّ قالَ لَهُ: يا أَبَا الحَسَنِ ما عَلَيْكَ مِنَ العِيالِ؟ فَقالَ: يَزِيدُونَ عَلَى الخَمْسِمِائَةٍ، قالَ: أَوْلادٌ كُلُّهُمْ؟ قالَ: لا، أَكْثَرُهُم مَوالِيّ وَحَشَمٌ، أَمَّا الوَلَدُ فَلِي نَيِّفٌ وَثَلاثُونَ، الذُّكْرانُ مِنْهُمْ كَذا، وَالنِّسْوانُ مِنْهُمْ كَذا، قالَ: فَلِمَ لا تُزَوِّجُ النِّسْوانَ مِنْ بَني عُمُومَتِهِنَّ وَأَكْفائِهِنَّ؟ قالَ: اليَدُ تَقْصُرُ عَنْ ذلِكَ، قالَ: فَما حالُ الضَّيْعَةِ؟ قالَ: تُعْطي وَقْتٍ وَتَمْنَعُ فِي آخَرَ؟ قالَ: فَهَلْ عَلَيْكَ دَيْنٌ؟ قالَ: نَعَمْ، قالَ: كَمْ؟ قالَ: نَحْوُ عَشَرَةَ آلاْفِ دِينارٍ.

فَقالَ لَهُ الرَّشِيدُ: يا ابْنَ عَمِّ أَنَا أُعْطِيكَ مِنَ المالِ ما تُزَوِّجُ الذُّكْران وَالنِّسْوانَ وَتَقْضِي الدَّيْنَ وَتَعْمُرُ الضِّياعَ، فَقالَ لَهُ: وَصَلَتْكَ رَحِمٌ يا ابْنَ عَمِّ وَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ هذِهِ النِّيَّة الجَمِيلَةَ، وَالرَّحِمُ ماسَّةٌ وَالقَرابَةُ وَاشِجَةٌ وَالنَّسَبَ واحِدٌ، وَالعَبَّاسُ عَمُّ النَّبِيِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، وَصِنْوٌ أَبِيهِ، وَعَمُّ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبي طالِبٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَصِنْوٌ أَبِيهِ، وَما أَبْعَدَكَ اللَّهُ مِنْ أَنُ تَفْعَلَ ذلِكَ، وَقَدْ بَسَطَ يَدَكَ وَأَكْرَمَ عُنْصُرَكَ، وَأعَلَى مُحْتَدَكَ، فَقالَ: أَفْعَلُ ذلِكَ يا أَبَا الحَسَن وَكِرامَةً. فَقالَ: يا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنينَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَدْ فَرَضَ عَلَى وُلاةِ عَهْدِهِ أَنْ يَنْعَشُوا فُقَراء الاُمَّةِ وَيَقْضُوا عَنِ الغارِمِينَ، وَيُؤَدُّوا عَنِ المُثْقَلِ، وَيَكْسُوا العارِيّ وَيُحْسِنُوا إِلى العانِي فَأَنت أَوْلى‏ مَنْ يَفْعَلُ ذلِكَ، فَقالَ: أَفْعَلُ يا أَبَا الحَسَنِ.

ثُمَّ قامَ، فَقامَ الرَّشِيدُ لِقِيامِهِ وَقَبَّلَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَوَجْهَهُ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلِيِّ وَعَلَى الأَمِينِ وَالمُؤْتَمَنِ، فَقالَ: يا عَبْدِ اللَّه وَيا مُحَمَّدُ، وَيا إِبْراهيمُ امْشُوا بَيْنِ يَدِيَ عَمِّكُمْ وَسَيِّدِكُمْ، خُذُوا بِرِكابِهِ، وَسَوُّوا عَلَيْهِ ثِيابَهُ وَشَيِّعُوهُ إِلى منْزِله، فَأَقْبَلَ عَلِيَّ أَبُو الحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ سِرّاً بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ فَبَشَّرَني بِالْخِلافَةِ، فَقالَ لي: إِذا مَلَكْتَ هذا الأَمْرَ فَأَحْسِنْ إِلى وُلْدِي.

ثُمَّ انْصَرَفْنا وَكُنْتُ أَجْراً وُلْدِ أَبي عَلَيْهِ، فَلَمَّا خَلاَ الَمجْلِسُ قُلْتُ: يا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنينَ مَنْ هذا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي قَدْ أَعْظَمْتَهُ وَأَجْلَلْتَهُ، وَقُمْتَ مِنْ مَجْلِسِكَ إِلَيْهِ فَاسْتَقْبَلْتَهُ، وَأَقْعَدْتَهُ فِي صَدْرِ الَمجْلِسِ، وَجَلَسْتَ دُونَهُ، ثُمَّ أَمَرْتَنا بِأَخْذِ الرِّكابِ لَهُ؟! قالَ: هذا إِمامُ النَّاسِ وَحُجَّةَ اللَّهِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ وَخَلِيفَتُهُ عَلَى عِبادِهِ، فَقُلْتُ: يا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنينَ أَوْ لَيْسَتْ هذِهِ الصِّفاتُ كُلِّها لَكَ وَفِيكَ؟ فَقالَ: أَنَا إِمامُ الجَماعَةِ فِي الظَّاهِر وَالغَلَبَةِ وَالقَهْرِ، وَمُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِمامُ حَقٍّ، وَاللَّهِ يا بُنَيَّ إِنَّهُ لأَحَقُّ بِمَقامِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مِنِّي وَمِنَ الْخَلْقِ جَمِيعاً، وَوَاللَّهِ لَوْ نازَعْتَني هذا الأَمْرَ لَأَخَذْتُ الَّذِي فِيهِ عَيْناكَ، فَإِنَّ المُلْكَ عَقِيمٌ.

فَلَمَّا أَرادَ الرَّحِيلَ مِنَ المَدِينَة إِلى مَكَّةِ أَمَرَ بِصُرَّةٍ سَوْداءَ فِيها مائتا دِينارٍ، ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى الفَضْلِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ، فَقالَ لَهُ: إِذْهَبْ بِهذِهِ إِلى مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ وَقُلْ لَهُ: يَقُولُ لَكَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنينَ: نَحْنُ ضِيقَةٍ وَسَيَأْتِيكَ بِرُّنا بَعْدَ الوَقْتِ.

فَقُمْتُ فِي صَدْرِهِ فَقُلْتُ: يا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنينَ تُعْطي أَبْناءَ المُهاجِرِينَ وَالأَنْصارَ وَسائِرَ قُرَيْشٍ وَبَنِي هاشِمٍ وَمَنْ لا يُعْرَفُ حَسَبُهُ وَنَسَبُهُ خَمْسَةَ آلافِ دينارٍ إِلى ما دُونَها، وَتُعْطي مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ وَقَدْ أَعْظَمْتَهُ و أَجْلَلْتَهُ مِائَتَيْ دِينارٍ أَخَسَّ عَطِيَّةٍ أَعْطَيْتَها أَحَداً مِنَ النَّاسِ؟! فَقالَ: اسْكُتُ لا اُمَّ لَكَ، فَإِنِّي لَوْ أَعْطَيْتُ هذا ما ضَمِنْتُهُ لَهُ ما كُنْتُ أَمِنْتُهُ أَنْ يَضْرِبَ وَجْهِي غَداً بِمِائةِ أَلْفِ سَيْفٍ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ وَمَوالِيهِ، وَفَقْرُ هذا وَأَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ أَسْلَمُ لي وَلَكُمْ مِنْ بَسْط أَيْدِيهِم أَعْيُنِهِمْ.

فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلى ذلِكَ مُخارِقُ المُغَنِّي دَخَلَهُ فِي ذلِكَ غَيْظٌ، فَقامَ إِلى الرَّشِيدِ فَقالَ: يا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنينَ قَدْ دَخَلْتُ المَدِينَةَ وَأَكْثَرَ أَهْلِها يَطْلُبُونَ مِنِّي شَيْئاً، وَإِنْ خَرَجْتُ وَلَمْ أَقْسِم فِيهِمْ شَيْئاً لَمْ يَتَبَيَّنْ لَهُمْ تَفَضُّلُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنينَ عَلِيَّ وَمَنْزِلَتي عِنْدَهُ، فَأَمَرَ لَهُ بِعَشَرَةِ آلافَ دِينارٍ، فَقالَ لَهُ: يا أَمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينِ هذا لأَهْلِ المَدِينَةِ وَعَلِيَّ دَيْنٌ أَحْتاجُ أَنْ أَقْضِيَهُ، فَأَمَرَ لَهُ بِعَشَرَةِ آلافِ دِينارٍ اُخْرى‏، فَقالَ لَهُ: يا أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنين بَناتِي اُرِيدُ أَنْ اُزَوِّجَهُنَّ وَأَنَا مُحْتاجٌ إِلى جَهازَهُنَّ، فَأَمَرَ لَهُ بِعَشَرَةِ آلافِ دِينارٍ اُخْرى‏، فَقالَ لَهُ: يا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لا بُدَّ مِنْ غَلَّةٍ تُعْطِينِيها تَرُدَّ عَلِيُّ وَعَلَى عِيالي وَبَناتِي وَأَزْواجِهِنَّ القُوتَ، فَأَمَرَ لَهُ بِأَقْطاعٍ ما تَبْلُغُ غَلَّتُهُ فِي السَّنَةِ عَشَرَةَ آلافِ دِينارٍ وَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُعَجِّلَ ذلِكَ لَهُ مِنْ ساعَتِهِ.

ثُمَّ قامَ مُخارِقُ مِنْ فَوْرِهِ وَقَصَدَ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرَعَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ وَقالَ لَهُ: قَدْ وَقَفْتُ عَلَى ما عامَلَك بِهِ هذا المَلْعُونُ وَما أَمَرَ لَكَ بِهِ وَقَدْ احْتَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ لَكَ وَأَخَذْتُ مِنْهُ صِلاتٍ ثَلاثِينَ أَلْفَ دِينارٍ وَأقْطاعاً تُغِلُّ فِي السِّنَةِ عَشَرةَ آلافِ دِينارٍ، وَلا وَاللَّهِ يا سَيِّدي ما أَحْتاجُ إِلى شَي‏ءٍ مِنْ ذلِكَ، ما أَخَذْتُهُ إِلاَّ لَكَ، وَأَنَا أَشْهَدُ لَكَ بِهذِهِ الأَقْطاع وَقَدْ حَمَلْتُ المالَ إِلَيكَ.

فَقالَ: بارِكَ اللَّه لَكَ فِي مالِكَ وَأَحْسَنَ جَزاكَ، ما كُنْتُ لآخُذَ مِنْهُ دِرْهَماً واحِداً وَلا مِنْ هذِهِ الأَقْطاعِ شَيْئاً وَقَدْ قَبِلْتُ صَلَتَكَ وَبِرَّكَ، فَانْصَرِفْ راشِداً، وَتُراجِعْني فِي ذلِكَ فَقَبَّلَ يَدَهُ و انْصَرِفَ.

Ali ibn Abdullah al-Warraq, Al-Hussein ibn Ibrahim ibn Ahmad ibn Hisham al-Mukattib, Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja’far al-Hamadani, Al-Hussein ibn Ibrahim ibn Natana, Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem, Muhammad ibn Ali Majiluwayh and Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil – may God be pleased with them – narrated that:

Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Uthman ibn Isa, on the authority of Sufyan ibn Nazar, “One day I was standing in the presence of Al-Ma’mun. He asked, “Do you know who taught me about Shiism?” All the people who were present said, “No, by God, we do not know.” He said, “(Harun) Ar-Rashid taught me.” They asked him, “How is that so? It was (Harun) Ar-Rashid who killed the members of this Household (including Imam Musa^-asws)!”

Al-Ma’mun said, “He killed them for his rule. A Kingdom is barren. One year I accompanied Harun when he went for the Hajj pilgrimage. When we reached Medina, he told his gate-keepers, “Whoever enters who is from the people of Medina, Mecca, the Immigrants, the Helpers, the Hashemites or others from the Quraysh (tribe) must state his relationship.” Whoever entered said that he was so and so, the son of so and so, until he reached his grandfather from the Hashemites, the Quraysh (tribe), the Immigrants or the Helpers. Then Harun would grant him gifts anywhere from two-hundred to five-thousand Dinars according to his nobility, and the honour of his grandfathers in their exile (from Mecca to Medina).

One day I was present there when Al-Fadhl ibn Rabee’ said, “O Commander of the Faithful (Harun)! There is a man at the door who claims to be Musa ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib^-asws.” Immediately Harun faced us who were standing near his head, Al-Amin and al-Mo’taman and the rest of the chiefs present and said, “Straighten yourselves up!” Then he faced the gate-keeper and said, “Let him in. Be careful that he not sit down anywhere but on my special seat.”

Then a Sheikh entered who had become pale due to extensive worshipping. He was slim and wrinkled. His face and nose were affected by the extent of prostrations. When he saw (Harun) Ar-Rashid, he tried to get off the donkey he was riding on. Then Ar-Rashid said, “By God, you should sit only on my special seat.”

The gate-keepers did not let the Imam^-asws get off the donkey. We all looked at him with great honour and respect. He rode on his donkey until he reached the especial seat. All the gate-keepers and the chiefs were around him. Then he got off. Ar-Rashid got up and came forward until he reached the especial seat. Then Harun kissed his face and eyes, took his hand and took him to the uppermost part of the room and sat down with him. He started talking with him. While talking, he faced him and asked him about his health and conditions. Then Harun asked the Imam^-asws, “O Abul Hassan (Al-Kazim^-asws)! How many people do you support?” The Imam^-asws said, “More than five-hundred.” Harun said, “Are they all your children?” The Imam^-asws said, “No, most of them are servants and companions. I have more than thirty children: So many boys and so many girls.” Harun asked, “Why don’t you marry off the girls to their cousins, or other suitable people?”

The Imam^-asws said, “I do not have enough money.” Harun said, “What condition is your land in?” The Imam^-asws said, “Sometimes it yields produce and at other times it does not.” Harun asked, “Do you have any debts?” The Imam^-asws said, “Yes.” Harun asked, “How much?” The Imam^-asws said, “Around ten-thousand Dinars.” Then Ar-Rashid said, “O cousin! I will give you enough money to marry off your daughters and sons, pay back your debts and revive your land.”

The Imam^-asws said, “O cousin! I hope the relatives fulfil the rights of kinship with you, and thank Allah^-azwj for your nice intentions and tangible relationship. Our ties of kinship come from the same root. We are from the same family. Al-Abbas was the uncle of God’s Prophet^-saww. He and the Prophet^-saww’s father formed two strong tree trunks which were attached to one another from the roots. He was also the uncle of Ali ibn Abi Talib^-asws. He and Ali’s father also formed two strong tree trunks which were attached to one another from the roots. I hope that Allah^-azwj will not Make you change your mind about what you want to do. He has granted you power and has established you to be from a noble family.” Harun said, “O Abul Hassan! It will be an honour for me to do that.”

He^-asws said, “O Commander of the Faithful! Indeed the Honourable the Exalted God has made it incumbent upon the rulers to provide for the poor people in the nation, to pay off the debts of those in debt; to assist the people who are overburdened; to clothe the people who are destitute; and to be kind to the prisoners and slaves. You are the one most suitable to do these things.” Harun said, “O Abul Hassan! I will do that.”

Then he stood up. (Harun) Ar-Rashid stood up out of respect for him, and kissed him on the eyes and face. Then he faced me (Abdullah), (Muhammad) Al-Amin, and (Ibrahim) Al-Moa’taman and said, “O Abdullah, Muhammad and Ibrahim! Move ahead of your uncle and your Master, hold the horse strap for him. Fix his clothes and accompany him to his house.”

Then Abul Hassan Musa ibn Ja’far^-asws gave me the glad tidings that I would become the Caliph in private. He asked me to treat his son kindly when I take over the rule. Then we returned. I was braver than my brothers with my father. Then in private I asked him, “O Commander of the Faithful! Who was this man whom you honoured and respected so much? Who was him for whom you stood up, went to welcome him, had him seated at the head of the room, and you sat down in a lower position yourself? Who was he for whom you ordered us to hold the horse strap?”

He (Harun) said, “This is the Divine Leader of the people, the Proof of Allah^-azwj for His creatures, and His Successor over His servants.” I said, “O Commander of the Faithful! Are not all these characteristics yours? Are these not in you?” He said, “I am the people’s leader on the surface and by force, but Musa ibn Ja’far^-asws is the True Divine Leader. O my son! By God, he^-asws more deserves to succeed God’s Prophet (s) than me and all the other people. I swear by God that even if you try to take away the rule from me, I will chop off your head. A Kingdom is barren.”

When Harun decided to go from Medina to Mecca, he ordered that two-hundred Dinars be put in a black bag. He faced Al-Fadhl ibn Rabee’ and said, “Take this to Musa ibn Ja’far^-asws and tell him, “The Commander of the Faithful said that for the moment we are having hard times. Our presents will be delivered to you later.”

I objected and said, “O Commander of the Faithful! You give five-thousand Dinars or so much to the progeny of the Muhajireen (emigrants), the Ansar (helpers), other members of the Quraysh (tribe), the Hashemites, and others whom you do not even know their family ties. However, are you going to give only two-hundred Dinars to Musa ibn Ja’far^-asws whom you honoured and respected so much?” This is much less than what you gave all the other people.”

Harun said, “Shut up! Son of a bitch! If I give him what I promised to give him, I will not be safe from facing one-hundred thousand men with swords from his followers and friends. This man’s poverty, and the poverty of his members of household is safer for me than their being wealthy and well-to-do.

When Mokhariq – the singer – saw this, he got mad. He went to (Harun) Ar-Rashid and said, “O Commander of the Faithful! When I entered Medina most of the people expected me to give them something. If I do not give them anything before I leave they will not recognize the generosity of the Commander of the Faithful with me, and my rank near you.” Then Harun ordered that he be given ten-thousand Dinars. Again Mokhariq said, “O Commander of the Faithful! This is for the people of Medina. I also have some debts which I must pay back.” Then Harun ordered that he be given another ten-thousand Dinars. Again Mokhariq said, “O Commander of the Faithful! My daughters are about to get married. I need to prepare dowries for them.” Then Harun ordered that he be given another ten-thousand Dinars. Then Mokhariq said, “O Commander of the Faithful! Please establish some wages for me so that the living expenses for my life, that of my wife, my daughters and their spouses be paid for.” Harun ordered that a land which had an annual income of ten-thousand Dinars be given to him. He ordered that all this be immediately given to him.

Then Mokhariq immediately stood up and went to see Musa ibn Ja’far^-asws and told him, “When I realised what this damned one has done to you, I tricked him for your sake, and took thirty-thousand Dinars plus land which has more than ten-thousand Dinars in annual income for you. O my Master! I swear by Allah^-azwj that I do not need any of this. I only took them for you. I bear witness that this land is yours and I have brought you the money.

Imam Musa ibn Ja’far^-asws said, “May God give you blessings by means of your property, and grant you good rewards. I will not take even one Dirham or any of your land. I welcome your kindness and recognise your good intentions. Return. May you be guided. And do not return to me in this regard. He kissed the Imam^-asws’s hands and returned (to Harun).[25]

We have already dealt with the ‘Nuss’ in [1], the miracles and proof of Imamat were presented by the Imam^-asws, when and where required.

However, we present some Ahadith, on the poofs the Imamat of the last five Imams^-asws were challenged and they provided Proof of their^-asws Imamat, as well as their establishing the ‘Nuss’ for their^-asws Imamat.

The Inscription of 11^th Imam^-asws’s Seal

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ و عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ النَّخَعِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ دَاوُدَ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ، قَالَ:

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَاسْتُؤْذِنَ لِرَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ عَلَيْهِ، فَدَخَلَ‏ رَجُلٌ عَبْلٌ‏ طَوِيلٌ جَسِيمٌ، فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْوَلَايَةِ، فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ بِالْقَبُولِ، و أَمَرَهُ بِالْجُلُوسِ، فَجَلَسَ مُلَاصِقاً لِي، فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي: لَيْتَ شِعْرِي‏ مَنْ هذَا؟

فَقَالَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: «هذَا مِنْ وُلْدِ الْأَعْرَابِيَّةِ صَاحِبَةِ الْحَصَاةِ الَّتِي طَبَعَ آبَائِي عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ فِيهَا بِخَوَاتِيمِهِمْ فَانْطَبَعَتْ، و قَدْ جَاءَ بِهَا مَعَهُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ أَطْبَعَ فِيهَا».

ثُمَّ قَالَ: «هَاتِهَا» فَأَخْرَجَ حَصَاةً و فِي جَانِبٍ مِنْهَا مَوْضِعٌ أَمْلَسُ‏، فَأَخَذَهَا أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، ثُمَّ أَخْرَجَ خَاتَمَهُ، فَطَبَعَ فِيهَا، فَانْطَبَعَ، فَكَأَنِّي أَرى‏ نَقْشَ خَاتَمِهِ‏ السَّاعَةَ: «الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍ‏».

فَقُلْتُ لِلْيَمَانِيِّ: رَأَيْتَهُ‏ قَبْلَ هذَا قَطُّ؟ قَالَ: لَاوَ اللَّهِ، و إِنِّي لَمُنْذُ دَهْرٍ حَرِيصٌ عَلى‏ رُؤْيَتِهِ حَتّى‏ كَانَ‏ السَّاعَةَ أَتَانِي شَابٌّ- لَسْتُ أَرَاهُ- فَقَالَ لِي: قُمْ، فَادْخُلْ، فَدَخَلْتُ.

ثُمَّ نَهَضَ الْيَمَانِيُّ و هُوَ يَقُولُ: رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ و بَرَكَاتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ، ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُهَا مِنْ بَعْضٍ، أَشْهَدُ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّ حَقَّكَ لَوَاجِبٌ‏ كَوُجُوبِ حَقِّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ و الْأَئِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ، ثُمَّ مَضى‏ فَلَمْ أَرَهُ بَعْدَ ذلِكَ.

قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ: قَالَ أَبُو هَاشِمٍ الْجَعْفَرِيُّ: و سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ اسْمِهِ، فَقَالَ: اسْمِي مِهْجَعُ بْنُ الصَّلْتِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ سِمْعَانَ بْنِ غَانِمِ بْنِ أُمِّ غَانِمٍ، و هِيَ الْأَعْرَابِيَّةُ الْيَمَانِيَّةُ، صَاحِبَةُ الْحَصَاةِ الَّتِي طَبَعَ فِيهَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ‏، و السِّبْطُ إِلى‏ و قْتِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.

Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah and Ali ibn Muhammad have narrated from Ishaq ibn Muhammad al-Nakha’Isma‘il from abu Hashim Dawud ibn al-Qasim al- Ja’fari who has said:

“Once I was in the presence of Abu Muhammad^-asws (11^th Imam^-asws) and permission was requested for a man from Yemen to see the Imam^-asws. A big, tall and well-built man then came in and greeted the Imam^-asws with the greeting for Wilayah (the Leader with Divine Authority) and (from the Imam^-asws, he) received the acceptance response.

The Imam^-asws asked him to have a seat and he sat just next to me. I then said to myself, “I wish not to have been so close to him.” Abu Muhammad^-asws then said, “This is the child of the Arab lady for whom my ancestors had been printing their seals on a pebble for her and an imprint would take place.

He has brought it with him and wants me to imprint my seal on it also. He^-asws then asked the man to give it to him^-asws. The man took out a pebble and on one side of there was a smooth space. Abu Muhammad^-asws then took it, brought his seal out, printed on it and the imprint took place. Even now it is as if I see the print of his (al-Hassan^-asws ibn Ali^-asws) seal on the pebble it. I then said to the man from Yemen, “Had you ever seen him (Abu Muhammad^-asws) before?” He said, “No, by Allah^-azwj, I had always was anxious to see him^-asws until at this time a young man came to me whom I had not seen before and said, ‘Stand up and come in and I came in.” The man from Yemen then left saying, “May Allah^-azwj’s Grace and Blessings be with you^-asws – O the people of Ahl Al-Bayt^-asws whose each generation is just like the other generation. I testify before Allah^-azwj that it is obligatory to preserve your^-asws rights just as it was the case with Amir-ul-Momineen Ali^-asws and the Imams^-asws after him^-asws. May Allah^-azwj Grant all of them^-asws blessings.” He then left and thereafter I never saw him.

Ibn Ishaq has said that Abu Hashim Al-Ja’fari has said, “I asked him his name. He said, “My name is Mahja‘ ibn al-Salt ibn ‘Aqaba ibn Sam‘an ibn Ghanim ibn ’Umm Ghanim. She was the Arab lady from Yemen that had the pebble on which Amir-ul-Mo’mineen^-asws had imprinted his^-asws seal and also his descendants up to the time of Abu Al-Hassan^-asws (10^th Imam).^[26]

Ahadith of the 7^th Imam^-asws’s on Ali Reza^-asws being the Next Imam^-asws

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ حُكَيْمٍ عَنْ نُعَيْمٍ الْقَابُوسِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ: إِنَّ ابْنِي عَلِيّاً أَكْبَرُ وُلْدِي وَ أَبَرُّهُمْ عِنْدِي وَ أَحَبُّهُمْ‏ إِلَيَّ وَ هُوَ يَنْظُرُ مَعِي فِي الْجَفْرِ وَ لَمْ يَنْظُرْ فِيهِ إِلَّا نَبِيٌّ أَوْ وَصِيُّ نَبِيٍّ.

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Mu‘awiya ibn Hakim from Nu‘aym al-Qabusi who says:

Abu Al-Hassan^-asws has said. “My^-asws son, Ali^-asws is the eldest of my^-asws sons and the most virtuous among them to me^-asws and the most beloved of them to me^-asws. He^-asws looks into the ‘Jafr’ (a secret source of Divine Knowledge) with me^-asws. No one looks into it except a Prophet^-as or the executor of the will of a Prophet^-as.[27]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ وَ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ عَبَّادٍ الْقَصْرِيِّ جَمِيعاً عَنْ دَاوُدَ الرَّقِّيِّ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي قَدْ كَبِرَ سِنِّي فَخُذْ بِيَدِي مِنَ النَّارِ قَالَ فَأَشَارَ إِلَى ابْنِهِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع فَقَالَ هَذَا صَاحِبُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي..

Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Muhammad ibn Sinan and Isma‘il ibn ‘Abbad al-Qasri, all from Dawud al-Raqqi who has said:

“I said to Abu Ibrahim^-asws, ‘May Allah^-azwj Sacrifice me for you^-asws, I have become old, take my hand out of fire.” The narrator has said that the Imam^-asws pointed to his^-asws son, Abu Al-Hassan^-asws and then said, “This is your guardian after me^-asws.[28]

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلِ ع أَ لَا تَدُلُّنِي إِلَى مَنْ آخُذُ عَنْهُ دِينِي فَقَالَ هَذَا ابْنِي عَلِيٌّ إِنَّ أَبِي أَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَأَدْخَلَنِي إِلَى قَبْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَالَ- إِنِّي جاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا قَالَ قَوْلًا وَفَى بِهِ.

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah from al-Hassan from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said:

“I said to Abu Al-Hassan the 1st^-asws Would you^-asws guide me to a person from whom would learn my religion.” He^-asws said, “This is my^-asws son Ali^-asws. My father took my hand until we were in the shrine of the Messenger of Allah and said, “My son, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “. . . I am appointing someone as my deputy on earth,. . .” (2:30) When Allah^-azwj, the Most Holy, the Most High, says a word He^-azwj keeps His^-azwj word.[29]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ اللُّؤْلُؤِيِّ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَمْرٍو عَنْ دَاوُدَ الرَّقِّيِّ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع إِنِّي قَدْ كَبِرَتْ سِنِّي وَ دَقَّ عَظْمِي وَ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ أَبَاكَ ع فَأَخْبَرَنِي بِكَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي مَنْ بَعْدَكَ فَقَالَ هَذَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا..

Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from al-Hassan ibn al-Husayn al-Lu’lu’i from Yahya ibn ‘Amr from Dawud al-Raqqi who has said:

“I said to Abu Al-Hassan Al-Musa^-asws, ‘I have grown old and my bones are weakening. I asked your father^-asws and he^-asws informed me about you^-asws. Would you^-asws also inform me (about the Imam^-asws after you).” The Imam^-asws said, “This Abu Al-Hassan Al-Reza.[30]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ الْقَنْدِيِّ وَ كَانَ مِنَ الْوَاقِفَةِ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ عِنْدَهُ ابْنُهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع فَقَالَ لِي يَا زِيَادُ هَذَا ابْنِي فُلَانٌ كِتَابُهُ كِتَابِي وَ كَلَامُهُ كَلَامِي وَ رَسُولُهُ رَسُولِي وَ مَا قَالَ فَالْقَوْلُ قَوْلُهُ.

Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Ziyad ibn Marwan al-Qandi, from the Waqifa sect who has said:

“Once I went to see Abu Ibrahim^-asws at that time his son Abu Al-Hassan Al-Reza^-asws was with him. The Imam^-asws said to me, “O Ziyad, this is my^-asws son^-asws so and so. His^-asws writing is my^-asws writing, his^-asws words are my^-asws words, his^-asws messenger is my^-asws messenger and the true words are his^-asws words.”[31]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الْمَخْزُومِيُّ وَ كَانَتْ أُمُّهُ مِنْ وُلْدِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع قَالَ: بَعَثَ إِلَيْنَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع فَجَمَعَنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ لَنَا أَ تَدْرُونَ لِمَ دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَقُلْنَا لَا فَقَالَ اشْهَدُوا أَنَّ ابْنِي هَذَا وَصِيِّي وَ الْقَيِّمُ بِأَمْرِي وَ خَلِيفَتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ عِنْدِي دَيْنٌ فَلْيَأْخُذْهُ مِنِ ابْنِي هَذَا وَ مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ عِنْدِي عِدَةٌ فَلْيُنْجِزْهَا مِنْهُ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ بُدٌّ مِنْ لِقَائِي فَلَا يَلْقَنِي إِلَّا بِكِتَابِهِ..

Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Muhammad ibn Fudayl who has said that al-Makhdhumi whose mother was one of the children of Ja‘far^-asws Ibn Abu Talib^-asws has narrated:

“Abu Al-Hassan Musa^-asws once called all of us to see him^-asws. We all gathered and then he^-asws said to us, “Do you know why I^-asws have called you?” We said, “We do not know.” He^-asws then said, “Bear testimony that this my^-asws son^-asws is the executor of my^-asws will, the director of my^-asws affairs and the succeeding Imam^-asws (after me^-asws). Whoever has a loan due on me^-asws should demand from my^-asws son^-asws, this one^-asws. To whoever I^-asws may have promised anything should also acquire from him^-asws. Whoever must see me^-asws must not come to see me^-asws but with writing from him.[32]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنِ ابْنِ مُحْرِزٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يَقْطِينٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع قَالَ: كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ مِنَ الْحَبْسِ أَنَّ فُلَاناً ابْنِي سَيِّدُ وُلْدِي وَ قَدْ نَحَلْتُهُ كُنْيَتِي..

Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from ibn Muhriz from Ali ibn Yaqtin who has said:

“Abu Al-Hassan^-asws wrote to me from prison that so and so my son^-asws is the master and guardian of my^-asws children and I^-asws have gifted my^-asws own ‘Kunya’ to him^-asws.”[33]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِي عَلِيٍّ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ يَحْدُثَ حَدَثٌ وَ لَا أَلْقَاكَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي مَنِ الْإِمَامُ بَعْدَكَ فَقَالَ ابْنِي فُلَانٌ يَعْنِي أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع..

Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Abu Ali al-Khazzaz from Dawud ibn Sulay who has said:

“I said to Abu Ibrahim^-asws, ‘I am afraid that an incident may take place and I will not be able to see you^-asws, inform me who will be the Imam^-asws after you^-asws?” The Imam^-asws said, “My^-asws son, so and so, meaning thereby Abu Al-Hassan^-asws.[34]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي الْجَهْمِ عَنِ النَّصْرِ بْنِ قَابُوسَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ أَبَاكَ ع مَنِ الَّذِي يَكُونُ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ هُوَ فَلَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ذَهَبَ النَّاسُ يَمِيناً وَ شِمَالًا وَ قُلْتُ فِيكَ أَنَا وَ أَصْحَابِي فَأَخْبِرْنِي مَنِ الَّذِي يَكُونُ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ مِنْ وُلْدِكَ فَقَالَ ابْنِي فُلَانٌ.

Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Sa‘id ibn abu al-Jahm from al-Nasr ibn Qabus who has said:

“I said to Abu Ibrahim^-asws, ‘I asked your father^-asws, “Who will be (the Imam^-asws) after you^-asws? He^-asws informed me that you^-asws will be (the Imam^-asws after him^-asws). When Abu ‘Abdullah^-asws left this world people went left and right and I said (to you^-asws) that I with my people are with you. (Now please) inform me who will be (the Imam^-asws) after you^-asws from your^-asws sons.” He^-asws (the Imam^-asws said, “My^-asws son so and so (meaning Abu Al-Hassan^-asws).[35]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنِ الضَّحَّاكِ بْنِ الْأَشْعَثِ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ زُرْبِيٍّ قَالَ: جِئْتُ إِلَى أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع بِمَالٍ فَأَخَذَ بَعْضَهُ وَ تَرَكَ بَعْضَهُ فَقُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ لِأَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ تَرَكْتَهُ عِنْدِي قَالَ إِنَّ صَاحِبَ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ يَطْلُبُهُ مِنْكَ فَلَمَّا جَاءَنَا نَعْيُهُ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع ابْنُهُ فَسَأَلَنِي ذَلِكَ الْمَالَ فَدَفَعْتُهُ إِلَيْهِ.‏.

Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from ad-Dahhak ibn al^–ash‘ath from Dawud ibn Zurbi who has said:

“Once I went to deliver some property to Abu Ibrahim^-asws. He^-asws accepted some of it and left the others. I asked him^-asws, “May Allah^-azwj Keep you^-asws well, why have you^-asws left it with me?” He^-asws said, “The in-charge of this task (the Imam^-asws – the Leadership with Divine Authority) will demand it (at it’s appropriate time) from you.” When we heard the news of his^-asws (Abu Ibrahim^-asws’s) death, Abu Al-Hassan^-asws sent his^-asws son to me asking for that property and I delivered it to him^-asws.[36]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ وَ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْمَرْزُبَانِ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع مِنْ‏ قَبْلِ‏ أَنْ‏ يَقْدَمَ‏ الْعِرَاقَ‏ بِسَنَةٍ وَ عَلِيٌّ ابْنُهُ جَالِسٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَمَا إِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ فِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ حَرَكَةٌ فَلَا تَجْزَعْ لِذَلِكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا يَكُونُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَدْ أَقْلَقَنِي مَا ذَكَرْتَ فَقَالَ أَصِيرُ إِلَى الطَّاغِيَةِ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَا يَبْدَأُنِي مِنْهُ سُوءٌ وَ مِنَ الَّذِي يَكُونُ بَعْدَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا يَكُونُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ‏ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ الظَّالِمِينَ وَ يَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ ما يَشاءُ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا ذَاكَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ مَنْ ظَلَمَ ابْنِي هَذَا حَقَّهُ وَ جَحَدَ إِمَامَتَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِي كَانَ كَمَنْ ظَلَمَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ حَقَّهُ وَ جَحَدَهُ إِمَامَتَهُ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ مَدَّ اللَّهُ لِي فِي الْعُمُرِ لَأُسَلِّمَنَّ لَهُ حَقَّهُ وَ لَأُقِرَّنَّ لَهُ بِإِمَامَتِهِ قَالَ صَدَقْتَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ يَمُدُّ اللَّهُ فِي عُمُرِكَ وَ تُسَلِّمُ لَهُ حَقَّهُ وَ تُقِرُّ لَهُ بِإِمَامَتِهِ وَ إِمَامَةِ مَنْ يَكُونُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَنْ ذَاكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ ابْنُهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ الرِّضَا وَ التَّسْلِيمُ.

Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Ali and ‘Abdallah ibn al-Marzuban from (Muhammad) ibn Sinan who has said:

“Once I went to see Abu Al-Hassan Musa^-asws one year before he^-asws would leave for Iraq. His^-asws son Ali^-asws was also in the meeting. He^-asws looked at me and said, “O Muhammad, during this year a movement will take place do get carried away by it!

The narrator has said that he then asked the Imam^-asws, “‘May Allah^-azwj Sacrifice me for you^-asws, what that will be (taking place)? What you^-asws said has made me very anxious.”

The Imam^-asws said, “I^-asws will journey to the tyrant. From this and one after him I will not suffer any serious harm.” The narrator has said that he then asked The Imam^-asws, “‘May Allah^-azwj Sacrifice me for you^-asws, what then will happen?” The Imam^-asws said, “Allah^-azwj Causes the unjust to go astray and He^-azwj does whatever He^-azwj wills.” The narrator has said that he then asked the Imam^-asws, “‘May Allah^-azwj Sacrifice me for you^-asws, what is that will happen?” The Imam^-asws said, “Whoever will do injustice to my son^-asws this one^-asws, rejecting his Imamat (the Leadership with Divine Authority) after me^-asws it would like doing injustice to Ali^-asws Ibn Abu Talib^-asws and rejecting his^-asws Imamat after Rasool Allah^-saww.”

The narrator has said that he then asked the Imam^-asws, “By Allah^-azwj, if Allah^-azwj will Grant me long life I will acknowledge his^-asws right and will affirm his^-asws Imamat.” The Imam^-asws (at that) said, “You have spoken the truth, O Muhammad. Allah^-azwj will Grant you long life.  You will acknowledge his^-asws right and affirm his^-asws Imamat and the Imamat of the one^-asws after him^-asws.”

The narrator has said that he^-asws then asked the Imam^-asws, “Who will he be?” The Imam^-asws said, “Muhammad^-asws, his^-asws son^-asws.”

The narrator has said that he then asked the Imam^-asws, “From me it is agreed and accepted.”

The Announcement of the 8^th Imam^-asws as a Divine Imam^-asws:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى قَالَ لَمَّا مَضَى أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ ( عليه السلام ) وَ تَكَلَّمَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلام ) خِفْنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّكَ قَدْ أَظْهَرْتَ أَمْراً عَظِيماً وَ إِنَّا نَخَافُ عَلَيْكَ هَذِهِ الطَّاغِيَةَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِيَجْهَدْ جَهْدَهُ فَلَا سَبِيلَ لَهُ عَلَيَّ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from the one who mentioned it, from Safwan Bin Yahya who said,

‘When Abu Ibrahim^-asws passed away and Abu Al-Hassan^-asws spoke fearfully upon it (the Imamate) from that, so it was said to him^-asws, ‘You^-asws have manifested a great matter, and we fear upon you^-asws of this tyrant’. So he^-asws said: ‘Let him strive his striving, but there would not be a way for him upon me^-asws’.[37]

The Imamat of the 9^th Imam^-asws:

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ قَالَ خَرَجَ ( عليه السلام ) عَلَيَّ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى رَأْسِهِ وَ رِجْلَيْهِ لِأَصِفَ قَامَتَهُ لِأَصْحَابِنَا بِمِصْرَ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى قَعَدَ وَ قَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ احْتَجَّ فِي الْإِمَامَةِ بِمِثْلِ مَا احْتَجَّ فِي النُّبُوَّةِ فَقَالَ وَ آتَيْناهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا قَالَ وَ لَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَ بَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً فَقَدْ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُؤْتَى الْحُكْمَ صَبِيّاً وَ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُعْطَاهَا وَ هُوَ ابْنُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً .

Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, from Ali Bin Asbat who said,

‘He (9^th Imam^-asws) came out to me, so I looked at his^-asws head and his^-asws feet in order (to be able to) describe his^-asws stature to our companions in Egypt. So while I was like that until he^-asws sat and said: ‘O Ali! Allah^-azwj Argued regarding the Imamate with the like of what He^-azwj Argued regarding the Prophet-hood, so He^-azwj Said [19:12] and We Granted him the Wisdom whilst he was a child [12:22] And when he reached his maturity [46:15] until when he attains his maturity and reaches forty years. Thus, it is allowed that He^-azwj Grants the Wisdom while he^-as is a child, and it is allowed that He^-azwj Grants it while he^-as is forty years old’.[38]

11^th Imam^-asws Introduced 12^th Imam^-asws:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدٌ وَ الْحَسَنُ ابْنَا عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي سَنَةِ تِسْعٍ وَ سَبْعِينَ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ قَالَا حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْعَبْدِيُّ مِنْ عَبْدِ قَيْسٍ عَنْ ضَوْءِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْعِجْلِيِّ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ فَارِسَ سَمَّاهُ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ سُرَّ مَنْ رَأَى وَ لَزِمْتُ بَابَ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ( عليه السلام ) فَدَعَانِي مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ أَسْتَأْذِنَ فَلَمَّا دَخَلْتُ وَ سَلَّمْتُ قَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا فُلَانٍ كَيْفَ حَالُكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي اقْعُدْ يَا فُلَانُ ثُمَّ سَأَلَنِي عَنْ جَمَاعَةٍ مِنْ رِجَالٍ وَ نِسَاءٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي

Ali Bin Muhammad said, ‘Muhammad and Al Hassan, the two sons of Ali Bin Ibrahim narrated to me in the year two hundred and seventy nine, saying, ‘Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Abdul Rahman Al Abady narrated to us from Abd Qays, from Zou Bin Ali Al Ijaly, from a man from the people of Persia he named, saying,

‘I came to Surmanrayy (Samarrah) and I necessitated the door of Abu Muhammad^-asws (11^th Imam^-asws). So he^-asws called me over without my seeking permission. So when I entered and greeted, he^-asws said to me, ‘O Abu so and so! How are you?’ Then he^-asws said to me: ‘Be seated, O so and so!’. Then he^-asws asked me about a group of men and women from my family members.

ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي مَا الَّذِي أَقْدَمَكَ قُلْتُ رَغْبَةٌ فِي خِدْمَتِكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ فَالْزَمِ الدَّارَ قَالَ فَكُنْتُ فِي الدَّارِ مَعَ الْخَدَمِ ثُمَّ صِرْتُ أَشْتَرِي لَهُمُ الْحَوَائِجَ مِنَ السُّوقِ وَ كُنْتُ أَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ إِذْنٍ إِذَا كَانَ فِي دَارِ الرِّجَالِ

Then he^-asws said to me: ‘What is that which made you come?’ I said, ‘A desire to be in your^-asws service’. So he^-asws said: ‘Necessitate the house (be a doorman)’. So I necessitated to be at the door, and I used to be in the house along with the servant. Then I would go to buy the necessaries for them from the market, and I used to go over to him^-asws from without (seeking) a permission when he^-asws was in the chamber for the men.

فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ يَوْماً وَ هُوَ فِي دَارِ الرِّجَالِ فَسَمِعْتُ حَرَكَةً فِي الْبَيْتِ فَنَادَانِي مَكَانَكَ لَا تَبْرَحْ فَلَمْ أَجْسُرْ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ وَ لَا أَدْخُلَ فَخَرَجَتْ عَلَيَّ جَارِيَةٌ مَعَهَا شَيْ‏ءٌ مُغَطًّى ثُمَّ نَادَانِيَ ادْخُلْ فَدَخَلْتُ وَ نَادَى الْجَارِيَةَ فَرَجَعَتْ فَقَالَ لَهَا اكْشِفِي عَمَّا مَعَكِ فَكَشَفَتْ عَنْ غُلَامٍ أَبْيَضَ حَسَنِ الْوَجْهِ وَ كَشَفَتْ عَنْ بَطْنِهِ فَإِذَا شَعْرٌ نَابِتٌ مِنْ لَبَّتِهِ إِلَى سُرَّتِهِ أَخْضَرُ لَيْسَ بِأَسْوَدَ فَقَالَ هَذَا صَاحِبُكُمْ

One day, I went to him^-asws and he^-asws was in the chamber for the men, and I heard movement in the house, and he^-asws called out: ‘Be in your place, do not depart!’ So I did not have the audacity to exit nor enter. Then a maid came out to me, and there was something covered with her. Then he^-asws called me: ‘Enter!’. So I entered, and he^-asws called the maid, so she returned, and he^-asws said to her: ‘Uncover from what is with you’. So she uncovered from a white boy^-asws, beautiful of face, and uncovered from his^-asws belly, and there was a growth of green hair from his chest to his^-asws navel, not black, and he^-asws said: ‘This is your Master^-asws’.

ثُمَّ أَمَرَهَا فَحَمَلَتْهُ فَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى مَضَى أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ( عليه السلام )

Then he^-asws ordered her, so she carried him^-asws, and I did not see him^-asws after that until Abu Muhammad^-asws passed away.

فَقَالَ ضَوْءُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ فَقُلْتُ لِلْفَارِسِيِّ كَمْ كُنْتَ تُقَدِّرُ لَهُ مِنَ السِّنِينَ قَالَ سَنَتَيْنِ قَالَ الْعَبْدِيُّ فَقُلْتُ لِضَوْءٍ كَمْ تُقَدِّرُ لَهُ أَنْتَ قَالَ أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً قَالَ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ وَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَ نَحْنُ نُقَدِّرُ لَهُ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً .

Zou Bin Ali said, ‘I said to the Persian, ‘How much did you serve for him^-asws from the years?’ He said, ‘Two years’. Al-Abdy said, ‘I said to Zou, ‘How much did you serve him^-asws?’ He said, ‘Fourteen years’. Abu Ali and Abu Abdullah said, ‘And we served him^-asws for twenty-one years’.[39]

A write-up from an Ismaili author (Chapter) ‘4.’

[1] ‘They want to put out the Noor of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will certainly make His Noor shine forever, even though the unbelievers may dislike this.’ (61:8)

[2] The occultation of Ismail Ibn Jafar^asws is hard to digest as his occultation terminated when his son declared himself as Imam,since then there is no occulation for Ismail imams.

[3] The Book Of Sulaym Bin Qays Al Hilali, Hadith no. 16

[4] الغيبة للنعماني، النص، ص: 52, H. 3

[5] الغيبة للنعماني، النص، ص: 53, H4

[6]  الغيبة للنعماني، النص، ص: 57

[7]   الغيبة للنعماني، النص، ص: 58

[8] ( 1). كل ذلك في زمان الغيبة لا في أيّام ظهوره عجل اللّه تعالى فرجه. لان المؤمنين في أيامه في كمال العزة.

[9] ( 2). في بعض النسخ« القيود».

[10]   كمال الدين و تمام النعمة، ج‏1، ص: 308

[11]  كمال الدين و تمام النعمة، ج‏1، ص: 312

[12]  كمال الدين و تمام النعمة، ج‏1، ص: 312

[13] كمال الدين و تمام النعمة، ج‏1، ص: 313

[14]   كمال الدين و تمام النعمة، ج‏1، ص: 313

[15] كمال الدين و تمام النعمة، ج‏2، ص: 435, H. 2.

[16] كمال الدين و تمام النعمة، ج‏2، ص: 432, H.11.

^[17] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏1، ص: 285, H. 7

[18] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 80 H 22

[19] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 80 H 23

[20] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 80 H 21

[21] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 80 H 2

[22] تفسير العيّاشي 2: 26/ 71.

[23] Wasail ul Shia H. 33344

[24] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Merits of the Quran CH 12 H 2

[25] UYUN AKHBAR AL-REZA, Chaper 7, H. 11

^[26] كافي (ط – دار الحديث)، ج‏2، ص: 182, H. 4

[27] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏1، ص: 312, H. 2

[28] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏1، ص: 312, H. 3

[29] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏1، ص: 312, H. 4

[30] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏1، ص: 312, H. 5

[31] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏1، ص: 312, H. 6

[32] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏1، ص: 312, H. 7

[33] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏1، ص: 313, H. 10

[34] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏1، ص: 313, H. 11

[35] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏1، ص: 313, H. 12

[36] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏1، ص: 313, H. 13

[37] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 121 H 2

[38] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 122 H 3

[39] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 125 H 2