Hadith record

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban who has that al-Ahwal reported to him the following: "Zayd ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) sent a message to me for a meeting with him when he was in hiding. When I met him, he said, 'O Abu Ja'far, what do you say if someone from us comes to you asking to join us? Will you rise up with him (against the enemies)?' I said, 'If such a person would be your father or brother I would join him.' He then said, 'I want to rise up against these people. Come and join me.' I said, 'No, may Allah make my soul of service to you.' He then said, 'Is it that you distance yourself away from me?' I said, “It is only one soul. If Allah's Authority on earth existed, then those keeping away from you would have saved themselves and those joining you would have faced their destruction. If no Divine Authority existed on earth then people joining and keeping away from you would be the same.' He then said, 'O Abu Ja'far, I would sit with my father at the same table and he would feed me chunky morsels and cool off for me the hot ones out of kindness and diligent care. Do you think he was not afraid for me from the fire of hell? So he has informed you about religion and did not inform me? "I said, 'May Allah make my soul of service to you, this also is of the kindness of your father to you. To save you from the fire he did not inform you. He was concerned for you that after having the information you might ignore his guidance and become subject to fire. He informed me also. If I follow I will be safe and I will be destroyed, if I disobeyed (him), for which (my destruction) he was not that much concerned.' "Then I told him, 'May Allah make my soul of service to you, are you of a higher degree of excellence or the prophets?" He said, 'It is the prophets.' I said, 'Consider what Ya'qub said to Joseph, "My son do not tell your dream to your brothers. They may plot against you." Why did he not inform the brothers so that they would not plot against Joseph? He hid it from them and so also your father has done; he was afraid for you.' He then said, 'When you say that, I swear to Allah that your friend the Imam (a.s.) did tell me in Medina that I will be killed and crucified in al-Kunasa and that he has a book with him that lists the people killed and crucified.' "I then went for Hajj and reported the story of Zayd to Abu 'Abd Allah, (a.s.) and what I said to Zayd. The Imam (a.s.) said, 'It seems you surrounded him from his front, back, left, right, above and below and did not leave for him any way out!'"

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.