Hadith record

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Khalid and al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya ibn ‘Imran from ibn Muskan from Zurarah from who has said the following: “One of the sons of Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), died. He (the Imam) was informed of his death and he commanded for Ghusl (bath) and shroud. He (the Imam) walked in his funeral and performed Salah (prayer). A prayer mat was spread and he (the Imam) stood on it, then he (the Imam) stood on his grave until he was free, then moved away and I (the narrator) also moved away. I walked along with him (the Imam). He (the Imam) said that Salah (prayer) was not performed in such cases, but people did things and we also do like them. I (the narrator) then asked, ‘When Salah (prayer) is obligatory?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is necessary when he understands Salah (prayer) and he is six years old. I (the narrator) asked, ‘What do you say about children?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The Messenger of Allah was asked about them and he said that Allah knows best about what they have done.’”

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