Hadith record

7. Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from abu Basir who has said that he asked the following from abu al-Hassan (a.s.) , “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what is the proof to know the Imam (a.s.) ?” He said, “Through several qualities. The first thing is that his father must have said to this effect about him so that it could be considered a proof up on him. 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 that can speak to people in everyone’s own language.” Then he said to me, “O abu Muhammad, allow me to give you a sign before you stand up to go. Not very long after this a man from Khurasan came in. The man from Khurasan spoke to the Imam in Arabic but abu al-Hassan (a.s.) answered him in Persian. The man from Khurasan said, “I swear by Allah, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, the only thing that stopped from speaking to you in Persian was I thought you might not know Persian.” He then said, “Glory belongs to Allah, If would not b e able to answer you (in Persian) than how would have any excellence over you?” He said to me, “O abu Muhammad, “No one’s language is unknown to the Imam (a.s.) nor the language of birds, animals and any living things. Whoever would not have these qualities he is not A number of our people has narrated from Imam.”

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