الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 1, page 275

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from Ali ibn Asbat from certain persons of his people who has said that I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) the following. “When does the Imam come to know that he has become the Imam and position is transferred to him?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “At the last minute of the life of the preceding Imam (a.s.).”

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu Zahir from al-Khashshab from Ali ibn Hass’an from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Kathir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “The offspring of the believers will also follow them to Paradise. So shall We join their offspring to them because of their faith. We shall reduce nothing from their deeds.. .” [52:21] The Imam (a.s.) said, “Believers refers to the Holy Prophet and Amir al-Mu’mini (a.s.) Offspring refers to the Imams and the executors of the wills (a.s.) We make them follow means that We will not reduce anything from the Divine authority of their offspring. It will be the same as that which Muhammad (s.a.) had transferred to Ali (a.s.). Their authority is one and the same and obedience to them is the same.”

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

2. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Dawud al-Nahdi from Ali ibn Ja‘far who has narrated the following from Abu al-Hassan: “In knowledge and courage we all are equal. In benefaction and grants we do to the degree we are commanded.”

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

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ali ibn Isma‘il from Safwan ibn Yahya from ibn Muskan from al-Harith ibn al-Mughirah that he heard Abu 'Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as) say that Rasulullah (sw) said: "We in the matters of commands, understanding, lawful and unlawfulness are all alike and the same. However, the Rasulullah (sw) and Ali (as) have their own [unique] virtue.”

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