الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 1, page 309

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu Najran from Safwan al-Jammal from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). Safwan has said the following. “Mansur ibn Hazim said to him, ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, the (human) souls pass through mornings and evenings if that (death for you) comes then who (will be the Imam)?” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) then said, “If that happens then he is your companion.” He tapped the right shoulder of abu al-Hassan with his hand, as I know. He was five (feet tall or years old) at that time and ‘Abdallah ibn Ja‘far was also present with us.”

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

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Najran from ‘Isa ibn ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Umar ibn Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) who has said the following. “I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). “If something would happen (death of Imam), may Allah will not make me experience it, then who must I follow as my Imam?” The narrator has said that he pointed to his son Musa (a.s.). I then asked, “What if something will happen to Musa (a.s.) then who must I follow as my Imam?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Follow his sons. Then he said, “In this way for ever.” I then asked, “What if I will not know him and will not know his place?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Say, ‘O Lord, I love and take as my guardian whoever is left (on earth) as your authority of the sons of the preceding Imam. This will be enough for you if Allah would so will.”

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

8. Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from ‘Abdallah al-Qalla’ from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) spoke of abu al-Hassan (a.s.) and he was a young boy in those days. He said, “This is a child that no other child born to us has been of such a greater blessing to our followers than him.” The Imam (a.s.) then said to me, “Do not be harsh with Isma‘il.”

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

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ahmad ibn Idris have narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from al-Hassan ibn al-Husayn from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan al-Maythami from Fayd ibn al-Mukhtar, in a lengthy hadith on the affair of Abu al-Hassan (a.s.). In it Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said to the narrator: “He is your Master of who you asked. Stand up for him and acknowledge his rights.” I then stood up and kissed his head and hand and prayed to Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, for him.” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) then said, “Keep in mind that permission is not given to us to speak about him to anyone before you.” The narrator has said that he then said (to the Imam (a.s.)), “‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, can I inform anyone about him?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, you may inform your family and sons.” With me there were my family, sons and friends and of my friends there was Yunus ibn al-Dhabyan. When I informed them they all thanked Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. Yunus said, “No, by Allah, I must hear that from him.“ He was in a hurry. He went and I followed him. When I reached the door I heard Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say to him,- he had reached him before I-, “O Yunus, the matter is as Fayd told you.” The narrator has said that he (Yunus) then said, “I have heard it and I have obeyed.” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) then said, “Take him with you, O Fayd.”

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