الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 1, page 405

5. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Whoever would distance himself from the company of the Muslims and disregard the pledge of allegiance with the Imam he will come before Allah with his hand cut off.”

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

1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from abu Hamza who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘What are the rights of the Imam over the people?” He replied, “Of his rights over them is that they must listen to him and obey him.” I then asked, “What are their rights on him?” He replied, “Maintain among them equality and justice among the followers. When this prevails among the people then there would no fear as to who has taken this and that.”

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il ibn Bazi‘ from Mansur ibn Yunus from Abu Hamza from Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) a similar hadith except that he has said, “this way, this way, this way and this way, meaning thereby front, back, right and left.”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya al-‘Attar from certain members of our people from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas‘ada ibn sadaqa from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) has said, ‘Do not be deceitful to your leaders, do not confuse your guides, do not be ignorant of your Imams and do not cut off the rope of your unity, least you will fail and be disgraced. On such foundation your affairs must be based and you must strictly live within such system. Had you been able to observe what those who lived before had observed and who had disregarded what you want to be accepted you would have acted fast, came out and listened. However, you can not observe what they had observed but the curtain will soon be removed.’

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