Proof that Imamat (leadership with Divine Authority) Continues in the Descendents of the Preceding Imam but not through his Brother or Paternal Uncle or other such Relatives

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from al-Husayn ibn Thuwayr ibn abu Fakhita from abu‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) will never go to two brothers after al-Hassan and al-Husayn (a.s.). It has continued from Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) as Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has said, “The relatives are closer to each other, according to the Book of God, . .” (33:6) After Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) will only be found in the descendents one after the other.”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘We instruct our children to perform Salah (prayer) when they are five years old. Instruct your children to perform Salah (prayer) when they are seven years old. We instruct our children to fast when they are seven years old if they can endure fasting even up to midday, or more than this or less. When thirst bothers them and hunger they discontinue the fast. This is to familiarize them with fasting to build their endurance to fast. So instruct your children to fast when they are nine years old and for as much of the day they can fast. When thirst bothers them, then you should allow them to discontinue their fast.’”

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

2. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Walid from Yunus ibn Ya‘qub who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “ Allah has disdained to place Imamat in two brothers after al-Hassan and al-Husayn (a.s.).”

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

2. Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Rib‘i ibn ‘Abd Allah from Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would instruct children to perform Salah (prayer) of al-Maghrib and al-‘Isha’ soon, one after the other, saying that it is better for them than falling asleep.”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il ibn Bazi‘ who has said the following. “Abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) was once asked, “Can Imamat continue in uncles?” He replied, “No, it can not happen.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.), “Can it continue in a brother?” He replied, “No, it can not happen.” I then asked, “With who then it can continues?” He replied, “It will continue with my children.” In those days he hadd no children.”

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

3. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from al-Mufaddal ibn Salih from Jabir who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about children when they line up for obligatory Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not push them back from obligatory but separate them from each other (boys from girls).’”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al Husayn from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Najran from Sulayman ibn Ja‘fari from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) does not take place in two brothers after al-Hassan and al-Husayn (a.s.). It only continues in the descendents of the Imam (a.s.) generation after the generation.”

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

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ibn abu Najran from ‘Isa ibn ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Umar ibn Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) who has said that he asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) the following. “Would there happen what is to happen, may Allah would not show me such a day (death of the Imam (a.s.) who then must I follow as my Imam?” The Imam (a.s.) pointed to his son Musa (a.s.). The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.), “ What if something will happen to Musa (a.s.) who then must I follow?” The Imam (a.s.), “Follow a son.” I then asked, “What if something would happen to the son and the Imam would leave behind an elder brother or a small son then who must I follow?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Follow his son and so on one after the other.” In the script of Sawan it says, “. .and so on forever.”

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