15. Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from abu al-Hakam who has said that ‘Abdallah ibn Ibrahim al-Ja‘fari and ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Umara from Yazid ibn Salit who has said the following. “When abu Ibrahim prepared his directive will he called the following people to bear testimony. They were Ibrahim ibn Muhammad (ibn Ali ibn ‘Abdallah ibn Ja‘far ibn abu Talib) al-Ja’fari, (his brother) Ishaq ibn Muhammad al-Ja‘fari, Ishaq ibn Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (the brother of al-Imam Musa (a.s.), Ja‘far ibn Salih (ibn Mu‘awiya ibn ‘Abdallah ibn Ja‘far ibn abu Talib), (his brother) Mu’awiya al-Ja‘fari, Yahya ibn al-Husayn ibn Zayd ibn Ali (Zayn al-‘Abidin (a.s.), Sa‘d ibn ‘Imran al-Ansari, Muhammad ibn al-Harith al-Ansari, Yazid ibn Salit. al-Ansari, and Muhammad ibn Ja‘far ibn Sa‘d al-Aslami. Sa‘d al-Aslami recorded the text of the first directive will. “ I ask them to witness and bear testimony that he testifies that there is no Lord except Allah Who is the only Lord Who has no partner and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. The coming of the Hour (of judgment ) after death is true. The warning is true and that all people will be held responsible for their actions is true. The decree is true and the standing of people before Allah for judgment is true. All (guidance) that Prophet Muhammad has brought is true. All that the (great) trust worthy spirit has descended with is true. With it (such beliefs) I live, up on such beliefs I die and with such beliefs, I will be resurrected if Allah would so will. I ask them (witnesses) to bear testimony to the fact that this is my directive will with my own hand writing. I have copied the directive will of my great, great, great, great, great grandfather Amir al-Mu’minin Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) and the directive will of Muhammad ibn Ali before it I had copied word for word, and the directive will of Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.) similarly. I have directed my will to my son Ali and my sons afterwards with him if he would so will, find understanding in them and like to confirm them for the task. It will all be up to him. However, if would dislike them and wanted to remove them it will also be up to his discretion and there is no say for them against him. I have said in my will that all my charities, properties, my Mawali (slaves), my children that I leave behind and my sons are for him and Ibrahim, al-‘Abbass, Qasim, Isma‘il. Ahmad and mother of Ahmad and up to Ali is the affairs of my ladies not up to them. One third of the charities of my father and two thirds of my charities will be at his (Ali’s) disposal to deal with as he may deem proper just as an owner place in them whatever he may like. He may, if he would so decide, sell, gift, grant or give as charity to those I have specified or others it will all be up to him. He is just as myself in my will, property, my family and my children. He may confirm his brothers whom I have specified in this my document he may do so. However, if he would dislike he can remove them from the task without being any offense or unacceptability on his part. If will find any changes in their attitude which would be other than those in which I left them and he would want to return them as in charge of a certain task it will up to him to do so. If any one of them would want to give in marriage to someone his sister he may not do so without his permission because he is the most knowledgeable one in the matters of the marriage of his people, his relatives. If any authority or other individuals from the people would refuse him a thing or create an obstacle for him in the matters I have mentioned in this my document of will or in the matters of any of the people I have mentioned in it then such person will become far away from Allah, His Messenger and the later ones will become far away from him. Such a person will be subject to condemnation and anger of Allah, those who (have the right to) condemn, the angels close to Allah, the prophets, the messengers and all the believers. The mothers of my children will be maintained just as they were in my life time provided they observe Hijab (Islamic way of dressing) if he would consider it proper. If any of them would go out to her husbands then she will have no right to return to my place except if Ali would decide otherwise. The same conditions would apply to my daughters. No one of the brothers, real or half will have the right to give any of my daughters in marriage. Also no authority or uncle will any such right without his (Ali’s) approval and agreement. If they would do otherwise, they have opposed Allah and His Messenger and they rebelled against Him in His own dominion. He knows best about the marriage of his people, his relatives. If will decide to give in marriage he may do so and if will decide to refuse he may refuse. I have recommended my daughters with a likewise recommendations as I have recorded in this my document of directive will. I have appointed Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, as the witness to bear testimony to this fact (about my daughters). He and the mother of Ahmad are two witnesses to bear testimony to this fact. No one has the right to open the document of my will or publicize it when it would be different from what I have said and specified. Whoever would do evil it would be against his own self and whoever would do good it would for his own good. Your Lord is not unjust to any one. May send blessings up on Muhammad and his family. Be it an authority or individuals, must not open or tear this document of my will which I have signed herein below. Whoever would do so will be subject to the condemnation and anger of Allah and those who condemn of the angels close to Allah, all the messengers of Allah, all the believers and Muslims. This would apply to those who would open forcefully this document of my will. Written and seal by abu Ibrahim. May Allah send His blessings up on Muhammad and his family.” Abu al-Hakam has said that abu ‘Abdallah ibn Adam al-Ja‘fari narrated to me from Yazid ibn Salit the following. “Abu ‘Imran al-Talhi was a judge in Madina. When Musa (a.s.) His brothers summoned him before the judge, Abu ‘Imran al-Talhi. Al-‘Abbass ibn Musa said, “May Allah keep you well and allow people to benefit from you. At the bottom of this document there is (mentioned) treasures and pearls and he wants to hide and keep them for himself without us.My father, may Allah grant him blessings, have left nothing that is free from being referred to him. He has left us all poor. Had I not controlled my self I would told you something in public. At such time Ibrahim ibn Muhammad rushed towards him saying, “Will you speak up about a thing that no one of us will accept it or believe you? You will then be blamed and defeated among us. We know that you have been lying when still young and when you grew up. Your father knew you very well. If there was any thing good in you even though he knew you inside and outside. He would trust you even with two pieces of date.” At this time Ishaq ibn Ja‘far, his uncle rushed towards him and grabbed both sides of his collar saying, “:You are a fool and feeble minded. Pick up this all and what you did the day before and all others also helped him.” Abu ‘Imran, the judge then said to Ali (a.s.), “Stand up O abu al-Hassan (a.s.). The condemnation of your father is enough for me today. He has certainly given you a wide range of authority. By Allah, no one knows a person better than his father does. By Allah, abu ‘Abdallah to us was not a light minded person or weak in his opinions.” Al-‘Abbass then said to the judge, “Open the document and read what is below therein. “ Abu ‘Imran said, “I will not open it. The condemnation of your father is enough for me today.” Al-‘Abbass said, “I will tear it down.” He said, “That is up to you.” Al-‘Abbass then removed the seal and therein they found themselves all removed from their being executors of the will and the confirmation of Ali as the sole executor of the will. They found out therein the appointment of Ali as their guardian (with Divine authority) whether they would like or dislike it. They also found out therein that they were all removed from the list of the recipients of charities and other benefits. Opening the document turned to become a misfortune, disgrace and humiliation to them. It proved very good for Ali (a.s.). In the directive will that al-‘Abbass removed its seal the following names were the signatories. Ibrahim ibn Muhammad, Ishaq ibn Ja‘far, Ja’far ibn Salih and Sa‘id (Sa’d) ibn ‘Imran were the ones who uncovered the face of the mother of Ahmad (who was brought) in the presence the judge, qadi, excusing that it was not mother of Ahmad, until they had uncovered her face and recognized. She where up on said, “By Allah, my master (husband) said, “You will be coerced to go before a judge.” Ishaq ibn Ja‘far admonished her saying,, “Be quite, women suffer from weakness. I do not think he has said any such thing.” Ali (a.s.) then turned to al-‘Abbass and said, “My brother, I understand that debts and liabilities up on you have forced you to this. O Sa‘id come with me so we can help them pay for them. By Allah, I will ignore to help you and cooperate with you as long as will walk on earth. You may say whatever you like.” Al-‘Abbass then said, “You are not giving us anything other than the extra of our own properties which are with you. In fact, our properties with are more than.” He (The Imam (a.s.) said, say whatever you want. Honor is your own honor. If you do good it will for your own selves before Allah and if you do evil Allah is forgiving. By Allah, you know, that today I have no son and heir other than you. If I will keep anything think I might away from you or store it in hiding it will be for you and will return to you. By Allah, from the day your father, may Allah be pleased with him, left this world I have not owned anything but that I have disposed of it as have seen.” Al-‘Abbass moved forwards and said, “By Allah, it is not so. Allah has not imposed any of your opinions on us. Only our father was jealous against us. His decisions are not justifiable before Allah and nor is your decisions. You know that I know Safwan ibn Yahya who sells al-Sabiry (fine fabrics) in Kufa. If you admit I can make it very difficult for both of you to swallow your Saliva.” Ali (a.s.) then said, “There is no means and no power except with Allah, the Most Holy, the Most Great. My brothers I am very keen to see you happy. Allah knows it. O Lord, if you know that I love to see them prosper, do good to them, maintain good relations with them, show kindness to them then help me day and night and reward me for my efforts. Otherwise, you are the One who know the hidden facts, then reward me for what i deserve, good for good and evil for evil. O Lord, grant them well being and grant well being through them. Make Stan to despair about us. Help them to obey you and grant them the opportunity to learn your guidance. My brothers, I wish and work to make you happy and strive for your well being. Allah guards whatever we say.” Al-‘Abbass then said, “I know your language very well. Your shovel can not find any soil with me to pick up.” The people dispersed at this point. May Allah send blessing up on Muhammad and his family.
Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.