When the Imam learns that Leadership with Divine Authority has come to him?

1. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from abu Hariz al-Qummi who has said the following. “I said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, you know how devoted I have been towards your father and after him to yourself. I then swore before him up on the rights of the Messenger of Allah and the rights of so and so and so and so (Ali, al-Hassan, al-Husayn . (a.s.) until his own self trying to assure him that whatever you would tell me will not be made public and spread to other people. I asked him about his father to find out if he alive or dead.” He said, “by Allah, he that his father had passed away.” I then said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, your followers (Shi‘a) narrate that in him the traditions of four prophets are found.” He then said, “In certainty by Allah, besides whom there is no Lord that he (my father) has passed away.” I asked, “Is his passing away in the form of disappearance or in the form of death?” He then said, “It is in the form of death.” I then said, “Perhaps you are observing cautious fear from me.” He said, “All glory belongs to Allah, (that is not the case).” I then asked, “Did he deliver his will to you?” He said, “Yes, he did so.” I then asked, “Has he made others as your partners in executing his will?” He said, “No, he has not done so.” I then asked, “Is there any Imam over you among your brothers?” He said, “No, there is no one from them.” I then asked, “Are you the Imam (a.s.)?” He said, “Yes, I am the Imam (Leadership with Divine Authority).”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman from Afi ibn ’Abd Allah who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.), saying, ‘When Ibrahim son of the Messenger of Allah passed away three traditions were established. One tradition is that on that day a sun eclipse took place and people said that it is because of the death of the son of the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah went on the pulpit, praised Allah and glorified Him, then said, “O people, the sun and the moon are two signs of the signs of Allah which move because of His command and in obedience to Him. Their eclipse is not because of the death or life of anyone. If one or both of them eclipse perform Salah (prayer) for eclipse.” He climbed down the pulpit and performed Salah (prayer) because of eclipse with the people.’”

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

2. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Asbat who has said the following. “I said, ‘A man troubled your brother, Ibrahim and said to him, “Your father is still alive.” You know of this case what he knows.’” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Glory belongs to Allah. The Messenger of Allah dies. How is it that Musa (Imam Musa al-Kadhim) does not die? Certainly, by Allah, he passed away just as the Messenger of Allah passed away. However, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, ever since that He took his Prophet from this world has continued granting favors through this religion up on the descendants of A‘ajim (pl. of ‘Ajam, meaning the Persians or none Arabs) and abstains it from the people of His Prophet. Ever since He has continued granting such favors to these and abstaining it from them. In the month of Dhu al-Hajj I paid off a thousand Dinar for his debts because of which he (his brother Ibrahim) was in great difficulties. He was about to divorces his wives, free his slaves and servants. You have heard the case of Yusuf and his brothers.”

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’ who has said the following. “I said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘They have narrated from you about the death of abu al-Hassan (Musa al-Kadhim (a.s.) that a man said to you, “You have learned that (the death of your father) through the report of Sa‘id.” He said, “Sa‘id came after I learned about that (death of my father) before his coming.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imam (a.s.), “I heard from him that you divorced mother of Farwa, daughter of Ishaq, in the month of Rajab one day after the death of abu al-Hassan (a.s.). Did you divorce her when you knew that abu al-Hassan (a.s.) has died?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, I did so.” I asked him, “Did you do so before Sa‘id came to you?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, I did so before Sa‘id came.”

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

3. Hammad has narrated from Hariz from Zurarah and Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “We once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the wind and darkness that at certain times come, is there any Salah (prayer) because of it? He (the Imam) said, ‘When anything frightening from the sky in the form of darkness, wind or noise takes place, perform Salah (prayer) like that of eclipse until it clears out.’”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from al-Husayn from Safwan who has said the following. “I requested abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), ‘Enlighten me when an Imam comesto know that he is the Imam (a.s.)? Does it take place when the preceding Imam has already passes away or when he is about to leave this world? For example abu al-Hassan (a.s.) passed away in Baghdad and you were here (in the city of Madina)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “He comes to know it at the time his companion (the preceding Imam) is about to leave this world.” I then asked, “By what means does he come to know it?” He said, “He comes to know it through inspiration from Allah.”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jamil ibn Darraj who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the time of Salah (prayer) because of eclipse at sunrise and sunset if it can be performed at such time. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘It is obligatory.’”

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

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from abu al-Fadl al-Shahbani from Harun ibn al-Fadl who has said the following. “I saw abu al-Hassan Ali ibn Muhammad on the day abu Ja‘far (a.s.) passed away. He said, “To Allah we belong and to Him we return. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) passed away.” He was asked, “How do you know that he passed away?” He said, “A form of humbleness before Allah that I had never experienced overwhelmed me.”

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

5. It is a narration from him (narrator of previous Hadith) by Muhammad ibn af-Husayn from Safwan ibn Yahya from af-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked one of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about performing Salah (prayer) because of eclipse at the time of obligatory Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘Begin with obligatory Salah (prayer).’ He (the Imam) was asked, ‘Can it be performed in the time of nightly optional Salah (prayer)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Perform Salah (prayer) because of eclipse before nightly optional Salah (prayer).”’

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

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Musafir who has said the following. “Abu Ibrahim commanded –at the time he was taken out to Baghdad- abu al-Hassan (a.s.) to sleep every night at his (abu Ibrahim’s) house until the coming of the news of his death. The narrator has said narrator has said that we would prepare the bed for abu al-Hassan every night in the terrace and he would come after the ‘Isha (late evening) to rest and in the morning he would leave for his own house. He has said that it continued for four years. One night he delayed and the bed was prepared for him. He did not come as usual and the family was alarmed and deeply saddened. His delay was a very great matter that overwhelmed us. In the morning he came to the house and went to the family room to ’Umm (mother of) Ahmad and said to her, “Bring me the things that my father had entrusted you with.” She began to cry, beat up her face and tear her clothe over her heart saying, “My master, by Allah, has passed away.” He stopped her and said, “Do not say any thing to any one and do not make it public before the news of his death comes to the governor.” She then brought a package, a two thousand and a four thousand Dinar and gave all of it to him and to one else. She said, “He had told me when there were only two of us (She was beloved to him), “Keep this trust well protected with you and do allow anyone to know it before I will die. When I will die whichever of my sons will come to and ask you to deliver this trust to him give it to him and know that I have passed away. The sign that my master had informed me of has exactly come.” He took charge of the package and money from her and commanded everyone to keep it secret until the coming of the news. He left the house and thereafter did not come to rest at night as before. After a few days only the news of the passing away of abu Ibrahim reach the city. We calculated the time and found out that it was exactly the time abu al-Hassan had done those things; his delaying to come for rest at night and taking charge of the trust with (’Umm Ahamd).”

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

6. It is narrated from him (narrator of previous Hadith) Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Hammad from Hariz from Zurarah and Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When a total sun eclipse takes place but you do not notice it and come to know about it later, you must perform Qada’ (compensatory prayer for) such Salah (prayer), but if it is not a total eclipse, you are not required to perform anything.’”

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

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Imran ibn Musa from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Majid from Ali ibn al-Fadl al-Wasitiy who has said the following: “I once wrote to him (the Imam), Alayhi al-Salam, asking, ‘If a sun or moon eclipse takes place and I am riding and unable to dismount what must I do?’ He (the Imam) wrote to me, ‘Perform Salah (prayer) on your stumper which you ride.’”

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

2. Afi has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from al-Fadf ibn Shadhan all from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurarah from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “We once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about Salah (prayer) because of eclipse. How many Rak‘at has it and how we perform it? He (the Imam) said, ‘It has ten Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees) and four Sajadat (prostrations). Salah (prayer) commences with Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), Ruku‘ is performed with Takbir and you raise your head with Takbir, except the fifth Takbir, after which you perform Sajdah (prostration), and say Allah hears those who praise Him. Say Qunut (supplication after recitation in second Rak‘at) in every two Rak‘at before Ruku‘ and prolong Qunut and Ruku‘ equal to the time for recitation, Ruku‘ and Sajdah (prostration). If you finish before it (sun or moon) is cleared, sit down and pray before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, until it is cleared. If it clears before you finish Salah (prayer), complete the remaining. Make the recitation loud.’ I then asked, ‘How is recitation in this Salah (prayer)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If you recite Surah (a chapter) in every Rak‘at, recite al-Fatihah al-Kitab, but if you reduce from Surah (chapter) something, then recite from where you left and do not recite al-Fatihah al-Kitab.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is desirable to recite al-Kahf (Chapter 18) and al-Hijr (Chapter 15), unless one is the Imam and is afraid of causing difficulties for people behind him. Your Salah (prayer) should be in the open, without being covered by a house, if you can do so. Salah (prayer) because of sun eclipse should be given more time than that because of moon eclipse, but Salah (prayer) because of both is equal in Ruku‘ and Sajdah.’”

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