The Conditions of the Imams in the Matters of Age

1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from Yazid al-Kunasiyy who has said the following. “I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘Was Jesus at the time he spoke to people from the cradle a Divine authority over the people of his time?” He said, “At that time he was a prophet, a Divine authority over the people but not a Mursal (Messenger). Have you not heard the words of Allah that say, “He said, “I am the servant of God. He has given me the Book and has appointed me to be a Prophet (19:30). He has blessed me no matter where I dwell, commanded me to worship Him and pay the religious tax for as long as I live.” (19:31) I then said, “Was he the Divine authority over Zackaria at the time that he was in the cradle?” He said, “At that time Jesus was a sign from Allah and a blessing to Mary (Maryam) when he spoke on her behalf. He was a prophet and a Divine authority over all those who heard his words at that time. Thereafter he did not speak until he was two years old. At Such time Zackaria was the Divine authority of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, over the people after the silence of Jesus. Zackaria then died and his son Yahya (John) inherited the book and wisdom and he was a small child. You can hear it in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, “We commanded John, Zachariah’s son), “O John, follow the guidance of the Lord with due steadfastness. We gave knowledge and wisdom to John during his childhood.” (19:12) When Jesus became seven years he then spoke as a prophet and a messenger until Allah, the Most Holy sent him inspiration. Thus, Jesus was the Divine authority over John and over all the people. The earth is never left without the presence of a Divine authority over the people, O abu Khalid, from the day Allah created Adam and settled him on earth.” I then said, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, “Did Ali (a.s.) possess Divine authority from Allah and His Messenger over this nation (Muslims) during the life time of the Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Yes, but he kept silent and did not speak along with the Messenger of Allah. At that time, during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, obedience was of the rights of the Messenger of Allah over the ’Umma (nation) and over Ali (a.s.). Obedience on the authority of Allah and the Messenger of Allah over the people as a whole was obligatory to Ali (a.s.) after the death of the Messenger of Allah. Ali (a.s.) was a very wise and knowledgeable person.”

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 Yahya al-Halabiy from Harun ibn Kharijah from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah once said to Ja‘far: ‘O Ja‘far, should I grant you and give an award to you or a gift?’ Ja‘far then said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah, please do so.’ The narrator has said that people thought the Messenger of Allah might give him gold or silver. People remained anticipating. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘I give you something and if you practice every day, it will be better for you than the whole world and all that it contains. If you practice it every two days, Allah forgives you during the time in between. For your practicing it every Friday or every month or every year, Allah grants you forgiveness during the time in between. Perform four Rak‘at Salah (prayer). Begin the Salah (prayer), complete the recitations and then say, “Allah is free of all defects, all praise belongs to Allah, no one, other than Allah, deserves worship and Allah is great” fifteen times. In Ruku‘ position, say it ten times. After Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees)’, when standing, say it ten times. In the first sajdah say it ten times. When sitting between the two sajdah say it ten times. In the second sajdah say it ten times. After the second sajdah before standing up for the second Rak‘at say it ten times. This amounts to seventy-five Tasbihah, which makes it three hundred Tasbihah in one Rak‘at and in four Rak‘at Salah (prayer) it becomes one thousand two hundred Tasbihah, Tahlilah, Tahmidah and Takbirah. You may perform this Salah (prayer) during the day or night as you wish.’ “It is in a Hadith (narration) from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid that abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said the following. ‘In the first Rak‘at after the first Chapter of the Holy Quran recite Chapter 99. In the second Rak‘at you should recite Chapter 100, in the third Rak‘at recite Chapter 110 and in the fourth Rak‘at read Chapter 112 of the Holy Quran.’ I then asked, ‘What is the reward for this Salah (prayer)?’ The Imam replied, ‘If his sins are as many as grains of sand in a pile, Allah forgives him.’ He then looked at me and said, ‘This is for you and your people only.’”

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Safwan ibn Yahya who has said the following. “Once I said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘Before Allah would grant you the blessed birth of abu Ja‘far we would ask you the question and you would say that Allah will soon grant you a son. Allah, now, has blessed you with such a favor and may He make him to be the delight for your heart. We wish not to experience a single day without you but, Allah forbid, if something would happen to you from who must we seek guidance?” He pointed with his hand to abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and he was standing before him. I then said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, he is only a child of three years old.” He said, “That does not matter in his case at all. Jesus rose with Divine authority when he three years old only.”

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

3. mmd ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Sayf from certain persons of our people from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) al-Thani (the second). The narrator has said that I said to him “They speak about (and question) your very young age. He said, “Allah informed David through inspiration to appoint Sulayman as the executor of his will and successor while he was just a child minding sheep. The worshippers and scholars of the Israelites disliked it. Allah then inspired David to take the staff of those who have objections and that of Sulayman and place them in a room and seal them with each one’s seals. On the next day whichever staff would be found that has grown leaves and fruits the owner thereof would be the successor. David informed them of this matter and they all agreed.”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhsin ibn Ahmad from Aban who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘One who is in a hurry may perform Salah (prayer) of Ja‘far without Tasbihat, then perform Qada’ (compensatory prayer for) them when walking (or working) for his needs.’”

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

4. Ali ibn Muhammad and others have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ya‘qub ibn Yazid from Mus‘ab From Mas‘da from abu Basir who has said the following. “Once I went to see him. Along with me there was a of five years old boy who had not yet attained puberty. The Imam (a.s.) said, “How would you feel if people will debate you about the divine authority of someone of his age? Or he said about the Divine authority of one who will come and will be of the same age as his.”

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

4. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Ali ibn Sulayman who has said the following: “I wrote to the man (Imam) (a.s.), ‘What do you say about reading Salah (prayer) of Tasbih while sitting in a carriage on the back of camel?’ He wrote back, ‘If you are on a journey you can perform it (in such carriage).”’

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

5. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from Ali ibn Mahziyar from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il ibn Bazi‘ who has said the following. “I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) of an issue of the Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) and I said, “Can the Imam be a boy less than seven years old?” He said, “Yes, he can even be less the five years old.” Sahl has said that ibn Mahziyar narrated this to me in the year two hundred twenty one.”

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

6. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Khayrani from his father who has said the following. “Once I was standing in the presence of abu al-Hassan (a.s.) in Khurasan and someone said to him, ‘O my master if something will happen to you to who must we then turn for guidance?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “You must turn for guidance to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), my son.” The person asking the question seemed to have thought of his (abu Ja‘far (a.s.) age very small. Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) then said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent Jesus (a.s.) son of Mary as a Messenger and a prophet being the author of a whole system of law. He began this task in an age much smaller than the age of abu Ja‘far (a.s.).”

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

7. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Asbat who has said the following. “Once I saw abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who had come out to me and I began to look at him from head to his toes so I can describe him to our people in Egypt. I was looking until he sat down and said, “O Ali, Allah has supported His argument against the people in the case of Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) just as He has done so in the case of the prophets. He has said, “We gave authority to him (John) over the people during his childhood (19:12).. When he attained maturity, God gave him strength, wisdom and knowledge. Thus, do We reward those who do good.” (12:22) “When he grew-up to manhood and became forty years old,. .” (46:15). It come to pass that wisdom comes to a prophet when he is just a child or it may come to a prophet when he is forty years old.”

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

7. Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Hakam ibn Miskin from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘If one performs Salah (prayer) of Ja‘far, does Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, grant him a reward like that which the Messenger of Allah mentioned for Ja‘far?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, by Allah, He does so.’”

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

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father who has said the following. “Once abu Ali ibn Hassa’n spoke to abu Ja‘far (a.s.) saying, “My mater, people refuse to accept your Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) because of you very young age.” He said, “Why do they not refuse to accept the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, has said to His prophet, “ (Muhammad), say, “This is my way. I and all my followers invite you to God with proper understanding.. .” (12:108) By Allah, only Ali (a.s.) followed him at that time and he was only nine years old. I also am nine years old.

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

2. It is narrated from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Yahya ibn ‘Imran al-Halabiy from Dharih who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You can perform this Salah (prayer) during the night and on a journey, during the night or day, and if you like, you can make it part of your optional Salah (prayer).”’

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

5. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from certain individuals of our people from ibn Mahbub in a marfu‘ manner that the Imam said: “In the last Rak‘at (sajdah of last Rak‘at), in Salah (prayer) of Ja’far, you should say this. ‘O the One, Who has dressed up in majesty and dignity, who is kind with glory and is gracious with glory, You are the One, besides whom no one deserves Tasbih (glorification). (You are) the One whose knowledge has encompassed all things, the bountiful and generous, the One who does favors with additional generosity and the powerful and gracious. I appeal to You through the majestic qualities of Your Throne and the limits of mercy from Your book and through Your great, the most High name and perfect words. Allahumma Salli ‘Ala Muhammad wa ‘Ali Muhammad (O Allah grant Muhammad and his family a compensation worthy of their serving Your cause). Please make my such and such wishes come true.’”

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

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Abd Allah ibn abu al-Qasim who has narrated from those who narrated to him from abu Sa‘id al-Mada’iniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, said, ‘Should I teach you something to say after Salah (prayer) of Ja‘far?’ I replied, ‘Yes, please do so.’ The Imam said, ‘In the last sajdah of the fourth Rak‘at after Tasbihat (plural of Tasbih) say this. “O the One who has dressed up in majesty and dignity, (You are the one) who is kind with glory and is gracious with glory. (You are), the One, besides whom no one deserves Tasbih (glorification). (You are) the One whose knowledge has encompassed all things, the bountiful and generous, the One who does favors with additional generosity, the powerful and gracious. I appeal to You through the majestic qualities of Your Throne and the limits of mercy from Your book and through Your great, the most High name and perfect words in all truth and justice. Allahumma Salli ‘Ala Muhammad wa ‘Ali Muhammad (O Allah grant Muhammad and his family a compensation worthy of their serving Your cause)’, please make my such and such wishes come true.’””

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