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سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ‌[2] فَقَالَ نَزَلَتْ فِي عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ فَمَا لَهُ لَمْ يُسَمِّ عَلِيّاً وَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ ع فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَالَ فَقَالَ قُولُوا لَهُمْ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ

“I asked Abā ʿAbdillāh (AS) about the words of God, the Mighty and Majestic: "Obey God and obey the Messenger and those of authority from yourselves." (4:59). So he [al-Ṣādiq] said, “It was sent down regarding ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib, al-Ḥasan, and al-Ḥusayn, upon them be peace.” So I [Abī Baṣīr] said to him [al-Ṣādiq]

إِنَّمَا يَعْنِي أَوْلَى بِكُمْ أَيْ أَحَقُّ بِكُمْ وَ بِأُمُورِكُمْ وَ أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَ أَمْوَالِكُمُ‌ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يَعْنِي عَلِيّاً وَ أَوْلَادَهُ الْأَئِمَّةَ ع إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ثُمَّ وَصَفَهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَالَ‌ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكاةَ وَ هُمْ‌ راكِعُونَ‌ وَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي صَلَاةِ الظُّهْرِ وَ قَدْ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَ

3. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad al-Hashimi from his father from Ahmad ibn ‘Isa from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). The Imam (a.s.) has said the following about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “Only God, His Messenger, and the

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْمُخْتَارِيَّةِ لَقِيَنِي فَزَعَمَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ إِمَامٌ فَغَضِبَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ فَلَا قُلْتَ‌ لَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا دَرَيْتُ مَا أَقُولُ قَالَ أَ فَلَا قُلْتَ لَهُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص أَوْصَى إِلَى عَلِيٍّ وَ الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ فَلَمَّا مَضَى عَلِيٌّ ع أَوْصَى إِلَى الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ وَ لَوْ ذَهَبَ ي

"A man from the Mukhtariyyah met me and claimed that Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah is an Imam." Abu Ja'far (as) became angry and said: "Did you not tell him...? I said: 'No, by Allah, I did not know what to say.' He said: 'Did you not tell him that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) entrusted Ali, a

شَهِدْتُ وَصِيَّةَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع حِينَ أَوْصَى إِلَى ابْنِهِ الْحَسَنِ ع وَ أَشْهَدَ عَلَى وَصِيَّتِهِ الْحُسَيْنَ ع وَ مُحَمَّداً وَ جَمِيعَ وُلْدِهِ وَ رُؤَسَاءَ شِيعَتِهِ وَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ ثُمَّ دَفَعَ إِلَيْهِ الْكِتَابَ وَ السِّلَاحَ وَ قَالَ لِابْنِهِ الْحَسَنِ ع يَا بُنَيَّ أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَنْ أُوصِيَ إِلَيْكَ وَ أَنْ أَدْفَعَ إِلَيْكَ كُتُبِي وَ سِلَاحِي كَمَا أَوْصَى إِلَيَّ رَسُولُ

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar al-Yamani and ‘Umar ibn ’Udhayna from Sulaym ibn Qays who has said the following. “I witnessed Amir al-Mu’minin Ali’s (a.s.) will made before me in which he appointed his, al-Hassan (a.s.) as the executor. He called al-Husayn (a

الْكُلَيْنِيُّ وَ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ ابْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ الدَّيْلَمِيِّ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَمَّا حَضَرَ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ ع الْوَفَاةُ قَالَ لِلْحُسَيْنِ ع يَا أَخِي إِنِّي أُوصِيكَ بِوَصِيَّةٍ فَاحْفَظْهَا إِذَا أَنَا مِتُّ فَهَيِّئْنِي ثُمَّ وَجِّهْنِي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لِأُحْدِثَ بِهِ ع

“When al-Hassan (a.s.) ibn Ali (a.s.) was about to leave this world he said to al-Husayn (a.s.), “O my brother, I want to entrust you with my directive will (please) safeguard and preserve it. When I will die prepare and help me towards (the Shrine of) the Messenger of Allah so I can renew my covenant with him then hel

وَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَجَالِسٌ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ وَ عِنْدَهُ وُلْدُهُ إِذْ جَاءَهُ جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَخَلَا بِهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص أَخْبَرَنِي أَنِّي سَأُدْرِكُ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ يُقَالُ لَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ يُكَنَّى أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ فَإِذَا أَدْرَكْتَهُ فَأَقْرِئْهُ مِنِّي السَّلَامَ قَالَ وَ م

“ I swear by Allah, I was sitting in the presence of Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) whose sons also were there when Jabir ibn ‘Abdallah al-Ansari came. He offered his greeting then he held the hand of Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and took him aside for privacy and said, “The Messenger of Allah informed me that I would find my self with

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ كَتَبَ إِلَى ابْنِ حَزْمٍ‌[2] أَنْ يُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِ بِصَدَقَةِ عَلِيٍّ وَ عُمَرَ وَ عُثْمَانَ وَ إِنَّ ابْنَ حَزْمٍ بَعَثَ إِلَى زَيْدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَ كَانَ أَكْبَرَهُمْ فَسَأَلَهُ الصَّدَقَةَ فَقَالَ زَيْدٌ إِنَّ الْوَالِيَ‌[3] كَانَ بَعْدَ عَلِيٍّ الْحَسَنَ وَ بَعْدَ الْحَسَنِ الْحُسَيْنَ وَ بَعْدَ الْحُسَيْنِ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ وَ بَعْدَ عَلِيِّ بْن

“’Umar ibn ‘ad al-‘Aziz wrote ibn Hazm to send him the endowment documents of Ali, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman. Inb Hazm sent a person to Zayd ibn al-Hassan (a.s.) who was the eldest among them and asked him about the documents. Zayd said, “The high authority after Ali was al-Hassan and after him al-Husayn and Ali ibn al-Husayn

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ كَتَبَ إِلَى ابْنِ حَزْمٍ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ مِثْلَهُ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَالَ بَعَثَ ابْنُ حَزْمٍ إِلَى زَيْدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَ كَانَ أَكْبَرَ مِنْ أَبِي ع. - عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ مِثْلَهُ.

‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz wrote ibn Hazm. He then have narrated a hadith similar to the above one except that he has said, “Ibn Hazm sent to Zayd ibn al-Hassan who was older than my father.” A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ a similar hadith.

لَمَّا حَضَرَتْ أَبِي ع الْوَفَاةُ قَالَ يَا جَعْفَرُ أُوصِيكَ بِأَصْحَابِي خَيْراً قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ اللَّهِ لَأَدَعَنَّهُمْ وَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ يَكُونُ فِي الْمِصْرِ فَلَا يَسْأَلُ أَحَداً.

"When my father was about to leave this world he said, 'O Ja‘far, I recommend you to be good to my companions.' I then said, “May I be your ransom, by Allah, I will educate them as such that in any city where any of them would live he would not need to ask others for knowledge (of religion).”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ الْوَلَدُ يَعْرِفُ فِيهِ شِبْهَ خَلْقِهِ وَ خُلُقِهِ وَ شَمَائِلِهِ وَ إِنِّي لَأَعْرِفُ مِنِ ابْنِي هَذَا شِبْهَ خَلْقِي وَ خُلُقِي وَ شَمَائِلِي يَعْنِي أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع.

“It is part of the success of a man to have a child who is similar to his father physically, ethically and in good character. I do not know anyone more similar to me physically, ethically and in good character than this son of mine." (meaning thereby Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.))

إِنَّ أَبِي ع اسْتَوْدَعَنِي مَا هُنَاكَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ قَالَ ادْعُ لِي شُهُوداً فَدَعَوْتُ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةً مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فِيهِمْ نَافِعٌ مَوْلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ اكْتُبْ هَذَا مَا أَوْصَى بِهِ يَعْقُوبُ بَنِيهِ‌ يا بَنِيَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفى‌ لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَ أَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ‌[1] وَ أَوْصَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ إِلَى جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَمَر

“My father entrusted me with all that is there (the sacred objects inherited from the prophets such as directive wills etc.). When he was about to leave this world, he asked me to call for him a few people to bear testimony. I then called for him four people from Quraysh among them was Nafi‘ Mawla ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Umar.

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي يَوْماً فَسَأَلَهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ فَقَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِلَى مَنْ نَفْزَعُ وَ يَفْزَعُ النَّاسُ بَعْدَكَ فَقَالَ إِلَى صَاحِبِ الثَّوْبَيْنِ الْأَصْفَرَيْنِ وَ الْغَدِيرَتَيْنِ يَعْنِي الذُّؤَابَتَيْنِ‌[5] وَ هُوَ الطَّالِعُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْبَابِ يَفْتَحُ الْبَابَيْنِ بِيَدِهِ جَمِيعاً فَمَا لَبِثْنَا أَنْ طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْنَا كَفَّانِ آخِذَةً بِالْبَابَيْنِ فَفَتَحَهُمَ

“One day I was in the presence of my father that Ali ibn ‘Umar ibn Ali asked him this question. “‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, “from who should we seek help and the people seek help and assistance after you (leave this world)?” He (The Imam (a.s.) said, you must seek refuge and guidance from the ma

كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَلُومُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ وَ يُعَاتِبُهُ وَ يَعِظُهُ وَ يَقُولُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِثْلَ أَخِيكَ فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَعْرِفُ النُّورَ فِي وَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ لِمَ أَ لَيْسَ أَبِي وَ أَبُوهُ وَاحِداً وَ أُمِّي وَ أُمُّهُ وَاحِدَةً[1] فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ مِنْ نَفْسِي وَ أَنْتَ ابْنِي.

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ja‘far ibn Bashir from Fudayl from Tahir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). He has said that abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) would blame ‘Abdallah, show him his anger and advise him saying, “What is the matter that you are not like your brother (Musa) By Allah, I observ

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ صَاحِبِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ صَاحِبَ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ لَا يَلْهُو وَ لَا يَلْعَبُ- وَ أَقْبَلَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى وَ هُوَ صَغِيرٌ وَ مَعَهُ عَنَاقٌ مَكِّيَّةٌ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ لَهَا اسْجُدِي لِرَبِّكِ فَأَخَذَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ ضَمَّهُ إِلَيْهِ وَ قَالَ بِأَبِي وَ أُمِّي مَنْ لَا يَلْهُو وَ لَا يَلْعَبُ.

15. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Ali ibn al-Hassan from Safwan al-Jammal who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the in charge of this matter (Leadership with Divine Authority) nad he said. “ The in charge of the task does not trifle or play

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلِ ع أَ لَا تَدُلُّنِي إِلَى مَنْ آخُذُ عَنْهُ دِينِي فَقَالَ هَذَا ابْنِي عَلِيٌّ إِنَّ أَبِي أَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَأَدْخَلَنِي إِلَى قَبْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَالَ- إِنِّي جاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً[1] وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا قَالَ قَوْلًا وَفَى بِهِ.

“I said to Abu al-Hassan the 1st (a.s.) 'Would you guide me to a person from whom I could learn my religion?'” He (the Imam) said, “This is my son Ali. My father took my hand until we were at the grave of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and said, “My son, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “. . I am appointi

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع إِنِّي قَدْ كَبِرَتْ سِنِّي وَ دَقَّ عَظْمِي وَ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ أَبَاكَ ع فَأَخْبَرَنِي بِكَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي مَنْ بَعْدَكَ فَقَالَ هَذَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا.

“I said to abu al-Hassan aMusa (a.s.), ‘I have grown old and my bones are weakening. I asked your father (a.s.) and he informed me about you. Would you also inform me (about the Imam after you).” The Imam (a.s.) said, “This abu al-Hassan al-Rida.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ أَبَاكَ ع مَنِ الَّذِي يَكُونُ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ هُوَ فَلَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ذَهَبَ النَّاسُ يَمِيناً وَ شِمَالًا وَ قُلْتُ فِيكَ أَنَا وَ أَصْحَابِي فَأَخْبِرْنِي مَنِ الَّذِي يَكُونُ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ مِنْ وُلْدِكَ فَقَالَ ابْنِي فُلَانٌ.

12. Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Sa‘id ibn abu al-Jahm from al-Nasr ibn Qabus who has said the following. “I said to abu Ibrahim (a.s.), ‘I asked your father, “Who will be (the Imam) after you? He informed me that you will be (the Imam after him). When abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) left this world pe

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع فَنَاظَرَنِي فِي أَشْيَاءَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا عَلِيٍّ ارْتَفَعَ الشَّكُّ مَا لِأَبِي غَيْرِي.

“Once I went to see abu Ja‘far al-Thani’s (a.s.). He debated me in several issues. He then said, “O abu Ali, there is no (reason for) doubt; I am the only son that my father had.”

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع جَالِساً فَدَعَا بِابْنِهِ وَ هُوَ صَغِيرٌ فَأَجْلَسَهُ فِي حَجْرِي فَقَالَ لِي جَرِّدْهُ وَ انْزِعْ قَمِيصَهُ فَنَزَعْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِيَ انْظُرْ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ فَنَظَرْتُ فَإِذَا فِي أَحَدِ كَتِفَيْهِ شَبِيهٌ بِالْخَاتَمِ دَاخِلٌ فِي اللَّحْمِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ تَرَى هَذَا كَانَ مِثْلُهُ فِي هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ مِنْ أَبِي ع.

“Once I was in the presence of abu al-Hassan (a.s.). He called his son who was a small (boy). The Imams (a.s.) placed him in my lap and said to me. “ Move his shirt aside.” When I did so. The Imams (a.s.) said, “Look in between his shoulders.” I look and I found in the skin of one shoulder something like an imprint of

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَالِساً بِالْمَدِينَةِ وَ كُنْتُ أَقَمْتُ عِنْدَهُ سَنَتَيْنِ أَكْتُبُ عَنْهُ مَا يَسْمَعُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ يَعْنِي أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الرِّضَا ع الْمَسْجِدَ- مَسْجِدَ الرَّسُولِ ص فَوَثَبَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ بِلَا حِذَاءٍ وَ لَا رِدَاءٍ فَقَبَّلَ يَدَهُ وَ عَظَّمَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يَا عَمِّ اجْ

“Once I was in a meeting with Ali ibn Ja‘far ibn Muhammad in Medina, - I stayed with him for two years to write from him what he would hear from his brother, Abu al-Hassan (a.s.),- at such time Abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn Ali al-Rida (a.s.) came in the mosque, the mosque of the Messenger of Allah. Ali ibn Ja‘far rushed tow

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ يُحَدِّثُ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ فَقَالَ: وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ نَصَرَ اللَّهُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ إِي وَ اللَّهِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَقَدْ بَغَى عَلَيْهِ إِخْوَتُهُ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ إِي وَ اللَّهِ وَ نَحْنُ عُمُومَتُهُ بَغَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ صَنَعْتُمْ فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَحْضُر

“By Allah, Allah has supported abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.).” Al-Hassan then said, “Yes, by Allah, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, his brothers have rebelled against him.” Ali ibn Ja‘far then said, “Yes, by Allah, and we, his uncles, rebelled against him.” Al-Hassan said to him, “May Allah take my sou

الرَّسُولُ لِأَبِي إِنَّ مَوْلَاكَ يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامَ وَ يَقُولُ لَكَ إِنِّي مَاضٍ وَ الْأَمْرُ صَائِرٌ إِلَى ابْنِي عَلِيٍّ وَ لَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ بَعْدِي مَا كَانَ لِي عَلَيْكُمْ بَعْدَ أَبِي ثُمَّ مَضَى الرَّسُولُ وَ رَجَعَ أَحْمَدُ إِلَى مَوْضِعِهِ وَ قَالَ لِأَبِي مَا الَّذِي قَدْ قَالَ لَكَ قَالَ خَيْراً قَالَ قَدْ سَمِعْتُ مَا قَالَ فَلِمَ تَكْتُمُهُ وَ أَعَادَ مَا سَمِعَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبِي قَدْ حَرَّمَ

“My father was to watch the door of the house of abu Ja‘far (a.s.) to serve the task for which he was assigned. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa would come every day at dawn for information about the health of abu Ja‘far (a.s.). There was a messenger that would come and go between abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and my father. When he (t

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَحْمَدَ بْنَ أَبِي خَالِدٍ مَوْلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ يَحْكِي أَنَّهُ أَشْهَدَهُ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْوَصِيَّةِ الْمَنْسُوخَةِ[1]- شَهِدَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي خَالِدٍ مَوْلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ أَنَّ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع أَشْهَدَهُ أَنَّهُ أَوْصَى إِلَى عَلِيٍّ ابْنِهِ بِنَفْسِهِ وَ أَخَوَاتِهِ

“I heard Ahmad ibn abu Khalid, stating that he (The Imam (a.s.) had appointed him as witness to bear testimony to this documented will in the following words. “Ahmad ibn abu Khalid, the slave of abu Ja‘far, bears testimony that abu Ja‘far, Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Musa ibn Ja‘far ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع فِي صَحْنِ دَارِهِ فَمَرَّ بِنَا مُحَمَّدٌ ابْنُهُ‌[5]- فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا صَاحِبُنَا بَعْدَكَ فَقَالَ لَا صَاحِبُكُمْ بَعْدِيَ الْحَسَنُ.

“Once I was with abu al-Hassan in the compound of his house and at that time his son, Muhammad passed by. I said to him, “may Allah take my souls in service for your cause, will he be our master, Imam, after you?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “ No, your master, Imam, after me will be al-Hassan (a.s.).” * This abu Ja‘far Muham

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْعَسْكَرِيِّ ع وَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ابْنُهُ فِي الْأَحْيَاءِ وَ أَنَا أَظُنُّ أَنَّهُ هُوَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَنْ أَخُصُّ مِنْ وُلْدِكَ فَقَالَ لَا تَخُصُّوا أَحَداً حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ إِلَيْكُمْ أَمْرِي قَالَ فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَعْدُ فِيمَنْ يَكُونُ هَذَا الْأَمْرُ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ فِي الْكَبِيرِ مِنْ وَلَدَيَّ قَالَ وَ كَانَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ أَكْبَرَ مِنْ أَبِي جَعْفَر

“Once I went to see al-Hassan al-‘Askari (a.s.) when his son abu Ja‘far (Muhammad ) was still alive and I thought he will be the Imam after his father. I then asked the Imam (a.s.), “May Allah take my souls in service for your cause, which of your sons I will consider (my Imam)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “do not consider

فِي صَحْنِ دَارِهِ وَ النَّاسُ جُلُوسٌ حَوْلَهُ فَقَالُوا قَدَّرْنَا أَنْ يَكُونَ حَوْلَهُ مِنْ آلِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ وَ قُرَيْشٍ مِائَةٌ وَ خَمْسُونَ رَجُلًا سِوَى مَوَالِيهِ وَ سَائِرِ النَّاسِ إِذْ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ قَدْ جَاءَ مَشْقُوقَ الْجَيْبِ حَتَّى قَامَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَ نَحْنُ لَا نَعْرِفُهُ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع بَعْدَ سَاعَةٍ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ أَحْدِثْ لِلَّه

“They were present on the day Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad, at the door of abu al-Hassan to offer condolences. A place in the compound of his house was prepared for him and people were sitting around him. They said, “We estimated that at that time from the descendents of abu Talib, Hashim and Quraysh there were about

أَنَّهَا رَأَتْهُ لَيْلَةَ مَوْلِدِهِ وَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ.

“Musa ibn Muhammad ibn al-Qasim ibn Hamzah ibn Musa ibn Ja‘far narrated to me that Hakima, the daughter of Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.) and the paternal aunt of his (the twelfth’s) father, said to me that she had seen him on the night of his birth and afterwards.”

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهَا مِنْ أَحَبِّ الْبِقَاعِ لَوْ لَا الطَّرْدُ:" أَوْ كَلَامٌ هَذَا نَحْوُهُ".

“He narrated to me from a person who had seen him (The Imam (a.s) in the words below. ‘He (the twelfth Imam) came out the house ten days before his father would leave this world and said, “O Lord, You know that this is the most lovely place to me, had there been no expulsion.” Or that he spoke a similar expression.”

شَاهَدْتُ سِيمَاءَ[3] آنِفاً بِسُرَّ مَنْ رَأَى وَ قَدْ كَسَرَ بَابَ الدَّارِ فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْهِ وَ بِيَدِهِ طَبَرْزِينٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ- مَا تَصْنَعُ فِي دَارِي فَقَالَ سِيمَاءُ إِنَّ جَعْفَراً زَعَمَ أَنَّ أَبَاكَ مَضَى وَ لَا وَلَدَ لَهُ فَإِنْ كَانَتْ دَارَكَ فَقَدِ انْصَرَفْتُ عَنْكَ فَخَرَجَ عَنِ الدَّارِ قَالَ- عَلِيُّ بْنُ قَيْسٍ فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا خَادِمٌ مِنْ خَدَمِ الدَّارِ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ هَذَا الْخَبَرِ فَ

“I saw Sima’(a man) soon after the death of abu Muhammad (a.s) in Surra man ra’a (a city in Iraq) who had just broken the door (of the tenth Imam (a.s.). He (the twelfth Imam) came out to him with an ax in his hand and said, “What are you doing to my house?” Sima said, “Ja‘far thinks that your father has passed away wi

فِي خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ‌ اللَّهُمَّ وَ إِنِّي لَأَعْلَمُ أَنَّ الْعِلْمَ لَا يَأْرِزُ كُلُّهُ وَ لَا يَنْقَطِعُ مَوَادُّهُ وَ أَنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِي أَرْضَكَ مِنْ حُجَّةٍ لَكَ عَلَى خَلْقِكَ- ظَاهِرٍ لَيْسَ بِالْمُطَاعِ أَوْ خَائِفٍ مَغْمُورٍ كَيْلَا تَبْطُلَ حُجَجُكَ وَ لَا يَضِلَّ أَوْلِيَاؤُكَ بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَهُمْ بَلْ أَيْنَ هُمْ وَ كَمْ أُولَئِكَ الْأَقَلُّونَ عَدَداً وَ الْأَعْظَمُونَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ ق

“Trustworthy reliable men of the companions of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) have said that they heard Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) say in one of his sermons as herein below. “Lord, I know that knowledge will not be erased and its sources will not discontinue altogether and You will not leave your earth without a Leader with Your

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ فِي صَاحِبِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ شَبَهاً مِنْ يُوسُفَ ع قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ كَأَنَّكَ تَذْكُرُهُ حَيَاتَهُ أَوْ غَيْبَتَهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي وَ مَا يُنْكَرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةُ أَشْبَاهُ الْخَنَازِيرِ- إِنَّ إِخْوَةَ يُوسُفَ ع كَانُوا أَسْبَاطاً أَوْلَادَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ تَاجَرُوا يُوسُفَ وَ بَايَعُوهُ وَ خَاطَبُوهُ وَ هُمْ إِخْوَتُهُ وَ هُوَ أَخُوهُمْ- فَلَمْ يَعْرِفُ

“In the (case) of the person in charge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority, the twelfth Imam (a.s.)) there is a similarity to Yusuf (Joseph) (a.s.).” I then said, “Are you, O Imam, speaking of his life time or his disappearance.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) then said, “ What then is it that ce

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ لِلْغُلَامِ غَيْبَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُومَ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ لِمَ قَالَ يَخَافُ وَ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى بَطْنِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا زُرَارَةُ وَ هُوَ الْمُنْتَظَرُ وَ هُوَ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِي وِلَادَتِهِ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ مَاتَ أَبُوهُ بِلَا خَلَفٍ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ حَمْلٌ‌[1] وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ وُلِدَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِ أَبِيهِ بِسَنَتَيْنِ وَ هُوَ الْمُ

“The young boy will disappear from the public sight before his rise (with divine power)” The narrator has said, “I then asked, “Why (would that has to take place)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “He will be afraid.” He pointed out with his hand to his midsection. Then he said, “O zurara, “He is the one whose reappearance is ex

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا بُدَّ لِلْغُلَامِ مِنْ غَيْبَةٍ قُلْتُ وَ لِمَ قَالَ يَخَافُ وَ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى بَطْنِهِ وَ هُوَ الْمُنْتَظَرُ وَ هُوَ الَّذِي يَشُكُّ النَّاسُ فِي وِلَادَتِهِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ حَمْلٌ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ مَاتَ أَبُوهُ وَ لَمْ يُخَلِّفْ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ وُلِدَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِ أَبِيهِ بِسَنَتَيْنِ قَالَ زُرَارَةُ فَقُلْتُ وَ مَا تَأْمُرُنِي لَوْ أَدْرَكْتُ ذَل

“It will be necessary for the young boy to diappear from the public sight.” I then asked, “Why it will be necessary?” He said, “Because he will have fear- he then pointed towards his midsection. He will be the one whose reappearance will be intensely expected. It will be he in whose being born people will have doubts.

كُنْتُ مَعَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ النَّهْرَوَانِ فَبَيْنَا عَلِيٌّ ع جَالِسٌ إِذْ جَاءَ فَارِسٌ فَقَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا عَلِيُّ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ ع وَ عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامُ مَا لَكَ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ لَمْ تُسَلِّمْ عَلَيَّ بِإِمْرَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ بَلَى سَأُخْبِرُكَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ كُنْتُ إِذْ كُنْتَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ بِصِفِّينَ فَلَمَّا حَكَّمْتَ الْحَكَمَيْنِ بَرِئْت

On the day of al-Nahrawan I was in the presence of Ali ibn Abu Talib (a.s.). As we were sitting with the Imam (a.s.) a horse man approached and said, “al-salamu ‘Alayka ya Ali (peace be with you O Ali).” Ali (a.s.) said, “’Alayka al-salam (with you also be peace). May your mother weep over your dead body, why did you n

كُنَّا بِالْمَدِينَةِ بَعْدَ وَفَاةِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَا وَ صَاحِبُ الطَّاقِ وَ النَّاسُ مُجْتَمِعُونَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ أَنَّهُ صَاحِبُ الْأَمْرِ بَعْدَ أَبِيهِ فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ أَنَا وَ صَاحِبُ الطَّاقِ وَ النَّاسُ عِنْدَهُ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُمْ رَوَوْا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ الْأَمْرَ فِي الْكَبِيرِ مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ بِهِ عَاهَةٌ فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ نَسْأَلُهُ عَ

“We were in Medina after Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) left this world. People had gathered around ‘Abdallah ibn Ja’far thinking that he was the in charge of this task (Imamah) after his father. I and Sahib al-Taq went to see him while people were around him because of a hadith that they would narrate from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.)

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى الرِّضَا ع وَ أَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاقِفٌ- وَ قَدْ كَانَ أَبِي سَأَلَ أَبَاهُ عَنْ سَبْعِ مَسَائِلَ فَأَجَابَهُ فِي سِتٍّ وَ أَمْسَكَ عَنِ السَّابِعَةِ فَقُلْتُ وَ اللَّهِ لَأَسْأَلَنَّهُ عَمَّا سَأَلَ أَبِي أَبَاهُ فَإِنْ أَجَابَ بِمِثْلِ جَوَابِ أَبِيهِ كَانَتْ دَلَالَةً فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَأَجَابَ بِمِثْلِ جَوَابِ أَبِيهِ أَبِي فِي الْمَسَائِلِ السِّتِّ فَلَمْ يَزِدْ فِي الْجَوَابِ وَاواً وَ لَا يَاءً وَ أَ

“Once I went to see Ali al-Rida (a.s.). At that time I was a memebr of Waqifi sect. My father had asked his (al-Rida’s) father seven questions. He had replied to six of them and had refrained from answering the seventh. I said to my self, “By Allah, I will ask him what my father had asked his father if his answers will

جَاءَتْ أُمُّ أَسْلَمَ يَوْماً إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص وَ هُوَ فِي مَنْزِلِ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ فَسَأَلَتْهَا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَتْ خَرَجَ فِي بَعْضِ الْحَوَائِجِ وَ السَّاعَةَ يَجِي‌ءُ فَانْتَظَرَتْهُ عِنْدَ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ حَتَّى جَاءَ ص فَقَالَتْ‌ أُمُّ أَسْلَمَ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَ أُمِّي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي قَدْ قَرَأْتُ الْكُتُبَ وَ عَلِمْتُ كُلَّ نَبِيٍّ وَ وَصِيٍّ- فَمُوسَى كَانَ لَهُ وَصِيٌّ فِي حَيَاتِه

“One day ’Umm Aslam came to the Holy Prophet (s.a) when he was in the house of ’Umm salama. She asked about the Messenger of Allah. ’Umm Salama relied that he had just went out for some thing and that he would return soon. She then waited with ’Umm Salama until he (the Messenger of Allah) came. ’Umm Aslam then said, “M

فِيهَا أَلَا إِنَّ بَلِيَّتَكُمْ قَدْ عَادَتْ كَهَيْئَتِهَا يَوْمَ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ ص وَ الَّذِي بَعَثَهُ بِالْحَقِّ لَتُبَلْبَلُنَّ بَلْبَلَةً وَ لَتُغَرْبَلُنَّ غَرْبَلَةً حَتَّى يَعُودَ أَسْفَلُكُمْ أَعْلَاكُمْ وَ أَعْلَاكُمْ أَسْفَلَكُمْ وَ لَيَسْبِقَنَّ سَبَّاقُونَ كَانُوا قَصَّرُوا وَ لَيُقَصِّرَنَّ سَبَّاقُونَ كَانُوا سَبَقُوا وَ اللَّهِ مَا كَتَمْتُ وَسِمَةً وَ لَا كَذَبْتُ كَذِبَةً وَ لَقَدْ نُبِّئْت

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ya‘qub al-Sarraj and Ali ibn Ri’ab from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “When people pledged allegiance to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) after the assassination of ‘Uthman he addressed the people from the pulpit and delivered a se

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ الْعَامَّةِ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ مَنْ مَاتَ وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ إِمَامٌ مَاتَ مِيتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةً فَقَالَ الْحَقُّ وَ اللَّهِ- قُلْتُ فَإِنَّ إِمَاماً هَلَكَ وَ رَجُلٌ بِخُرَاسَانَ لَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ وَصِيُّهُ لَمْ يَسَعْهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لَا يَسَعُهُ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ إِذَا هَلَكَ وَقَعَتْ حُجَّةُ وَصِيِّهِ عَلَى مَنْ هُوَ مَعَهُ فِي الْبَلَدِ وَ حَقُّ النَّفْرِ عَلَى مَن

“I asked Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the statement of the general populace (Sunnis) that says the Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, “If a person would die without having an Imam, his death would be as if he has died as the death of ignorance (pre-Islamic period)” The Imam (a.s.) said, “That is true, by Allah.” I then as

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَدْ عَرَفْتَ انْقِطَاعِي إِلَى أَبِيكَ ثُمَّ إِلَيْكَ ثُمَّ حَلَفْتُ لَهُ وَ حَقِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ حَقِّ فُلَانٍ وَ فُلَانٍ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَيْهِ بِأَنَّهُ لَا يَخْرُجُ مِنِّي مَا تُخْبِرُنِي بِهِ إِلَى أَحَدٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَ حَيٌّ هُوَ أَوْ مَيِّتٌ فَقَالَ قَدْ وَ اللَّهِ مَاتَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ شِيعَتَكَ يَرْوُونَ أَنّ

“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 o

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ‌[1] ع إِنَّهُمْ رَوَوْا عَنْكَ فِي مَوْتِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع‌[2] أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ لَكَ عَلِمْتَ ذَلِكَ بِقَوْلِ سَعِيدٍ[3] فَقَالَ جَاءَ سَعِيدٌ بَعْدَ مَا عَلِمْتُ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَجِيئِهِ قَالَ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ طَلَّقْتُ أُمَّ فَرْوَةَ بِنْتَ إِسْحَاقَ‌[4] فِي رَجَبٍ بَعْدَ مَوْتِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ بِيَوْمٍ قُلْتُ طَلَّقْتَهَا وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ بِمَوْتِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ

“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 narra

أَمَرَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع حِينَ أُخْرِجَ بِهِ- أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع أَنْ يَنَامَ عَلَى بَابِهِ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ أَبَداً مَا كَانَ حَيّاً إِلَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ خَبَرُهُ قَالَ فَكُنَّا فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ نَفْرُشُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ فِي الدِّهْلِيزِ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ فَيَنَامُ فَإِذَا أَصْبَحَ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ قَالَ فَمَكَثَ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالِ أَرْبَعَ سِنِينَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ لَيْلَةٌ مِنَ اللّ

“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 th

سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الْإِمَامِ يُغَسِّلُهُ الْإِمَامُ قَالَ سُنَّةُ مُوسَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ ع‌[1].

2. It is narrated from him from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Yunus from Talha who has said the following. “Once I said to al-Rida (a.s.), ‘Is it true that only an Imam has the authority to wash the body of an Imam for burial?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Do you know who comes to wash his body for buria

قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ لَا يُغَسِّلُهُ إِلَّا الْإِمَامُ فَقَالَ أَ مَا تَدْرُونَ مَنْ حَضَرَ لِغُسْلِهِ‌[2] قَدْ حَضَرَهُ خَيْرٌ مِمَّنْ غَابَ عَنْهُ الَّذِينَ حَضَرُوا يُوسُفَ فِي الْجُبِّ حِينَ غَابَ عَنْهُ أَبَوَاهُ وَ أَهْلُ بَيْتِهِ.

“Once I said to al-Rida (a.s.), ‘Is it true that only an Imam has the authority to wash the body of an Imam for burial?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Do you know who comes to wash his body for burial? One who is better than the one who is absence from his presence comes to wash. Those who came to Joseph in the well to help w

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِذَا أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْإِمَامَ أَمَرَ مَلَكاً فَأَخَذَ شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ فَيَسْقِيهَا أَبَاهُ فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ يَخْلُقُ الْإِمَامَ فَيَمْكُثُ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً وَ لَيْلَةً فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ لَا يَسْمَعُ الصَّوْتَ ثُمَّ يَسْمَعُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْكَلَامَ فَإِذَا وُلِدَ بَعَثَ ذَلِكَ الْمَلَكَ فَيَكْتُبُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَ

‘When Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would love to create the Imam He would command an angel to take a drink of water from under the Throne and his father to drink it and from this He creates the Imam. for the first forty days and nights in his mothers womb he would hear anything. After that he would hear the wor

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ لَيَسْمَعُ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ فَإِذَا وُلِدَ خُطَّ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ‌ وَ تَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَ عَدْلًا لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِماتِهِ وَ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ‌ فَإِذَا صَارَ الْأَمْرُ إِلَيْهِ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ عَمُوداً مِنْ نُورٍ يُبْصِرُ بِهِ مَا يَعْمَلُ أَهْلُ كُلِّ بَلْدَةٍ.

“I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘The Imam hears in the womb of his mother and when he is born these words of Allah will be written between his shoulders, “. .in all truth and justice, your Lord’s Word has been completed. No one can change His Words. He is All-hearing and All-knowing.”. (6:115) When the matter (Leade

سَمِعْتُ إِسْحَاقَ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَقُولُ‌ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ إِذَا حَمَلَتْ بِهِمْ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ أَصَابَهَا فَتْرَةٌ شِبْهُ الْغَشْيَةِ فَأَقَامَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ‌ يَوْمَهَا ذَلِكَ إِنْ كَانَ نَهَاراً أَوْ لَيْلَتَهَا إِنْ كَانَ لَيْلًا ثُمَّ تَرَى فِي مَنَامِهَا رَجُلًا يُبَشِّرُهَا بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ حَلِيمٍ فَتَفْرَحُ لِذَلِكَ ثُمَّ تَنْتَبِهُ مِنْ نَوْمِهَا فَتَسْمَعُ مِنْ جَانِبِهَا الْأَيْمَنِ فِ

“When the mothers of the executors of the will conceive them she will go through a condition as if she has fainted for the rest of day if it would take place during the day or for the rest of the night if it would take place at night. She then would see in her dream a man congratulating her with the birth of a son, ver

رَوَى غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا أَنَّهُ قَالَ: لَا تَتَكَلَّمُوا فِي الْإِمَامِ فَإِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يَسْمَعُ الْكَلَامَ وَ هُوَ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ فَإِذَا وَضَعَتْهُ كَتَبَ الْمَلَكُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ- وَ تَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَ عَدْلًا لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِماتِهِ وَ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ‌ فَإِذَا قَامَ بِالْأَمْرِ رُفِعَ لَهُ فِي كُلِّ بَلْدَةٍ مَنَارٌ يَنْظُرُ مِنْهُ إِلَى أَعْمَالِ الْعِبَادِ.

The Imam (a.s.) has said, “Do not speak about the Imam. The Imam (a.s.) hears the words while he still is in the womb of his mother. When she would give birth the angel write between his eyes, “. .in all truth and justice, your Lord’s Word has been completed. No one can change His Words. He is All-hearing and All-knowi

بَيْنَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ ثُعْبَانٌ مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَهَمَّ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَقْتُلُوهُ فَأَرْسَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَنْ كُفُّوا فَكَفُّوا وَ أَقْبَلَ الثُّعْبَانُ يَنْسَابُ‌[2] حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَتَطَاوَلَ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَأَشَارَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَقِفَ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ مِنْ خ

“Once when Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) was on the pulpit a serpent entered from one of the doors of the mosque. People wanted to kill him. Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) asked them to leave him alone. They left him alone. The serpent began to crawl to the pulpit. He stretched and saluted to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). Amir al-Mu’min

جَاءَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَسَلٌ وَ تِينٌ مِنْ هَمْدَانَ وَ حُلْوَانَ‌[2] فَأَمَرَ الْعُرَفَاءَ أَنْ يَأْتُوا بِالْيَتَامَى فَأَمْكَنَهُمْ مِنْ رُءُوسِ الْأَزْقَاقِ يَلْعَقُونَهَا وَ هُوَ يَقْسِمُهَا لِلنَّاسِ قَدَحاً قَدَحاً فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا لَهُمْ يَلْعَقُونَهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ أَبُو الْيَتَامَى وَ إِنَّمَا أَلْعَقْتُهُمْ هَذَا بِرِعَايَةِ الْآبَاءِ.

“Honey and fig were brought to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) from Hamadhan and al-Hulwan (places near Baghdad). He asked the his officers to call in the orphans. They were allowed to lick honey from the containers while he himself distributed them among the people. People asked, “Why should the orphans be allowed to lick the