The Birth of the Possessor (of Divine Authority) (a.s.)

خَرَجَ عَنْ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع حِينَ قُتِلَ الزُّبَيْرِيُّ هَذَا جَزَاءُ مَنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ فِي أَوْلِيَائِهِ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ يَقْتُلُنِي وَ لَيْسَ لِي عَقِبٌ فَكَيْفَ رَأَى قُدْرَةَ اللَّهِ وَ وُلِدَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ سَمَّاهُ م‌ح‌م‌د- سَنَةَ سِتٍّ وَ خَمْسِينَ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ.

“When al-Zabayri was killed this letter came from abu Muhammad (a.s.). ‘Such as this is the retribution for those who lie against Allah in the matters of those who possess authority from Him. He thought that he will kill me and I will leave no children behind. How then he has experienced the power of Allah? “ A child w

أَتَيْتُ سُرَّ مَنْ رَأَى وَ لَزِمْتُ بَابَ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَدَعَانِي مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ أَسْتَأْذِنَ فَلَمَّا دَخَلْتُ وَ سَلَّمْتُ قَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا فُلَانٍ كَيْفَ حَالُكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي اقْعُدْ يَا فُلَانُ ثُمَّ سَأَلَنِي عَنْ جَمَاعَةٍ مِنْ رِجَالٍ وَ نِسَاءٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي مَا الَّذِي أَقْدَمَكَ قُلْتُ رَغْبَةٌ فِي خِدْمَتِكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ فَالْزَمِ الدَّارَ قَالَ فَكُنْتُ فِي الدَّارِ مَعَ الْ

“I went to the city of Surra man Ra‘a and kept myself at the door of abu Muhammad (a.s.). He called me inside without any request from me. When I went inside and offered greeting of peace he said to me, “How are you, O father of so and so?” Then he told me, “Sit down O so and so.” He then asked me about a group of men

كُنْتُ بِمَدِينَةِ الْهِنْدِ الْمَعْرُوفَةِ- بِقِشْمِيرَ الدَّاخِلَةِ وَ أَصْحَابٌ لِي يَقْعُدُونَ عَلَى كَرَاسِيَّ عَنْ يَمِينِ الْمَلِكِ أَرْبَعُونَ رَجُلًا كُلُّهُمْ يَقْرَأُ الْكُتُبَ الْأَرْبَعَةَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَ الْإِنْجِيلَ وَ الزَّبُورَ وَ صُحُفَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ نَقْضِي بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَ نُفَقِّهُهُمْ فِي دِينِهِمْ وَ نُفْتِيهِمْ فِي حَلَالِهِمْ وَ حَرَامِهِمْ يَفْزَعُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْنَا الْمَلِكُ فَمَنْ دُونَه

“I lived in interior Kashmir, India. My friends would sit on chairs on the right and left of the King. They were forty people and all of them would read the four books, Torah, Gospel, Psalms and the books of Abraham. We would judge among the people and provide them understanding of their religion and issue fatwas for t

إِنَّ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ النَّضْرِ وَ أَبَا صِدَامٍ وَ جَمَاعَةً تَكَلَّمُوا بَعْدَ مُضِيِّ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع فِيمَا فِي أَيْدِي الْوُكَلَاءِ وَ أَرَادُوا الْفَحْصَ‌[2] فَجَاءَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ إِلَى أَبِي الصِّدَامِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْحَجَّ فَقَالَ لَهُ- أَبُو صِدَامٍ أَخِّرْهُ هَذِهِ السَّنَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ إِنِّي أَفْزَعُ فِي الْمَنَامِ وَ لَا بُدَّ مِنَ الْخُرُوجِ وَ أَوْصَى إِل

“Al-Hassan ibn al-Nadr and abu Sidam and a group of people, after abu Muhammad (a.s.) had passed away would discuss about the property (of religious dues) in their possession and how to find out (as to who should they give it). Al-Hassan ibn al-Nadr came to abu Sidam and said, “I want to go for Hajj this year.” Abu Sid

شَكَكْتُ عِنْدَ مُضِيِّ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع وَ اجْتَمَعَ عِنْدَ أَبِي مَالٌ جَلِيلٌ فَحَمَلَهُ وَ رَكِبَ السَّفِينَةَ وَ خَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ مُشَيِّعاً فَوُعِكَ‌[1] وَعْكاً شَدِيداً فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ رُدَّنِي فَهُوَ الْمَوْتُ وَ قَالَ لِيَ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ فِي هَذَا الْمَالِ وَ أَوْصَى إِلَيَّ فَمَاتَ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي لَمْ يَكُنْ أَبِي لِيُوصِيَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ غَيْرِ صَحِيحٍ أَحْمِلُ هَذَا الْمَالَ إِلَى الْعِرَاقِ وَ أَكْت

“At the time abu Muhammad (a.s.) passed away I had doubts. Large quantities of commodities (of religious dues) were accumulated with my father. He loaded them in a boat and himself also embarked. I was with him to say farewell to him. He began to feel severe fever and asked me to take him back home because he said, “It

أَوْصَلْتُ أَشْيَاءَ لِلْمَرْزُبَانِيِّ الْحَارِثِيِّ فِيهَا سِوَارُ ذَهَبٍ فَقُبِلَتْ وَ رُدَّ عَلَيَّ السِّوَارُ فَأُمِرْتُ بِكَسْرِهِ فَكَسَرْتُهُ فَإِذَا فِي وَسَطِهِ مَثَاقِيلُ حَدِيدٍ وَ نُحَاسٍ أَوْ صُفْرٍ فَأَخْرَجْتُهُ وَ أَنْفَذْتُ الذَّهَبَ فَقُبِلَ.

One item was a gold bracelet. Other items were accepted but the bracelet was returned. I was ordered to break it. When I did so inside there were certain amounts of iron, brass and zinc. I took them out and sent the gold back. It was accepted.”

إِنَّ قَوْماً مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ مِنَ الطَّالِبِيِّينَ كَانُوا يَقُولُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَ كَانَتِ الْوَظَائِفُ تَرِدُ عَلَيْهِمْ‌[5] فِي وَقْتٍ مَعْلُومٍ فَلَمَّا مَضَى أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع رَجَعَ قَوْمٌ مِنْهُمْ عَنِ الْقَوْلِ بِالْوَلَدِ[6] فَوَرَدَتِ‌ الْوَظَائِفُ عَلَى مَنْ ثَبَتَ مِنْهُمْ عَلَى الْقَوْلِ بِالْوَلَدِ وَ قُطِعَ عَنِ الْبَاقِينَ فَلَا يُذْكَرُونَ فِي الذَّاكِرِينَ‌ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعا

“Certain people of the city of al-Madina that belonged to al-Talibiyin group believed in the truth (about Ahl al-Bayt). They would receive their financial grants regularly on time. When abu Muhammad (a.s.) passed away a few of them disregarded the belief that abu Muhammad (a.s.) has behind a son. The financial grants t

أَوْصَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ السَّوَادِ مَالًا فَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ وَ قِيلَ لَهُ أَخْرِجْ حَقَّ وُلْدِ عَمِّكَ مِنْهُ وَ هُوَ أَرْبَعُمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ فِي يَدِهِ ضَيْعَةٌ لِوُلْدِ عَمِّهِ فِيهَا شِرْكَةٌ قَدْ حَبَسَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ فَنَظَرَ فَإِذَا الَّذِي لِوُلْدِ عَمِّهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْمَالِ أَرْبَعُمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَأَخْرَجَهَا وَ أَنْفَذَ الْبَاقِيَ فَقُبِلَ.

a man from Bedouins sent a certain quantity of commoditiy (as religious dues) but it was returned to him and he was told, “Pay first the rights of the children of your uncle. It is four hundred Dirhams.” The property of the children of his uncle was in his possession in sharing manner and he had withheld their property

وُلِدَ لِي عِدَّةُ بَنِينَ فَكُنْتُ أَكْتُبُ وَ أَسْأَلُ الدُّعَاءَ فَلَا يُكْتَبُ إِلَيَّ لَهُمْ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ فَمَاتُوا كُلُّهُمْ فَلَمَّا وُلِدَ لِيَ الْحَسَنُ ابْنِي كَتَبْتُ‌[1] أَسْأَلُ الدُّعَاءَ فَأُجِبْتُ يَبْقَى وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ.

“He lives and all praise belongs to Allah.”

كُنْتُ خَرَجْتُ سَنَةً مِنَ السِّنِينَ بِبَغْدَادَ فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ فِي الْخُرُوجِ فَلَمْ يُؤْذَنْ لِي فَأَقَمْتُ اثْنَيْنِ وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً وَ قَدْ خَرَجَتِ الْقَافِلَةُ إِلَى النَّهْرَوَانِ فَأُذِنَ فِي الْخُرُوجِ لِي يَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ وَ قِيلَ لِيَ اخْرُجْ فِيهِ فَخَرَجْتُ وَ أَنَا آيِسٌ مِنَ الْقَافِلَةِ أَنْ أَلْحَقَهَا فَوَافَيْتُ النَّهْرَوَانَ وَ الْقَافِلَةُ مُقِيمَةٌ فَمَا كَانَ إِلَّا أَنْ أَعْلَفْت

“I lived in Baghdad and one year I requested permission (from the twelfth Imam (a.s.) to travel out but permission was not granted. I waited for twenty two days and the caravan had already left for al-Nahrawan then I was granted permission. It was a Wednesday and I was told to leave. I then left but I did not have any

خَرَجَ بِي نَاصُورٌ عَلَى مَقْعَدَتِي فَأَرَيْتُهُ الْأَطِبَّاءَ وَ أَنْفَقْتُ عَلَيْهِ مَالًا فَقَالُوا لَا نَعْرِفُ لَهُ دَوَاءً فَكَتَبْتُ رُقْعَةً أَسْأَلُ الدُّعَاءَ فَوَقَّعَ ع إِلَيَّ أَلْبَسَكَ اللَّهُ الْعَافِيَةَ وَ جَعَلَكَ مَعَنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ قَالَ فَمَا أَتَتْ عَلَيَّ جُمْعَةٌ حَتَّى عُوفِيتُ وَ صَارَ مِثْلَ رَاحَتِي فَدَعَوْتُ طَبِيباً مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا وَ أَرَيْتُهُ إِيَّاهُ فَقَالَ مَ

“A boil had grown on my heaps. I sought treament from several physicians and spent money but they said that they knew of no medicine for it. I then wrote a letter to him (the twelfth Imam (a.s.) requesting him to pray. He wrote back to me with his signature, “May Allah grant you good health and place you with us in thi

كُنْتُ بِبَغْدَادَ فَتَهَيَّأَتْ قَافِلَةٌ لِلْيَمَانِيِّينَ فَأَرَدْتُ الْخُرُوجَ مَعَهَا فَكَتَبْتُ أَلْتَمِسُ الْإِذْنَ فِي ذَلِكَ فَخَرَجَ لَا تَخْرُجْ مَعَهُمْ فَلَيْسَ لَكَ فِي الْخُرُوجِ مَعَهُمْ خِيَرَةٌ وَ أَقِمْ بِالْكُوفَةِ قَالَ وَ أَقَمْتُ وَ خَرَجَتِ الْقَافِلَةُ فَخَرَجَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ‌ حَنْظَلَةُ[1] فَاجْتَاحَتْهُمْ وَ كَتَبْتُ أَسْتَأْذِنُ فِي رُكُوبِ الْمَاءِ فَلَمْ يَأْذَنْ لِي فَسَأَلْتُ عَنِ الْمَر

“Do not leave with them. There is nothing good for you in leaving with them. Stay in al-Kufa.” The narrator has said, “ I stayed in al-Kufa and the caravan left but the tribe of Hanzala attacked and looted them. I then wrote for permission to leave by ships on water. Permission was denied. I then found out that of the

كَتَبَ أَبِي بِخَطِّهِ كِتَاباً فَوَرَدَ جَوَابُهُ ثُمَّ كَتَبْتُ بِخَطِّي فَوَرَدَ جَوَابُهُ ثُمَّ كَتَبَ بِخَطِّهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ فُقَهَاءِ أَصْحَابِنَا فَلَمْ يَرِدْ جَوَابُهُ فَنَظَرْنَا فَكَانَتِ الْعِلَّةُ أَنَّ الرَّجُلَ تَحَوَّلَ قَرْمَطِيّاً قَالَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ فَزُرْتُ الْعِرَاقَ وَ وَرَدْتُ طُوسَ وَ عَزَمْتُ أَنْ لَا أَخْرُجَ إِلَّا عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ أَمْرِي وَ نَجَاحٍ مِنْ حَوَائِجِي وَ لَوِ احْ

13. Al-Hassan ibn al-Fadl ibn Yazid al-Yamani has said the following. “My father wrote in his own had writing he received back a response. I then wrote in my own hand writing I also received back a response. One of our Fuqaha’ (scholar of law) wrote in his own hand writing but he did not receive any response. We then b

شَكَكْتُ فِي أَمْرِ حَاجِزٍ[2] فَجَمَعْتُ شَيْئاً ثُمَّ صِرْتُ إِلَى الْعَسْكَرِ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيَّ لَيْسَ فِينَا شَكٌّ وَ لَا فِيمَنْ يَقُومُ مَقَامَنَا بِأَمْرِنَا رُدَّ مَا مَعَكَ إِلَى حَاجِزِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ.

“There is no doubtfulness in us nor in those who has said the following. who represent us in our affairs. Whatever is with you take them to Hajiz ibn Yazid.”

لَمَّا مَاتَ أَبِي وَ صَارَ الْأَمْرُ لِي كَانَ لِأَبِي عَلَى النَّاسِ سَفَاتِجُ‌[3] مِنْ مَالِ الْغَرِيمِ فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ أُعْلِمُهُ فَكَتَبَ طَالِبْهُمْ وَ اسْتَقْضِ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَضَّانِيَ النَّاسُ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ وَاحِدٌ كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ سُفْتَجَةٌ بِأَرْبَعِمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ فَجِئْتُ إِلَيْهِ أُطَالِبُهُ فَمَاطَلَنِي وَ اسْتَخَفَّ بِيَ ابْنُهُ وَ سَفِهَ عَلَيَّ- فَشَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِيهِ فَقَالَ وَ كَانَ مَا ذَا

“When my father died and the task (of working is representative of the Imams) was left to me with my father there were promissory notes from those who has said the following. owed (religious dues). I wrote to him (the Imam (a.s.) about the case. He wrote back to me, “Demand from them and make them pay.” People paid wha

وَرَدْتُ الْجَبَلَ‌[2] وَ أَنَا لَا أَقُولُ بِالْإِمَامَةِ أُحِبُّهُمْ جُمْلَةً إِلَى أَنْ مَاتَ يَزِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَأَوْصَى فِي عِلَّتِهِ أَنْ يُدْفَعَ الشِّهْرِيُّ السَّمَنْدُ[3] وَ سَيْفُهُ وَ مِنْطَقَتُهُ إِلَى مَوْلَاهُ فَخِفْتُ إِنْ أَنَا لَمْ أَدْفَعِ الشِّهْرِيَّ إِلَى إِذْكُوتَكِينَ‌[4] نَالَنِي مِنْهُ اسْتِخْفَافٌ فَقَوَّمْتُ الدَّابَّةَ وَ السَّيْفَ وَ الْمِنْطَقَةَ بِسَبْعِمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ فِي ن

“I began to live in al-Jabal (a town between Baghdad and Azarbayjan) and I did not believe in Imam (the Divine authority of al-Mahddi (a.s.) but I loved them (descendants of Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.). When Yazid ibn ‘Abdallah (a representative of al-Mahdi (a.s.) died he said in his will that I must give his Shahri Sa

وُلِدَ لِي وَلَدٌ فَكَتَبْتُ أَسْتَأْذِنُ فِي طُهْرِهِ يَوْمَ السَّابِعِ فَوَرَدَ لَا تَفْعَلْ فَمَاتَ يَوْمَ السَّابِعِ أَوِ الثَّامِنِ ثُمَّ كَتَبْتُ بِمَوْتِهِ فَوَرَدَ سَتُخْلَفُ غَيْرَهُ وَ غَيْرَهُ تُسَمِّيهِ أَحْمَدَ وَ مِنْ بَعْدِ أَحْمَدَ جَعْفَراً فَجَاءَ كَمَا قَالَ قَالَ وَ تَهَيَّأْتُ لِلْحَجِّ وَ وَدَّعْتُ النَّاسَ وَ كُنْتُ عَلَى الْخُرُوجِ فَوَرَدَ نَحْنُ لِذَلِكَ كَارِهُونَ وَ الْأَمْرُ إِلَيْكَ قَال

“A boy was born to me. I wrote to him (al-Mahdi (a.s.) for his permission to give the baby a special bath for the ceremony on the seventh day of his birth. The answer came back and it said, “Do not do so.” The boy died on the seventh or the eighth day. I then wrote to him about the death of the boy. He wrote back to me

أَوْدَعَ الْمَجْرُوحُ‌[1] مِرْدَاسَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ مَالًا- لِلنَّاحِيَةِ وَ كَانَ عِنْدَ مِرْدَاسٍ مَالٌ لِتَمِيمِ بْنِ حَنْظَلَةَ فَوَرَدَ عَلَى مِرْدَاسٍ أَنْفِذْ مَالَ تَمِيمٍ مَعَ مَا أَوْدَعَكَ الشِّيرَازِيُّ.

“Al-Majruh left a certain amount of commodities that was of the dues to the holy location with Mirdas ibn Ali. With Mirdas there was already such commodities that Yatim ibn Hanzala had left. Amessage came to Mirdas and it said, “Send (to us) the commodities of Yatim and whatever al-Shirazi (Majruh) has left with you.”

لَمَّا مَضَى أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع وَرَدَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ مِصْرَ بِمَالٍ إِلَى مَكَّةَ لِلنَّاحِيَةِ فَاخْتُلِفَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ النَّاسِ إِنَّ أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ ع مَضَى مِنْ غَيْرِ خَلَفٍ وَ الْخَلَفُ جَعْفَرٌ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ مَضَى أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ خَلَفٍ فَبَعَثَ رَجُلًا يُكَنَّى بِأَبِي طَالِبٍ فَوَرَدَ الْعَسْكَرَ وَ مَعَهُ كِتَابٌ فَصَارَ إِلَى جَعْفَرٍ وَ سَأَلَهُ عَنْ بُرْهَانٍ فَقَالَ لَا يَتَهَي

“When abu Muhammad (a.s.) passed away a man from Egypt came to Makk with a certain amount of commodities that were due to the holy location (office of the Imam (a.s.) People expressed different opinions on the issue. Certain persons said, “Abu Muhammad (a.s.) has passed away and has left no one behind as his successor.

حَمَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ آبَةَ شَيْئاً يُوصِلُهُ وَ نَسِيَ سَيْفاً بِآبَةَ فَأَنْفَذَ مَا كَانَ مَعَهُ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ مَا خَبَرُ السَّيْفِ الَّذِي نَسِيتَهُ.

"What about the sword that you forgot?"

بَعَثَ‌[2] بِخَدَمٍ إِلَى مَدِينَةِ الرَّسُولِ ص وَ مَعَهُمْ خَادِمَانِ وَ كَتَبَ إِلَى خَفِيفٍ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ مَعَهُمْ فَخَرَجَ مَعَهُمْ فَلَمَّا وَصَلُوا إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ شَرِبَ أَحَدُ الْخَادِمَيْنِ مُسْكِراً فَمَا خَرَجُوا مِنَ الْكُوفَةِ حَتَّى وَرَدَ كِتَابٌ مِنَ الْعَسْكَرِ بِرَدِّ الْخَادِمِ الَّذِي شَرِبَ الْمُسْكِرَ وَ عُزِلَ عَنِ الْخِدْمَةِ.

“Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) had sent certain servants to al-Madina of the Messenger of Allah and among them were two servants. He had written to Khafif to leave with them. He then left with them and they reached al-Kufa where one of the two servants had consumed alcohol. Before the would al-Kufa a letter came to them from th

أَوْصَى يَزِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بِدَابَّةٍ وَ سَيْفٍ وَ مَالٍ وَ أُنْفِذَ ثَمَنُ الدَّابَّةِ وَ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ وَ لَمْ يُبْعَثِ السَّيْفُ فَوَرَدَ كَانَ مَعَ مَا بَعَثْتُمْ سَيْفٌ فَلَمْ يَصِلْ أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ.

“ Yazid ibn ‘Abdallah has said in his will to sent a horse, a sword and certain other properties to holy location (office of the Imam (a.s.). The money from the sale of the horse and other properties were delivered to the holy location but the sword was forgotten. A message then came that said, “With the items that you

اجْتَمَعَ عِنْدِي‌ خَمْسُمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ تَنْقُصُ عِشْرِينَ دِرْهَماً فَأَنِفْتُ‌[1] أَنْ أَبْعَثَ بِخَمْسِمِائَةٍ تَنْقُصُ عِشْرِينَ دِرْهَماً فَوَزَنْتُ مِنْ عِنْدِي عِشْرِينَ دِرْهَماً وَ بَعَثْتُهَا إِلَى الْأَسَدِيِّ وَ لَمْ أَكْتُبْ مَا لِي فِيهَا فَوَرَدَ وَصَلَتْ خَمْسُمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ لَكَ مِنْهَا عِشْرُونَ دِرْهَماً.

“Five hundred Dirhams less twenty was collected with me. I decided to sent them but I did not like to send five hundred less twenty. I then added twenty Dirhams to it from my own money and sent them to al-Asadi without any mention of what was therein. The message that came to me said, “Five hundred Dirhams of which twe

كَانَ يَرِدُ كِتَابُ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع فِي الْإِجْرَاءِ عَلَى الْجُنَيْدِ قَاتِلِ فَارِسَ وَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ وَ آخَرَ فَلَمَّا مَضَى أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع وَرَدَ اسْتِئْنَافٌ مِنَ الصَّاحِبِ لِإِجْرَاءِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ وَ صَاحِبِهِ وَ لَمْ يَرِدْ فِي أَمْرِ الْجُنَيْدِ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ قَالَ فَاغْتَمَمْتُ لِذَلِكَ فَوَرَدَ نَعْيُ الْجُنَيْدِ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ.

“The letters of abu Muhammad (a.s.) would come about the matters related to al-Junayd, who killed Fars, abu al-Hassan and others. When he passed away letters about the issues related to abu al-Hassan and his friend continued coming from (Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) but there was no mention of al-Junayd. I became depressed abo

كَانَتْ لِي جَارِيَةٌ كُنْتُ مُعْجَباً بِهَا فَكَتَبْتُ أَسْتَأْمِرُ فِي اسْتِيلَادِهَا فَوَرَدَ اسْتَوْلِدْهَا وَ يَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ فَوَطِئْتُهَا فَحَبِلَتْ ثُمَّ أَسْقَطَتْ فَمَاتَتْ.

“I had a female slave that had attracted my attention. I wrote to him (Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) requesting permission to have a child from her. The answer came, “You may do so but Allah does whatever He wants.” I went to bed with her and she became pregnant. The fetus fell off prematurely and she died.”

كَانَ ابْنُ الْعَجَمِيِّ جَعَلَ ثُلُثَهُ لِلنَّاحِيَةِ وَ كَتَبَ بِذَلِكَ وَ قَدْ كَانَ قَبْلَ إِخْرَاجِهِ الثُّلُثَ دَفَعَ مَالًا لِابْنِهِ أَبِي الْمِقْدَامِ لَمْ يَطَّلِعْ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ فَأَيْنَ الْمَالُ الَّذِي عَزَلْتَهُ لِأَبِي الْمِقْدَامِ‌[2].

“Where is the property that you set aside for abu al-Miqdam?”

كَتَبَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ زِيَادٍ الصَّيْمَرِيُّ يَسْأَلُ كَفَناً فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ إِنَّكَ تَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ فِي سَنَةِ ثَمَانِينَ فَمَاتَ فِي سَنَةِ ثَمَانِينَ وَ بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ بِالْكَفَنِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ بِأَيَّامٍ.

“Ali ibn Ziyad al-Saynari wrote a letter to request for a shroud. He (al-Mahdi (a.s.) wrote back to him, “You will need it in the year eighty.” He died in the year eighty and the shroud was sent to him a few days before his death.”

كَانَ لِلنَّاحِيَةِ عَلَيَّ خَمْسُمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ فَضِقْتُ بِهَا ذَرْعاً ثُمَّ قُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي لِي حَوَانِيتُ اشْتَرَيْتُهَا بِخَمْسِمِائَةٍ وَ ثَلَاثِينَ دِينَاراً قَدْ جَعَلْتُهَا لِلنَّاحِيَةِ بِخَمْسِمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ وَ لَمْ أَنْطِقْ بِهَا فَكَتَبَ إِلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ اقْبِضِ الْحَوَانِيتَ مِنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ هَارُونَ بِالْخَمْسِمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ الَّتِي لَنَا عَلَيْهِ.

“Take possession of the stores from Muhammad ibn Harun as payment for the five hundred Dinars that he owed us.”

بَاعَ جَعْفَرٌ[3] فِيمَنْ بَاعَ صَبِيَّةً جَعْفَرِيَّةً كَانَتْ فِي الدَّارِ يُرَبُّونَهَا فَبَعَثَ بَعْضَ الْعَلَوِيِّينَ وَ أَعْلَمَ الْمُشْتَرِيَ خَبَرَهَا فَقَالَ الْمُشْتَرِي قَدْ طَابَتْ نَفْسِي‌ بِرَدِّهَا وَ أَنْ لَا أُرْزَأَ[1] مِنْ ثَمَنِهَا شَيْئاً فَخُذْهَا فَذَهَبَ الْعَلَوِيُّ فَأَعْلَمَ أَهْلَ النَّاحِيَةِ الْخَبَرَ فَبَعَثُوا إِلَى الْمُشْتَرِي بِأَحَدٍ وَ أَرْبَعِينَ دِينَاراً وَ أَمَرُوهُ بِدَفْعِهَ

“Ja‘far (the impostor) sold of the items that he sold a Ja‘fari (descendants of Ja‘far ibn abu Talib) female child that they (family of abu Muhammad (a.s.) had brought up. A certain ‘Alawi person informed the buyer about the female child. The buyer said, “I will be glad to return if someone will pay me what I have paid

كَانَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ نُدَمَاءِ روزحسنى‌[2] وَ آخَرُ مَعَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ هُوَ ذَا يَجْبِي الْأَمْوَالَ وَ لَهُ وُكَلَاءُ وَ سَمَّوْا جَمِيعَ الْوُكَلَاءِ فِي النَّوَاحِي وَ أُنْهِيَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ الْوَزِيرِ فَهَمَّ الْوَزِيرُ بِالْقَبْضِ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ السُّلْطَانُ اطْلُبُوا أَيْنَ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ فَإِنَّ هَذَا أَمْرٌ غَلِيظٌ فَقَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ نَقْبِضُ عَلَى ال

30. Al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan al-‘Alawi has said the following. “A man who was an informer for Ruz Hassani with another man with him once said to Ruz, “This man (al-Mahdi (a.s.) is out there. Money is collected for him. He has representatives in many places. They mentioned his representatives by their names in different

خَرَجَ نَهْيٌ عَنْ زِيَارَةِ مَقَابِرِ قُرَيْشٍ وَ الْحَيْرِ[3] فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ أَشْهُرٍ دَعَا الْوَزِيرُ الْبَاقَطَائِيَّ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْقَ بَنِي الْفُرَاتِ وَ الْبُرْسِيِّينَ‌[4] وَ قُلْ لَهُمْ لَا يَزُورُوا مَقَابِرَ قُرَيْشٍ فَقَدْ أَمَرَ الْخَلِيفَةُ أَنْ يُتَفَقَّدَ كُلُّ مَنْ زَارَ فَيُقْبَضَ عَلَيْهِ.

“A prohibition to visit the Quryash cemetery and al-Hira (Karbala) came out of the holy location (office of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.). After a few months the Vizier (abu al-Fath Ja‘far ibn Furat) summoned al-Baqtia, and said to him, “Meet the clan of bnu Furat and al-Bursiyin and tell them not to visit Quraysh cemetery beca