The Statements and the Explicit Texts on Leadership with Divine Authority) of the Twelve Imams (a.s.)

أَقْبَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ مَعَهُ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ع وَ هُوَ مُتَّكِئٌ عَلَى يَدِ سَلْمَانَ فَدَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ فَجَلَسَ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ رَجُلٌ حَسَنُ الْهَيْئَةِ وَ اللِّبَاسِ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ- فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامَ فَجَلَسَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ‌ ثَلَاثِ مَسَائِلَ إِنْ أَخْبَرْتَنِي بِهِنَّ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ الْقَوْمَ رَكِبُوا مِنْ

“Once Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) came with al-Hassan and al-Husayn and he was holding the hand of Salman for support. He entered the sacred Mosque in Makka and sat down. Then a good looking and well dressed man came. He offered the greeting of peace to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) who answered his greetings likewise an

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى فَقُلْتُ لِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ وَدِدْتُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْخَبَرَ جَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ جِهَةِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ‌[1] قَالَ فَقَالَ لَقَدْ حَدَّثَنِي- قَبْلَ الْحَيْرَةِ بِعَشْرِ سِنِينَ.

2. Also Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan al-Saffar from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abdallah from abu Hashim a similar hadith. Muhammad ibn Yahya has said, “I said to Muhammad ibn al-Hassan, “O abu Ja‘far I wish this would have been narrated through a chain of narrators other then Ahmad ibn ‘Abdallah .” H

قَالَ أَبِي لِجَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ- إِنَّ لِي إِلَيْكَ حَاجَةً فَمَتَى يَخِفُّ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ أَخْلُوَ بِكَ فَأَسْأَلَكَ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ جَابِرٌ أَيَّ الْأَوْقَاتِ أَحْبَبْتَهُ فَخَلَا بِهِ فِي بَعْضِ الْأَيَّامِ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا جَابِرُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ اللَّوْحِ الَّذِي رَأَيْتَهُ فِي يَدِ أُمِّي فَاطِمَةَ ع بِنْتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ مَا أَخْبَرَتْكَ بِهِ أُمِّي أَنَّهُ فِي ذَلِكَ اللَّ

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya and Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah have narrated from ‘Abdallah ibn Ja‘far from al-Hassan ibn Zarif and Ali ibn Muhammad from Salih ibn abu Hammad from Bakr ibn Salih from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Salim from abu Basir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following “Once my father said to Jabir ibn ‘Abdall

سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ الطَّيَّارِ يَقُولُ‌ كُنَّا عِنْدَ مُعَاوِيَةَ أَنَا وَ الْحَسَنُ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ وَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَ عُمَرُ ابْنُ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ وَ أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ فَجَرَى بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَ مُعَاوِيَةَ كَلَامٌ فَقُلْتُ لِمُعَاوِيَةَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ أَنَا أَوْلى‌ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ‌ ثُمَّ أَخِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ‌ أَوْلى‌ بِالْمُؤْمِ

“ I heard ‘Abdallah ibn Ja‘far al-Tayyar say, ‘we were in the court of Mu‘awiya I al-Hassan, al-Husayn, ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abbass, ‘Umar ibn ’Umm Salama and ’Usama ibn Zayd. A conversation started between me and Mu‘awiya, and I said to Mu‘awiya’, ’I heard the Messenger of Allah say, ‘I have more authority over the believer

شَهِدْتُ جِنَازَةَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ يَوْمَ مَاتَ وَ شَهِدْتُ عُمَرَ حِينَ بُويِعَ وَ عَلِيٌّ ع جَالِسٌ نَاحِيَةً فَأَقْبَلَ غُلَامٌ يَهُودِيٌّ جَمِيلُ الْوَجْهِ بَهِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ ثِيَابُ حِسَانٌ وَ هُوَ مِنْ وُلْدِ هَارُونَ حَتَّى قَامَ عَلَى رَأْسِ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بِكِتَابِهِمْ وَ أَمْرِ نَبِيِّهِمْ قَالَ فَطَأْطَأَ عُمَرُ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ إِيَّاكَ أَعْنِي وَ أَ

“I was present in the funeral procession of abu Bakr the day it took place. I was also present when ‘Umar took oath of allegiance and Ali (a.s.) was sitting on the side. A young, good looking, well dressed Jewish boy came. He was a descendant of Harun and he stood (on a place that was) above ’Umar and asked, “O Amir al

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ‌ خَلَقَ مُحَمَّداً وَ عَلِيّاً وَ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ مِنْ نُورِ عَظَمَتِهِ فَأَقَامَهُمْ أَشْبَاحاً فِي ضِيَاءِ نُورِهِ يَعْبُدُونَهُ قَبْلَ خَلْقِ الْخَلْقِ يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّهَ وَ يُقَدِّسُونَهُ وَ هُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ مِنْ وُلْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص.

‘Allah created Muhammad , Ali and the eleven Imams from his descendants out of the light of His greatness. He then placed them as figures in the brightness of His light where they worshipped Him before the creation of the creatures. They would speak of the Glory of Allah and of His Holiness. They are the Imams from des

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ الِاثْنَا عَشَرَ الْإِمَامَ مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع كُلُّهُمْ مُحَدَّثٌ مِنْ وُلْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ مِنْ وُلْدِ عَلِيٍّ وَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَ عَلِيٌّ ع هُمَا الْوَالِدَانِ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ رَاشِدٍ[2] كَانَ أَخَا عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ لِأُمِّهِ وَ أَنْكَرَ ذَلِكَ فَصَرَّرَ[3] أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّ ابْنَ أُمِّكَ كَانَ أَحَدَهُمْ.

"The twelve Imams all from the family of Muhammad (sw). They are all muhadiths from the descendants of the Rasulullah and the descendants of Ali (as). Rasulullah and Ali are their ancestors.” So he (Zurarah) said, "Ali bin Rashid was the brother of Ali bin al-Husayn (as) from his mother's side, but he (i.e. a man named

كُنْتُ حَاضِراً لَمَّا هَلَكَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَ اسْتَخْلَفَ عُمَرَ أَقْبَلَ يَهُودِيٌّ مِنْ عُظَمَاءِ يَهُودِ يَثْرِبَ وَ تَزْعُمُ يَهُودُ الْمَدِينَةِ أَنَّهُ أَعْلَمُ أَهْلِ زَمَانِهِ حَتَّى رُفِعَ إِلَى عُمَرَ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا عُمَرُ إِنِّي جِئْتُكَ أُرِيدُ الْإِسْلَامَ فَإِنْ أَخْبَرْتَنِي عَمَّا أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْهُ فَأَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ بِالْكِتَابِ وَ السُّنَّةِ وَ جَمِيعِ مَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَ

“I was (in the city of al-Madina) when abu Bakr was no more and he appointed ‘Umar as his successor. Once one of the great Jewish men of Yathrib came to ‘Umar. The Jewish people of the city of al-Madina thought that he (‘Umar) was the most knowledgeable person of his time.He came to ‘Umar and said, “O ‘Umar, I have com

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى فَاطِمَةَ ع وَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا لَوْحٌ فِيهِ أَسْمَاءُ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ وُلْدِهَا فَعَدَدْتُ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ آخِرُهُمُ الْقَائِمُ ع ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنْهُمْ مُحَمَّدٌ وَ ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنْهُمْ عَلِيٌ‌[1].

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ibn Mahbub from Abu al-Jarud from Abu Ja‘far from Jabir b. ‘Abdallah al-Ansari who has said the following: “Once I went to see Fatima (a.s.) (daughter of the Holy Prophet (saww) and I saw with her a tablet in which the names of the executors of the wil

إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَرْسَلَ مُحَمَّداً ص إِلَى الْجِنِّ وَ الْإِنْسِ وَ جَعَلَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ وَصِيّاً مِنْهُمْ مَنْ سَبَقَ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ بَقِيَ وَ كُلُّ وَصِيٍّ جَرَتْ بِهِ سُنَّةٌ وَ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص عَلَى سُنَّةِ أَوْصِيَاءِ عِيسَى وَ كَانُوا اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ وَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَى سُنَّةِ الْمَسِيحِ.

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Muhammad ibn al-Fadl from abu Hamza from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following “Allah sent Muhammad (s.a.) to all Jinn and manand appointed twelve executors of the will Of these people are those who have left this world and there are those w

لِابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ إِنَّ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ وَ إِنَّهُ يَنْزِلُ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ أَمْرُ السَّنَةِ وَ لِذَلِكَ الْأَمْرِ وُلَاةٌ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ مَنْ هُمْ قَالَ أَنَا وَ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ مِنْ صُلْبِي أَئِمَّةٌ مُحَدَّثُونَ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) said to ibn ‘Abbass, “Layla al-Qadr (the night of destiny) comes every year and that night the command for the whole year descend down. To receive that command are the Leaders with Divine Authority after the Messenger of Allah.” Ibn ‘Abbass then asked, “Who are they?” He said, “I and the el

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِأَصْحَابِهِ‌ آمِنُوا بِلَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ إِنَّهَا تَكُونُ- لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ لِوُلْدِهِ الْأَحَدَ عَشَرَ مِنْ بَعْدِي.

“the Messenger of Allah once said to his companions, ‘You must believ in the Layla al-Qadr (night of destiny). It is Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) and his eleven descendants after me.”

أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ يَوْماً لا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْواتاً بَلْ أَحْياءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ‌ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً ص رَسُولُ اللَّهِ مَاتَ شَهِيداً وَ اللَّهِ لَيَأْتِيَنَّكَ فَأَيْقِنْ إِذَا جَاءَكَ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ غَيْرُ مُتَخَيِّلٍ‌[1] بِهِ فَأَخَذَ عَلِيٌّ بِيَدِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَأَرَاهُ النَّبِيَّ ص فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) one day said to Abu Bakr, “Do not think of those slain for the cause of God as dead. They are alive with their Lord and receive sustenance from Him.” (3:169) I testify that Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (sw) died as a martyr. He by Allah, will come to you and do have any doubts when he will c

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ الِاثْنَا عَشَرَ الْإِمَامَ مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كُلُّهُمْ مُحَدَّثٌ مِنْ وُلْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ وُلْدِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع- فَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ عَلِيٌّ ع هُمَا الْوَالِدَانِ.

“I heard abu Ja‘far say, ‘There will be twelve Imams from the family of Muhammad and they all will be (Muhaddathun), persons to whom angles speak. They will of the descendants of the Messenger of Allah and Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.). The Messenger of Allah and Ali are their anscesters.”

يَكُونُ تِسْعَةُ أَئِمَّةٍ بَعْدَ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ تَاسِعُهُمْ قَائِمُهُمْ.

“I heard abu Ja‘far say, ‘after al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) there will be nine Imams. The ninth of them will be Al-Qa’im (the one who will with Divine Authority).”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ نَحْنُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ إِمَاماً مِنْهُمْ حَسَنٌ وَ حُسَيْنٌ ثُمَّ الْأَئِمَّةُ مِنْ وُلْدِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع.

that he heard Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir) (as) say: "We are twelve Imams, al-Hassan and al-Husayn are of them and [the rest of] the Imams are from the descendants of al-Husayn (as)."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنِّي وَ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ مِنْ وُلْدِي وَ أَنْتَ يَا عَلِيُّ زِرُّ الْأَرْضِ يَعْنِي أَوْتَادَهَا وَ جِبَالَهَا بِنَا أَوْتَدَ اللَّهُ الْأَرْضَ أَنْ تَسِيخَ بِأَهْلِهَا فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ الِاثْنَا عَشَرَ مِنْ وُلْدِي سَاخَتِ الْأَرْضُ بِأَهْلِهَا وَ لَمْ يُنْظَرُوا.

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has said, ‘I and twelve persons from my descendants and you O Ali, are the securing anchor of the earth, that is, the pillars thereof and its ropes. Through us Allah has secured the earth from devouring the inhabitants. If all the twelve persons from my family will no longer be there, the eart

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مِنْ وُلْدِيَ اثْنَا عَشَرَ نَقِيباً نُجَبَاءُ مُحَدَّثُونَ مُفَهَّمُونَ آخِرُهُمُ الْقَائِمُ بِالْحَقِّ يَمْلَأُهَا عَدْلًا كَمَا مُلِئَتْ جَوْراً.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, “From my descendants there will be twelve noble supervisors, who are (Muhaddathun) persons to whom angles speak and very intelligent. The last of them will be Al-Qa’im (the one who will rise with Divine Authority) and with truth who will fill the earth with justice after being filled w

حَلَفْتُ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَ نَفْسِي أَلَّا آكُلَ طَعَاماً بِنَهَارٍ أَبَداً حَتَّى يَقُومَ قَائِمُ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ شِيعَتِكُمْ جَعَلَ لِلَّهِ عَلَيْهِ أَلَّا يَأْكُلَ طَعَاماً بِنَهَارٍ أَبَداً حَتَّى يَقُومَ قَائِمُ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ فَصُمْ إِذاً يَا كَرَّامُ وَ لَا تَصُمِ الْعِيدَيْنِ وَ لَا ثَلَاثَةَ التَّشْرِيقِ وَ لَا إِذَا كُنْتَ مُسَ

“I took an oath with my self that I will not any food during the day until the rise of Al-Qa’im (the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority). I then went to see abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.).” The narrator has said, “A man from you Shi‘a (followers) has imposed on himself on oath not to eat any food during the day until the ris

كُنْتُ أَنَا وَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِمْرَانَ مَوْلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي مَنْزِلِهِ بِمَكَّةَ فَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِمْرَانَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ- نَحْنُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ مُحَدَّثاً فَقَالَ لَهُ- أَبُو بَصِيرٍ سَمِعْتَ مِنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَحَلَّفَهُ مَرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ لَكِنِّي سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع.

“Once I, abu Basir and Muhammad ibn ‘Imran the slave of abu Ja‘far (a.s.) were in his house in Makka. Muhammad ibn ‘Imran said, “I have heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘We all twelve of us are Muhaddath (the ones to whom angels speak).” Abu Basir then said, “Did you hear abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say so? He made him to swea