The Criterion to Discern the Truthful and False Claims of Entitlement to Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority)

بَعَثَ طَلْحَةُ وَ الزُّبَيْرُ رَجُلًا مِنْ عَبْدِ الْقَيْسِ يُقَالُ لَهُ خِدَاشٌ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص وَ قَالا لَهُ إِنَّا نَبْعَثُكَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ طَالَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْرِفُهُ وَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ بِالسِّحْرِ وَ الْكِهَانَةِ وَ أَنْتَ أَوْثَقُ مَنْ بِحَضْرَتِنَا مِنْ أَنْفُسِنَا مِنْ أَنْ تَمْتَنِعَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَ أَنْ تُحَاجَّهُ لَنَا حَتَّى تَقِفَهُ عَلَى أَمْرٍ مَعْلُومٍ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ النَّاس

“Once Talha and al-Zubayr sent a man called Khidash from the tribe of ‘Abd a1-Qays, to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). Before he would leave they spoke to him as herein below. “We are sending you to a man who and whose family are known to us since a long time as magicians and soothsayers. You are more trusted to us, than thos

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

لَهُمْ يَا بَيَّاعِي مُسُوخِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَ جُنْدِ بَنِي مَرْوَانَ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ فُرَاتُ بْنُ أَحْنَفَ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ مَا جُنْدُ بَنِي مَرْوَانَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَقْوَامٌ حَلَقُوا اللِّحَى وَ فَتَلُوا الشَّوَارِبَ فَمُسِخُوا فَلَمْ أَرَ نَاطِقاً أَحْسَنَ نُطْقاً مِنْهُ ثُمَّ اتَّبَعْتُهُ فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أَقْفُو أَثَرَهُ حَتَّى قَعَدَ فِي رَحَبَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ

“I saw Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) in the (market) place of the Shurtat al-Khamis with a two pronged whip in his had. With it he would scare the sellers of inedible fish such as eel, moray and angler etc., and say, “O sellers of metamorphosed Israelites and the army of the descendants of Marwan, do not sell (inedible fishe

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَاسْتُؤْذِنَ لِرَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ عَلَيْهِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ عَبْلٌ طَوِيلٌ جَسِيمٌ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْوَلَايَةِ فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ بِالْقَبُولِ وَ أَمَرَهُ بِالْجُلُوسِ فَجَلَسَ مُلَاصِقاً لِي فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي لَيْتَ شِعْرِي مَنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع هَذَا مِنْ وُلْدِ الْأَعْرَابِيَّةِ صَاحِبَةِ الْحَصَاةِ الَّتِي طَبَعَ آبَائِي ع فِيهَا بِخَوَاتِيمِهِمْ فَا

“Once I was in thepresence of abu Muhammad (a.s.) that permission was requested for a man from Yemen to see the Imam (a.s.). A chubby, tall and heavy man then came in and greeted the Imam with the greeting for Wilaya, the Leader with Divine Authority and received the acceptance response. The Imam (a.s.) asked him to ha

لَمَّا قُتِلَ الْحُسَيْنُ ع أَرْسَلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَخَلَا بِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي قَدْ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص دَفَعَ الْوَصِيَّةَ وَ الْإِمَامَةَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع ثُمَّ إِلَى الْحَسَنِ ع ثُمَّ إِلَى الْحُسَيْنِ ع وَ قَدْ قُتِلَ أَبُوكَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى رُوحِهِ وَ لَمْ يُوصِ وَ أَنَا عَمُّكَ وَ صِنْوُ

“When al-Husayn (a.s.) was martyred, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiya asked Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) for a private meeting. In the meeting he said, “O son of my brother, you know that the Messenger of Allah (s.a) delivered the task of al-Wasiyya, (the executor-ship of the will) and al-Imamat, (Leadership with Divine Authority)

دَخَلْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ وَ لَسْتُ أَعْرِفُ شَيْئاً مِنْ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ فَأَتَيْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فَقُلْتُ أَخْبِرُونِي عَنْ عَالِمِ أَهْلِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ فَقَالُوا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ فَأَتَيْتُ مَنْزِلَهُ فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيَّ رَجُلٌ ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ غُلَامٌ لَهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِي عَلَى مَوْلَاكَ فَدَخَلَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَالَ لِيَ ادْخُلْ فَدَخَلْتُ فَإِذ

6. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Ali who has said that Sama‘a ibn Mihran narrated to me that al-Kalbi al-Nassaba narrated to him the following. “ I went to Madina and I had no knowledge of this matter (Leadership with Divine Authority, Imamat ). I went to the Mosque

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.)

كَانَ لِيَ ابْنُ عَمٍّ يُقَالُ لَهُ- الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ كَانَ زَاهِداً وَ كَانَ مِنْ أَعْبَدِ أَهْلِ زَمَانِهِ وَ كَانَ يَتَّقِيهِ السُّلْطَانُ لِجِدِّهِ فِي الدِّينِ وَ اجْتِهَادِهِ وَ رُبَّمَا اسْتَقْبَلَ السُّلْطَانَ بِكَلَامٍ صَعْبٍ يَعِظُهُ وَ يَأْمُرُهُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ يَنْهَاهُ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ كَانَ السُّلْطَانُ يَحْتَمِلُهُ لِصَلَاحِهِ وَ لَمْ تَزَلْ هَذِهِ حَالَتَهُ حَتَّى كَانَ يَوْمٌ مِنَ

“I had a son of uncle. He wascalled al-Hassan ibn ‘Abdallah He was Zahid (restricted himself from worldly pleasures). He was the foremost in worship of his time. He king would also observe cautions due to his assiduousness and seriousness in the matters of religion. He would even demand the king to respect and maintain

سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى بْنَ أَكْثَمَ قَاضِيَ سَامَرَّاءَ بَعْدَ مَا جَهَدْتُ بِهِ وَ نَاظَرْتُهُ وَ حَاوَرْتُهُ وَ وَاصَلْتُهُ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ عُلُومِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فَقَالَ: بَيْنَا أَنَا ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ دَخَلْتُ أَطُوفُ بِقَبْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَرَأَيْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ الرِّضَا ع يَطُوفُ بِهِ فَنَاظَرْتُهُ فِي مَسَائِلَ عِنْدِي فَأَخْرَجَهَا إِلَيَّ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ وَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مَسْأَ

It happened only after serious debates, conversations, maintaining good relations and asking him about the knowledge of the members of the family of Muhammad (s.a). He said, “Once when was walking around the grave of the Messenger of Allah I saw Muhammad ibn Ali al-Rida (a.s.) also walk around the grave of the Messenge

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

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَكُونُ إِمَامَانِ قَالَ لَا إِلَّا وَ أَحَدُهُمَا صَامِتٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ هُوَ ذَا أَنْتَ لَيْسَ لَكَ صَامِتٌ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ وُلِدَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ بَعْدُ فَقَالَ لِي وَ اللَّهِ لَيَجْعَلَنَّ اللَّهُ مِنِّي مَا يُثْبِتُ بِهِ الْحَقَّ وَ أَهْلَهُ وَ يَمْحَقُ بِهِ الْبَاطِلَ وَ أَهْلَهُ فَوُلِدَ لَهُ بَعْدَ سَنَةٍ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقِيلَ لِابْنِ قِيَامَا أ

“Once I went to see Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (a.s.) and I said to him, “Can there be two Imams (at the same time)?” He said, “No, except if one of them would be silent.” I then said, “What about your self? There is no silent Imam with you.” His son, abu Ja’far (a.s.) was not yet born. He said, “By Allah, Allah will create

أَتَيْتُ خُرَاسَانَ وَ أَنَا وَاقِفٌ فَحَمَلْتُ مَعِي مَتَاعاً وَ كَانَ مَعِي ثَوْبٌ وَشِيٌّ فِي بَعْضِ الرِّزَمِ‌[2] وَ لَمْ أَشْعُرْ بِهِ وَ لَمْ أَعْرِفْ مَكَانَهُ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْتُ مَرْوَ وَ نَزَلْتُ فِي بَعْضِ مَنَازِلِهَا لَمْ أَشْعُرْ إِلَّا وَ رَجُلٌ مَدَنِيٌّ مِنْ بَعْضِ‌ مُوَلَّدِيهَا فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ لَكَ ابْعَثْ إِلَيَّ الثَّوْبَ الْوَشِيَّ الَّذِي عِنْدَكَ قَالَ فَقُلْ

“I came to Khurasan when I was a member of the Waqifa sect. I had certain goods with me. In these goods there was a printed piece of fabric in one of the bundles. It was misplaced and did not know where it was. When I arrived in Marv and found a lodging a man who was born in the city of Madina came by and said to me, “

كُنْتُ وَاقِفاً وَ حَجَجْتُ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ فَلَمَّا صِرْتُ بِمَكَّةَ خَلَجَ فِي صَدْرِي شَيْ‌ءٌ فَتَعَلَّقْتُ بِالْمُلْتَزَمِ‌[1] ثُمَّ قُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ طَلِبَتِي وَ إِرَادَتِي فَأَرْشِدْنِي إِلَى خَيْرِ الْأَدْيَانِ فَوَقَعَ فِي نَفْسِي أَنْ آتِيَ الرِّضَا ع فَأَتَيْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَوَقَفْتُ بِبَابِهِ وَ قُلْتُ لِلْغُلَامِ قُلْ لِمَوْلَاكَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ بِالْبَابِ قَالَ فَسَمِع

“I was a member of Waqifa sect and I wen to Hajj with the same belief. When I arrived in Makka an idea began to prick my chest. I got hold of al-Multazam (the wall next to the door of Ka‘ba) and said, “O Lord, You know what I ask for and my intention. Guide me to the best of the religions. It then occurred to me to see

كَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ هُلَيْلٍ‌[2] يَقُولُ بِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ‌[3] فَصَارَ إِلَى الْعَسْكَرِ[4] فَرَجَعَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ سَبَبِ رُجُوعِهِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي عَرَضْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَوَافَقَنِي فِي طَرِيقٍ ضَيِّقٍ فَمَالَ نَحْوِي حَتَّى إِذَا حَاذَانِي أَقْبَلَ نَحْوِي بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ فِيهِ فَوَقَعَ عَلَى صَدْرِي فَأَخَذْتُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ رَقٌّ فِيهِ مَكْتُوبٌ مَا كَانَ هُنَ

“‘Abdallah ibn Hulayl believe in ‘Abdallah (ibn Ja’far (a.s.) ) to be the Imam). He went to the army head quarters in Samarra, Iraq and thereafter he changed his belief. I asked him about the reason for such change. He said, “I thought (while in Samarra) I should discuss it with abu al-Hassan (a.s.) and ask him about i

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

أَنَّ زَيْدَ بْنَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع دَخَلَ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ وَ مَعَهُ كُتُبٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ يَدْعُونَهُ فِيهَا إِلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ يُخْبِرُونَهُ بِاجْتِمَاعِهِمْ وَ يَأْمُرُونَهُ بِالْخُرُوجِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع هَذِهِ الْكُتُبُ ابْتِدَاءٌ مِنْهُمْ أَوْ جَوَابُ مَا كَتَبْتَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِمْ وَ دَعَوْتَهُمْ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ بَلِ ابْتِدَاءٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ لِمَعْرِف

16. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Husayn ibn al-Jarud from Musa ibn Bakr ibn Dab from the one who narrated to him from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Once Zayd ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn went to see abu Ja’far, Muhammad ibn Ali. He carried with him l

أَتَيْنَا خَدِيجَةَ بِنْتَ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع نُعَزِّيهَا بِابْنِ بِنْتِهَا فَوَجَدْنَا عِنْدَهَا مُوسَى بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ فَإِذَا هِيَ فِي نَاحِيَةٍ قَرِيباً مِنَ النِّسَاءِ فَعَزَّيْنَاهُمْ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ يَقُولُ لِابْنَةِ أَبِي يَشْكُرَ الرَّاثِيَةِ قُولِي‌[1] فَقَالَتْ‌ اعْدُدْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ اعْدُدْ بَعْدَهُ- أَسَدَ

“We went to Khadijah, the daughter of ‘Umar ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) to offer our condolences for the death of the son of her daughter. We met at her place Musa ibn ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hassan. She was to one side near the ladies. We offered them our condolences to all of them. We then turned to h

لَمَّا خَرَجَ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْمَقْتُولُ- بِفَخٍ‌[1] وَ احْتَوَى عَلَى الْمَدِينَةِ دَعَا مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ إِلَى الْبَيْعَةِ فَأَتَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ عَمِّ لَا تُكَلِّفْنِي مَا كَلَّفَ ابْنُ عَمِّكَ عَمَّكَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَيَخْرُجَ مِنِّي مَا لَا أُرِيدُ كَمَا خَرَجَ مِنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ يُرِيدُ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحُسَيْنُ إِنَّمَا عَرَضْتُ عَلَيْكَ أَمْراً فَإِنْ أَرَد

“When al-Husayn ibn Ali who was killed in al-Fakhkh, began his uprising he controlled the city of Madina and called Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) to pledge allegiance for him. When he was brought before him (al-Husayn he Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) ) said, “Son of my uncle, “Do not impose on what the son of your uncle imposed on y

كَتَبَ يَحْيَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ إِلَى مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ ع أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي أُوصِي نَفْسِي بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ بِهَا أُوصِيكَ فَإِنَّهَا وَصِيَّةُ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَوَّلِينَ وَ وَصِيَّتُهُ فِي الْآخِرِينَ خَبَّرَنِي مَنْ وَرَدَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ أَعْوَانِ اللَّهِ عَلَى دِينِهِ وَ نَشْرِ طَاعَتِهِ بِمَا كَانَ مِنْ تَحَنُّنِكَ مَعَ خِذْلَانِكَ وَ قَدْ شَاوَرْتُ فِي الدَّعْوَةِ لِلرِّضَا مِنْ‌ آلِ م

19. And by this chain, from Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al Ja'fari who said, ‘Yahya bin Abdullah bin Al-Hassan wrote to Musa bin Ja’far (AS), ‘Following on from that, I hereby bequeath myself to fear Allah, and by it I bequeath you, for it is a bequest of Allah among the former ones and His bequest among the later ones. They