Performing al-Hajj on Behalf of ’A’immah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam

“I once said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘My master, I hope to fast during the month of Ramadan in al-Madinah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You will do so by the will of Allah.’ I then said, ‘I hope to leave by the tenth of the month of Shawwal after visiting the Messenger of Allah, his family and yourself, may Allah grant me such opportunity again. I sometimes perform al-Hajj on behalf of your father or on behalf of my father, or on behalf of a man from our brothers (in belief) or perform al-Hajj for myself. How should I perform such al-Hajj?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You should perform al-Hajj in al- Tamattu‘ manner.’ I then said, ‘I am a resident of Makkah for the past twenty years.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You should perform al-Hajj in al-Tamattu‘ manner.’”