Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of abu Muhammad al-Hassan ‘s (a.s.) Divine Authority over the people after Ali ibn Muhammad (a.s.)

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) prepared his directive will to his son, al-Hassan four months before his leaving this world. He appointed me to bear testimony to his will as well as a group of the follower friends.”

“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 Muhammad ibn Ali, is the eldest son of the Imam al-Hadi (a.s.).He died before his father (230/845 - 252/866). His shrine is near Balad which is near Baghdad, and the place is now known as al-Sayyid Muhammad. In the following ahadith his name is frequently mentioned.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) said, “Your master (Imam) after me will be the one who will perform prayer for me (prayer for burial).” The narrator has said that we did not know abu Muhammad (a.s.) before this. Abu Muhammad came out and prayed (for his burial).”

“I was present with abu al-Hassan (a.s.) when his son Muhammad died. The Imam (a.s.) said this to (his son) al-Hassan (a.s.), “Son renew your thanks to Allah because He has just granted you the matter (Leadership with Divine Authority).”

“I was present at the time of abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn Ali’s (leaving this world). Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) came and a chair was set for him. He sat on it and his family around him. Abu Muhammad was standing on one side. When he was free from the matters about abu Ja‘far he then turned to abu Muhammad (a.s.) and said, “My son, renew thanks to Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, because He has just granted you a task (Leadership with Divine Authority).”

“Once I said abu al-Hassan (a.s.), “If something will happen-I seek refuge before Allah – to who then will go (Leadership with Divine Authority)?” He said, “My covenant (directive will) is for the eldest of my sons.”

“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 any of them (your Imam) until my command will come to you.” The narrator has said, “I wrote to him afterwards asking, ‘To who will go this task (Leadership with Divine Authority)” The narrator has said, “He wrote to me, “(It will go) to my eldest son.” The narrator has said, “Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was older then abu Ja‘far.”

We estimated that at that time from the descendents of abu Talib, Hashim and Quraysh there were about fifty men besides his slaves and other people. At such time he look at al-Hassan ibn Ali coming and the front of his shirt was torn. He stood at the right of his father and we did not know him. Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) looked at him after a while and said, “My son, renew your thanks to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, because He has granted you a new task (Leadership with Divine Authority).” The young man wept, praised Allah, and said, “We are for Allah and to Him we shall return. He then said, “All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds. I pray to Allah for completion the blessings for us in you. “We are for Allah and to Him we shall return.” We asked about him and it was said that he was al-Hassan, the son of the Imam. We estimated his age at that time around twenty years or more. On that day we learned and came to know that he had tacitly made a statement about the succeeding Imam and (the Leader with Divine Authority).”

“I went to see abu al-Hassan (a.s.) after the death of abu Ja‘far and offered condolences for this reason. Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was also present. He wept and abu al-Hassan (a.s.) turned to him and said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has made you to succeed (the Imam) instead of him. You must thanks Allah.”

“I was in the presence of Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) after the death of his son, Abu Ja‘far. I thought to myself wanting to say, “Abu Ja‘far and Abu Muhammad at this time are like Abu al-Hassan Musa and ’Isma‘il, the sons of Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.), and their stories are similar, since Abu Muhammad was the appointee after Abu Ja'far (AS).” At that moment, Abu al-Hassan turned to me before I could say anything and said, “Yes, O Abu Hashim, Allah applied Bada’ (a change in the current natural conditions) in the case of Abu Muhammad after Abu Ja‘far (AS), a fact that was not known for him (Abu Muhammad). In the same way He applied Bada’ in the case of Musa after the death of ’Isma‘il as an issue that through which his condition came to light. That is what you thought to yourself. Even though people of falsehood may dislike it, Abu Muhammad, my son, will be the successor after me. With him is the knowledge that he will need and with him are the signs of Imamate (Leadership with Divine Authority).”

“He wrote to me as herein below. “My son, abu Muhammad instinctively is the most considerate in the family of Muhammad (s.a). He possesses the strongest authoritative supporting evidence above them and he is the eldest of my sons. He is the succeeding Imam and to him go the rings of Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) and its rules. Whatever you wanted to ask me ask it from him. With him is whatever he may need.”

“Abu al-Hassan wrote to me in a letter as herein below. “You wanted to ask about the succeeding Imam after (the death) of abu Ja‘far and you were anxious about it. Do not feel sad; “God does not misguide a nation after having given them guidance until the means of piety are made known to them. . .” (9:115) Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, does not neglect the people whom He has granted guidance to go astray until He clarifies for them the means with which they can maintain piety. You master (Imam) after me will be, my son, abu Muhammad (a.s.). With there is whatever you would need. Allah allows to precede whatever He wants and Allah allows to succeed whatever He wants. “For whatever sign We change or eliminate or cause to recede into oblivion, We bring forth a better sign, one that is identical.. .” (2:106). I have written enough convincing facts for the people of reason with awareness.”

“I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.) saying, ‘The succeeding (Imam) after me will be al-Hassan. How will your dealing be with the succeeding (Imam) of the succeeding (Imam)?” I then said, “Why will that be so, may Allah take my souls in service for your cause?” He said, “You will not see him in person. It will not lawful for you to pronounce his name.” I then asked, “How then will we speak of him?” He said, “Say, ‘The Divine Authority from the family of Muhammad (s.a).”