“I went to see abu Ja‘far (a.s.) when he was in the city of al-Madina and I said to him, “I decided to make a vow and a covenant, while I was between the corner of the Ka‘ba and the place where Abraham had prayed, that when I would meet you I would not leave al-Madina until I would know with certainty that you are Al-Qa’im (the one who will rise with Divine Authority). The Imam (a.s.) did not say anything. I then stayed in the city of al-Madina for thirty days. One day he came face to face on a road. He said, “O al-Hakam, are you still here?” I said, “Yes, I am still here. I had explained to you about my vow and commitment and you did not command me anything or prohibited from anything nor did you answer me with anything.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Early tomorrow come to my house.” Next morning I went to see him and he said to me, “Ask what you need.” I said, “I have a commitment of vow, of fasting and paying charity. I had decided to fulfill it, while I was between the corner of the Ka‘ba and the station of Abraham. Its object was that when I would meet you I would not leave until I would know with certainty that you are Al-Qa’im (the one who will rise with Divine Authority) or not. If you would be him I would then maintain relations with you, otherwise, I would go in the land to find how to make a living.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “O Hakam, we all are Al-Qa’im (the one who will rise with Divine Authority) for the commands of Allah.” I then said, “Are you al-Mahdi?” He said, “We all guide to Allah.” I said, “Are you the owner of the sword?” He said, “We all are owners of the sword the heir of the sword.” I said, “Are the one who would do away with enemies of Allah, through whom honor will come to the friends of Allah and with whom the religion of Allah would stand supreme?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “O Hakam how could I be him. I have already become forty five years old while the master of this task would be much younger than me and much light for saddle of the horse.”