1. Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father, from Abdul Aziz ibn al-Muhtadi, from Abdullah ibn Jundab, that Imam al-Ridha (as) wrote to him: "As for what follows: Verily, Muhammad (sw) was God’s trustee among His creation. When he passed away, we, the Ahl al-Bayt, inherited him, and thus we are the trustees of God on His earth. With us is the knowledge of calamities and deaths, the genealogies of the Arabs, and the origin of Islam. We recognize a person, upon seeing him, by the true essence of faith and the true essence of hypocrisy. Our followers (Shi'a) are recorded by their names and the names of their fathers. God has taken a covenant from us and from them, they shall return to our source and enter where we enter. None are truly upon the religion of Islam except us and them. We are the chosen ones, the saved, the vanguard of the prophets, the sons of their successors. We are the ones specifically mentioned in the Book of God, the Almighty and Exalted. We are the most worthy of the Book of God and the most worthy of the Messenger of God (sw). God has legislated His religion for us, as He said in His Book: 'He has ordained for you, O family of Muhammad, of the religion what He enjoined upon Noah.' He enjoined upon us what He enjoined upon Noah, and what He revealed to you, O Muhammad, and what He enjoined upon Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. He has taught us and conveyed to us what He taught them, and entrusted us with their knowledge. We are the heirs of the messengers of firm resolve (ulu al-‘azm). 'Establish the religion, O Family of Muhammad, and do not be divided therein. Be united.' It has become heavy upon the polytheists—those who associate others in the guardianship (wilayah) of Ali—what you call them to, of Ali’s wilayah (as). Indeed, God, O Muhammad, guides to it whomever turns to Him, and whoever responds to you regarding the wilayah of Ali (as)."