I said to Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s): Please permit me to ask you a question. Imam (a.s) said: Ask about Imamate. I asked: Who is your successor; because I don’t know any other Imam? Imam (a.s) replied: Ali, my son, whom I have given my agnomen (of Abul Hasan). I asked: My master, save me from Hell-fire and purify me, since Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s) said that you are the Qaim on the matter of Imamate. Imam (a.s) replied: But I am not the Qaim in this matter. Then he said: O Hasan, every Imam who is the leader of the Ummah and the appointed one on the matter of Mastership (Wilayat) is his Qaim. And when he passes away, the one who is after him is the one raised up by the command of Allah and the Divine Proof (Hujjat) till the time the Qaim and Hujjat is concealed from the people. Hence, all of us are Qaim. Thus, just as you behave with us [and accept our Mastership (Wilayat)] same was done with my son, Ali. By Allah, I have not acted thus on my own [appointing the Imam after me] on the contrary, the Almighty Allah has done it according to His will.