الحسن بن علي بن أبي عقيل

Abu Abdillah Ja’far ibn Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: "Among the signs of certitude is that you will never please the people by earning the wrath of Allah, Most High, nor will you blame them if Allah did not grant you from His favour. Because sustenance is not led by the greed of the avaricious, nor is it prevented by the aversion of someone grudging. If anyone from you were to run away from his sustenance, the way he runs away from death, it would find him out, the way death would."

“When abu Muhammad (a.s.) passed away a man from Egypt came to Makk with a certain amount of commodities that were due to the holy location (office of the Imam (a.s.) People expressed different opinions on the issue. Certain persons said, “Abu Muhammad (a.s.) has passed away and has left no one behind as his successor. Ja‘far is his successor. Others said, “Abu Muhammad (a.s.) passed away and he left his successor behind.. A man called abu Talib was sent to the army camp (the city of Surra man Ra’a) with a letter. He went to see Ja‘far and ask him for the evidence to prove that he is the successor of abu Muhammad (a.s.), Ja‘far said, “It is not available at this time.” He then went to the door and gave the letter to our people and the response that came said, “We present our condolences to you for the death of your friend (the man from Egypt). He has died and he has a will in which he said that the commodities must be given to the trust worthy person to deal with in a proper manner. His letter was answered. When came back to Makka it was just the way he was informed by the holy location (the office of the Imam (a.s.) “

“If the fifth one of the descendants of the seventh one is missed then you are to keep fast to your religion and let nothing turn you aside from it because the executor (al-Qa’im) of this task (reviving the religion) must disappear until many of those, who have believed in him, will apostate. It will be a test, by which Allah will try His people. If your fathers and grandfathers had found a religion better than this, they would have followed it.” I said: “O my master, who is the fifth of the seventh’s descendants?” He said: “O my son, your minds are smaller than to perceive this matter and your patience is weaker than to bear it. If you live until then, you will know who he is.”

“When the fifth descendant of the seventh (Imam) will disappear from the public sight at that time for the sake of Allah, for the sake of Allah protect your religion so no one can strip off of it. My son, it is necessary that the in charge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority) must disappear from the public sight. Even those who believe in it would turn away from their belief. It will certainly be a trial from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, to test His creature. Had your fathers and ancestors know any other religion more correct than this they would certainly have followed it.” I then asked, “My master, who is the fifth from the descendants of the seven?” He said, “My son, you intelligence falls shorter to reach it and your understanding remain narrower to accommodate it but if you would live you will soon comprehend its being.”

I said, ‘May I be your ransom! There are some people in these areas who think thatyour father (a.s.) is alive.’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘They are lying. May God damn them! They would not have divided his property up and marry off his wives, if he (a.s.) was alive. However, I swear by God that my father (a.s.) tasted death as Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) did.’ I asked Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘What do you order me to do?’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘You must follow my son Muhammad after me. I will leave the face of the Earth and there will be no return for me. Blessed be the shrine in Toos, and the two shrines in Baghdad!’ I said, ‘May I be your ransom! I know of one of the two shrines. Where is the other one?’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, ‘You will soon get to know of it.’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) then added, ‘My grave and that of Harun are like this.” He (a.s.) was sticking two of his fingers together when he said that (implying that they will be near each other).

My father [Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s)] said: “My son, when the fifth descendant of the seventh Imam disappears, then by Allah, by Allah, be cautious about your faith, because definitely there such is a occultation for this Patron until many who believe in this matter turn away from their beliefs. My son, his occultation would be a trial from Allah, by which He will try His creation. If your fathers and grandfathers knew a creed better than this, they would have followed it.” Ali bin Ja’far said: Abul Hasan [Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s)] asked: “My master, who is the fifth descendant of the seventh?” He said: “My son, your intellects are deficient to understand him and you cannot bear it, but if you live, you will see that matter.”