إسحاق

“This matter has been put off twice.”

And among them Ahmad bin Ishaq, Ibrahim bin Muhammad Hamadani and Ahmad bin Hamza bin Yasi:

“There has been an appointment for this matter (deliverance). It has been determined (by the Heaven) that it will occur in the year one hundred and forty (A.H.) but when you announced the matter, Allah has put it off.”

Kulaini said: A Shaykh from our scholars, whose name I forgot, said that Abu Amr was asked in the presence of Ahmad Ibn Ishaq the same question and he gave a similar answer.

“The imamate will be entrusted to one, who is so young and obscure.” The infallible imams (as) have confirmed that al-Qa’im (as) will be entrusted with the imamate while he is too young yet and that his mention is so obscure to the most of people. None of the other imams has been entrusted with the imamate when he is as young as al-Mahdi (aj). When they mention that he is the obscurest one among them, they refer to his disappearance and that his news will be unknown by people. The traditions about this concern are too many, true and current. Doubting this matter must be away from the minds of the believers, whom Allah has guided and lit their hearts.

“I said to Abul Hasan (Imam Ali) (as): May I die for you! My father died while still believing in this matter (the imamate) and I became so old. Shall I die and you do not tell me of anything?” He said: “O Abu Iss’haq, you hasten (to hasten the will of Allah).” I said: “Yes, by Allah, I hasten. Why do I not hasten where I became so old as you see?” He said: “O Abu Iss’haq, by Allah that does not occur until you are tried and clarified until none of you remains save the least. (And he shrank his hand.)”

“And by the Lord of the heavens and the earth! it is most surely the truth, just as you do speak.” (51:22-23) “This is the verse of the Qaim from Aale Muhammad (a.s) and the following verse is about him: Allah has promised to those of you who believe and do good that He will most certainly make them rulers in the earth as He made rulers those before them, and that He will most certainly establish for them their religion, which He has chosen for them, and that He will most certainly, after their fear, give them security in exchange; they shall serve Me, not associating aught with Me…” (24:55)

“Al-Qa’im will appear on the day of Ashura.” All these signs that have been mentioned by the infallible imams (as) throughout the current true traditions, which are so numerous, must occur before the appearance of al-Qa’im (as) because the infallible imams (as) have said that they are inevitable and surely their sayings are the most truthful. It has been said to them: “We hope that al-Qa’im (as) appears without being preceded by the rising of as-Sufyani.” They said: “By Allah it is inevitable and it must occur.” They have confirmed that the five signs will be the greatest evidences, after which al-Qa’im (as) will appear. They have denied timing and said: “Whoever narrates from us traditions talking about timing, do not hesitate in considering him as a liar whoever he is because we do not time.” This is clear evidence showing the falseness of whoever claims that he is al-Qa’im before the occurrence of these signs.

“A caller (from the Heaven) will call out the name of al-Qa’im: O you the son of so-and-so, get up!”

“When al-Qa’im appears, he will send a man to every country of the world. He will say to him: “Your covenant is in your hand. Whenever a matter faces you that you do not understand or do not know how to judge on it, you are to look at (the covenant in) your hand and act according to it.” Then he will send an army to Constantinople. When the army reaches the sea, the soldiers will write on their feet something and will walk on the surface of the water. When the Romans see them walk on the water, they will say: “These are his companions walking on the water so how about him?” Then they will open to them the gates of the city. They enter the city and rule as they like.”

the Veracious Shaykh Ahmad Ibn Ishaq Ibn Saad Ashari narrated to us, and then he mentions the account, which we mentioned earlier.

"In the year of the conquest, the Euphrates will split until it enters the streets of Kufa."

“In the year of the reappearance, there will be such a terrible flood in the Euphrates that even the lanes of Kufa will be inundated.”

Amirul Momineen (a.s) mentioned the Qaim (a.s) and said: “He will go into hiding, so the ignorant will say that Allah does not have any need of Aale Muhammad (a.s).”

Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) about the Master of this Affair, in reply to which the Imam made a gesture, meaning he is alive and his neck has hardened.

“People will miss their imam. He attends the seasons of hajj. He sees the people but they do not see him.”

I and Ahmad Ibn Abi Abdullah were at Askar when a messenger came from “the man” and said: “Ahmad Ibn Ishaq Ashari, Ibrahim Ibn Muhammad Hamadani and Ahmad Ibn Hamza Ibn Yasa are all trusted men.”

The world would not end till a person from my Ahle Bayt (a.s), who is named as Mahdi, does not become the ruler and leader of my Ummah.

In a certain year, after the demise of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s), we performed Hajj. I went to Ahmad Ibn Ishaq at Baghdad and saw Abu Amr with him. I said: “This Shaykh,” pointing to Ahmad Ibn Ishaq, “and he is a trustworthy and admirable man before us, has narrated to us,” such and such. I narrated to him all of the narrative, which we mentioned above on the account of the eminent position of Abu Amr. I said: “You are now someone whose word and truthfulness is not dubitable. I beseech you for the sake of Allah and the sake of the two Imams who have declared you trustworthy, have you seen the son of Abu Muhammad, who is the Master of the Age?” He wept and then said: “You cannot inform anyone with this regard as long as I am alive.” I said: “Sure so.” He said: “I have verily seen him and his neck is like this.” He wanted to say that he has the most beautiful and wholesome of the necks. I asked, “And the name?” He said: “You have been forbidden from that.”

“Al-Qa’im disappears twice; one is a short disappearance and the other is long. In the first disappearance some of his close Shia knows his place and in the other one no one knows his place except his guardians of his religion.”