قابوس

And among them Nasr bin Qabus Lakhmi:

I said to Abu Ibrahim [Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s)]: I asked your father who would be the Imam after him and he told me that you would be. Therefore, when Abu Abdullah [Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s)] passed away, the people went to right and left, while I and my companions declared (our support) for you. Therefore, tell me which of your children will be (the Imam) after You? My son, so-and-so [Imam Ali Ridha (a.s)], he said.

“One day I came to Imam Ali (as) and I found him pondering and scratching up the ground. I said: “O Amirul Mo’mineen, you are scratching up the ground. Do you like it (the ground)?” He said: “No, by Allah. I have not liked it nor have I liked this worldly life a moment. But I am pondering on someone that will be born from my progeny. He will be the eleventh son of mine (descendant-eleventh successor in the imamate). He will be al-Mahdi, who will spread justice and equity allover the world after it has been filled with injustice and oppression. There will be confusion and disappearance for him. Some people will go astray and others will be guided.” I said: “O Amirul Mo’mineen, how long will that confusion and that disappearance last?” He said: “A period of time.” I said: “Will that really occur?” He said: “Yes, it will. It has already been determined.” I said: “Shall I be alive until that time? He said: “How far it is to you, O Asbugh! Those (the companions of al-Mahdi) are the best of this umma with the pure ones of the Prophet’s progeny.” I said: “Then what will happen after that?” He said: “Then Allah will do what He wills. He has wills, wishes and ends.”

I came to Amirul Momineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s) and found him thoughtful. He was drawing lines on the ground. I said: “O Chief of believers, why do I see you thoughtful and you are making lines on the earth? Is it out of desire for the earth?” He said: “No, by Allah, I have never desired it, nor for what is in the world even for one day. I was thinking about the son, who will be born from my seed – the eleventh from my sons. He is the Mahdi and he would fill up the earth with equity as it will be fraught with oppression and injustice. There will be a perplexity and occultation related to him, in which communities will go astray and communities will be guided.” I asked: “O Chief of believers, how long would this perplexity and occultation last?” He said: Six days, six months or six years. I asked: “Would this really come to pass?” He replied: Yes, he has been created. How would you know this, Asbagh! They are the best of this Ummah and companions of the righteous of this Household. I asked: “What will happen after that?” He said: “Allah will do what He desires, for He has wills, purposes and outcomes.”