أبو محمد

Abu Muhammad (a.s) showed me his son and said: “This is your master after me.”

H 361 - Abu Muhammad Harun Ibn Musa says: Abu Ali Junaid said to me, Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Ali Shalmaghani said, “I did enter into this contest against Abul Qasim Husain Ibn Rauh, but I knew what I was entering into. We were fighting each other for this position like dogs fight each other over a corpse.” Abu Muhammad said: “The Shia did not pay attention to these words and were unanimous in praying for his chastisement and despising him.”

“The oppressor presumed that they would kill me and cut off this progeny. So how did they witness the might of Allah?” Then he named him Muammal (the one in whom hopes rest).

“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.) “

“The letters of abu Muhammad (a.s.) would come about the matters related to al-Junayd, who killed Fars, abu al-Hassan and others. When he passed away letters about the issues related to abu al-Hassan and his friend continued coming from (Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) but there was no mention of al-Junayd. I became depressed about it. Thereafter, the news of the death of al-Junayd reached us.”

I heard Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s) say: As if I can see this son, Abul Hasan, apprehended by Bani so and so [Bani Abbas] and is under their arrest for a long time. Then he is released and he holds the hand of a person from his progeny so that they may convey him to Mount Razawi.

I heard Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s) say: Qaroon dressed in red and Firon used to dress in black; and he used to leave his hair loose and they fell on the two sides of his head; and Almighty Allah sent Musa (a.s) with prophethood. And the sons of so and so (Bani Abbas) also dress in black; and leave their hair loose and they fall on the sides of their heads; and Almighty Allah will also destroy them through his namesake (Musa).

I heard Abu Abdullah Ja’far as-Sadiq (as) saying: “Al-Qa’im disappears before his rising.” I asked: “Why?” He said: “He fears” and he pointed with his hand at his abdomen. He meant “killing”. The same was narrated by Muhammad bin Ya’qoob al-Kulayni from Muhammad bin Yahya from Ja’far bin Muhammad from al-Hasan bin Mo’awiya from Abdullah bin Jibilla from Abdullah bin Bukayr from Zurara from Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as).

“Certain people of the city of al-Madina that belonged to al-Talibiyin group believed in the truth (about Ahl al-Bayt). They would receive their financial grants regularly on time. When abu Muhammad (a.s.) passed away a few of them disregarded the belief that abu Muhammad (a.s.) has behind a son. The financial grants thereafter would come only to those who still believed in son of abu Muhammad (a.s.) and stopped coming to the others. They no more are mentioned along with those who are mentioned. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds.”

“Once I asked Abu Ja’far al-Baqir (as) about as-Sufyani and he said: “As-Sufyani does not rise until ash-Shaysabani rises before him. He (ash-Shaysabani) will rise from Kufa. He will flow like water. He will kill your delegation. After that you expect the rising of as-Sufyani and then al-Qa’im (as).”

H 369 - Ibn Nuh, Abu Nasr Hibatullah Ibn Muhammad said: Muhammad Ibn Nasir Numairi was from the companions of Abu Muhammad Hasan Ibn Ali (a.s). And when Abu Muhammad was transferred to his eternal abode, Muhammad claimed the position of Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Uthman, that is, he claimed that he was the deputy of the Imam of the Age. He claimed “Babiyya,” that is, to be a gateway to the Imam. Allah disgraced and humiliated him through blasphemy and ignorance, which he manifested, and through the curse of Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Uthman and his dislike and denunciation of him. He claimed this position after Shari.

When Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Ali bin Musa (a.s) died, a chair or a platform was put for Imam Hadi (a.s) and the Imam sat on it. Abu Muhammad, Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) also stood besides the Imam. After he completed the funeral bath of Abu Ja’far, Imam Hadi (a.s) glanced at Abu Muhammad (a.s) and said: “God has made succession (rest) with you from Him. So praise God.”

H 355 - Abu Husain Ibn Thammam says: Abdullah Kufi, the servant of Shaykh Husain Ibn Rauh said: The Shaykh was asked about the books of Ibn Abi Azaqir after he was denounced and the Imam had cursed him. He was asked, “How are we going to act according to his books? Our houses are full of them.” He said: “I will tell you the same thing, which Abu Muhammad Hasan Ibn Ali (a.s) said when he was asked about the books of Aale Fadhdhal. They asked, ‘How should we act on their books? Our houses are full of them.’ The Imam said: Take what they have narrated and discard what they have opined.”

Muhammad bin Salih Armini asked Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) about the verse: “Allah makes to pass away and establishes what He pleases, and with Him is the basis of the Book.” (13:39) Imam (a.s) said: Is it other than that He erased that which was and established that which was not there? Muhammad bin Salih Armini said: I said to myself: That which the Imam (a.s) has said is opposed to that which Hisham bin Hakam said that Almighty Allah is not aware of things, except when they come into existence. Abu Muhammad Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) glanced at me and said: Allah, the Mighty and Sublime is aware of everything, before it comes into existence, although the tradition has been condensed.

“Once abu Muhammad (a.s.) wrote to abu al-Qasim Ishaq ibn Ja‘far al-Zubayri before the death of al-Mu‘tazz by about twenty days as herein below. ‘Stay home until what is to happen will happen.’ When Burayha was killed he wrote to him, “A happening has happened. What would you command me to do?” He wrote back, “This is not the happening. It is another happening.” Then there was the case of al-Mu‘tazz the way it was.” It is narrated from the same narrator that the Imam (a.s.) wrote to another person. “Muhammad ibn Dawud ibn ‘Abdallah will be killed.” It was ten days before his murder. On the tenth day he was killed.”

“Stop. This man who is coming is not one of you.”

“Two issues would poke in my chest which made me to write to abu Muhammad (a.s.). I wrote about Al-Qa’im (the one who will rise with Divine Authority). “When he rise by what means he will judge among the people and where will be his court house?” I also wanted to ask him about alternating fever but I had missed to mention it in writing. The answer came. “You had asked about Al-Qa’im. When he will rise he judge among people through his own knowledge just the way David would judge. He would not call any witness to testify. You also wanted to ask about alternating fever but you forgot to do so. Write this on a sheet (of material) “We said to the fire, ‘Be cool and peaceful (with Abraham)’” (21:69).The narrator has said that we did just as he had said and the suffering person was relieved.”

When Abu Ja’far passed away, I was present with Imam Hadi (a.s) and previously the Imam had hinted to him. Therefore, I thought and said to myself: This is just how it happened in the case of Abu Ibrahim [Imam Kadhim (a.s)] and Ismail Ibn Ja’far that when Ismail passed away, Imam Sadiq (a.s) publicly announced his death so that no one may say that Ismail or his descendants are Imams. Imam Hadi (a.s) came to me and said: Yes, Aba Hashim, change of destiny occurred (Bada) with regard to Abu Ja’far and Almighty Allah replaced him with Abu Muhammad as He did in the case of Ismail, son of Imam Sadiq (a.s), after Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s) had declared and mentioned him to be the Imam after him and appointed him as his successor; just as you said to yourself, although it would be displeasing to the followers of falsehood. My son, Abu Muhammad is my successor and he is having all that which the Shia society is in need of and he is having the distinctive signs of Imamate, by the grace of God.

“After he had been fascinated with the search and investigation into the matter of Imamate after the Eleventh Imam and had left his homeland to find out what to do. He also wrote a letter to the Master of the Time (a.s), through Husain Ibn Rauh complaining about his bewilderment as it had affected his whole life and begged for a reply, which would accord him comfort and peace of heart. He himself says: An epistle was issued to me from Imam (a.s): ‘Whoever searches, he seeks; and whoever seeks, he leads [my enemies] on [and divulges my location to people]; and whoever leads on, [it is as if] he destroys [me]; and whoever destroys [me], [it is as if] he worships a deity other than Allah.’ On seeing that epistle I gave up the search, my heart got peace and I returned to my hometown happily, thanks be to Allah.

We were about twenty persons in the house of Abu Abdullah Ja’far bin Muhammad as-Sadiq (as) when he came to us and said: “You may think that we determine the matter of the imamate as we like! By Allah, it is a covenant from Allah revealed to His messenger (as) and then to certain men one after the other until it reaches its keeper.”