علي بن بلال

There are many people like Abu Tahir Muhammad bin Ali bin Bilal and others by whose mention we would not prolong the book since they are famous and well known and they are mentioned in other books as well.

Narrated to me Muhammad bin Ali bin Bilal from Hakima an identical tradition

2. [2/249] al-Kafi: Ali b. Muhammad from Muhammad b. Ali b. Bilal who said: There came to me from Abi Muhammad [al-Askari] عليه السلام [a letter] informing me of the identity of the successor after him two years before his [al-Askari’s] death. Then there came to me [a letter] informing me of the successor after him three days before his death.

And among them Abu Tahir Muhammad bin Ali bin Bilal: His story and what happened between him and Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Uthman Amari, may Allah lighten his visage, is well-known. He seized the goods of the Imam, which were in his hands and refused to deliver them, and claimed that he was the representative. The community turned away from him and invoked damnation for him and the famous letter came from the Master of the Age (a.s).

on the authority of Ja’far Ibn Ahmad Ibn Matil Qummi that Muhammad Ibn Uthman Abu Ja’far Amari had about ten people in Baghdad who were his deputies. Abul Qasim Ibn Ruh was one of them. All of them were closer to him than Abul Qasim Ibn Ruh so much so that when he needed something or had a task, he would have it fulfilled through someone else, because Ibn Ruh did not have that kind of proximity to him. When Abu Ja’far was to pass away, the choice was his and he had the authority to make his final will.

I heard Abul Qasim Ja’far Ibn Muhammad Ibn Quluwayh say: We knew Abu Dalf, the transcriber, may God not forgive him, to be blasphemous. Then he expressed exaggeration about the Imams and then went crazy and was put in chains. Then he was released. He was ridiculed wherever he went. The Shia knew him for a very little time. They are disdainful of him and whoever promotes him. We sent someone to Abu Bakr Baghdadi when it was said that he had made such claims. He denied that and took oaths. So we took him on his word, but when he went to Baghdad, he turned to this person and distanced himself from the community and was appointed his successor. We had no doubt that he was on his path. So we cursed him and denounced him, because we believe that whoever claims this position after Saymoori, is a denier; he is evil, misguided and leads astray.

We gathered before Abu Muhammad Hasan Ibn Ali (a.s) to ask him about the Hujjah (Imam) after him. There were forty men in the gathering. Uthman bin Saeed bin Amr Amari rose and said: “O son of Allah’s Messenger, I want to ask you about a great subject, which you know better than me.” “Sit down, O Uthman.” Uthman rose to leave. The Imam said: “No one leaves.” None of us left. It was an hour that Imam called Uthman. Uthman rose on his feet. The Imam said: “Shall I inform you why you have come?” They said: “Yes, O son of Allah’s Messenger.” He said: “You came to ask me about the Divine Proof (Hujjah) after me.” They said: “Yes.” Suddenly, there came a boy, as he were a piece of the moon and more similar to Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) than all the people. The Imam said: ‘This is your Imam after me and my caliph over you. Obey him and do not disperse after me, lest you will perish in your religion. Behold, you will not see him after this day until ages pass. So, accept from Uthman what he says and obey his order and accept his word, because he is the caliph of your Imam and the affairs are in his hands.”