محمد بن عثمان

The matter of Abu Bakr Baghdadi nephew of Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Uthman Amari and the incident of Abi Dalf Majnun:

3. [3/-] al-Faqih: Via his chain to Abdallah b. Ja’far al-Himyari who said: I asked Muhammad b. Uthman al-Amri رضي الله عنه: Have you seen the Master of this Orderعليه السلام ? He said: Yes. My last meeting with him was at the Sanctified House of Allah [Ka’ba], he was saying: ‘O Allah – fulfill for me what you promised me’. Muhammad b. Uthman رضي الله عنه وأرضاه said: I also saw him صلوات الله عليه clinging to the covering of the Ka’ba at the Mustajar [place of refuge – wall opposite the Yamani corner of the Ka’ba] saying: ‘O Allah – seek revenge for me from your enemies’.

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.

I asked Muhammad Ibn Uthman Amari to deliver a letter of mine, in which I had asked about some queries that had baffled me. The answer in the handwriting of our Master the Patron of the House came stating, “As for Muhammad Ibn Uthman Amari, may Allah be pleased with him and his father before him: he has my full trust and his letter is my letter.”

When Abu Amr Uthman Ibn Saeed died, his son Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Uthman stood in his place, as the representative of the Qaim (a.s) on the virtue of clear instructions of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) and the instructions of his father.

I asked Muhammad bin Uthman Amari: “Have you the seen the master of this affair? He replied: “Yes, and the last time I saw him, he was besides the House of Allah and praying: O my Lord, fulfill the promise that You made to me.” Muhammad bin Uthman said: And I saw him holding the curtain of the Kaaba below the spout and praying: O my Lord, take revenge from my enemies.

I asked Muhammad Ibn Uthman (a.s): “Have you seen the Master of this Affair?” “Yes,” he said: “and the last time was at the Sacred House of God as he was saying: O Allah, fulfill for me what You promised.” He said: “I saw him, Divine bliss be for him, clinging to the curtains of the Kaaba at the spout (Mustajaar) as he was saying, O Allah, avenge Your enemies through me.”

H 329 - Abu Ja’far Ibn Babawayh says: Muhammad Ibn Uthman Amari narrated that by Allah, the Master of this Affair attends the Hajj every year; he sees the people and knows them and they also see him, but don’t recognize him.

H 374 - Abu Ali Ibn Himam said: Ahmad Ibn Hilal was from the companions of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s). The Shia were unanimous on the deputization of Abu Ja’far Muhammad Uthman on the account of clear instructions of Hasan (a.s) during his lifetime. And when Hasan (a.s) passed away, the Shia said to Ibn Hilal, “The community is with him. Will you not accept the leadership of Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Uthman and refer to him, when the Imam, whose obedience is obligatory, has clearly assigned him as his representative?” He said, “I have not heard the Imam mention him as his representative. I do not deny the deputization of his father [meaning, Uthman Ibn Saeed], though. However, if I were certain that Abu Ja’far were the representative of the Master of the Age, I would not defy him.” They said: “If you have not heard, others have.” He said: “You follow what you have heard.” He did not profess the authority of Abu Ja’far, so the Shia beseeched damnation for him and manifested their disdain for him. Then the holy letter came through Abul Qasim Ibn Ruh with oath of damnation for him and denounced him amongst others who were dammed.

I found in the handwriting of Abu Ghalib Zurari that Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Uthman Amari died at the end of Jamadiul Awwal of the year three hundred and five. Abu Nasr Hibatullah Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ahmad has mentioned that Abu Ja’far Amari died in the year three hundred and four and that he undertook this duty for about fifty years. People would carry their religious dues to him and letters to them would come with the same handwriting that they came during the lifetime of Hasan (a.s) addressing their important and vital issues of religious as well as worldly life and responding their queries with astonishing answers. May Allah please him and He be pleased with him. Abu Nasr Ibn Hibatullah says: Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Uthman’s grave is near that of his mother in the street of gate of Kufa in the place where his houses and quarters were; which is now in the middle of the desert. May Allah sanctify his soul.

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).

Abdullah bin Umar said to me: O Aba Tufayl, you must consider twelve persons from the descendants of Kaab bin Loi as the Caliphs of the Messenger of Allah (s), after whom mischief and bloodshed would occur and people would fight each other [as all those who mention the twelve persons would create a great controversy].

Ali Ibn Sulaiman Razi recounted to us on the authority of Ali Ibn Sadaqah Qummi, who said: A letter came to Muhammad Ibn Uthman Amari without any inquiry from him and commanded him to inform the people who were inquiring about the name of the Imam to either be silent and attain Paradise or either talk and be condemned to the Fire. For if they discern the name, they will spread it, and if they discover the place, they will lead others to it.

Messenger of Allah (s) said: After me there would be twelve Caliphs; after that the Prophet mentioned something, which I could not understand. A person in that gathering says: I asked the others [What did the Messenger of Allah (s) say?] They replied: His Eminence said: All of them would be from Quraish.

The Holy Prophet (s) remarked: The people of this religion would be helped against one who intends harm to them till the tenure of the twelve Caliphs. [When the Prophet said this] People were coming and going and there was a lot of disturbance; at that time the Holy Prophet (s) mentioned some words, which I could not understand. So I asked my father or brother: What did the Prophet say? He replied: He said: All of them would be from Quraish.

I heard the Messenger of Allah (s) say: This religion would remain victorious and will not be harmed by those who intend to cause harm to it till the time that twelve Caliphs, all of whom would be from Quraish, rise up [for Imamate].

If the incident of death befalls me, the command is with Abul Qasim Husain Ibn Rauh Naubakhti. I have been ordered to place him in my position after me. Refer to him and rely on him in your affairs,”

I was with Shafi Asbahi when he said: I heard Abdullah bin Umar say: I heard the Messenger of Allah (s) say: After me, there would be twelve Caliphs.

I was with Ibn Masud when a person asked him: Did your Prophet inform you how many his successors would be? Ibn Masud said: Yes, in spite of the fact that you are the youngest, no one other than you asked me this question. I always heard the Messenger of Allah (s) say: After me there will be Caliphs equal to the number of the chiefs of Musa (a.s). Allah, the Mighty and the High said: “…and We raised up among them twelve chieftains…”

He was born eight days before Shaban of the year two hundred and fifty six. His representative was Uthman Ibn Saeed; and when he died, Uthman Ibn Saeed appointed Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Uthman; and Abu Ja’far appointed Abul Qasim Husain Ibn Rauh; and Abul Qasim appointed Abul Hasan Ali Ibn Muhammad Saymoori. And when it was the time of final departure of Saymoori, he was asked to appoint a successor. He said: “To Allah belongs the Order and He is its Sustainer.” The full occultation is the one that began after the demise of Saymoori.