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).

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).

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.

“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).”

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.

I heard Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) say: Among the sins that would not be forgiven is when a person says: If only I were not punished, except for this sin! I said to myself: This matter is very complicated and it is best for man to be wary of his self in his internal matters in everything. At that moment the Imam glanced at me and said: O Abdul Hashim, you thought right. You must be careful of every incident and matter, because polytheism in people is more concealed than the movement of the ant on a smooth stone on a dark night or on the surface of black floor.

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

“I said to Imam Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “Someone has sent you his regards and requested you to intercede for him (on the Day of Resurrection).” Imam as-Sadiq (as) said: “Is he from our followers?” I said: “Yes, he is.” He said: “His matter is more important than that.” I said: “He has believed in Ali but he does not know any of the guardians after him.” He said: “He is astray.” I said: “He has believed in the imams but he has denied the last one of them.” He said: “He is like that who believes in Jesus Christ and denies Muhammad or believes in Muhammad and denies Jesus Christ. We pray Allah to protect us from denying any of His authorities.” Let one, who reads this tradition, be careful not to deny any one of the imams lest he will perish as if he has denied Muhammad or Jesus Christ (peace be upon them).

“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.”

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.

I was with Abul Hasan Askari [Imam Hadi] at the time when his son, Abu Ja’far passed away, Imam (a.s) pointed to him emphatically so that we may see his son, who had passed away. I 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 claim that Ismail or his descendants are Imams. Thus 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 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.

When Shaykh Abul Qasim Husain Ibn Rauh sent the letter of the Imam that cursed Ibn Abi Azaqir, he sent it from where he was in jail in the house of Muqtadir Abbaside to our Shaykh, Abu Ali Ibn Himam in Dhul Hijja of the year three hundred and twelve. Abu Ali copied the letter and told me that Abul Qasim has suggested to the Imam not to make this epistle public; as he was in the hands of the supporters of Muqtadir in their prison, but he was ordered to disclose it and not to fear and assured that he will be safe. Thus he was freed from the prison a short while after that. Praise be to Allah.

I was in Qom, there began a discussion amongst our people about a man who had negated his son to be from his seed. They sent a man to Shaykh Siyanatullah, as I was present before him. The messenger handed to him the letter, but he did not read it and told him to go to Abu Abdullah Bazufari for the answer. I went with the messenger. Bazufari said to him, “The boy is his son and he copulated with his mother in such and such day in such and such time. Tell him to name his son Muhammad.” The messenger returned and the matter was clarified to all and the boy was named Muhammad.