Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Section Eleven: The traditions that indicate he is the ninth descendant of (Imam) al-Ḥusayn, peace be on him

Comprised of 160 traditions

533. Kifāyat al-athar1 : Abū Ṣāliḥ Muḥammad b. [Faiḍ b.] Fayyāḍ al-`Ijlī al-Sāwī, from Muḥammad b. Aḥmad b. `Āmir, from `Abd-Allah, from Rukain, from al-Qāsim b. Ḥasan, from Zaid b. Thābit who recounts:

I heard the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, say,“The world will not come to an end until a person from the loin (ṣulb) of al-Ḥusayn, peace be on him, will rise with the affairs of my nation. He will fill it with justice just as it will be filled with injustice.” We asked,“Who is he, O Messenger of Allah?’ He replied, ‘He is the ninth Imam from the loin of al-Ḥusayn, peace be on him.”

534. Kifāyat al-athar2 : Muḥammad b. Wahbān b. Muḥammad al-Nahbānī al-Baṣrī, from al-Ḥusayn b. `Alī al-Bazaufarī, from `Alī b. al-`Abbās, from `Abbād b. Ya`qūb, from Mismār b. Nuwayra, from Abū Bakr b. `Ayyāsh, from Abū Sulaimān al-Ḍabbī, from Abū Umāma who said:

The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, said,“The Hour will not be established until the Qā’im from us rises with the truth. This will occur only when Allah, Mighty and Majestic be He, permits. Whoever follows him will be saved and whoever remains behind will be destroyed. O servants of Allah! Be aware O servants of Allah! Go to him even if [you have to trek over] ice, for he is Allah’s caliph.” We asked,“O Messenger of Allah! When will the Qā’im from you rise?” He replied,“When the world falls into chaos and confusion. He will be the ninth from the loin of al-Ḥusayn, peace be on him.”

535. Kifāyat al-athar3 : Muḥammad b. `Abd-Allah al-Shaibānī, from Muḥammad b. al-Ḥusayn b. Ḥafṣ al-Khath`amī al-Kūfī, from `Abbād b. Ya`qūb, from `Alī b. Hāshim, from Muḥammad b. `Abd-Allah, from Abū `Ubaidat b. Muḥammad b. `Ammār, from his father, from his grandfather `Ammār who recounts:

I was with the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, during one of the battles in which `Alī, peace be on him, had killed the standard-bearers and scattered them. He had killed `Amr b. `Abd-Allah al-Jumaḥī and Shaibat b. Nāfi`. I came to the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, and said to him,“O Messenger of Allah! `Alī has fought for Allah a worthy fight.”

He replied,“That is because he is from me and I am from him. He will inherit my knowledge, repay my debts, fulfill my promises, and will be my successor after me. If it was not for him, the pure believer would not be recognized after me. His war is my war and my war is Allah’s war. His peace is my peace and my peace is Allah’s peace. Know that he is the father of my two grandsons and the Imams after me. Allah, the Exalted, will bring out from his loin the rightly guided Imams. From them is the Mahdī of this nation.”

I said,“May my father and my mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah! Who is this Mahdī?” He replied,“O `Ammār! Know that surely Allah, Blessed and High be He, has promised me that nine Imams will emerge from the loin of al-Ḥusayn. The ninth of his descendants will become concealed from the people. This is [the meaning of] the saying of Allah, Mighty and Majestic be He, ‘Say: Have you considered if your water sinks in the ground, who is it then that will bring you flowing water?’ 4

He will have a lengthy occultation in which some people will stop believing in him while others will remain steadfast about him. Then, he will emerge in the end of times and will fill the world with fairness and justice. He will fight in accordance with the interpretation [of the Holy Quran] like I fought in accordance with its revelation. His name will be my name and he is the most similar of people to me...”

536. Muqtaḍab al-athar5 : Narrated to us Abū `Alī Aḥmad b. Ziyād al-Hamdānī, from `Alī b. Ibrāhīm b. Hāshim, from his father, from `Abd al-Salām b. Ṣāliḥ al-Harawī, from Wakī` b. al-Jarrāḥ and al-Rabī` b. Sa`d, from `Abd al-Raḥmān b. Salīṭ, from Ḥusayn b. `Alī, peace be on him, who said:

From us are twelve Mahdīs(guided ones) . The first one is Amīr al-Mu’minīn `Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib, peace be on him, and the last one is my ninth descendant. He is the one who will rise with the truth. Through him, Allah will give life to the earth after its death. Through him, Allah will dominate religion [i.e. Islam] over all religions even if the polytheists detest it. He will have an occultation in which some people will apostate and others will remain steadfast in religion. They [i.e. the steadfast] will be harassed and will be asked [tauntingly],“If you are truthful, [then tell us] when will this promise happen?” 6 He who is patient during his occultation-with all the tortures and denials-is like those who fight with their swords before [i.e. alongside] the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessings be on him and his family.”

537. Kashf al-astār7 : Abū Muḥammad al-Faḍl b. Shādhān al-Nīsābūrī-who passed away during the lifetime of (Imam) Abū Muḥammad al-`Askarī, peace be on him-has recorded in his book al-Ghayba: Narrated to us al-Ḥasan b. Maḥbūb, from `Alī b. Ri’āb, from Abū `Abd-Allah, peace be on him, a lengthy tradition from Amīr al-Mu’minīn `Alī, at the end of which he said:

Then, there will be enmity between the Arab and non-Arab rulers because of their differences. It will be like this until the affair reaches a person from the descendants of Abū Sufyān... thereafter the king of the kings, the slayer of the unbelievers, the desired ruler, and the one during whose occultation intellects(uqūl) will be baffled, will appear. He is the ninth from your descendants, O Ḥusayn. He will emerge from between the two rukns [of Ka`ba] and he will be victorious over the humans and the Jinn... Salvation is for the believers who realize his time, reach his era, witness his days, and meet his followers.

538. Kamāl al-dīn8 : Narrated to us Aḥmad b. Ziyād b. Ja`far al-Hamdānī, may Allah be satisfied with him, from `Alī b. Ibrāhīm b. Hāshim, from his father, from `Alī b. Ma`bad, from al-Ḥusayn b. Khālid, from Imam `Alī b. Mūsā al-Riḍā, from (Imam) Mūsā b. Ja`far, from his father (Imam)

Muḥammad b. `Alī, from his father (Imam) `Alī b. Ḥusayn, from his father (Imam) al-Ḥusayn b. `Alī, who said:

My father Amīr al-Mu’minīn `Alī b. Abī Ṭālib said to me,“O Ḥusayn! The ninth from your descendants is the one who will rise with the truth, manifest religion, and spread justice.” I asked him,“O Amīr al-Mu’minīn! Will this [really] happen?” He replied,“Yes, I swear by the One Who sent Muḥammad with prophethood and selected him from all the creatures; but [this will happen] only after an occultation and bewilderment in which no one will remain steadfast in his religion except the sincere ones-those who are inseparable from the spirit of certainty. They are the ones from whom Allah, Mighty and Majestic be He, has taken the covenant of our mastership (wilāya), has written faith in their hearts, and has assisted them with a Holy Spirit from Himself.”

539. Kamāl al-dīn9 : Narrated to us al-Muẓaffar b. Ja`far b. al-Muẓaffar al-`Alawī al-Samarqandī, may Allah be satisfied with him, from Ja`far b. Muḥammad b. Mas`ūd, from his father, from Jabra’īl b. Aḥmad, from Mūsā b. Ja`far al-Baghdādī, from al-Ḥasan b. Muḥammad al-Ṣairafī, from Ḥanān b. Sadīr, from his father Sadīr b. Ḥakīm, from his father, from Abū Sa`īd `Aqīṣā who said:

When (Imam) al-Ḥasan b. `Alī signed the peace treaty with Mu`āwiyat b. Abī Sufyān, people came to meet him and some of them criticized him [for signing] the treaty. He replied,“Woe to you! You do not know what I know [or what I have done]. By Allah, what I did was best for our followers-whether they be where the sun rises or it sets.

Don’t you know that I am your Imam whose obedience is obligatory upon you and that I am one of the [two] masters of the youths of Paradise-just as the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, has said about me?” They all replied in the affirmative. He then said,“Do you know that when [the Prophet] Khiḍr, peace be on him, drilled a hole in the boat, erected the wall, and killed a child, all these actions angered Moses because the wisdom behind these acts were hidden from him? These three acts were regarded by Allah, High be His Remembrance, as nothing but wise and right?

Do you not know that there is no one from us but that on his neck is the allegiance of the tyrants of his time, except the Qā’im behind whom Jesus, son of Mary, Allah’s Spirit, will pray? Allah, Mighty and Majestic be He, has concealed him and his birth so that he will not have an allegiance on his neck when he emerges. He is the ninth descendant of my brother al-Ḥusayn, the son of the Master of the Women of the Universe. Allah will prolong his age during his occultation, then, He will manifest him with His power in the form of a young man of less than forty years of age. And this is because it should be known that Allah is Powerful over all things.”

540. Kamāl al-dīn10 : Narrated to us `Abd al-Wāḥid b. Muḥammad b. `Abdūs al-`Aṭṭār, from Abū `Amr al-Kashshī (or al-Laithī), from Muḥammad b. Mas`ūd, from `Alī b. Muḥammad b. Shujā`, from Muḥammad b. `Īsā, from Muḥammad b. Abī `Umair, from `Abd al-Raḥmān b. al-Ḥajjāj, from al-Ṣādiq Ja`far b. Muḥammad, from his father (Imam) Muḥammad b. `Alī, from his father (Imam) `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn, from (Imam)

al-Ḥusayn b. `Alī-peace be upon them- who said:“My ninth descendant will have a similarity with Yūsuf and a similarity with Moses, son of `Imrān, peace be on them both. He is the one who will rise from us Ahl al-Bait. Allah, Blessed and High be He, will set right his affairs in one night.”

541. Kamāl al-dīn11 : Narrated to us Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. Isḥāq al-Mu`ādhī (or al-Mu`ārī), may Allah be satisfied with him, from Aḥmad b. Muḥammad al-Hamdānī al-Kūfī, from Aḥmad b. Mūsā b. al-furāt, from `Abd al-Wāḥid b. Muḥammad, from Sufyān, from `Abd-Allah b. al-Zubayr, from `Abd-Allah b. Sharīk, from a person, from Ḥamdān, from al-Ḥusayn b. `Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib, peace be on him, who said:“The Qā’im of this nation is the ninth from my descendants who will have an occultation. He is the one whose inheritance will be divided while he is [still] alive.”

The traditions with the following numbers also show the aforementioned concept: 205-308, 543, 550, 551, 558-571, 608, 612, 641, 786-807, 859, 918, 973, 1104, and 1230.

References

1. Kifāyat al-athar, chap. 12, p. 97, no. 3; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 36, chap. 41, p. 318, no. 169; al-Ṣirāṭ al-mustaqīm, vol. 2, chap. 10, pp. 115-116, sect. 3. He writes: “Al-Ḥusayn b. `Alī al-Rāzī has narrated the same concept which ends like this: ‘From the Loin of al-Ḥusayn will emerge righteous infallible Imams. From them will be the Mahdī of this nation behind whom Jesus, son of Mary, will pray. He is the ninth from the loin of al-Ḥusayn, peace be on him.’”

2. Kifāyat al-athar, chap. 12, p. 106; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 36, chap. 41, p. 322, no. 172; al-Ṣirāṭ al-mustaqīm, vol. 2, chap. 10, p. 116, sect. 3, which is a short version.

I say: In Biḥār al-anwār, it is ‘Maimūn b. Abī Nuwayra’ and in some copies, it is ‘Mismarat b. Abī Nuwayra’. In the source, al-Hunā’ī has been mentioned but al-Nahbānī is correct.

3. Kifāyat al-athar, p. 120, no. 1; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 36, chap. 41, pp. 326-328, no. 183; al-Ṣirāṭ al-mustaqīm, vol. 2, chap. 10, p. 118, sect. 3, which is a short version.

4. Quran 67:30.

5. Muqtaḍab al-athar, p. 23; Kifāyat al-athar, pp. 231-232, chap. 31, no. 2; Kamāl al-dīn, vol. 1, chap. 30, p. 317, no. 2; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 36, p. 385, chap. 43, no. 6 and vol. 51, chap. 3, p. 133, no. 4; Ithbāt al-hudāt, vol. 2, chap. 9, p. 133, no. 134.

6. Quran 36:48.

7. Kashf al-astār, p. 180 (1318 AH) and p. 221 (in the new edition); al-Arba`īn (Kifāyat al-Muhtadī), p. 31, under no. 1.

8. Kamāl al-dīn, vol. 1 chap. 26, , p. 304, no. 16; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 51, chap. 2, p. 110, no. 2; I`lām al-warā, pp. 400-401.

9. Kamāl al-dīn, vol. 1, chap. 29, p. 315-316, no. 2; Kifāyat al-athar, chap. 30, pp. 224-226, no. 4. He has mentioned: “the ninth descendant of my brother-al-Ḥusayn-the son of the Master of the Maids”; I`lām al-warā, p. 401; al-Iḥtijāj, vol. 2, p. 288.

10. Kamāl al-dīn, vol. 1, chap. 30, pp. 316-317, no. 1; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 51, chap. 3, p. 132-133, no. 2; I`lām al-warā, p. 401.

11. Kamāl al-dīn, vol. 1, chap. 30, p. 317, no. 2; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 51, chap. 3, p. 133, no. 3; I`lām al-warā, p. 401.

Section Twelve: The traditions that indicate he is from the descendants of (Imam) `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn Zain al-`Ābidīn, peace be on him

Comprised of 197 traditions

542. Amālī al-Shaykh1 : A group informed us from Abū l-Mufaḍḍal, from Abū `Abd-Allah Ja`far b. Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-`Alawī al-Ḥusaynī, from Abū Naṣr Aḥmad b. `Abd al-Mun`im b. Naṣr al-Ṣaidāwī, from Ḥusayn b. Shaddād al-Ju`fī, from his father Shaddād b. Rushaid, from `Amr b. `Abd-Allah b. Hind al-Jamalī, from (Imam) Abū Ja`far Muḥammad b. `Alī, peace be on him, who said:

When Fāṭima-the daughter of `Alī b. Abī Ṭālib, peace be on him-observed her nephew, Imam `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn, peace be on him, constantly worshipping, she approached Jābir b. `Abd-Allah b. `Amr b. Ḥizām al-Anṣārī and said to him,“O companion of Allah’s Messenger! Surely, we have some rights which you are obliged to fulfill for us. One of our rights is that when you see one of [the Imams] from us straining himself while striving [in the way of Allah], then you should remind him of Allah and invite him to save his soul. Such is the present state of `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn, the remnant of his father al-Ḥusayn. His nose has become wounded and the skin of his forehead, palms, and knees have become coarse and thick because of constant worship.”

So, Jābir b. `Abd-Allah went to (Imam) `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn’s house and [saw Imam] Abū Ja`far Muḥammad b. `Alī standing there with some other boys from the Banī-Hāshim. Jābir stared at him and said,“The way you walk is like that of the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, [and your features] resemble his features. Who are you, son?” He replied,“I am Muḥammad b. `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn.”

On hearing this, Jābir cried and said,“By Allah! You are truly the splitter (bāqir) of knowledge. Come near me, may my father be sacrificed for you!” So, [Imam Abū Ja`far] went near him and Jābir opened the front of [Abū Ja`far’s] shirt, placed his hand on his chest and kissed it then put his own cheek and his face on [his chest] and said,“I bring you greetings (salām) from your great-grandfather, the Messenger of Allah, Allah's blessings be on him and his family, who ordered me to do what I just did.

He said to me, ‘You will live [a long life] and will continue to survive until you meet from my descendants the one whose name is [Abū Ja`far] Muḥammad. He will truly split knowledge.’ He further informed me, ‘You will live until you become blind and he will be the one who will give you back your sight.’”

Then, Jābir said to him,“‘Seek permission from your father for me.” (Imam) Abū Ja`far, peace be on him, went to his father and informed him about what had happened and said,“There is an old man at the door whom behaved with me in such and such manner.” [Imam al-Sajjād], replied,“O son! He is Jābir b. `Abd-Allah al-Anṣārī. Amongst all the children, did he only say these things to you and behave with you in this particular manner?” [Imam Abū Ja`far, peace be on him], replied,“Yes.” He said,“We are from Allah. Surely, he did not intend anything bad for you...”

Then, he allowed Jābir to enter. [When Jābir entered], he found the Imam in his prayer-niche whilst excessive worship had worn him out. The Imam stood up and asked Jābir about his conditions then made him sit next to him. Jābir turned to him and said,“O Son of Allah’s Messenger! Do you not know that indeed Allah, the Exalted, has created Paradise for you and for those who love you and He has created Hell for those who have hatred towards you and enmity against you? Why have you obliged yourself to perform such [a straining worship]? (Imam) `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn, peace be on him, said, ‘O Companion of the Messenger of Allah! Don’t you know that Allah had forgiven the past and future faults of my grandfather-the Messenger of Allah-and yet he did not stop striving (for Allah)? And he, may my father and my mother be sacrificed for him, continued worshipping until his shinbone and feet became swollen? He was asked, ‘Why do you do this whilst Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?’ He had replied, ‘Should I not be a thankful servant?’”

Jābir looked at Imam `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn, peace be on him, and saw that he could not convince him to ease his efforts and fatigue, so he said,“O Son of Allah’s Messenger! Please save yourself. Surely, you belong to a family through whom calamities are warded off, hardships are removed, and the sky pours its rain.” The (Imam) replied,“O Jābir! I will continue to be on the path of my parents-Allah’s blessings be on them-and mourn them until I meet them.” Jābir turned to those who were present and said,“By Allah, none from the children of the Prophets can be found who are like `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn except Yūsuf b. Ya`qūb. By Allah, the seed (dhurriyya) of `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn, peace be on him, are superior to the seed of Yūsuf b. Ya`qūb. From them is the one who will fill the earth with justice just as it will be filled with injustice.”

The traditions with the following numbers also show the aforementioned concept: 113, 125, 126, 127, 129, 134, 136, 167, 168, 170, 173, 175-178, 181, 183, 191, 193, 194, 196, 205-308, 465, 466, 533-541, 543-571, 590, 608, 612, 641, 770, 786-807, 973, 974, 1216, and 1230.

Reference

1. Amālī al-Shaykh, vol. 2, session 13, pp. 249-251, no. 16; Bishārat al-Muṣṭafā, pp. 66-67, which is the same as the previous reference with slight differences in the wording and chain of narrators. It ends like this, “From him is the one who will fill the earth with justice just as it will be filled with injustice”; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 46, chap. 5, pp. 60-61, no. 18.

Section Thirteen: The traditions that indicate he is the seventh descendant of (Imam) Muḥammad b. `Alī al-Bāqir, peace be on him

Comprised of 121 traditions

543. Kifāyat al-athar1 : Narrated to us Abū l-Mufaḍḍal, may God have mercy on him, from Muḥammad b. `Alī b. Shādhān b. Ḥabbāb al-Azdī al-Khallāl in Kūfa, from al-Ḥasan b. Muḥammad b. `Abd al-Wāḥid, from al-Ḥasan b. al-Ḥusayn al-`Arabī [or al-`Arafī or al-`Uranī] al-Ṣūfī, from Yaḥyā b. Ya`lā al-Aslamī, from `Amr b. Mūsā al-Wajīhī, from Zaid b. `Alī, peace be on him, who recounts:

I was with my father, (Imam) `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn, peace be on him, when Jābir b. `Abd-Allah al-Anṣārī entered. While he was talking with him my brother Muḥammad came from one of the rooms. Jābir fixed his gaze at him, then stood up and went towards him and said,“O boy, come!” He obliged. Jābir requested again,“Go back,” and he went back. Jābir remarked,“Characteristics like the characteristics of the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family! What is your name, son?” He replied,“Muḥammad.” Jābir said,“Whose son are you?” He replied,“I am the son of `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn b. `Alī b. Abī Ṭālib.”

Jābir said,“Then, you must be al-Bāqir!” Then, Jābir bent over him and began kissing his forehead and hands. Then he said,“O Muḥammad! The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, has conveyed salutations to you.” He replied,“May the best of salutations be upon the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, and also upon you, O Jābir, for conveying the salutations.”

Jābir then returned to his prayer-mat and started talking to my father, saying,“One day, the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, said to me, ‘O Jābir! When you meet my son, al-Bāqir, convey my salutations to him because his name is like mine and he is the most similar of people to me. His knowledge is my knowledge and his judgment is my judgment. Seven of his descendants are infallible trustees and righteous Imams and the seventh is their Mahdī, who will fill the earth with fairness and justice just as it will be filled with injustice and unfairness.’ Then, the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, recited, ‘And We made them Imams who guide with Our Command and We revealed to them good deeds, establishment of prayers, and paying the poor-rate (zakāt) and they worshipped Us.’”

544. Ghaybat al-Nu`mānī : Informed me `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn, from Muḥammad b. Ḥasan al-Rāzī, from Muḥammad b. `Alī al-Kūfī, from Ibrāhīm b. Muḥammad b. Yūsuf, from Muḥammad b. `Īsā, from `Abd al-Razzāq, from Muḥammad b. Sinān, from Fuḍail al-Rassān, from Abū Ḥamza al-Thumālī who narrates:

One day, I was with (Imam) Abū Ja`far Muḥammad b. `Alī al-Bāqir. When the people around him dispersed, he said to me,“O Abū Ḥamza! From the inevitable things that Allah will not change is the rising of our Qā’im. Whoever has doubts about what I am saying will meet Allah while he does not believe in Him and denies Him.” He continued,“My father and my mother be sacrificed for him whose name will be my name and his epithet will be my epithet and he will be my seventh descendant. My father be sacrificed for the one who will fill the earth with justice and fairness just as it will be filled with unfairness and injustice.

O Abā Ḥamza! Whoever reaches [his era] but does not submit to him, then, it is as if he has not submitted to Muḥammad and `Alī, Allah’s blessings be on them. Allah will prohibit him from entering Paradise and his dwelling place will be in fire and how bad is the abode of the oppressors!”

A matter which is clearer, more illuminating, more lucid and brighter than this-for those who Allah has guided and is beneficent to-thank God, is His saying which is an unambiguous verse from His Book:“Verily, the number of months (al-shuhūr) with Allah are twelve months in the Book of Allah, the day He created the skies and the earth; from these, four are sacred. This is the established religion, so do not be unjust to yourselves during these [months].” Having knowledge about these months like Muḥarram, Ṣafar, Rabī` al-Awwal, etc. and the sacred ones from them like Rajab, Dhu l-Qa`da, Dhu l-Ḥijja, and Muḥarram, cannot be called“an established religion.” Because the Jews, the Christians, the Zoroastrians, and all the other nations and people-whether those in favor and the opponents [of Islam]-were aware of these months and they counted them with their names.

[In this verse,] months(shuhūr) refers to the infallible Imams, peace be on them, who will establish the religion of Allah. The sacred ones from these are Amīr al-Mu’minīn, whose name Allah, the Exalted, has derived from His Name al-`Alī, just as He has derived for the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, a name from His Name, al-Maḥmūd. Three others from his descendants bear the name `Alī: `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn, `Alī b. Mūsā, and `Alī b. Muḥammad. These names have become sacred because they have been derived from the Name of Allah, the Exalted. And Allah’s blessings be on Muḥammad and his noble family who are sacred because of him.

545. Ithbāt al-waṣiyya2 : Al-Ḥimyarī, from Muḥammad b. `Īsā, from al-Naḍr b. Suwayd, from Yaḥyā al-Ḥalabī, from `Alī b. Abī Ḥamza who said:

I was with Abū Baṣīr and with us was a slave of (Imam) Abū Ja`far. He narrated to us that he heard, (Imam) Abū Ja`far, peace be on him, say,“From us are twelve muḥaddaths 3 . The Qā’im is the seventh after me.” Abū Baṣīr stood up and declared,“I testify that I have been hearing Abū Ja`far, peace be on him, saying this since forty years ago.”

The traditions with the following numbers also show the aforementioned concept: 235, 242-308, 550, 551, 554-571, 608, 612, 641, 786-807, 859, 973, 974, 1216, and 1230.

References

1. Kifāyat al-athar, chap. 40, pp. 301-303, no. 3; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 36, chap. 41, p. 360, no. 230, with the following chain of narrators: “Abū l-Mufaḍḍal al-Shaibānī, from Muḥammad b. `Alī b. Shādhān, from al-Ḥasan b. Muḥammad b. `Abd al-Wāḥid, from al-Ḥasan b. al-Ḥusayn al-`Uranī, from Yaḥyā b. Ya`lā, from `Umar b. Mūsā, from Zaid.”

2. Ithbāt al-waṣiyya, p. 204; Ghaybat al-Nu`mānī, chap. 4, pp. 96-97; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 36, chap. 45, p. 395, no. 11.

3. A muḥaddath is a person whom the angels speak with. This does not mean that the person whom the angels speak with is a prophet. This can be inferred from verses 19:17-19 of the Holy Quran that mention the story of Mary, peace be on her, speaking with one of God’s angels-Ed.

Section Thirteen: The traditions that indicate he is the seventh descendant of (Imam) Muḥammad b. `Alī al-Bāqir, peace be on him

Comprised of 121 traditions

543. Kifāyat al-athar1 : Narrated to us Abū l-Mufaḍḍal, may God have mercy on him, from Muḥammad b. `Alī b. Shādhān b. Ḥabbāb al-Azdī al-Khallāl in Kūfa, from al-Ḥasan b. Muḥammad b. `Abd al-Wāḥid, from al-Ḥasan b. al-Ḥusayn al-`Arabī [or al-`Arafī or al-`Uranī] al-Ṣūfī, from Yaḥyā b. Ya`lā al-Aslamī, from `Amr b. Mūsā al-Wajīhī, from Zaid b. `Alī, peace be on him, who recounts:

I was with my father, (Imam) `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn, peace be on him, when Jābir b. `Abd-Allah al-Anṣārī entered. While he was talking with him my brother Muḥammad came from one of the rooms. Jābir fixed his gaze at him, then stood up and went towards him and said,“O boy, come!” He obliged. Jābir requested again,“Go back,” and he went back. Jābir remarked,“Characteristics like the characteristics of the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family! What is your name, son?” He replied,“Muḥammad.” Jābir said,“Whose son are you?” He replied,“I am the son of `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn b. `Alī b. Abī Ṭālib.”

Jābir said,“Then, you must be al-Bāqir!” Then, Jābir bent over him and began kissing his forehead and hands. Then he said,“O Muḥammad! The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, has conveyed salutations to you.” He replied,“May the best of salutations be upon the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, and also upon you, O Jābir, for conveying the salutations.”

Jābir then returned to his prayer-mat and started talking to my father, saying,“One day, the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, said to me, ‘O Jābir! When you meet my son, al-Bāqir, convey my salutations to him because his name is like mine and he is the most similar of people to me. His knowledge is my knowledge and his judgment is my judgment. Seven of his descendants are infallible trustees and righteous Imams and the seventh is their Mahdī, who will fill the earth with fairness and justice just as it will be filled with injustice and unfairness.’ Then, the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, recited, ‘And We made them Imams who guide with Our Command and We revealed to them good deeds, establishment of prayers, and paying the poor-rate (zakāt) and they worshipped Us.’”

544. Ghaybat al-Nu`mānī : Informed me `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn, from Muḥammad b. Ḥasan al-Rāzī, from Muḥammad b. `Alī al-Kūfī, from Ibrāhīm b. Muḥammad b. Yūsuf, from Muḥammad b. `Īsā, from `Abd al-Razzāq, from Muḥammad b. Sinān, from Fuḍail al-Rassān, from Abū Ḥamza al-Thumālī who narrates:

One day, I was with (Imam) Abū Ja`far Muḥammad b. `Alī al-Bāqir. When the people around him dispersed, he said to me,“O Abū Ḥamza! From the inevitable things that Allah will not change is the rising of our Qā’im. Whoever has doubts about what I am saying will meet Allah while he does not believe in Him and denies Him.” He continued,“My father and my mother be sacrificed for him whose name will be my name and his epithet will be my epithet and he will be my seventh descendant. My father be sacrificed for the one who will fill the earth with justice and fairness just as it will be filled with unfairness and injustice.

O Abā Ḥamza! Whoever reaches [his era] but does not submit to him, then, it is as if he has not submitted to Muḥammad and `Alī, Allah’s blessings be on them. Allah will prohibit him from entering Paradise and his dwelling place will be in fire and how bad is the abode of the oppressors!”

A matter which is clearer, more illuminating, more lucid and brighter than this-for those who Allah has guided and is beneficent to-thank God, is His saying which is an unambiguous verse from His Book:“Verily, the number of months (al-shuhūr) with Allah are twelve months in the Book of Allah, the day He created the skies and the earth; from these, four are sacred. This is the established religion, so do not be unjust to yourselves during these [months].” Having knowledge about these months like Muḥarram, Ṣafar, Rabī` al-Awwal, etc. and the sacred ones from them like Rajab, Dhu l-Qa`da, Dhu l-Ḥijja, and Muḥarram, cannot be called“an established religion.” Because the Jews, the Christians, the Zoroastrians, and all the other nations and people-whether those in favor and the opponents [of Islam]-were aware of these months and they counted them with their names.

[In this verse,] months(shuhūr) refers to the infallible Imams, peace be on them, who will establish the religion of Allah. The sacred ones from these are Amīr al-Mu’minīn, whose name Allah, the Exalted, has derived from His Name al-`Alī, just as He has derived for the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family, a name from His Name, al-Maḥmūd. Three others from his descendants bear the name `Alī: `Alī b. al-Ḥusayn, `Alī b. Mūsā, and `Alī b. Muḥammad. These names have become sacred because they have been derived from the Name of Allah, the Exalted. And Allah’s blessings be on Muḥammad and his noble family who are sacred because of him.

545. Ithbāt al-waṣiyya2 : Al-Ḥimyarī, from Muḥammad b. `Īsā, from al-Naḍr b. Suwayd, from Yaḥyā al-Ḥalabī, from `Alī b. Abī Ḥamza who said:

I was with Abū Baṣīr and with us was a slave of (Imam) Abū Ja`far. He narrated to us that he heard, (Imam) Abū Ja`far, peace be on him, say,“From us are twelve muḥaddaths 3 . The Qā’im is the seventh after me.” Abū Baṣīr stood up and declared,“I testify that I have been hearing Abū Ja`far, peace be on him, saying this since forty years ago.”

The traditions with the following numbers also show the aforementioned concept: 235, 242-308, 550, 551, 554-571, 608, 612, 641, 786-807, 859, 973, 974, 1216, and 1230.

References

1. Kifāyat al-athar, chap. 40, pp. 301-303, no. 3; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 36, chap. 41, p. 360, no. 230, with the following chain of narrators: “Abū l-Mufaḍḍal al-Shaibānī, from Muḥammad b. `Alī b. Shādhān, from al-Ḥasan b. Muḥammad b. `Abd al-Wāḥid, from al-Ḥasan b. al-Ḥusayn al-`Uranī, from Yaḥyā b. Ya`lā, from `Umar b. Mūsā, from Zaid.”

2. Ithbāt al-waṣiyya, p. 204; Ghaybat al-Nu`mānī, chap. 4, pp. 96-97; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 36, chap. 45, p. 395, no. 11.

3. A muḥaddath is a person whom the angels speak with. This does not mean that the person whom the angels speak with is a prophet. This can be inferred from verses 19:17-19 of the Holy Quran that mention the story of Mary, peace be on her, speaking with one of God’s angels-Ed.

Section Fifteen: The traditions that indicate he is the sixth descendant of (Imam) Ja`far b. Muḥammad al-Ṣādiq, peace be on him

Comprised of 112 traditions

547. Kamāl al-dīn1 : Narrated to us `Abd al-Wāḥid b. Muḥammad al-`Aṭṭār al-Nīsābūrī, may Allah be satisfied with him, from `Alī b. Muḥammad b. Qutayba al-Nīsābūrī, from Ḥamdān b. Sulaimān, from Muḥammad b. Ismā’īl b. Bazī`, from Ḥayyān al-Sarrāj who said:

I heard al-Sayyid ibn Muḥammad al-Ḥimyarī say,“I used to say things which were exaggerations (al-ghuluw) and I used to believe in the occultation of Muḥammad b. `Alī- ibn al-Ḥanafiyya-and I was deviated like this for a period of time. Then, Allah granted me a great favor through (Imam) al-Ṣādiq Ja`far b. Muḥammad, peace be on him, and saved me from the [hell]fire and guided me to the straight path.

After it was proved to me through the evidence that I saw from him that he is Allah’s proof upon me and upon all the people of his time and that he is the Imam whose obedience is obligatory and who must necessarily be used as a role-model, I asked him, ‘O Son of Allah’s Messenger! Things have been narrated to us from your forefathers, peace be on them, about the occultation and its correctness. Please inform me for whom will it occur?’

He responded, ‘The occultation will occur for my sixth descendant. He is the twelfth of the guiding Imams after the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be on him and his family. The first of them is Amīr al-Mu’minīn `Alī b. Abī Ṭālib and the last of them is the one who will rise with the truth. He is the remnant of Allah (baqiyyat Allah) on earth and the master of time (Ṣāḥib al-Zamān). By Allah! If he remains occult for the period that Noah remained amongst his people [or on earth], he will not pass away until he appears. He will fill the earth with fairness and justice just as it will be filled with injustice and unfairness.’”

Al-Sayyid says, “When I heard this from my master, al-Ṣādiq Ja`far b. Muḥammad, peace be on him, I repented to Allah, High be His Remembrance, at his hands and wrote a poem which starts like this:

When I saw the people being deviated in religion

By Allah’s [mercy] I followed [Imam] Ja`far, amongst those who were his followers2

The traditions with the following numbers also show the aforementioned concept: 235, 242-308, 558-571, 608, 612, 641, 786-807, 859, 973, 1216, and 1230.

References

1. Kamāl al-dīn, vol. 1, pp. 33-34 (Author’s preface); Bishārat al-Muṣṭafā, p. 278, no. 10, and in it is an evident mistake; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 51, chap. 6, p. 145, no. 16.

2. Refer to Kamāl al-dīn, Bishārat al-Mustafa, or al-Ghadīr, vol. 2, p. 246, for the entire poem.

Section Sixteen: The traditions that indicate he is from the descendants (ṣulb) of Imam Abū Ibrāhīm Mūsā b. Ja`far, peace be on him

Comprised of 121 traditions

548. Ghaybat al-Shaykh1 : Imam Abū `Abd-Allah al-Ṣādiq, peace be on him, said in a lengthy tradition:

Our master(ṣāḥib) who is from the descendants(ṣulb) of this boy-and he pointed towards Mūsā b. Ja`far, peace be on them both-will appear and will fill [the earth] with justice just as it will be filled with injustice and unfairness. He will take over the world.

The traditions with the following numbers also show the aforementioned concept: 113, 242-308, 550-571, 608, 612, 641, 770, 786-807, 859, 973, 1216, and 1230.

Reference

1. Ghaybat al-Shaykh, p. 42, no. 23; Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 49, chap. 2, p. 26, no. 44; Ithbāt al-hudāt, vol. 3, chap. 24, p. 241, no. 53.