Recognition of a True Imam

In Kefaayatul Mohtadi, it is narrated from Shaykh Abdul Abdullah, Muhammad bin Hibtullah Tarabulisi in his book of Faraj Kabir, which he has narrated through his own chains of narrators from Abul Adyan, a servant of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) that he said: I hastened to serve the Holy Imam (a.s.) and found him weak and indisposed.

His Eminence gave some letters to me and said: ‘Go to Madayan. Your journey will last for fifteen days. On the fifteenth day, you will return to Samarrah. Here, wails and cries from my house will greet you. You will see me in the room where corpses are given the ritual bath.”

I asked, ‘Master! In such a case, who will be the Imam after you?’
Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) responded, ‘One, who will ask you for the replies to my letters will be my successor.’

I requested, ‘Please provide me more details.’ Imam (a.s.) replied, ‘He would lead my funeral prayers.’

I pleaded again, ‘Please furnish more information.’ He retorted, ‘He would inform you about what is there in the bag.’

The awe-inspiring personality of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) prevented me from further inquiry.

I took the letters to Madayan and procured the ripostes. On the 15th day, just as Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) had predicted, I entered Samarrah. Loud wails and cries emanated from the house of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.). I saw Ja’far, the brother of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.), standing on the door and receiving condolences and consolation from the local Shia.

I said to myself, ‘If this man is the Imam, then it will be clear that the position of Imamate has undergone a change. For, I have seen him drink wine, gamble and play musical instruments.’ I to him and offered my condolences. He did not ask me anything.

Afterwards, Aqeed emerged from the house and said: ‘Master! Your brother has been shrouded. Come and lead his funeral prayers.’

Ja’far went ahead to lead the prayers. Around him were some Shia including Samman and Hasan bin Ali alias Salma, whom Motamid killed.

When I entered the Imam’s house, I saw that his corpse had been shrouded and Ja’far bin Ali stepped forward to pray the funeral prayer.

As he was about to announce the Takbeer, a young boy with a wheatish complexion, curly hair, broad teeth, shining like a brilliant moon, came out of the house. He caught hold of Ja’far’s robe and pushed him aside, saying, ‘Uncle! Move aside. I am more worthy of leading the funeral prayers of my father.’

Ja’far withdrew in a corner and his face went colorless. The child went ahead to recite the prayers on his father’s bier and buried him next to his father’s (10th Imam’s) grave. Thereafter, he turned to me and said: ‘O Basri! Give me the replies of the letters that are with you.’ I handed the letters to him and said to myself, ‘Two prophecies are already fulfilled. Now, only the third one about the contents of the bag, remains.’

I went to Ja’far bin Ali and saw him sighing. Hajiz Washsha said to him: O master, who is that lad? So that I can establish the proof on him. He said: By Allah, I never saw him before and I don’t know who he is.

We were sitting when some residents of Qom arrived and asked about the condition of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.). When they were informed about his demise, they inquired about the Imam after him.
People guided them towards Ja’far Ibne Ali. They saluted him and offered their condolences. They wanted to know from him about the money they had brought, to whom it belonged and how much? Ja’far stood up and gathering his clothes, said: ‘They expect me to know the unseen!’

Afterwards, a servant emerged from the house of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) and announced, ‘The letters of so and so are in your possession. You also have a bag containing a thousand dinars. Of which, only ten dinars are pure. They gave the letters and money to this servant saying, ‘The one, who has sent you must be an Imam.’

Ja’far bin Ali came to Motamid and narrated everything. Motamid sent his soldiers to the Imam’s house, but they did not find any child there and at that time Narjis Banu was not alive. They arrested and brought Mariya, a slave girl. Motamid told her to surrender the child, but she denied having given birth to any child and she claimed that she was pregnant so that Motamid would give up the pursuit of the child. So he placed her in custody of Ibne Abi Shawarib, the Qadi, till Ubaidullah bin Yahya bin Khaqan died all of a sudden. The owner of Zanj revolted in Basra. All these circumstances made him unconcerned with Mariya and she was released.

(Najmus Saaqib, Chapter Six: Proofs of Imamate of the Twelfth Imam from miracles, Tradition 1, Kefaayatul Mohtadi (Selected), pp. 163-166, under tradition 32)

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