Muhammad b. al-Hasan b. Ahmad b. al-Walid narrated to us. He said: Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Saffar narrated to us. He said: Abu Talib `Abdullah b. al-Salt al-Qummi narrated to us. He said: Yunus b. `Abd al-Rahman narrated to us from Asim b. Hamid from Muhammad b. Qays from Abi Ja`far Muhammad b. `Ali al-Baqir . He said: Surely, the name of the Messenger of Allah (s) in the Scrolls of Ibrahim is the Effacer (al-Mahi). In the Torah of Musa, it is the Adversary (al-Had). In the Gospel of Jesus, it is the Praised One (Ahmad). In the Criterion, it is Muhammad. It was said: What is the meaning of the Effacer? So, he said: The one who effaces the images on statues, the idols, the divining arrows, and everything that is worshiped besides the Merciful. It was said: What is the meaning of the Adversary? He said: He is the adversary of those who oppose Allah and His religion, near or far. It was said: What is the meaning of the Praised One? He said: The beauty of Allah's attestation to his praiseworthy actions, as described in the scriptures. It was said: What is the meaning of Muhammad? He said: Allah, His angels, all His prophets and messengers, and all their nations praise him and send blessings on him. The name of his that is written on the Throne is "Muhammad the Messenger of Allah." He (s) would wear white Yemenite skullcaps and a shield with two handles during wartime. He had a staff that he would lean on; and he would take it out during the two Eids and lecture with it. He had a spear that was called “the Unsheathed”. He had a house made of hair that was named “the Resting Place”. He had a cup that was named “the Fountain”. He had a vessel named “the Irrigator”. He had two horses; one was called “the Chastiser” and the other was called “the Outpourer”. He had two mules; one was called “Porcupine (Duldul)” and the other was called “One with Black and White Hair (al-Shahba’)”. He had two she-camels; one was called “the Muscular” and the other was called “the Malnourished”. He had two swords; one was called “the Bifurcator (Dhulfiqar)” and the other was called “the Helper”. He had two other swords; one was called “the Striker” and the other was called “the Drawing” (al-rusum; in another book, “the Nullifier” al-rasub). He had a donkey named “the Child of a Wild Cow (al-Ya`fur)”. He had a turban named “the Cloud”. He had a shield named “the Virtuous” – it had three silver rings: a ring in the front, and two rings in the back. He had a flag named “the Punishment”. He had a packing-camel called “Brocade”. He had a banner named “the Known”. He had chainmail named “the Happiest”. He gave all of that to `Ali at his death. He took off his ring and put it on his finger. So, `Ali remembered that he had found a sword from his (s) swords with a parchment in it. It had three phrases: “Pray for those who cut you off. Speak the truth, even if it is against yourself. Be good to those who do evil to you.” He said: And the Messenger of Allah (s) said: There are five things that I will not abandon until death: (1) Eating whilst sitting on the hard ground with slaves. (2) Riding donkeys without saddles. (3) Milking goats by hand. (4) Wearing wool. (5) Greeting young boys, so that it may be a tradition after me.

Ahmad b. Ziyad al-Hamadani narrated to us. He said: `Ali b. Ibrahim b. Hashim from his father from al-Rayyan b. al-Salt. He said: I visited `Ali b. Musa al-Rida and I said to him: O son of the Messenger of Allah! The people say: “You accepted the position of crown prince whilst you present yourself as being ascetic in this world!” So, he said: Allah knows my dislike for that. When I was made to choose between accepting that and being killed, I chose to accept rather than to be killed. Woe to them! Do they not know that Yusuf was a prophet and messenger, and yet when necessity prompted him to take over the treasuries of al-`Aziz, he said to him: “Appoint me over the treasuries of the land. Surely, I will be a knowledgeable guardian.” (12:55) The necessity prompted me to accept that begrudgingly, by force, at threat of destruction. I did not enter this affair except as one who wants to leave it. I complain to Allah, for He is the Helper.

Muhammad b. Ibrahim b. Ishaq narrated to us. He said: Ahmad b. Muhammad al-Hamadani informed us from `Ali b. al-Hasan b. `Ali b. Faddal from his father. He said: Al-Rida said: Whoever recalls our tragedy and weeps when he commits to us will be with us in our rank on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever recalls our tragedy, weeps, and makes others weep, his eye will not weep on the Day that the eyes will weep. Whoever partakes in a gathering in which our affair is revived, his heart will not die on the Day that the hearts will die.

He said: Al-Rida said, regarding the saying of Allah, “If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, [you do it against] yourself.” (17:7) [There is a] Lord that could forgive it.

And al-Rida said, regarding the saying of Allah, “So, overlook with gracious forgiveness” (15:85). He said: Forgiveness without reproach.

And al-Rida said, regarding the saying of Allah, “It is He who shows you lightning in both fear and hope.” (13:12) He said: Fear for the traveller, and hope for the settler.

He said: And al-Rida said: Whoever does not know how to expiate his sins should increase in sending blessings upon Muhammad and his Family, for this thoroughly destroys sins.

And he said: To Allah, sending blessings upon Muhammad and his Family is equal to glorification (tasbih), pronouncing His oneness (tahlil), and exaltation (takbir).

Ahmad b. al-Hasan al-Qattan narrated to us. He said: Ahmad b. Yahya b. Zakariyya al-Qattan. He said: Bakr b. `Abdullah b. Habib narrated to us. He said: `Ali b. Ziyad narrated to us. He said: Al-Haytham b. `Adi narrated to us from al-A`mash from Yunus b. Abi Ishaq. He said: Abu al-Asqar narrated to us from `Adi b. Arta. He said: Mu`awiya said one day to `Amr b. al-`As: O Aba `Abdillah! Which of us is worse? `Amr said: I am [worse] in [my] impulsiveness, and you are [worse] in [your] scheming. Mu`awiya said: You have put me over yourself when I am worse than you in impulsiveness. `Amr said: Where was your slyness on the day you raised the codices (al-masahif)? He said: With this you have overcome me, O Aba `Abdillah. Shall I not ask you about something regarding which you will agree with me? He said: By Allah, lying would be repugnant, so ask what you wish me to agree with. So, he said: Did you cheat me when you advised me? He said: No. He said: Rather, by Allah, you did cheat me – I am not saying in all instances, but in one particular instance. He said: In what instance was this? He said: The day `Ali b. Abi Talib challenged me to a duel, and I sought your advice; I said: “What do you think, O Aba `Abdillah?” So, you said: “It would be honourable.” So, you advised me to duel him whilst you knew who he was; so, then I knew that you had cheated me. He said: O commander of the faithful! A man challenged you to duel him with great honour and great danger. Had you dueled him you would have achieved any of two good outcomes. Either you would have killed him, which would have been the killing of the ages, by which you would have increased in honour and have been free to rule, or you would have accompanied the martyrs and the righteous, which would have been the best of company. Mu`awiya said: This [second outcome] is worse than the first. By Allah, I surely know that, had I killed him, I would have gone to the Fire; and had he killed me, I would have gone to the Fire. `Amr said to him: So, what caused you to go and fight against him? He said: Rulership has no blood bonds; and no one will hear this from me after you.

Ja`far b. Muhammad b. Masrur narrated to us. He said: Al-Husayn b. Muhammad b. `Amer narrated to us from his uncle `Abdullah b. `Amer from Muhammad b. Abi `Umayr from Aban b. `Uthman rom Aban b. Taghlub from `Ikrama from Ibn `Abbas. He said: The Messenger o Allah (s) said: Whoever takes on my religion, travels my path, and follows my tradition should prefer the Imams of my Ahl al-Bayt over the rest of my Nation, for their likeness in my Nation is like that of the Gate of Remission for the Children of Israel.

My father narrated to us. He said: Muhammad b. Ahmad b. `Ali b. al-Salt narrated to us from his uncle `Abdullah b. al-Salt from Yunus b. `Abd al-Rahman from `Amr b. Shimr from Jabir b. Yazid al-Ju`fi from Abi Ja`far Muhammad b. `Ali al-Baqir . He said: Allah revealed to His Messenger (s): I have thanked Ja`far b. Abi Talib for four characteristics. So, the Prophet (s) called for him and informed him. So, he said: Had Allah not informed you, I would not have informed you: (1) I have never drank wine, because I know that if I were to drink it, my intellect would fall. (2) I have never lied, because lying diminishes chivalry. (3) I have never committed adultery because I feared that it would be done to me. (4) I have never worshiped an idol because I know that it does not harm, nor does it benefit. So, the Prophet (s) put his hand on his shoulder and said: It is Allah's responsibility to give you two wings so that you may fly with the angels in Paradise.