2. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Kufi from Bashshar ibn Ahmad al-Basri from Ali ibn ‘Umar al-Nawfali who has said the following.

“Once I was with abu al-Hassan in the compound of his house and at that time his son, Muhammad passed by. I said to him, “may Allah take my souls in service for your cause, will he be our master, Imam, after you?” The Imam said, “ No, your master, Imam, after me will be al-Hassan .” * This abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn Ali, is the eldest son of the Imam al-Hadi .He died before his father (230/845 - 252/866). His shrine is near Balad which is near Baghdad, and the place is now known as al-Sayyid Muhammad. In the following ahadith his name is frequently mentioned.