17. One of our people has narrated from Muhammad ibn Hassa’n from Muhammad ibn Ranjawayh from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hakam al-Armani from ‘Abdallah ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Ja’fari who has said the following.

“We went to Khadijah, the daughter of ‘Umar ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn abu Talib to offer our condolences for the death of the son of her daughter. We met at her place Musa ibn ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hassan. She was to one side near the ladies. We offered them our condolences to all of them. We then turned to him and he said to abu Yashkur’s daughter, the reader of lamentations, “Say it.” She then read the following lines. Evaluate the Messenger of Allah, Evaluate those after him, the loin of the Lord, (Hamrza) and ‘Abbass as the third of them Evaluate Ali the embodiment of goodness and also evaluate Ja’far Evaluate ‘Aqil after him all leaders. He said, “Very good, it was very moving. Say more lines.” She was encouraged and said: From us is the leader of the pious ones, the Holy Prophet And the chief of his army that purified Imam (Ali From us is Ali his son in-law and cousin And from us is Hamza and the well disciplined Ja’far. We stayed with her until it was almost night. Khadija said, “I heard my uncle Muhammad ibn Ali say that a lady’s reading lines of lamentation is good only if her tear would flow. It is not proper for her to say meaningless things. When night falls then you should disturb the angles with your lamentations. We then left her house and went to her next day and discussed with her about moving her residence from the house of abu ‘Abdallah, Ja’far ibn Muhammad. He (Musa) then said, “This is called the house of theft.” She then said, “This is what our Mahdi has chosen, meaning thereby ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hassan, she would jock with him.” Musa ibn ‘Abdallah then said, “By Allah, I can tell you a very strange matter that I experienced with my father. When my father, may Allah grant him mercy, became involved in theaffaairs of Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah and gathered his companions to meet him he decided to go and he would lean on me. I went with him until we came to abu ‘Abdallah . We met him out side when he wanted to go to the mosque. My father stopped him and spoke to him. Abu ‘Abdallah said, “This is not a proper place to talk. We Allah willing will meet again. My returned very happy. He waited until morning or the next day and then we went to see him. I and my father met him and he began to speak and among other things he said to him, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, you know already that I am older than you and that among your people there are those who are older than you but Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, has granted you priority and excellence that is not found in any of your people. I have come to you, relaying on your virtue and knowing, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, that if you would agree with me others will not differ. None of your companions will disagree with me and no one from the people of Quraysh or others will dispute me.” Abu ‘Abdallah thensaid to him, “You can certainly find other people more obedient to you than I then you will not need me. You know that I, by Allah, want to move to an empty land or think about it but I feel heavy in doing so. I want Hajj but I can not attain it without hard work and exhaustion and hardship for my self. You should find others to support you but do not say that you have met me.” He then said, “The people look up to you. If you would support me no one will disagree with me. You do not have to suffer fighting or hardships.” The narrator has said that then people surrounded us aand our talks were discontinued. My father said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what do you say?” He said, “You will meet me, Allah willing.” He then said, “Will it be the way I love?” He said, “It will, Allah willing, be the way you love in your favor.” He came home and sent a messenger to Muhammad in the mountains at Juhayna, called al-Ashqar two nights journey from Madina. He gave him the glad news and informed him of his success in the task that he had asked for (support from Ja’far ibn Muhammad for his uprising). After three day we went again and stood before the door. We would not have been stopped before. The messenger delayed but then gave us permission. We went inside and I sat on one side of the room. My father went close to him, kissed his head and said, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I have come again with hopes and expectation expanding with a wish to achieve what I need.” Abu ‘Abdallah then said, “O son of my uncle, I beseech Allah’s protection for you and ask you not to become involved in this matter (political uprising). I am afraid for you from evil. The talks continued between them and they ended to what he did not want. He said, “For what reason al-Husayn was more deserving than al-Hassan (in leaving Imamat to his descendants)?” Abu ‘Abdallah said, “May Allah grant blessings to al-Hassan and al-Husayn . How would you mention this?” He said, “Were al-Husayn to act with justice, he should have left it (Imamat) to the eldest son of al-Hassan.” Abu ‘Abdallah said, “When Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent revelations to Muhammad He did so what He wanted. He did not ask any one else for consultation. Muhammad commanded Ali for whatever he wanted and he obeyed the order. We say nothing else in it except what the Messenger of Allah has said in his (al-Husayn’s) praise and affirmation. Had al-Husayn to transfer it (the will) to the eldest or to the sons of both of them he would have done so. He is not accused of anything before us such as keeping for himself. He could have done anything he wanted but he did only what he was commanded to do. He is your grandfather (from mother’s side) and your uncle. It would have better for to speak good of him. If you would say meaningless thins about him, then may Allah forgive you. Son of my unlce, obey me and listen to my words. By Allah, besides Whom there is no Lord, that I do not refrain from giving you good advise. How is it that you not act accordingly. There is no escape from the commands of Allah.” My father became happy at this point. Abu ‘Abdallah then said to him, “By Allah, you know that the oblique eyed with few hairs on his forehead will be killed at the doorway of al-Ashja‘. Near the the bottom of the water bed.” My father said, “That is not him. By Allah, he will fight them day for day, hour for an hour and a year for a year. He will revenge for all of the descendants of abu Talib.” Abu ‘Abdallah then said, “How much I fear of applicability of the this line to him: “Your soul in private gave you false hopes” No, by Allah, he will gain more the walls of Madina and can not reach Taef no matter how hard he may try. What must happen happens. Be pious before Allah and have mercy on your self and on the sons of your father. By Allah, I consider him to be the most unfortunate seed that man have ever deposited in the wombs of women. By Allah, he will be killed at the doorway of al-Asha‘ among their houses. By Allah, it is as if I see him dropped dead and looted and a brick placed between his legs. Nothing that is said to him benefits this boy” Musa ibn ‘Abdallah has said that I was meant by these words. He will take part in the uprising but will be defeated and his friend will be killed. He the take will takke part in another uprising under another banner. Their leader will be killed and their soldiers will disperse. If he will obey me immunity for him could be achieved from the descendant of ‘Abbass until will grant relief. You already know that matter will not become successful. You know and we know that your son, the oblique eyed with few hair on his forehead will be killed at the doorway of al-Ashja‘, near their house in the bottom of the water bed.” My father stood up saying, “In fact, Allah will make us needless of you or you will change or He will make come back with the others. You only in this way keeping others from helping us or a reason for it.” Abu ‘Abdallah then said, “Allah knows that I only want to give good advise and guidance and that is all I can try.” My father then left, with his clothes dragging behind him due to anger. Abu ‘Abdallah reached him out and said, “I heard you uncle who also is maternal uncle mention that you and the sons of your father will be killed. If you can obey me and do what is good then do it. By Allah beside Whom there is no Lord, Who knows the unseen and what is present, the Beneficent the Merciful, The Most Great, the Most High that you are important to me. Nothing is important to me than you. I would loved to sacrifice the most beloved of my sons and most beloved person in my family to protect you. Do not think that I have cheated you.” My father left with anger and regrets. Thereafter we did not wait for more than twenty nights or so. Then the messengers of abu Ja’far (the Abbasside ruler) came and arrested my uncles, Sulayman ibn hassan, Hassan ibn Hassan, Ibrahim ibn Hassan, Dawud ibn Hassan, Ali ibn Hassan, Sulayman ibn Dawud, Hassan, Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hassan, Hassan ibn Ja’far ibn Hassan, Ta ba ta ba Ibrahim ibn ’Isma‘il ibn Hassan and ‘Abdallah ibn Dawud. They were tied in chains and place on camel backs without covering. They placed on display in the Musalla area, (open space for congregational prayer) so that people would condemn them. People did not do so. In fact, they sympathized with them because of their poor conditions. Then they were released. They stood before the door of the mosque of the Messenger of Allah. ‘Abdallah ibn Ibrahim al-Ja’fari has said that Khadija daughter of ‘Umar ibn Ali said to us, “When they were made to stand before the door of the mosque called the Gate of Jibril, abu ‘Abdallah came to them, while his gown dragged behind him in a hurry. He came out of the door of the mosque saying, “May Allah condemn you, O people of Madina –three times. The Holy Prophet did not covenant with you for this nor had you pledged allegiance to for such thing. By Allah, I was hopeful, but I am defeated and there is no escape from the decision of Allah. He then left one shoe on his foot and one in his hand with his gown dragging behind. He went home and suffered from fever for twenty days weeping day and night and became very afraid for him. This is the narration of Khadija. Al-Ja’fari has said that Musa ibn ‘Abdallah ibn Hassan narrated that when they appeared on the backs of the camels came out of the mosque and bent over ‘Abdallah ibn Hassan to speak to him. He was harshly stopped and the security man pushed him aside saying, “Get away from him. May Allah soon suffice you and others like you.” They then were taken to the streets and abu ‘Abdallah went home. Before they would reach the grave yard al-Baqi‘, the security man faced a sever misfortune. His camel hit him at his leg and crushed it and he died very soon. The people were taken away. After a while Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah ibn Hassan came and told that his father and his uncles were killed. Abu Ja’far (Abbasside ruler) killed them. Only Hassan ibn Ja’far , Ta ba ta ba, Ali ibn Ibrahim, Sulayman ibn Dawud, Dawud ibn Hassan, and ‘Abdallah ibn Dawud were not killed. At that time Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah rose and called people for pledge of allegiance to him. The narrator has said that he was one of the three people to pledge allegiance to him. No one from Quraysh, from Ansar (people of Madina or a Arab opposed him. He consulted ‘Isa ibn Yazid, a trusted person to him and a commander of his army. He consulted him in the matter of sending a message to the leaders of his people. ‘Isa ibn Yazid said to him, “If you would just call them may not respond. You must become strong and strict with them. Thus, allow me to handle it for you. Muhammad agreed and said, “Do what you like.” He then said, “Send to their leader and the greatest among them, namely ‘Abdallah Ja’far ibn Muhammad . If you become strict with him all will learn that they also will experience what he has been through.” The narrator has said, “In a very little time they brought abu ‘Abdallah and made him to stand up before him (Muhammad)’Isa ibn Yazid said, “Submit and you will be safe.” Abu ‘Abdallah then said, “Have you invented a prophet-hood after Prophet Muhammad (s.a.)?” Muhammad then said, “Pledge allegiance your life, property and children will be protected and you will not have to fight. Abu ‘Abdallah then said, “I have nothing to do with war and fighting. I advised your father and warned him against what went through but warning does not help what is already measured. Son of my brother, find the young ones and leave the elderly alone.” Muhammad said, “There is not much difference between my and your age.” Abu ‘Abdallah said, “I am not here to defeat you or compete you in what you do.” Muhammad said, “By Allah, you must pledge allegiance.” Abu ‘Abdallah said, “Son of my brother, I do not want a war, or gain any worldly thing. I want to go out in the open land but it is heavy for me. Even my family have asked me several times. Only weakness holds me back. By Allah, and for the sake of family relations save us from misfortune from your hands.” He then said, “O abu ‘Abdallah , by Allah, abu Dawaniq (Abbasside ruler) has died.” Abu ‘Abdallah said, What that has to do with me?” He said I wanted honor through you.” He then said, “There is no way for you to that. By Allah, abuDawaniq has not died, except in (your) dreams.” He said, “By Allah you must pledge allegiance to me, voluntarily or by force but then it will and by force your pledge will lose its value.” He refused it strongly. He was sent to prison. ‘Isa ibn Yaziid said, “There is not enough security in the prison and without tying him up he may run away.” Abu ‘Abdallah laughed and said, “There is no means and power without Allah, the Most High, the most Great. Will you imprison me?” He said, I swear by the One Who honored Muhammad that I will imprison you severely.” ‘Isa ibn Yazid said, “Keep him in stable that belong to Rita.” Abu ‘Abdallah then said, “By Allah will soon say it and I will be confirmed.” ‘Isa ibn Yazid said, “Be quite or I will break your mouth.” Abu ‘Abdallah said, “You blue eyed and bald say this. I can see you looking for a hole to hide. You are not even worthy to be mentioned. On meeting (the enemy) even if one would clap his hands behind you, you will run away like an ostriCh Muhammad ordered ‘Isa ibn Yazid to imprison him and be strict with him. “Abu ‘Abdallah said, “By Allah as if I see you coming out of the doorway of al-Ashja‘ to the bottom of the water bed in the valley and a marked horse man has attacked with a spear in his hand, half white and half black, riding a brown horse with a white forehead. He hits you but it does not kill you. You hit the nose of his horse and it is injured. Another man attacks you from the alley of Al ‘Ammar al-Diliyinn. He has two band of hair coming out of his helmet with thick mustache. He, by Allah, is your adversary. May Allah have no mercy on his bones.” Muhammad said, “O abu ‘Abdallah , you have calculated but have a mistake. Al-Suraqi ibn al-Salkh came to him and pushed him into the prison. They looted his properties and the properties of those of his people who did not come out with Muhammad. After this they brought ’Isma‘il ibn ‘Abdallah ibn Ja’far ibn Abu Talib who was very old and weak. One of his eys was gone and both of his legs would not work. He had to be carried. He was asked to pledge allegiance for him. He said, “Son of my brother, I am an old man and weak. I need your kindness and support.” He said, “You must pledge allegiance.” He saaid, “What is the benefit of my pledge of allegiance? By Allah, my name will only waste the space for the name of a man.” He said, “You must do so.” He used strong language with him. ’Isma‘il then said, “Call for me Ja’far ibn Muhammad perhaps we both pledge allegiance for you.” The narrator has said that when Ja’far ibn Muhammad was brought ’Isma‘il said to him, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, if you could explain to him we perhaps will all be spared.” He said, “I have decided not to talk to him. Let him do whatever he wants.” ’Isma‘il said to abu ‘Abdallah , “By Allah, tell me if you remember the day I came to see your father, Muhammad ibn Ali and I had two pieces of yellow cloths on me. He looked at me for a long time and wept. I asked for the reason. I wept because you will be killed when very old for no reason and not even two goats will fight for you (no one will ask justice for you). I said, “When is that? He said, it will happen when you will be called to follow falsehood and you will refuse. When you will see the abusive oblique eyed person whose people from the family of al-Hassan on the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah call people to follow him and would give himself a name that he does not deserve. At such time you must renew your covenant, make your will because you will be murdered on that day or the next day.” Abu ‘Abdallah said, “Yes, by the Lord of the Ka‘ba he will not fast in the month of Ramadan except few days. I leave in the trust of Allah, O abu al-Hassan. May Allah grant us great reward for loosing you. May He grant well being to those whom you leave behind. We are for Allah and to Him we will return.” The narrator has said that ’Isma‘il was carried away and ‘Abdallah was sent to prison. He has said, “By Allah, only that evening the sons of his brother, the sons of Mu‘awiya ibn ‘Abdallah ibn Ja’far went on him and crushed (his bones) under their feet. Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah released Ja’far . The narrator has said when it was the month of Ramadan ‘Isa ibn Musa began his uprising to occupy Madina. He has said that Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah came with Yazid ibn Mu‘awiya ibn ‘Abdallah ibn Ja’far leading his army. In fron of the army of ‘Isa ibn Musa there were the sons of al-Hassan ibn Zayd ibn al-Hassan ibn al-Hassan ibn al-Qasim and Muhammad ibn Zayd, Ali and Ibrahim sons of al-Hassan ibn Zayd. Yazid ibn Mu‘awiya was defeated and ‘Isa ibn Musa came to Madina. Fighting took place in Madina. ‘Isa camped at mount Dhubab. The blacks (army of Abbassides) came from the backside. Muhammad with his people went up to the maket place. Then followed them to the mosque of al-Khawamin. There he looked around. There was no black or white (people opposed to Abbassides) soldiers. He advanced to ShaKa‘ba Faraza then to Hudhayl then he went to al-Ashja‘. Here a horse man about whom abu ‘Abdallah had spoken came out from the doorway of Hudhayl and struck him a blow. It did not do anything to him. He attacked the horse man and cut the nose of his horse with sword. The horse man hit him that penetrated in the coat of arms Muhammad bent on him and hit him killed him. Then Hamid ibn Qahtaba came on him when he was turning away from the horse man. He was hit from the alley of al-‘Ammariyin. One hit of the spear penetrated in his coat of arms but the spear broke. He attacked Hamid and hit him with the spear. Hamid then with the iron part of the broken spear hit him fatally he them came down hit him until he was dead. He took his head away. The soldiers came from all sides and Madina was taken and we were exiled all over the places.” Musa ibn ‘Abdallah has said, “I then left until I met Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdallah. I found ‘Isa ibn Zayd hiding. I told him of his bad management and left with him until he died. I then continued with the son of my brother, al-Ashtar ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah ibn Hassan until he also died in Sind. I then came back with no place to go to and afraid I remembered what abu ‘Abdallah had said. I came to al-Mahdi (an Abbasside ruler) in Hajj where he was speaking to people in the shadow of the walls of Ka‘ba. He did not notice when stood up below the pulpit. I said, “Can I have immunity, O Amir al-Mu’minin if would give you a good advise?” He said, “Yes, but what is it?” I said, “I can show you where Musa ibn ‘Abdallah ibn Hassan is.” He said, “Yes, you will have security. I said, “I ask for guarantees. I then asked for covenant and affirmation until I was certain of the security then I said, “I am Musa ibn ‘Abdallah. He said, “you are respected and you will live.” I then asked to show one of his people who would support me for living. He said, “Look whoever you like. I said your uncle, Abbass ibn Muhammad should support me. He refused. I begged him then he agreed. Al-Mahdi asked, “Who knows you?” Most of them, our people were around him. I said, “This al-Hassan ibn Zayd, knows me. This Musa ibn Ja’far knows me. This al-Hassan ibn ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abbass knows me. They said, “Yes, O Amir al-Mu’minin we know him as if he was not absent from us.” I then said to al-Mahdi, “O Amir al-Mu’minin, the father of this man had told me of this position. I pointed out to Musa ibn Ja’far . Musa ibn ‘Abdallah said, “You have lied against him.” I said, “He commanded me to convey greetings to you.” He said, “He is a just and generous Imam.” He has said, “Then he ordered to give five thousand Dinars to Musa ibn Ja’far . Musa ibn Ja’far ordered to give me two thousand out of it. He introduced me to his people and his people to me. As the sons of Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn are mentioned you should say, “May Allah and His angels, the carriers of His throne, the angels writing the deeds send blessing up on them specially abu ‘Abdallah. May Allah grant Musa ibn Ja’far on behalf good rewards. I, by Allah, am servant after being the servant of Aallah.”