8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad from Muhammad ibn so and so al-Waqifi ( a certain sect) who has said the following.

“I had a son of uncle. He wascalled al-Hassan ibn ‘Abdallah He was Zahid (restricted himself from worldly pleasures). He was the foremost in worship of his time. He king would also observe cautions due to his assiduousness and seriousness in the matters of religion. He would even demand the king to respect and maintain the lawful and the unlawful rule with strictness. The king would bear with him due to his virtuousness. It continued as such every day until one day abu al-Hassan went to him while he was in the mosque and called him with a hand gesture. When he came near abu al-Hassan . The Imam said, “O abu Ali, I like your practice very much and it makes me happy. However, you do not have any understanding. You must seek understanding.” He said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what is understanding?” he said, “Go and try to understand and learn hadith.” He then asked, “From who must I learn hadith?” The Imam said, ‘Learn from the law specialist of Madina. Then read them before me to check.” The narrator has said that he went, wrote (some hadith), came back and read them before him. The Imam deleted all of them and said to him go and learn how to understand.” The man was very serious in his religion. He kept watching abu al-Hassan until one day he went out to find something that was missing and the man met him on the way. He said, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I will debate you before Allah unless you teach me how to have understanding.” The Imam explained to him about Amir al-Mu’minin and had happened after the the Messenger of Allah. He also explained to him about the two men and he agreed. Then he asked, “who was (Leadership with Divine Authority) after Amir al-Mu’minin ?” He said, “al-Hassan was the (Leadership with Divine Authority), then al-Husayn . He mentioned (the Imams one after the other) up to his own self and remained silent.” The narrator has said that the man then asked, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, who is (Leadership with Divine Authority) today?” The Imam said, “were I to tell you would then accept?” he said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, yes, I will accept.” He sad, “I am the one (Leadership with Divine Authority).” He then said, “Is there any evidence I can use as proof?” The Imam said, “Go to that tree. He pointed out with his hand to ’Umm Ghaylan and say to it, “Musa ibn Ja’far says, ‘Come to me.” He has said that I then went to the tree and saw it, by Allah, it cutting the earth a real cut until it stood before him. Then he made a gesture and it returned.” The narrator has said that he acknowledged the his Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority). He remained silent and devoted himself in worship and no one thereafter saw him speak.” Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ahmad ibn Muhammad have narrated from Mutammad ibn al-Hassan from Ibrahim ibn Hashim a similar hadith.