3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from Barid ibn Mu‘awiya from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following.

“I said to abu ‘Abdallah , “May Allah grant you good health, we heard that you were not feeling good and it caused us great anxiety. Would that you inform or teach us who will be the succeeding Imam.” The Imam said, “Ali was the scholar and knowledge is inherited. No scholar dies except that leaves behind a scholar whose knowledge is of the same level or whatever Allah would will.” I then said will people be excused for not knowing the succeeding Imam after the death of the preceding Imam?” He then said, “The people of this area (city of Madina) will not be excused. People of other areas will dealt with according to their abilities. Allah has said, “Not all believers have to become specialists in religious learning. Why do not some people from each group of believers seek to become specialists in religious learning and, after completing their studies, guide their group so that they will have fear of God.” (9:122) The narrator has said that he then asked the Imam , “What if some of them would die before completing their education and searCh?” He said, “such people will be of the ones mentioned in the words of Allah herein below. “. . and one who dies, after having abandoned his home to get near to God and His Messenger, will receive his reward from God. . .” (4:100) The narrator has said that he then asked the Imam , “If people would come to the Imam then by what means would they recognize him?” He said, “The Imam is granted serenity, dignity and an awesome presence.”