4-9 In another tradition it is narrated that my father narrated that Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Valid, Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Motavakil, Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Attar and Muhammad ibn Ali Majiluwayh - may God be pleased with them - quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Attar, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Imran al-Ash’ari, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Muhammad ash-Shami, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Musa al-Khashshab, on the authority of Ali ibn Asbat, on the authority of Al-Hussein Maula Abi Abdullah, on the authority of Abi al-Hakam, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Ibrahim Al-Ja’fari, on the authority of Yazid ibn Saleet az-Zaydi, “My travel companions and I met Abu Abdullah (Imam as-Saqiq) صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم on the way to Mecca. I told him, ‘May my mother and father be your ransom! You are one of the Immaculate Imams صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. There is no escape from death for anyone. Then please tell me something (the Imam who will succeed you) so that I could tell my descendants.’ The Imam صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said, ‘Yes. These are my children, and he is their master.’ The Imam صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم pointed at his son, Musa صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم added, ‘He has knowledge, just judgement, understanding, generosity and recognition of what the people need regarding their conflicts concerning their religious affairs. He is good-tempered. He is agood neighbor. He is a gate from the gates of the Almighty the Sublime God. There is another important point about him that is even more important than all these points.’ Yazid ibn Saleet continued, ‘My father told him, ‘May my father and mother be your ransom! What is this point?’ The Imam صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said, ‘The Almighty God will deliver this nation’s helper through him - their helper, their knowledge, their light, their understanding and their just judgement. He will deliver through him the best baby and the best youth. God will prevent bloodshed through him. He will settle the disputes through him. He will eliminate separation through him. He will fill the gaps through him. He will clothe the bare through him. He will feed the hungry through him. He will secure the fearful ones through him. He will send down rain because of him. He will make the servants obedient due to him. He will be the best middle-aged man. He will be the best young man. His family will be given the glad tidings (of his becoming the Imam before puberty). His words are full of wisdom. His silence is out of knowledge. He will clarify for the people issues on which they differ.’’ Yazid ibn Saleet continued, ‘My father asked, ‘May my father and my mother be our ransom! Will we have a child after him?’ Then the Imam صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said, ‘Yes.’ Then he stopped talking. Then Yazid ibn Saleet said, ‘I met Abul Hassan - that is Musa ibn Ja’far صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم after a while and told him, ‘May my father and my mother be our ransom! I wish that you inform me (of the one who will follow you) just as your father did.’ Then Imam Al-Kadhim صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said, ‘My father صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم lived at a time that was quite different from this time.’ Then Yazid ibn Saleet said, ‘God will damn whoever stops the following of the Divine Leaders at ths point!’ Then the Imam صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم laughed and said, ‘O Aba Imara! I left my house. I set all my sons including Ali as my Testamentary Trustees on the surface. However, in private, I appointed him (Imam al-Ridha) as my Testamentary Trustee. In fact, I dreamt of God’s Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and the Commander of the Faithful صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم with him, along with a ring, a sword, a cane, a book and a turban. I asked what these were. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said, ‘The turban is a sign of the kingdom of the Almighty God. The sword is a sign of the Honor of the Almighty God. The book is a sign of the Light of the Almighty God. The cane is a sign of the Might of the Almighty God. And the ring includes all of these.’ The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم added, ‘The affairs will be entrusted to your son Ali.’ Yazid ibn Saleet added, ‘Then the Imam صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said, ‘O Yazid! You are entrusted with these. Do not speak to anyone about what I told you exceptfor intelligent people, or those whose hearts have been tested for faith by God, or honest ones. Do not be ungrateful for the Almighty God’s Blessings. Testify if you are ever asked to testify to this since God the Blessed the Sublime has said, ‘God doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are due….’; He also said, ‘…Ah! who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from God?…’ Then Yazid ibn Saleet said, ‘By God, I will never do that.’ Then Abul Hassan صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said, ‘Then God’s Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم started to enumerate his characteristics and said, ‘Your son Ali is one who looks using God’s light; hears using God’s understanding; speaks using God’s wisdom; always acts right and never makes any mistakes; he is knowledgeable and is not ignorant; he is filled with wisdom and knowledge. But how short a period will you be with him! It will be so short that it is as if he was never with you. Thus settle your affairs upon your return from this journey. Relieve yourself of your wishes, since you will be separated from them and be with other things. Therefore, gather your children together, and have God be as a witness over them all. It suffices for God to witness.’ Then Imam Al-Kadhim صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said, ‘O Yazid! I will die this year. My son Ali has the same name as Ali ibn Al-Hussein صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. He has been granted the understanding of the former, and his knowledge, grandeur and honor. He is not allowed to say anything until four years after Harun. Then after the four years have passed, you may ask him any question you have. He will answer your question by the Almighty God’s will.’”