4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Abd Allah ibn Bukayr from a man who has said the following:

“Once we in a group went to see abu Ja’far and said to him, ‘O descendent of the Messenger of Allah, we intend to travel to Iraq, and request your recommendations.’ Abu Ja’far said, ‘The stronger ones among you must support the weak ones, the well to do among you must reach out to the poor ones among you, do not expose our secrets and do not publicize our cause. When you receive a Hadith from us accept it only if you find sufficient, two or at least one, supporting evidence from the book of Allah, otherwise, keep it on hold and then refer it to us for verification. You must know that those waiting for this matter (coming of Imam al-Mahdi) have a reward like those who fast all the time and pray every night. Whoever will find himself with our al-Qa’im (al-Mahdi) and will come out with him to do away with our enemies he will have a reward equal to that for twenty martyrs and whoever will be killed supporting our al- Qa’im, his reward will be equal to that for fifteen martyrs.’”