H 322 - A group of our scholars narrated to me from all eminent personages of Abul Qasim Ja’far Ibn Muhammad Ibn Quluwayh, Abu Ghalib Razi and Abu Muhammad Talakbari, who all narrate from Muhammad Ibn Yaqub Kulaini, who narrates from Muhammad Ibn Abdullah and Muhammad Ibn Yahya, who narrate from Abdullah Ibn Ja’far Himyari, saying: I and Shaykh Abu Amr were with Ahmad Ibn Ishaq Ashari Qummi. Ahmad Ibn Ishaq made a gesture to me to ask him about the successor. So, I asked him, “O Abu Amr, I want to ask you a question; however, I am not unsure about what I want to ask you, for my faith and belief is that the earth does not remain without a Divine Proof (Hujjah), unless it is forty days prior to Judgment Day. And when that happens, the Divine Proof (Hujjah) is raised up and the gateway of repentance is shut. And it will not benefit any soul has it not already believed and earned good in its belief. They are the wicked of God’s creation and they are the ones that Judgment Day shall stand against. However, I desire to increase my certitude, as Ibrahim asked his Lord to show him how He brings the dead back to life. He said: ‘Do you believe not? He said: Indeed; rather, for my heart to satisfy. Abu Ali Ahmad Ibn Ishaq has narrated to me from Abul Hasan . He said: I asked the Imam, ‘With whom should I transact and from whom should I learn and whose word should I accept?’ The Imam said: Amari is my trustworthy man. Whatever he delivers to you, he does so from me. And whatever he says to you, he does so from me. So listen to him and obey him, for he is a trustworthy and honest man.’ Also Abu Ali narrated to me that he asked Abu Muhammad Hasan Ibn Ali the same question and the Imam said: Amari and his son are two trustworthy men. Whatever they deliver to you, they deliver from me; and whatever they say to you, they say from me. Listen to them and obey them, for they are two trustworthy and honest men.’ These are the words of two Imams of the past about you.” Abu Amr fell into prostration and tears rolled down his eyes and then he said: “Ask.” I asked, “Have you seen the successor of Imam Hasan Askari ?” He said: “Yes, by Allah. And his neck is like this,” and he gestured. I said, “I have one more question.” He said: “Bring it forth.” I said: “His name?” He said: “That is forbidden to you to ask about. I am not saying this from myself, nor am I permitted to allow or disallow. Rather, this prohibition is from the Imam himself . The ruler’s impression is that Imam Hasan Askari passed away and did not leave a son behind and that his bequeathals were divided and taken over by persons who were not entitled to. He was patient on that. There is his household, wandering about and there is no one who has the courage to recognize them or offer them something. Should the name come out, search will be on. So fear God and hold back from that.”