حدثنا إبراهيم بن هارون العبسي، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد، قال: حدثنا جعفر بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا كثير بن عياش، عن أبي الجارود قال: سألت أبا جعفر الباقر عليه السلام: بم يعرف الامام؟ قال: بخصال أولها: نص من الله تبارك وتعالى عليه و نصبه علما للناس حتى يكون عليهم حجة، لان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله نصب عليا عليه السلام وعرفه الناس باسمه وعينه وكذلك الأئمة عليهم السلام ينصب الأول الثاني وأن يسأل فيجيب وأن يسكت عنه فيبتدئ، ويخبر الناس بما يكون في غد، ويكلم الناس بكل لسان ولغة.
3. We were told by Ibrahim bin Harun al-‘Absi, that he said: We were told by Ahmad bin Muhammed ibn Sa’eed, that he said: We were told by Ja’far bin Abdullah, that he said: We were told by Kathir bin ‘Ayyash, from Abu’l-Jarud, that he said: I asked Abu Ja’far, al-Baqir, peace be upon him: By what is the Imam recognized? He said: With certain characteristics, of which the first is an affirmation from Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, for him and His assignment of him as a Banner for the people that there might be an argument upon them,, because the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, assigned Ali, peace be upon him, and made the people know him with his name, and he appointed him. So are the Imams, peace be upon them; the first assigns the second. Moreover, it is that he is asked, and answers, and that it is silent about him, to which he takes initiative, and that he informs people of what is to happen tomorrow, and that he speaks to people in every tongue and language.
