45. We were told by Muhammed bin Hasan bin Ahmad bin Waleed, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: We were told by Muhammed ibn Hasan al-Saffar, from Ahmad bin Abi Abdillah, from Muhammed bin Ali, from Muhammed bin Aslam, from Hasan ibn Muhammed al-Hashimi, from Umar bin Udhayna, from Aban bin Abi ‘Ayyash, from Sulaim bin Qais al-Hilali, from the Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him, that he said:

I said to him: What is the least by which a man is aberrant? He said: That he does not know whom Allah has ordered to obey, obliged his Divine Authority and made His Proof on His earth and His Observer upon His creation. I said: Then who are they, O Commander of the Believers? He said: Those whom Allah set parallel to Himself and His Prophet, to which He said: «O you who have believed, obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.» (4:59) He said: Then I kissed his head and said: You have clarified to me, relieved me and removed every doubt that was in my heart.