59. We were told by Muhammed bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq al-Talaqani, may Allah grant him mercy, that he said: We were told by Abdul-Aziz bin Yahya, that he said: We were told by Abdullah bin Muhammed al-Dhubbi, that he said: We were told by Muhammed bin Hilal, that he said: We were told by Na’el bin Nujaih, that he said: We were told by Amru bin Shimr, from Jabir al-Ju’fi, that he said:

I asked Abu Ja’far, Muhammed bin Ali al-Baqir, peace be upon them both, about the saying of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «like a good Tree whose root is firmly established and whose Branch is in Heaven? It brings its Fruit all the time, by the permission of its Lord.» (14:24-25) He said: As for the Tree, it is the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and its Branch is Ali and the twig of the tree is Fatima, the daughter of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ and its Fruits are her sons, peace be upon them, and its Leaves are our party . He, peace be upon him, then said: Indeed, a believer from our party is surely to die, and a leaf will fall from the Tree, and indeed, a newborn from our party is surely born and the Tree grows a leaf.