Muhammad b. `Umar al-Hafith narrated to us. He said: Abu `Abdullah Ja`far b. Muhammad al-Hasani narrated to us. He said: Muhammad b. `Ali b. Khalaf narrated to us. He said: Sahl b. `Amer narrated to us. He said: Zafir b. Sulayman narrated to us from Sharik from Abi Ishaq. He said: I said to `Ali b. al-Husayn : What is the meaning of the saying of the Prophet (s):

“Whoever takes me as a Master, then `Ali is his Master”? He said: He is informing them that he is the Imam after him.