Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Sinani narrated to us. He said: Ahmad b. Yahya b. Zakariyya al-Qattan narrated to us. He said: Bakr b. `Abdullah b. Habib narrated to us. He said: al-Fadl b. al-Saqr al-`Abdi narrated to us. He said: Abu Mu`awiya narrated to us from Sulayman b. Mehran al-A`mash from al-Sadiq Ja`far b. Muhammad from his father Muhammad b. `Ali from his father `Ali b. al-Husayn . He said:

We are the Imams of the Muslims, the Proofs of Allah over the Worlds, the Chiefs of the Believers, the Leaders of the shining believers, and the Masters of the Believers. We are a safeguard for the people of Earth just as the stars are a safeguard for the people of the sky. We are the ones by whom Allah holds up the sky from falling, except by His permission. We are the ones by whom He prevents the Earth from shaking its people. We are the ones by whom He sends down rain. We are the ones by whom He spreads mercy and brings out the blessings of the Earth. Had any of us not been on Earth, it would have caved in on its people. He said: The Earth has never been left without a Proof of Allah upon it since Allah created Adam – either apparent and known or hidden and concealed. It will not be empty [of a Proof] until the Hour rises with a Proof upon it. Had it not been for that, Allah would not be worshiped. Sulayman said: So, I said to al-Sadiq : How will people benefit from a Proof that is hidden and concealed? He said: Just as you benefit from the Sun when it is concealed with clouds.