`Ali b. Ahmad b. `Abdullah b. Ahmad b. Abi `Abdillah al-Barqi narrated to us. He said: My father narrated to us from his grandfather Ahmad b. Abi `Abdillah al-Barqi from his father Muhammad b. Khalid. He said: Sahl b. al-Mirzaban al-Farisi narrated to us. He said: Muhammad b. Mansur narrated to us from `Abdullah b. Ja`far from Muhammad b. al-Fayd b. al-Mukhtar from his father from Abi Ja`far Muhammad b. `Ali al-Baqir from his father from his grandfather . He said:

The Messenger of Allah (s) went out one day, and he was riding, while `Ali had been walking with him. So, he said to him: O Aba’l Hasan! Either ride or leave, for Allah commanded me to ride when you ride, walk when you walk, and sit when you sit; unless there is a limit from the limits of Allah that does not require you to stand or sit in. Allah did not honour me with an honour except that He has honoured you with one like it. He distinguished me with prophethood and messengership, and He made you my wali in that. You establish His pronouncements and His difficult matters. By He who truly sent Muhammad as a prophet! He who negates you has not believed in me. He who denies you has not accepted me. He who disbelieves in you has not believed in Allah. Surely, your virtue is from my virtue, and my grace to you is the grace of Allah. This is the saying of Allah, “In the grace of Allah and in His mercy – in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate.” (10:58) The grace of Allah is the prophethood of your prophet, and His mercy is the wilaya of `Ali b. Abi Talib. He says, “in that” – meaning, prophethood and wilaya – “let them rejoice” – meaning, the Shi`a – “it is better than what they accumulate” – meaning, the opponents, and their women, their wealth, and their children in this world. By Allah, `Ali, you were not created except so that your Lord may be worshiped. Through you, the knowledge of religion is known, and the study of the path is rectified. He who deviates from you has deviated [from the truth]. He who is not guided to you and your wilaya is not guided to Allah. This is the saying of my Lord, “Surely, I am most forgiving to those who repent, believe, and do righteous deeds, then continue in guidance” (20:82) – meaning to your wilaya. My Lord commanded me to make your right obligatory just as my right was made obligatory. Surely, your right is obligatory for all who believe in me. Were it not for you, the Party of Allah would not be known. By you, the enemy of Allah is known. He who meets Him without your wilaya will not meet Him with anything [of a reward]. Allah revealed to me, “O Messenger! Announce that which was revealed to you from your Lord” – meaning, regarding your wilaya, `Ali – “if you do not do so, you will not have delivered His message” (5:67) – if I do not announce that which I was commanded to regarding your wilaya, my deeds would fall. He who meets Allah without your wilaya, his deeds will fall – this was promised to me. I do not say except the saying of Allah, and what I have said is what Allah has revealed regarding you.