`Ali b. Ahmad b. `Abdullah b. Ahmad b. Abi `Abdillah al-Barqi narrated to us. He said: My father narrated to me from his grandfather Ahmad b. Abi `Abdillah al-Barqi. He said: Ja`far b. `Abdullah al-Nawaji narrated to me from `Abd al-Jabbar b. Muhammad from Dawud al-Shu`ayri from al-Rabi` the companion of al-Mansur. He said: [The Caliph] al-Mansur sent for al-Sadiq Ja`far b. Muhammad to respond to something that he was told about.

When he reached his gate, the gatekeeper came out to him and said: I seek refuge in Allah on your behalf from the tyranny of this tyrant, for surely, I saw that he had an intense anger against you. So, al-Sadiq said: I have a protective Paradise from Allah to support me from him – God-willingly. Seek permission for me to enter. So, he sought permission and he was permitted. So, when he entered, he (the Caliph) said the salaam and he responded. Then, he said to him: O Ja`far! I know that the Messenger of Allah (s) said to your father `Ali b. Abi Talib: “If sects from my Nation would not claim for you what the Christians have claimed for the Messiah Jesus the son of Mary, I would have said something about you today that would cause the people to take the dust from beneath your feet and seek treatment from it due to the excellence of your purity.” Also, `Ali said: “Two will be destroyed to no fault of my own: (1) an exaggerating lover [of mine], and (2) an excessive [hater].” He said that to caution that he is not pleased with those who exaggerate and exceed regarding him. By my life, surely, had `Isa b. Maryam been silent regarding what the Christians said about him, Allah would have punished him. You know what falsehood and slander is said about you. Your silence and pleasure regarding that is an indignation to the religion. The bastards of the Hijaz and the rabble of the people allege that you are the sage and legatee of the age, the Proof and the interpreter of the Worshiped, the repository of His knowledge, the scale of His justice, His lantern by which the seeker turns overspreading darkness into the illumination of light; and that Allah does not accept the deeds of one who is ignorant of your status in this world, nor will they uplift the weight [of his scale] in the Hereafter. They have attributed you to a status contrary to your own, and they have said regarding you that which is not in you. So, speak, for the first to speak the truth was your grandfather, and the first to bear him witness in that is your father. You are free to reprise their ways and take their paths. So, al-Sadiq said: I am one of the branches of the olive tree, one of the lamps of the house of prophethood, the writer [whose word overrides the writing of the angels] of travel, the son of the noble and the righteous, one of the lanterns of the niche in which is the light of the Light, and the elite one of the remaining word at the end of the chosen ones until the Day of Revival. So, al-Mansur turned to his seat and said: This has brought me unto a sea whose waves cannot be comprehended and whose depth cannot be reached. The scholars are bewildered in it, the glorious drown in it, and the width of its space narrows in on the swimmer. This is the obstruction in the throat of the caliphs; he cannot be exiled nor is killing him permissible. Had it not been for the tree that unites him and I, with its pure roots, its exalted branches, and its sweet fruits; had it not been blessed in the primordial [world] and sanctified in the scriptures, I would have given him insurmountable consequences after being informed of how he shames us and speaks poorly of us. So, al-Sadiq said: Do not accept what is said regarding your bloodline and the people of favour from your Ahl al-Bayt from those whom Allah has prohibited from Paradise and made their residence the Fire, for the slanderer is a false witness and a partner to Iblis in temptation among the people. Allah says, “O you who believe! If a transgressor comes to you with news, then investigate, lest you harm a people in ignorance and become regretful of what you have done.” (49:6) We are your supporters and helpers, and we are columns and pillars of your rule, as long as you rule by virtuous customs, fulfill the rulings of the Quran with regards to the subjects, and you rub the nose of Satan by your obedience to Allah. If it becomes incumbent upon you, in the capacity of your understanding and in the abundance of your knowledge and in your cognizance of the etiquette of Allah, to connect with one who cuts you off, to give to one who has withheld from you, and to forgive one who oppresses you, then the rewarded one is not simply him who connects, but him who connects after he had been cut off from his blood relatives. So, connect with your blood relatives, and Allah will prolong your life and lighten the Judgment from you on the Day of your revival. So, al-Mansur said: I have forgiven you due to your status, and I will overlook you due to your sincerity. So, narrate to me from yourself so that I may be admonished, and so that it may prevent me from mortal error. So, al-Sadiq said: Betake to forbearance, for it is the pillar of knowledge. Control yourself in moments of power, for if you can do that, then you will be like one who can cure [himself from] anger or treat [himself from] grudges. Know that if you were to punish a deserving person, there is no goal except carrying out justice. I do not know of a condition more virtuous than the condition of justice. The condition that obliges thankfulness is better than the condition that requires patience. So, al-Mansur said: You have admonished and beautified it, and you have spoken succinctly. So, narrate to me about the virtue of your grandfather `Ali b. Abi Talib – a hadith that the commoners do not have. So, al-Sadiq said: My father narrated to me from his father from his grandfather. He said: The Messenger of Allah (s) said: “When I was raised up to heaven, my Lord pledged three sayings about `Ali to me. He said: ‘O Muhammad!’ So, I said: ‘I am at your service, my Lord.’ So, He said: ‘Surely, `Ali is the Imam of the Godfearing, the Leader of the shining believers, and the Chief of the believers. So, give him glad tidings of that.’” So, the Prophet (s) gave him glad tidings of that, and `Ali fell in prostration of gratitude to Allah. Then, he raised his head and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Tell me, what is my status for me to be mentioned there?” He said: “Yes, surely your Lord recognizes you, and you are mentioned among the highest ranks (rafiq al-a`la).” So, al-Mansur said: That is the blessing of Allah. He gives it to whomever He wills.