Muhammad b. Musa b. al-Mutawakkil narrated to us. He said: Muhammad b. Abi `Abdillah al-Kufi narrated to us from Musa b. `Imran al-Nakha`i from his uncle al-Husayn b. Yazid al-Nawfali from `Ali b. Muslim rom his father from Abi Hamza al-Thumali from Sa`d al-Khaffaf from al-Asbagh b. Nubata from `Abdullah b. `Abbas. He said:

The Messenger of Allah (s) said: When my Lord took me up to the seventh heaven, and from it to the Lote Tree of the Furthest Boundary, and from the Lote Tree to the veils of light, my Lord called to me: “O Muhammad! You are My Servant, and I am your Lord. Submit to Me, worship Me, rely on Me, and trust Me, for I am pleased with you as a servant, a beloved, a messenger, and a prophet, and with your brother `Ali as a vicegerent (khalifa) and a gate (bab). He is My Proof over My servants and the Imam of My creation. Through him, My friends will be distinguishable from My enemies, and My Party will be distinguishable from the Party of Satan. Through him, My religion is established, My limits are preserved, and My judgments are carried out. Through you, him, and the Imams from his descendants, My male and female servants receive My mercy. Through the Qa’im from you, I will establish My glorification, My praise, My sanctification, My acclamation, and My exaltation in My Earth. Through him, I will purify the Earth from My enemies, and I will bequeath it to My friends. Through him, I will make the words of those who disbelieve in Me the lowest, and I will make My words the highest. Through him, I will bring life to My servants and My countries with My knowledge. By My will, I will reveal the treasures and the resources for him. By My wish, I will reveal the secrets and the consciences to him. I will support him with My angels to aid him in carrying out My order and announcing My religion. Truly, he is My friend; verily, he is the guide (mahdi) of My servants.”