Narrated to us Muhammad bin Hasan bin Ahmad bin Walid رضي الله عنه that he said: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Hasan as-Saffar and Saad bin Abdullah and Abdullah bin Ja’far Himyari, all of them said: Narrated to us Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Isa; and Muhammad bin Husain bin Abil Khattab; and Haitham bin Abi Masruq Nahdi; and Ibrahim bin Hashim from Hasan bin Mahboob Sarrad from Muqatil bin Sulaiman ibn Dawal Doz from Abi Abdullah عليه السلام that he said: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said:
“I am the chief (Sayyid) of the prophets, and my successor is a chief and the greatest among the successors of prophets. My successors are the best among the successors of prophets. Indeed Adam عليه السلام implored Allah to bestow him with a noble successor. Allah revealed to him, ‘I have exalted My prophets with Messengership for testing the faith of the creatures. And from the righteous people chose successors of the prophets. O Adam! Make a bequest to your son Sheeth.’ He was Hibtullah the son of Adam عليه السلام. Adam عليه السلام appointed him as his successor. Sheeth عليه السلام appointed Shaban as his vicegerent.
Shaban was born through the Hoori sent by Allah from Paradise as a wife for Sheeth عليه السلام. Shaban bequeathed the vicegerency to his son Mohhith. Mohhith to Mahooq, Mahooq to Ameesha, Ameesha to Akhnooh. Akhnooh is known as Idrees عليه السلام. Idrees عليه السلام appointed Nahoor as his legatee, Nahoor’s bequest was for Nuh عليه السلام. Saam was the vicegerent of Nuh عليه السلام Saam delegated to Athamar, Athamar to Bareeshasha, Bareeshasha to Yaafith, Yaafith to Baraa, Baraa to Jafeena, Jafeena to Imran. Imran transferred the legacy to Ibrahim عليه السلام, Ibrahim to Ismail, Ismail to Ishaq, Ishaq to Yaqoob, Yaqoob to Yusuf, Yusuf to Bathariya, Bathariya to Shuaib. Shuaib entrusted the legacy to Musa عليه السلام, the son of Imran. Musa عليه السلام to Yusha bin Nun. Yusha to Dawood; Dawood to Sulaiman, Sulaiman to Asif bin Barkhiya.
Asif to Zakariya, Zakariya to Sayaa, Sayaa to Isa son of Maryam عليه السلام. Isa عليه السلام bequeathed to Shamoon, Shamoon to Yahya bin Zakariya. Yahya bin Zakariya to Mundar, Mundar to Saleema, Saleema to Burda, Burda entrusted the legacies to me. And O Ali! I make the bequest to you. You entrust the legacy to your vicegerent and he would pass it to his successors. All of them are from your progeny. One after the other, this series shall reach the best inhabitants of this Earth. He shall be the last of the Imams. People shall have serious disagreements regarding your successorship. Anyone from the people who believes in your successorship shall be like one who has a firm faith. And one who dissociates with you and does not follow you, shall be in the Hell fire. And it is the abode of disbelievers.”