Narrated to us more than one of our associates: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Hamam from Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Malik FaTharri: Narrated to me Hasan bin Muhammad bin Sama-a from Ahmad bin Harith: Narrated to me Mufaddal bin Umar from Yunus bin Zabyan from Jabir bin Yazid al-Jofi that he said: I heard Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari say: 

“When Allah, Mighty and Glorified be He, revealed upon His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: O ye who believe! Obey Allah and obey the messenger and those possessing authority among you(4:59), I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! We know Allah and His Messenger. But who are the possessors of authority whose obedience Allah has accompanied with your obedience?’ He explained, “They are my caliphs, O Jabir, and the Imams of the Muslims after me. The first of them is Ali Ibn Abi Talib , then Hasan and Husain , then Ali Ibn Husain , then Muhammad Ibn Ali the one who is famous as al-Baqir in the Old Testament. 

Soon, you will meet him, O Jabir, so when you face him, convey my salutation to him. He will be followed by Sadiq, Ja’far Ibn Muhammad, then Musa Ibn Ja’far, then Ali Ibn Musa, then Muhammad Ibn Ali, then Ali Ibn Muhammad, then al-Hasan Ibn Ali, then the one who will be my namesake and bear my agnomen, the proof of Allah in His earth and His remainder among His servants, the son of Hasan Ibn Ali. He (a.t.f.s.) is the one at whose hands Allah, High be His remembrance, will open the east of the earth and its west. He (a.t.f.s.) is the one who will be concealed from his Shias and his friends, an occultation in which none will be steadfast on the belief of his Imamate except the one whose heart has been tested by Allah for faith.” 

Jabir says that he asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Will the Shias benefit from him during the occultation?’ He replied, “Yes, by the One Who sent me with Prophethood! Surely they will benefit with his light and gain from his mastership in his occultation like the people derive benefit from the sun when the clouds hide it. O Jabir! This is from the hidden secrets of Allah and the treasures of His knowledge, so hide it except from the ones worthy of it.” 

Jabir Ibn Yazid recounts: When Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari paid a visit to Ali Ibn Husain and was conversing with him, Muhammad Ibn Ali al-Baqir emerged from the ladies room while he was a small boy and a forelock was dropping on his forehead. The moment his eyes fell on him, Jabir trembled all over with every strand of hair on his body being raised in amazement. Jabir stared at him for a long time and then asked, ‘Son! Come forward’, he came forward. 

Then he said, ‘Go back’ and he duly obliged. Jabir exclaimed, ‘By the Lord of the Kaaba! His traits are exactly like those of the Prophet ﷺ.’ Jabir stood up and going near him, asked, ‘Son! What is your name?’ He replied, “Muhammad.” ‘Whose son?’ “Ali Ibn Husain” was the response. Jabir queried, ‘Son, may my life be sacrificed for you, are you al-Baqir?’ He replied in the affirmative and said, “Convey to me what you are carrying from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”

Jabir responded, ‘O my master! The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave me glad tidings of survival till I meet you and convey his salutations to you. O my master! The Messenger of Allah ﷺ conveys salutations to you!’ Abu Ja’far remarked, “O Jabir! May the salutations be on the Messenger of Allah ﷺ till the heavens and the earth subsist. And may the salutations be on you for conveying the salutations.” 

Thereafter, Jabir used to frequent him and learn things from him. Once, Imam Baqir asked him some question. At this, Jabir pleaded, ‘By Allah! I don’t intend to violate the prohibition of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ. For certainly, he has informed me that you are the Imams, the guides from his Ahlul Bayt after him. The most forbearing of the people in childhood and the most knowledgeable of them in old age. And he warned, “Don’t teach them for they are more knowledgeable than you.” 

Hearing this, Abu Ja’far retorted, “Indeed my grandfather ﷺ has spoken the truth. Certainly, I am more informed than you of what I asked you, as I have been granted wisdom in childhood. All this is due to the grace of Allah and His mercy upon us Ahlul Bayt .”