1 - Narrated to us Ali bin Ahmad Daqqaq (r.a.) that he said: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Yaqoob: Narrated to us Ali bin Muhammad from Abi Ali Muhammad bin Ismail bin Musa bin Ja’far from Ahmad bin Qasim Ijli from Ahmad bin Yahya alias Kurd from Muhammad bin Khadai from Abdullah bin Ayyub from Abdullah bin Hisham from Abdul Kareem from Amr Khathami from Hababa Walbiya that she said: “I saw Amirul Momineen , peace be upon him, among [some of] the shurtatu ‘l-khamis1, he had a two-pronged horsewhip with which he was tapping [the shoulders] of [some] fishmongers selling al-jarri, al-marmahi, and az-zimmar, saying to them: ‘O sellers of [fish like] the monsters [musukh] of Banu Israel and [like] the army of Banu Marwan [Ibn al-Hakam].’ Furat Ibn Ahnaf stood up before him, and said: ‘O Amirul Momineen , what is the army of Banu Marwan?’ “[Hababa] said: “He said to him: ‘[This is a name I give] to groups who shave their beards and curl their moustaches and become monsters (musikhu).’ I have not seen anyone speak in a more composed way then he [did then]. I followed him, and continued in his steps, till he sat down in the rahbah (open space) [facing] the mosque in Kufa]. Then I said to him: ‘O Amirul Momineen , what is the evidence of the Imamate, may Allah have mercy upon you?’ “ She said: “He said: ‘Give me that small stone,’ and he pointed to a stone. I gave it to him, and he made an impression on it for me with his seal. Then he said to me: ‘O Hababa. When someone claims the Imamate, if he can make an impression like the one you see, know that he is the Imam who must be obeyed. In nothing with the Imam wants [to do], will anything [he needs] be far from him.’” She said: “Then I went away, and [later] Amirul Momineen , peace be upon him, passed away. And I came to al-Hasan, peace be upon him, when he was sitting in the place [in the rahbah] of Amirul Momineen , peace be upon him. They were asking him question. He said: ‘O Hababa al-Walbiya!’ I said: ‘Yes, my Master.’ He said: ‘Give me what you have with you.’ “She said: “I gave it to him and he made an impression on it as Amirul Momineen , peace be upon him, had done.” She said: “Then I came up to al-Husayn, peace be upon him, who was in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah, may the blessing and peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants. He beckoned [me] to approach and greeted [me]. Then he said: ‘With me is the evidence which proves what you want [to know]. Do you want [to know] the evidence for the Imamate?’ I said: ‘Yes, my master.’ He said: ‘Give me what [you have] with you.’ and I handed him the stone; he made an impression on it for me.” She said: “Then I came up to Ali Ibn al-Husain, peace be upon him, and I had reached such an old age that I trembled; I was then 113 years old. I saw him in Ruku and sujud, busy with worship. I had no hope [that he would show me] the sign. Then he pointed at me with his forefinger and my youth returned to me.” She said: “I said: ‘O my Master, how much of the world has passed away, and how much remains?’ He said: ‘As for what has passed away, it can be told; but what remains cannot.’ “She said: “Then he said to me: ‘Give me what [you have] with you,’ and I gave him the stone; he made the impression on it for me. Then I came to Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, and he made the impression on it for me. Then I came to Abul-Hasan Musa, peace be upon him, and he made the impression on it for me. Then I came to ar-Reza, peace be upon him, and he made the impression on it for me.” Hababa lived nine months beyond this, according to what Abdullah Ibn Hisham has mentioned.