2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from Ali ibn Mahziyar from Ali ibn Hadid who has said the following: “I had decided to stay in al-Madinah in the month of Ramadan in the year two hundred thirteen. When al-Fitr came close I wrote to abu Ja‘far , and asked if leaving for al-‘Umrah in the month of Ramadan is better or to stay to complete fasting. He (the Imam) wrote to me a letter that I read was in his own handwriting that said, ‘You have asked, may Allah grant you blessing, about which al-‘Umrah is more excellent. Al-’Umrah in the month of Ramadan is more excellent. May Allah grant you blessings.’”