3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from certain persons of his people from Safwan al-Jammal who has said the following:

“I provided abu ‘Abd Allah , transportation to al-Kufah for the second time and abu Ja‘far al-Mansur was in it. When he (the Imam) arrived in al-Hashimiyah, the city of abu Ja‘far, al- Mansur, he (the Imam) pulled out his feet from the saddle’s stirrups and dismounted. He asked for al- Shahba ’ mule and dressed in white, with a white hat. When he (the Imam) entered the place of abu Ja‘far al-Mansur he said, ‘You have dressed like the Prophets.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah , said, ‘Why do you want to distance me from the children of the Prophets?’ Abu Ja‘far al-Mansur said, ‘I was planning to send to al-Madinah an army to uproot all its palm trees, take all of its inhabitants as captives.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Why did you want to do so, O ’Amir al-Mu’minin?’ abu Ja‘far al- Mansur said, ‘Because I am informed that your slave Mu‘alla’ ibn Khunayth calls people to you and collects funds for you.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘By Allah it is not true.’ Abu Ja‘far al-Mansur said, ‘I cannot agree with you unless it is swearing to divorce, setting free of slaves, sacrificial offering and walking (Sa‘y).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Are you commanding me to swear by things as partners of Allah? One who is not happy with Allah has no case with Allah.’ Abu Ja‘far al-Mansur said, ‘Are you showing me how great your knowledge of the law is?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Why do you distance me from understanding and law when I am a child of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause?’ Abu Ja‘far al- Mansur said, ‘I will bring the informer face to face with you.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You can definitely do so.’ The informer came and abu ‘Abd Allah , asked him, ‘O so and so.’ He replied, ‘Yes, by Allah, besides whom no one deserves to be worshipped, who knows the unseen and seen, the Beneficent, the Merciful that you have done so (called people to yourself . . .).’ Abu ‘Abd Allah , said to him, ‘Woe is on you! Are you glorifying Allah so that He may feel embarrassed to punish you?’ You must say, ‘I denounce the means and power of Allah and I resort to my own means and power.’ The man then took the oath the way he was told but before completing he dropped dead.’ Abu Ja‘far al-Mansur then said, ‘I will not believe anyone thereafter against you.’ He gave him (the Imam) good rewards and allowed him to go back.’”