30. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa and A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad all from Ali ibn Mahziyar from who has narrated the following:

“I once wrote to abu Ja‘far ‘Alayhi al-Salam, that so and so has bought a certain asset. He has made it an endowment of which one-fifth is designated for you. He seeks your opinion about selling your share of the land, or appraising and counting its price on himself for which he has bought or keep it as an endowment. He (the Imam) , wrote the answer that said, ‘Inform so and so that I command him to sell my share and send the proceeds to me, which is my opinion, by the will of Allah; or appraise it on his own account, if that is more suitable for him.’ I wrote to him (the Imam) that so and so has mentioned that among other beneficiaries of this endowment there are serious difference which may even increase further afterwards; if he (the Imam) considers it proper to sell the endowment and give everyone of the beneficiaries his share if he (the Imam) so commands. He (the Imam) then wrote in his own handwriting to me, ‘Inform him about my opinion that if he thinks the selling of the endowment is better because of the differences of the beneficiaries he can do so; differences can sometimes lead to destruction of properties and lives.’”