1. [1/251] Ghayba of al-Tusi: A large number from Abi Muhammad Harun b. Musa from Muhammad b. Hammam who said: There came out [a Tawqi] in the hand of the Shaykh Abi al-Qasim al-Husayn b. Ruh رضي الله عنه regarding Ibn Abi al-Azaqir [al-Shalmaghani] in the month of Dhul-Hijja of the year three hundred and twelve, and the ink is still wet and has not dried. A large number from Ibn Dawud who said: A Tawqi came out from al-Husayn b. Ruh about al-Shalmaghani, its copy was sent to Abi Ali b. Hammam in Dhil Hijja of the year three hundred and twelve. Ibn Nuh from Abu al-Fath Ahmad b. Dhaka – the client of Ali b. Muhammad b. al-Furat رحمه الله – who said: Abu Ali b. Hammam b. Suhayl informed us of the Tawqi which came out in Dhi al-Hijja in the year three hundred and twelve. Muhammad b. al-Hasan b. Ja’far b. Ismail b. Salih al-Saymari who said: the Shaykh al-Husayn b. Ruh رضي الله عنه sent [a Tawqi] from his detention at the palace of al-Muqtadir to our Shaykh Abi Ali b. Hammam in Dhi al-Hijja the year three hundred and twelve. Abu Ali proceeded to dictate it to me and informed me that Aba al-Qasim had retracted his original decision not to publicize it, for even though he was in the hands of the group and under arrest but he was ordered [by the Twelfth Imam] to publicize it, and that he should not fear but feel secure, consequently he was freed and was released from detention a short while after that and all praise belongs to Allah.

The text of the Tawqi (of the Twelfth Imam): (O Abu Ali b. Hammam) may He (Allah) lengthen your stay, make you know good in its totality and end by it (good) your works [al-Saymari: may He make you know good] – Inform the one whose religion you trust and whose intention you are confident of among our brothers – may Allah make you (pl.) successful [Ibn Dawud: may Allah perpetuate your (pl.) successes] that Muhammad b. Ali famously known as al-Shalmaghani [Ibn Dawud added: and he is one of those to whom Allah has hastened the wrath and has not given any respite] has apostasized from Islam and left it. He has introduced heresy in the religion of Allah and has disbelieved in the Creator Mighty and Elevated because of what he has claimed [Harun: in what he has claimed]. He has foisted a lie and a falsehood. He has uttered a mendacious imputation and a grievous sin [Harun: grievous matter]. The comparers with Allah have lied and have have gone far astray and have suffered a manifest loss. We have disassociated to Allah the Elevated and His messenger and his family صلوات الله وسلامه ورحمته وبركاته عليهم from him, and have cursed him – the curses of Allah be upon him [Ibn Dawud added: one after the other in succession] – both in the apparent and internally, in secret and in open, all the time, and in all conditions. May it also be upon anyone who allies with him or follows him or to whom reaches this statement and yet continues considering him an authority. Inform them [al-Saymari: may Allah be your guardian] [Ibn Dhaka said: may Allah strengthen you] that we are on our guard [Ibn Dawud: know that we are on guard towards him] [Harun said: inform them that we are on guard] and precautious of him [Ibn Dawud and Harun then add: the way those who came before us had been towards his predecessors] [al-Saymari: the way we were towards the likes of him who preceded him] [Ibn Dhaka said: the way one of us who came before was towards his ilk] such as al-Shari’i, al-Numayri, al-Hilali, al-Bilali and others. Despite this, the practice of Allah [Ibn Dawud and Harun added: Majestic is His praise] in our estimation has always been beautiful, both before him and after him, in Him we trust, and from Him do we seek aid, and He is sufficient for us in all our affairs and the best disposer. Harun said: Abu Ali took this Tawqi and did not leave a single one of the Shuyukh except that he read it to him, and it was written down from them from his copy in the rest of the towns. It became famous in the sect which united in cursing and disavowing him [i.e. al-Shalmaghani].