He was born on fifteenth of the month of Sha'ban in the year two hundred fifty five AH.
1
Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash'ari has narrated from Mu'alla ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad who has said the following.
"When al-Zabayri was killed this letter came from abu Muhammad (a.s.). 'Such as this is the retribution for those who lie against Allah in the matters of those who possess authority from
Him. He thought that he will kill me and I will leave no children behind. How then he has experienced the power of Allah? " A child was born to him -that he named M.H.M.D- in the year two hundred
fifty six AH."
2
Ali ibn Muhammad has said that narrated to me Muhammad and al-Hassan sons of Ali ibn Ibrahim in the year two hundred seventy nine saying that narrated to them Muhammad ibn Ali ibn 'Abd
al-Rahman al-'Abdi of 'Abd Qays from Daw' ibn Ali al-'Ijli from a man from Persia, whose name he mentioned, who has said the following.
"I went to the city of Surra man Ra'a and kept myself at the door of abu Muhammad (a.s.). He called me inside without any request from me. When I went inside and offered greeting of peace
he said to me, "How are you, O father of so and so?" Then he told me, "Sit down O so and so." He then asked me about a group of men and ladies from my family.
He then said to me, "What brings you here?" I said, "The desire to serve you." The narrator has said that he said, "All right, be around the house." I then remained in the house with the
servants. Then I would do the purchases for them from the market.
I would go in his presence without first requesting permission when he would haven been present in the man's quarters One day I went to him when he was in the men's quarters. I heard the
sound of movement in the house and he said, "Do not move from your place." I could not dare to go out or inside.
Then a female servant came out to me who had something with her which was covered. He then called me inside and I went inside. He called the female servant and she came back. He told her to
uncover what she had with her. She uncovered the very good looking face of a white baby boy. And she uncovered his chest.
A line of hairs had grown from his neck down to his bellybutton which seemed to be greenish color and not totally black. He said, "This is your Leader with Divine Authority." He then
ordered her to take the baby inside and ever since I could not see him until abu Muhammad (a.s.) passed away." Daw' ibn Ali has said, "I asked the man from Persia, 'How old do you think he was?"
He said, "Two years old." Al-'Abdi has said, "I asked Daw', "How old do you think he was?" He said, "Fourteen years old." Abu Ali and abu 'Abdallah have said that we think he is twenty one years
old."
3
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from more then one person of our people of Qumm from Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-'Amiri from abu Sa'id Ghanim al-Hindi who has said the following.
"I lived in interior Kashmir, India. My friends would sit on chairs on the right and left of the King. They were forty people and all of them would read the four books, Torah, Gospel,
Psalms and the books of Abraham. We would judge among the people and provide them understanding of their religion and issue fatwas for them in the lawful and unlawful matters.
All people would seek assistance from us including their King. Once we discussed about the Messenger of Allah and said that this prophet who is mentioned in the books has remained obscure
to us. We must investigate about him and lead a fact finding task in his affairs. We agreed that I should go out and lead the fact finding task.
I then left out with large amount of money and journeyed for twelve months until I reach near Kabul. Turkish bandits rubbed wounded me seriously. They pushed me to Kabul where their King
saved me when he learned about me he sent me to Balkh which was under the control of Dawud ibn al-'Abbass ibn abu al-Aswad.
Information about me had reached him that I have come out of India in search for religion and that I have learned Persian and have debated the scholars of law and theology. Dawud ibn
al-'Abbass sent for me and summoned me to his presence. He gathered the scholars of law against me. They debated me.
I then informed them that I have come to find about the prophet about whom we have learned in the books" He asked, "Who is he and what is his name?" I said, "His name is Muhammad." They
said, "He is our prophet that you search for." I asked them about his laws and they informed me about them. I said, "I know that Muhammad is the prophet but I do not know the one you describe to
me is he or not.
You should show where he is so I can go and find out whether the signs that I have about him is found in him or not. If he would the one I am looking for I will accept his religion." They
said, "He has passed away." I asked them, "Who is the executor of his will and his successor?" They said, "Abu Bakr is his successor." I asked them, "Tell me about his name. Is this (Abu Bakr)
his Kunya?" They said, "It is 'Abdallah ibn 'Uthman."
They ascribed him to Quraysh." I then asked them to tell me about the genealogy of Muhammad. They informed me of his genealogy. I said this is not the person I am looking for.
The one I am searching for is the one whose successor is his brother in religion and his cousin genealogically, the husband of his daughter and the father of his sons. This prophet will
have no children on earth except the sons of this man who is his successor." He has said that they attacked me and said, "O commander, this man has come out polytheism and has entered disbelief.
It is lawful to spill his blood." I said to them, "O people I already have a religion and I strongly believe in it. I do not want to give it up until I can find a religion stronger than
this.
I have found the description of this man in the books that Allah has revealed to His prophets. I came out of my country, India leaving behind all the honor and respect that I had only to
find him. When examined your prophet the way you described him to me I found out that his description as you presented does not match the description of the prophet mentioned in the books. So
leave me alone." The agent sent for a man called al-Husayn ibn Eshkib and said to him, "Debate this Indian man." He said, "May Allah grant you well being.
There are the scholars of the law and the other scholars. They know better how to debate him." He said to him, "Debate him as I say, and you can meet privately and be kind to him."
Al-Husayn ibn Eshkib said to me after our consultations, "The prophet that you are looking for is the one these people have described for you but their description of his successor is not the way
they have described. This prophet is Muhammad ibn'Abdallah ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib.
His successor is Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib. He is the husband of Fatema, daughter of Muhammad (s.a) and the father of al-Hassan and al-Husayn, the grandsons of Muhammad
(s.a)."
Ghanim abu Sa'id has said, "I then said, "Allahu Akbar." (Allah is great). This is the one I have been looking for." I then returned to Dawud ibn al-'Abbass and said to him, "O commander, I
have found what I was searching for. I testify that there is no lord besides Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." The narrator has said that he treated and helped me with
kindness and asked al-Husayn to look after me."
The narrator has said that thereafter I went to him until we were acquainted properly and he taught me understanding of the law of the matters that I needed such as prayer, fasting and the
obligations."
The narrator has said that I said to him, "We read in our books that Muhammad (s.a) is the last of the prophets and there will be no other prophets after him. The task of leadership after
him will be with the executor of his will, his successors and heirs and thereafter it will be with the executor of the will of the previous one and so on in their descendants until the end of the
world.
Who is the executor of the will of the executor of the will of Muhammad (s.a) ?" He said, "They are al-Hassan then al-Husayn the grandsons of Muhammad (s.a)." He then continued speaking of
the executors of the will of the Holy Prophet (s.a) until the Sahib al-Zaman (the one who possesses Divine Authority today).
Then he explained to me what had happened (with the Imams). Thereafter I hand no other goal but to search for the holy location. He ('Amiri) has said that he came to us in Qumm. He sat with
our people in the year two hundred sixty four AH. He then left with them and arrived in Baghdad with his friend from al-Sind who had accompanied him in religion.
'Amiri has said that Ghanim said to me, "I disliked certain things about my companion and I departed him and went out to al-'Abbassia and prepared my self for prayer. I began the prayer but
I was anxious and thoughtful about my goal. At this time someone came to me and called me with my Indian name. I replied, "Yes, it is I." He said, "Your master is calling you." I went with him
and he would walk from this to that street until he came to house and a garden and I saw him (a.s.) sitting." He said, "Well come, O so and so, in Inddian language.
How are you? How was so and so until he mentioned all the forty people. He then asked me about every and each of them. Then he told all that had happened among us all in Indian language.
Then he asked, "Did you want to perform Hajj with people of Qumm?" I said, "Yes, my master." He then said, "Do not go to Hajj with them this year. Go back and perform Hajj in future." He then
gave me a bag of money that was in front of him and said to me, "Spend it for your needs and do not go to Baghdad to so and so." He mentioned his name and said, "Do not tell him
anything."
'Amiri has said that he came to us at Qumm. He then informed us of the triumph and that our people had returned from al-'Aqaba. Ghanim went 'Uthman Khurasan. Next year he went for Hajj and
sent us souvenirs from Khurasan. He lived there for sometimes and then he died. May Allah grant him blessings."
4
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sa'id ibn 'Abdallah who has said the following. "Al-Hassan ibn al-Nadr and abu Sidam and a group of people, after abu Muhammad (a.s.) had passed away
would discuss about the property (of religious dues) in their possession and how to find out (as to who should they give it). Al-Hassan ibn al-Nadr came to abu Sidam and said, "I want to go for
Hajj this year." Abu Sidam said, "Postpone it this year." Al-Hassan ibn al-Nadr said, "I experience nightmare in my sleep. I must go this year for Hajj."
He prepared his will and appointed Ahmad ibn Ya'li ibn Hammad as the executor of his will. He said in his to pay a certain amount of money to the holy location with his own hand into his
(the Imam's) own hand after he would appear in public. The narrator has said that al-Hassan has said, "When I arrived in Baghdad I rented a house and certain persons of the representatives came
to me with cloths and Dinars and left them with me.
I asked them, "What is it?" He said, "It is as you know what it is." Others also came to me with such properties until the house was filled up. Then Ahmad ibn Ishaq came with all that was
with him. I was astonished and remained thinking. A letter came to me from the man (a.s.) that said, "When it will be come such and such hours of the day then take all (money/ property) is with
you."
I then left with that was with me and on the way there was a robber that looted the travelers with his sixty men thieves. I passed him safely by the help of Allah. I arrived at the army
camp and stopped there. A letter came that told me to take everything along with me. I loaded every thing in the carriages of the porters and when I reach the corridor a black man standing there.
He asked, "Are you al-Hassan ibn al-Nadr?"
I said, "Yes, I am he." He then said, "Enter." I then entered the house and then a room and unloaded the goods from the carriages of the porters therein. In a corner of the room there was a
large quantity of bread. He gave two loaves to each of the porters and told them to leave. Then I found out that there was a room behind the curtain and someone called me
therefrom.
"O al-Hassan ibn al-Nadr, thank Allah for the favor that He has done to you and do not complain. Satan loves that you would doubt. He gave me two pieces of cloths and said, "Take these
because you will soon need them." I took them and left." Sa'd has said, "Al-Hassan ibn Nadr came back, died in the month of Ramadan and was shrouded in the pieces of cloths."
5
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Hamawayh al-Suwaydawiy from Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Mahziyar who has said the following.
"At the time abu Muhammad (a.s.) passed away I had doubts. Large quantities of commodities (of religious dues) were accumulated with my father. He loaded them in a boat and himself also
embarked. I was with him to say farewell to him. He began to feel severe fever and asked me to take him back home because he said, "It is death." He then said to me, "Be pious before Allah about
these commodities."
In his will he appointed me over see the commodities. He then died. I then said to my self, "My father was not such a person to make a will for an incorrect cause. I must take these
commodities to Iraq and rent an accommodation on the bank of the river and I will not tell anyone of anything with me.
If the matter will become clear to me as it was at the time of abu Muhammad (a.s.) I will deal accordingly otherwise throw them into the river." I then went to Iraq, rented a place on the
bank of the river and stayed there for a several days. Then I received a letter with a messenger. The letter said, "O Muhammad, there is so and so thing inside so and so thing with
you.
It explained to me every thing in details even about the things of which I hand no knowledge. I then submitted everything to the messenger and remained there for several more days. No one
would ask who I was. I became depressed and sad. Then a letter came that said, "We have appointed you in the place of your father. Therefore give thanks to Allah."
6
Muhammad ibn abu 'Abdallah has narrated from abu 'Abdallah al-Nisa'iy who has said the following.
"I delivered certain items from al-Marzabani al-Harithi to the holy location. One item was a gold bracelet. Other items were accepted but the bracelet was returned. I was ordered to break
it. When I did so inside there were certain amounts of iron, brass and zinc. I took them out and sent the gold back. It was accepted."
7
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Fadl al-Khazzaz al-Mada-'ini, the slave of Khadija daughter of Muhammad abu Ja'far (a.s.)who has said the following "Certain people of the city of
al-Madina that belonged to al-Talibiyin group believed in the truth (about Ahl al-Bayt).
They would receive their financial grants regularly on time. When abu Muhammad (a.s.) passed away a few of them disregarded the belief that abu Muhammad (a.s.) has behind a son. The
financial grants thereafter would come only to those who still believed in son of abu Muhammad (a.s.) and stopped coming to the others. They no more are mentioned along with those who are
mentioned. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds."
8
Ali ibn Muhammad has said that a man from Bedouins sent a certain quantity of commoditiy (as religious dues) but it was returned to him and he was told, "Pay first the rights of the
children of your uncle. It is four hundred Dirhams." The property of the children of his uncle was in his possession in sharing manner and he had withheld their property. When he did the
accounting their rights in that shared property was four hundred Dirhams. He paid that amount and sent the rest (to the Imam (a.s.) and it was accepted."
9
Al-Qasim ibn al-'Ala' has said the following.
"Several boys were born to me and each time I would write and request for prayer. Nothing would have been written to me about them. They all died. When my son al-Hassan was born I wrote and
requested for prayer. The answer came, "He lives and all praise belongs to Allah."
10
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated 'Abdallah ibn Salih who has said the following "I lived in Baghdad and one year I requested permission (from the twelfth Imam (a.s.) to travel out but
permission was not granted. I waited for twenty two days and the caravan had already left for al-Nahrawan then I was granted permission. It was a Wednesday and I was told to leave.
I then left but I did not have any hope of reaching the caravan. I arrived at al- Nahrawan and the caravan was still there. I then had enough time to only feed my camels and then the
caravan left. I journeyed with the caravan and he had prayed for my safety. I did not face any difficulties. All praise belongs to Allah."
11
Ali has narrated from al-Nadr al-Bajali from md ibn Yusuf al-Shashi who has said the following "A boil had grown on my heaps. I sought treament from several physicians and spent money but
they said that they knew of no medicine for it. I then wrote a letter to him (the twelfth Imam (a.s.) requesting him to pray. He wrote back to me with his signature, "May Allah grant you good
health and place you with us in this life and in the life hereafter."
The narrator has said that before the coming of the Friday the boil was gone and it became like the palm of my hand. I then called one of the physicians and showed him the place of the boil
and he said, "We had no knowledge of any medicine to cure it."
12
Ali has narrated from Ali ibn al-Husayn al-Yamani who has said the following "I lived in Baghdad. Once the caravan for the people of Yemen was about to live. I also decided to leave with
them. I then wrote to him (the twelfth Imam (a.s.) requesting his permission. The response came, "Do not leave with them. There is nothing good for you in leaving with them. Stay in al-Kufa." The
narrator has said, " I stayed in al-Kufa and the caravan left but the tribe of Hanzala attacked and looted them.
I then wrote for permission to leave by ships on water. Permission was denied. I then found out that of the ships that had traveled that year none reached the destination safely. Indian
groups called al-Bawarij had pirated. I then visited the army camp. Near sun set I went to the door (of the shrine of the Imams) quitely.
I did speak to anyone and nor introduced myself to anyone. I was praying in the mosque after offering my greeting of peace (to the Imams) that a servant came and said, "Rise up and come
with me." I told him, "Where should we go?" He said, "We will go home." I then asked, "Do you know who am I? Perhaps you are sent for someone else."
He said, "I have been sent onlyy for you. You are Ali ibn al-Husayn, the messenger of Ja'far ibn Ibrahim." He took to the house of al-Husayn ibn Ahmad. He then spoke to him secretly that I
did hear what the spoke about. Every thing that I needed was brought for me. I stayed with him for three days. I asked his permission to offer my greetings of peace from inside the house. He
granted me permission and I offered my greeting of peace dduring the night."
13
Al-Hassan ibn al-Fadl ibn Yazid al-Yamani has said the following.
"My father wrote in his own had writing he received back a response. I then wrote in my own hand writing I also received back a response. One of our Fuqaha' (scholar of law) wrote in his
own hand writing but he did not receive any response. We then began to think about it and we found out that the man had changed his belief into that of the Qirmati sect.
Al-Hassan ibn al-Fadl has said, "I visited (the holy places in ) and arrived at Tus. I decided not to leave until I will experience evidence in support of my belief and success in achieving
my needs even if it would take me to stay until I will receive confirmation." He has said, "In the mean time I felt depressed because of fear that I might lose the opportunity to perform
Hajj."
He has said, "One day I went to see Muhammad ibn Ahmad for help." He said to me, "Go to so and so mosque. A man will meet you there." I then went to the mosque and a man came to me. He
looked at me and laughed and said, "do not be sad and depressed.
You will perform Hajj this year and will return back to your wife and children safely." The narrator has said, "I gained confidence and my heart felt at peace and I say that is how my wish
came true."
The narrator has said, "I then went to the army camp (city of Surra man Ra'a ) and a bag of money with few Dinars and a piece of clothes were sent to me (from the Imam's office). I felt
depressed and said to my self, "Is this how these people treat me and this is how much my reward is with them?" I used ignorance and returned the gift and wrote a letter.
The person who brought them to me did not explain or say any thing. I then felt regretful; very strongly and said to myself, "I have turned ungrateful to my master in rejecting his gift. I
wrote a letter and begged for forgiveness of my misbehavior. I confessed to my sins and begged for pardon. I sent the letter and remained rubbing my hands against each other. In such condition I
was thinking and say to myself, "If the money will be sent to me I will not open the bag and will not say anything about it. I will take it to my father.
He knows more than me and will do whatever he would like. At that time a letter had come to the messenger who had brought the bag of money. He was told, "What you did was wrong. You did not
inform the man that we sent gifts to our friends and followers and sometimes they ask us for such gift for blessings."
A letter came to me also and it said, "You made a mistake in rejecting the gift but when you asked Allah to forgive you Allah will forgive you. Since your intention was not to open the gift
or spent it we have spent it on your behalf. However, you must take the cloth so you can use it for Ehram (during performing certain acts of Hajj)."
The narrator has said, "I wrote him about two issue and I wanted to write about a third issue but I did not do so for fear that it might not like it." The answer for the two issues came
back and the meaning of the third one was also explained. All praise belongs to Allah.
The narrator has said, "I made a contract with Ja'far ibn Ibrahim al-Naysaburi in Naysabur to ride share on our \journey to Makka. When we arrived in Baghdad I decided to change our
agreement. I then went around to find another person for ride sharing.
Ibn al-Wajna'.came to see me after that I had already proposed to him ride sharing and hiring a ride and he had expressed his dislike to my my proposal. He said, "I am looking for you and I
am told, "He will accompany you. Treat him kindly, find for him ride sharing and hire for him a ride."
14
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn 'Abd al-Hamid who has said the following.
" I had doubts in the case of Hajiz (as whether the had authorized him or not). I then collected a few items and left for the army camp (the city of Surra man Ra'a The notification that
came to said, "There is no doubtfulness in us nor in those who has said the following. who represent us in our affairs. Whatever is with you take them to Hajiz ibn Yazid."
15
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Salih who has said the following. "When my father died and the task (of working is representative of the Imams) was left to me with my father
there were promissory notes from those who has said the following. owed (religious dues). I wrote to him (the Imam (a.s.) about the case.
He wrote back to me, "Demand from them and make them pay." People paid what they owed except one man who had signed a promissory note for four hundred Dinars. I went to demand from him what
he owed but he procrastinated and took it lightly and his behaved foolishly. I complained to his father and he said, "So what!" I then hold him by his beard and leg and pulled him towards the
center of the house and kicked him many times. His son went out and cried for help from the people of Baghdad saying, "He is a Qummi, Rafidi (derogatory name for Shi'a) he has killed my father."
From the people of Baghdad many gathered around me.
I rode my equine animal and said, "Very nice of you people of Baghdad. You support the unjust against a lonely stranger. I am a man from the sunni sect and he calls me a man from Qumm and a
Rafidi so that he can destroy my rights." The narrator has said that people then turned against him and they wanted to enter his store.
I then calmed them down. The signatory in the promissory note called me and set upon himself a stipulation with an oath that said, "His wife will be divorced if he did not pay his dues." My
part of the stipulation was to ask the people to leave his place."
16
Ali has narrated from a number of our people from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan and al-'Ala' ibn Rizq Allah from Badr Ghulam Ahmad ibn al-Hassan who has said the following.
"I began to live in al-Jabal (a town between Baghdad and Azarbayjan) and I did not believe in Imam (the Divine authority of al-Mahddi (a.s.) but I loved them (descendants of Amir al-
Mu'minin Ali (a.s.). When Yazid ibn 'Abdallah (a representative of al-Mahdi (a.s.) died he said in his will that I must give his Shahri Samand (famous Persian) horse, sword and belt to his master
(al-Mahdi (a.s.).
I was afraid that if I would not give the horse to Edhkutakin (a Turkish official of 'Abbassid rulers) he will harm me. I by myself then evaluated the items for a seven hundred Dinars and
no one knew about it. A letter then came from Iraq that said, "Send us our seven hundred Dinars that are with you for the Shahri (famous Persian horse), the sword and the belt."
17
Ali has narrated from the one who narrated to him the following.
"A boy was born to me. I wrote to him (al-Mahdi (a.s.) for his permission to give the baby a special bath for the ceremony on the seventh day of his birth. The answer came back and it said,
"Do not do so." The boy died on the seventh or the eighth day. I then wrote to him about the death of the boy. He wrote back to me, "He will be succeeded by another and an other. Let his name be
'Ahmad' and the name for the one after Ahmad will be Ja'far." It came to be as he had said."
The narrator has said, "I made preparation for the journey to Hajj, said farewell to the people and I was about to leave. The message came to me that said, "We do not like it but it is up
to you." I felt depressed and sad and I wrote, "I am steadfast to obey you commands and listen your words except that I feel for missing Hajj." He then had signed (a note to me) that said, "Do be
depressed. You will soon perform Hajj by the will of Allah." The next year I wrote to ask his permission and the permission came.
I then wrote that I have chosen Muhammad ibn al-'Abbass as a ride sharing partner and that I trusted him for his religion and safety. The message that then came said, "Al-Asadi is a good
ride sharing partner. If will come do not chose anyone else besides him. Al-Asadi came and I chose him as the ride sharing partner."
18
Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-'Alawi has said the following.
"Al-Majruh left a certain amount of commodities that was of the dues to the holy location with Mirdas ibn Ali. With Mirdas there was already such commodities that Yatim ibn Hanzala had
left. Amessage came to Mirdas and it said, "Send (to us) the commodities of Yatim and whatever al-Shirazi (Majruh) has left with you."
19
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn 'Isa al-'Uraydi abu Muhammad who has said the following.
"When abu Muhammad (a.s.) passed away a man from Egypt came to Makk with a certain amount of commodities that were due to the holy location (office of the Imam (a.s.) People expressed
different opinions on the issue. Certain persons said, "Abu Muhammad (a.s.) has passed away and has left no one behind as his successor.
Ja'far is his successor. Others said, "Abu Muhammad (a.s.) passed away and he left his successor behind.. A man called abu Talib was sent to the army camp (the city of Surra man Ra'a) with
a letter. He went to see Ja'far and ask him for the evidence to prove that he is the successor of abu Muhammad (a.s.), Ja'far said, "It is not available at this time."
He then went to the door and gave the letter to our people and the response that came said, "We present our condolences to you for the death of your friend (the man from Egypt). He has died
and he has a will in which he said that the commodities must be given to the trust worthy person to deal with in a proper manner. His letter was answered. When came back to Makka it was just the
way he was informed by the holy location (the office of the Imam (a.s.) "
20
Ali ibn Muhammad has said the following.
"From A'ba (name of a town) certain items of property that belonged to the holy location (office of the Imam (a.s.) were to deliver to him ((the Imam (a.s.) but a sword that was part of
such property was forgotten and remained in A'ba. When the delivery was made a letter came to him that said, "What about the sword that you forgot and left in A'ba?"
21
Al-Hassan ibn Khafif has narrated from his father who has said the following. "Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) had sent certain servants to al-Madina of the Messenger of Allah and among them were two
servants. He had written to Khafif to leave with them. He then left with them and they reached al-Kufa where one of the two servants had consumed alcohol. Before the would al-Kufa a letter came
to them from the army camp (city of Surra man Ra'a) that said, "Send back the servant who has consumed alcohol and remove him from the service."
22
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu Ali ibn Ghiyath from Ahmad ibn al- Hassan who has said the following.
" Yazid ibn 'Abdallah has said in his will to sent a horse, a sword and certain other properties to holy location (office of the Imam (a.s.). The money from the sale of the horse and other
properties were delivered to the holy location but the sword was forgotten. A message then came that said, "With the items that you sent there was a sword that has not reached us." Or the message
was in similar words."
23
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Shadhan al-Naysaburi who has said the following.
"Five hundred Dirhams less twenty was collected with me. I decided to sent them but I did not like to send five hundred less twenty. I then added twenty Dirhams to it from my own money and
sent them to al-Asadi without any mention of what was therein. The message that came to me said, "Five hundred Dirhams of which twenty were yours have reached (us)."
24
It is narrated from al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash'ari who has said the following. "The letters of abu Muhammad (a.s.) would come about the matters related to al-Junayd, who killed Fars, abu
al-Hassan and others. When he passed away letters about the issues related to abu al-Hassan and his friend continued coming from (Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) but there was no mention of al-Junayd. I
became depressed about it. Thereafter, the news of the death of al- Junayd reached us."
25
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Salih who has said the following. "I had a female slave that had attracted my attention. I wrote to him (Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) requesting
permission to have a child from her. The answer came, "You may do so but Allah does whatever He wants." I went to bed with her and she became pregnant. The fetus fell off prematurely and she
died."
26
Ali ibn Muhammad has said the following.
"Ibn al-'Ajami in his will had set aside one third of his properties for the holy location (office of the Imam (a.s.) and had written the deed for it. Before he would take the one third out
of his properties he gave a certain amount to his son, abu al-Miqdam, of which no one had any knowledge. He (Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) wrote to him, "Where is the property that you set aside for abu
al-Miqdam?"
27
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from abu 'Aqil 'Isa ibn Nasr who has said the following. "Ali ibn Ziyad al-Saynari wrote a letter to request for a shroud. He (al-Mahdi (a.s.) wrote back to
him, "You will need it in the year eighty." He died in the year eighty and the shroud was sent to him a few days before his death."
28
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Harun ibn 'Imran al-Hamadani who has said the following.
"I owed five hundred Dinars to the holy location (office of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.). I felt extremely depressed about it. I said to myself, "The stores that have bought was for five hundred
thirty Dinars. I will set them aside for the holy location (office of Imam al-Mahdi (a. s.)." However I had not said anything in words. He wrote to Muhammad ibn Ja'far, "Take possession of the
stores from Muhammad ibn Harun as payment for the five hundred Dinars that he owed us."
29
Ali ibn Muhammad has said the following.
"Ja'far (the impostor) sold of the items that he sold a Ja'fari (descendants of Ja'far ibn abu Talib) female child that they (family of abu Muhammad (a.s.) had brought up. A certain 'Alawi
person informed the buyer about the female child. The buyer said, "I will be glad to return if someone will pay me what I have paid." He then informed the people of the holy location (office of
Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.). They sent forty one Dinars to the slave trader and asked him to return her back to her people."
30
Al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan al-'Alawi has said the following.
"A man who was an informer for Ruz Hassani with another man with him once said to Ruz, "This man (al-Mahdi (a.s.) is out there. Money is collected for him. He has representatives in many
places. They mentioned his representatives by their names in different areas. This news reached 'Ubaydallah ibn Sulayman, the vizier. The Vizier decided to arrest these representatives. The
Sultan said, "Find out. Where is this man? This is a serious matter."
'Ubaydallah ibn Sulayman then said, "We will arrest the representatives, the agent." The Sultan said, "No, you must send your undercover agents who would pose to them as devotees ready to
pay their dues to their Imam. If they accepted the funds then arrest them." The narrator has said that message came out from the holy location (office of Imam al-Mahdi (a. s.) to inform all the
representatives not to accept any dues from anyone, deny knowing anything about the Imam (a.s.) and say that they have no information.
A man who was an undercover agent came to Muhammad ibn Ahmad whom he did not know. The undercover agent spoke to him privately and said, "I have certain funds with me and I want it to be
delivered to the holy location (office of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.)." Muhammad said to him, "You have made a mistake. I do not know anything about it.
He would insist and try to show kindness and Muhammad would deny having any knowledge of it. The spies spread to all places but the representatives refuse to accept any funds because of the
message that was dilivered to them before hand."
31
Ali ibn Muhammad has said the following. "A prohibition to visit the Quryash cemetery and al-Hira (Karbala) came out of the holy location (office of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.). After a few months
the Vizier (abu al-Fath Ja'far ibn Furat) summoned al-Baqtia, and said to him, "Meet the clan of bnu Furat and al-Bursiyin and tell them not to visit Quraysh cemetery because the Caliph has
decide to see all those who would visit these places be arrested."
