2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman who has said that narrated to us Hammad from ‘Abd al-A‘la’ who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the statement of Sunni Muslims (al-‘Amma) that says the Messenger of Allah has said, “If a person would die without having an Imam his death would be as if he has died as the death of ignorance (pre-Islamic age of darkness)” The Imam (a.s.) said, “ That is very true, by Allah.” I then asked, “what if the Imam would pass away and a person is in Khurasan and does not know who the executor of the will of the Imam (a.s.) is, is this good excuse for him?” He (the Imam (a.s.) said, “No, that is not a good reason. When the Imam leaves this world the authority of the executor nof his applies to those would live in the area. Also the obligation search and learn about one’s duties apply to those who are not in area but who learned about the passing away of the Imam. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Gracious, has said, “Not all believers have to become specialists in religious learning. Why do not some people from each group of believers seek to become specialists in religious learning and, after completing their studies, guide their group so that they will have fear of God.” (9:122) I then said, “What if they did went out to find out but some of them would die before they could find out?” He said, “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Gracious, has said, “. . and one who dies, after having abandoned his home to get near to God and His Messenger, will receive his reward from God. . .” (4:100) I if some of them would reach your town but would find out that you have closed your door and the curtains are drawn closed. You would not call them to yourself and there is no one to guide them to you. How then the will know about you?” He said, “They would know about me through the book that Allah has revealed.” I then asked, “How Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Gracious, has said it?” He said, “I know that you have spoken to me about before this day also.” I said, “That is right.” He then said, “Recall what Allah has said about Ali (a.s) and what the Messenger of Allah said to him about Hassan and Husayn and What Allah has specially said about Ali (a.s) and what the Messenger of Allah has said about him about his will to him and hid appointing him and their sufferings and the acknowledgements of al-Hassan and al-Husayn of such facts. Recall the will of al-Hassan and his delivering it to al-Husayn. Allah has said, “The Prophet has more authority over the believers than themselves. His wives are their mothers. The relatives are closer to each other, according to the Book of God, .” .(33:6) I then said, “People speak about abu Ja‘far‘far (a.s) and say, “How is it that Imamat (leadership with Divine authority has stepped out for him from among all the sons of his father even though they are all relatives and older than him and those younger than him did receive it just because they were younger?” He said, “The one would possess this matter (Leadership with Divine Authority) can be recognized through three evidence that are not found with other people. He must have greater priority to the preceding Imam and that he would be the executor of the will of the preceding Imam. With him there must be the Armaments of the Messenger of Allah and the document of his will. This document is with me and no one disputes it.” I then asked, “Is that kept secret and hidden for fear from the rulers?” He said, “There is nothing secret and hidden for which there is no clear evidence available. What is there my father entrusted to me. When he wasw about to leave this world he asked me to call people to bear testimony for him. I then called four people from Quraysh among them was Nafi‘ salve of ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Umar. My father said, “Write down, ‘This is how the will of Jacob to his children reads, “God has chosen this religion for you. You must not leave this world unless you are a Muslim (submitted to the will of the Lord of the Universe).” (2:132) Muhammad ibn Ali made the same kind of will to his son, Ja‘far ibn Muhammad annd commanded him to shroud him in his own gown which he would use during his Friday prayers. That his own turban must be used for him, that the surface of his grave should be given a square shape, raised three inches from the ground and thereafter leave it that much only. Thereafter he wrpped up the document of the will and asked the witnesses to leave saying, “May Allah grant you blessings. When they left I asked, “What was in it O father, that asked them to bear testimony to?” He said, “I did not like that you will be defeated and people will say, ‘He left this world without a will. I wanted it to be a supporting authority for you. This the fact that help one who comes to the town and asks, “To who did so and so made a will? And it is said to him, “The will was made to so and so.” I then asked, “What he (Imam) would partners in the will?” He said, “You must ask him. He will explain it to you.”
Ali ibn Ibrahim a rapporté de Muhammad ibn Isa, de Yunus ibn Abderrahman, qui a dit : Hammad nous a rapporté d'Abd al-Ala, qui a dit : J'ai demandé à Abou Abdullah (que la paix soit sur lui) au sujet de la parole des gens ordinaires selon laquelle le Messager d'Allah (que la prière d'Allah et Son salut soient sur lui et sa famille) a dit : "Celui qui meurt sans avoir d'Imam meurt une mort de l'époque de l'ignorance." Il a dit : "Par Allah, j'ai dit : 'Et si un Imam meurt et qu'un homme à Khurasan ne sait pas qui est son successeur, cela ne lui est pas imputable.' Il a dit : 'Il ne lui est pas imputable. En effet, lorsque l'Imam meurt, la responsabilité de son successeur incombe à celui qui est avec lui dans la ville, et le droit de choisir revient à ceux qui ne sont pas présents, lorsqu'ils en sont informés. Certes, Allah, Puissant et Majestueux, dit : 'Pourquoi ne se forme-t-il pas, parmi chaque groupe, une partie qui se consacre à l'étude de la religion et avertit son peuple lorsqu'ils retournent vers eux, afin qu'ils soient prudents.' J'ai dit : 'Mais si un groupe se dissocie et que certains d'entre eux meurent avant d'arriver, et qu'ils n'ont pas eu connaissance de cela ?' Il a dit : 'Certes, Allah, Majestueux et Glorieux, dit : 'Et quiconque sort de chez lui en migrant vers Allah et Son Messager, puis que la mort le rattrape, sa récompense incombe à Allah.' J'ai dit : 'Mais si une partie de la ville est informée et que tu te retrouves bloqué, ta porte fermée et ton refuge inaccessible, sans pouvoir les appeler à toi et sans personne pour te guider vers eux, en raison de ce qu'ils savent de toi ?' Il a dit : 'Par le Livre descendu d'Allah.' J'ai dit : 'Alors Allah, Puissant et Majestueux, dit : 'Comment se fait-il que tu aies parlé de cela avant aujourd'hui ?' J'ai dit : 'Oui.' Il a dit : 'Alors rappelle ce qu'Allah a révélé au sujet d'Ali, et ce que le Messager d'Allah (que la prière d'Allah et Son salut soient sur lui et sa famille) lui a dit au sujet de Hassan et Hussein, ainsi que ce qu'Allah a spécifiquement accordé à Ali, et ce que le Messager d'Allah (que la prière d'Allah et Son salut soient sur lui et sa famille) a dit à son sujet concernant sa nomination et son installation, et ce qui leur arrivera, ainsi que la confirmation de Hassan et Hussein à ce sujet, ainsi que sa recommandation à Hassan et l'acceptation de Hussein, par la parole d'Allah : 'Le Prophète a plus de droit sur les croyants qu'ils n'en ont sur eux-mêmes, et ses épouses sont leurs mères. Et les détenteurs de liens de parenté sont plus proches les uns des autres, d'après le Livre d'Allah.' J'ai dit : 'Mais les gens parlent d'Abu Ja'far (que la paix soit sur lui) en disant : 'Comment a-t-il dépassé en mérite celui qui est de sa parenté et qui est plus vertueux que lui, et qui est plus court que lui en termes d'âge ?' Il a dit : 'Celui qui détient cette autorité est reconnu par trois caractéristiques qui ne se trouvent pas chez les autres : il est plus digne des gens que lui, il est son successeur, et il possède les armes du Messager d'Allah (que la prière d'Allah et Son salut soient sur lui et sa famille), ainsi que sa recommandation, et cela, je ne conteste pas. J'ai dit : 'Mais cela est caché par crainte du pouvoir.' Il a dit : 'Il n'y a pas de dissimulation sans qu'il y ait une preuve évidente. Certes, mon père m'a confi