3-219 Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutevakil - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn al-Hussein al-Sa’ed Abady quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abu Ahmad Muhammad ibn Zyad al-Azodi that he had heard the jurisprudent in Medina Malik ibn Anas say, “I went to see Ja’far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (MGB) often. He (MGB) put down a cushion for me to rest on and respected me and said, ‘O Malik! I like you.’ I became happy that he (MGB) was so kind to me and praised God so much that he (MGB) was always either fasting, praying or busy mentioning God. He was one of the greatest worshippers and one of the greatest abstainers who feared the Honorable the Exalted God. Ja’far (MGB) knew a lot of traditions. He (MGB) was very pleasant. A lot of people attended his meetings and benefitted a lot from his presence. Whenever he (MGB) mentioned the name of God’s Prophet (MGB), he (MGB) turned so blue or yellow that even those who knew him could not recognize him. Once I attended the Hajj pilgrimage along with him (MGB). He (MGB) was riding on a camel and while trying to say ‘Labayk. Allahuma Labayk’ he could not utter it and dismounted. Then I said, ‘O (grand)son of God’s Prophet! Do you have to say it?’ Then the Imam (MGB) said, “O Ibn Abi Amer! I am afraid of saying ‘Labayk. Allahuma Labayk’ since I fear that the Honorable the Exalted God might respond in the negative and say ‘La Labayk and la Sa’edayk!.’”
