Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of abu al-Hassan Musa’s (a.s.) Divine Authority over the people after abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.)

“I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Please, take my hand out of fire. Who is for us after you (leave this world)?” Then abu Ibrahim (Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) came and he was a young boy in those days. The Imam (a.s.) said, “This is your companion hold fast to him.”

"I said to Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah who has granted your father because of you such a high position to grant you also such high position through your successor before you will leave this world.' He then said, 'Allah has already granted such favor.' The narrator has said that he then asked the Imam (a.s.), 'Who is he, ‘May I be your ransom?' He pointed out towards the pious servant (of Allah), who was asleep, saying this man who is asleep. He was a young boy.”

“Abu Ali al-Arjani al-Farisi narrated to me from ‘Abd al-Rahman al- Hajjaj in the year ( 179 AH /795 AD) in which former abu al-Hasan, Imam Musa (a.s.) was detained. I (Hajjaj) said to him (‘Abd al-Rahman), “This man (abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) has been detained in his (Mansur, current ruler) hands. We do not know how his conditions are. Have you heard anything from him about his sons?” He (‘Abd al-Rahman) said to me, “I did not think anyone would ask me about this issue. Once I went to see Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.) in his home. He was in such and such a room at the prayer area. He was praying to Allah and on his right side was Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) saying Amen for his prayer. I said to him, ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, you know my having cutoff from all others to serve you, who will be the Wali Leader with Divine Authority for people after you?” He replied, “Musa has dressed up in this coat of arms and it has perfectly fitted him.” I then said to him, “I will not need anything after this.”

“Once I was in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) that abu Ibrahim came and was a young boy. He (abu ‘Abdallah ) said (to me), “Accept my directive will about him (Musa ibn Ja‘far) and discuss his task (Leadership with Divine Authority) with your reliable companions.” :

Ishaq ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) said to me the following. “One day I was in the presence of my father that Ali ibn ‘Umar ibn Ali asked him this question. “‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, “from who should we seek help and the people seek help and assistance after you (leave this world)?” He (The Imam (a.s.) said, you must seek refuge and guidance from the man who has two yellow clothes on him and a twine bunch of hair who will shortly appear to you from this door, opening the both halves of the door with his hand together.” We did not wait very long that there appeared two palms holding both halves of the door and opened them. Thereafter came to us abu Ibrahim (a.s.).”

“Mansur ibn Hazim said to him, ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, the (human) souls pass through mornings and evenings if that (death for you) comes then who (will be the Imam)?” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) then said, “If that happens then he is your companion.” He tapped the right shoulder of abu al-Hassan with his hand, as I know. He was five (feet tall or years old) at that time and ‘Abdallah ibn Ja‘far was also present with us.”

“I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). “If something would happen (death of Imam), may Allah will not make me experience it, then who must I follow as my Imam?” The narrator has said that he pointed to his son Musa (a.s.). I then asked, “What if something will happen to Musa (a.s.) then who must I follow as my Imam?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Follow his sons. Then he said, “In this way for ever.” I then asked, “What if I will not know him and will not know his place?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Say, ‘O Lord, I love and take as my guardian whoever is left (on earth) as your authority of the sons of the preceding Imam. This will be enough for you if Allah would so will.”

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) spoke of abu al-Hassan (a.s.) and he was a young boy in those days. He said, “This is a child that no other child born to us has been of such a greater blessing to our followers than him.” The Imam (a.s.) then said to me, “Do not be harsh with Isma‘il.”

Keep in mind that permission is not given to us to speak about him to anyone before you.” The narrator has said that he then said (to the Imam (a.s.)), “‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, can I inform anyone about him?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, you may inform your family and sons.” With me there were my family, sons and friends and of my friends there was Yunus ibn al-Dhabyan. When I informed them they all thanked Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. Yunus said, “No, by Allah, I must hear that from him.“ He was in a hurry. He went and I followed him. When I reached the door I heard Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say to him,- he had reached him before I-, “O Yunus, the matter is as Fayd told you.” The narrator has said that he (Yunus) then said, “I have heard it and I have obeyed.” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) then said, “Take him with you, O Fayd.”

“What is the matter that you are not like your brother (Isma'il)? By Allah, I observe light in his face.” ‘Abdallah then said, “Why? Are his father my father not the same? Are my mother and his mother not the same?” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) then said, “He from my soul and you are my son.”

“Once I went to see abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who was standing by the cradle of abu al-Hassan. He began to speak secretly to him for a long time. I sat there until he was free. I then stood for him and he said to me, “Come close to your Mawla (master and Leader with Divine Authority).” I went close and said greetings. He answered my greetings very clearly and then he said to me, “Go and change the name of your daughter that you named just yesterday. It is a name makes Allah angry.” A girl was born to us and I had named her al-Humayra’.” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said to me, “Follow his command you will have the right guidance.” I then changed her name.”

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) one day called abu al-Hassan (a.s.) while we were in his presence and said to us, “You must take hold of this man. He, by Allah, will be your Master after me.”

“Abu Ja‘far, al-Mansur summoned me in the middle of the night and I went to see him. When met him he was sitting in a chair. Before him there was a candle and a letter in his hand. The narrator has said that I greeted him and he threw the letter to me while was weeping. He said, “This is a letter of Muhammad ibn Sulayman in which he has informed us that abu Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.) has died. We are for Allah and to Him we will all return. He said it three times. Where is anyone like Ja‘far? “ Then he said to me, “Write down.” The narrator has said that I then wrote. I wrote the introduction of the letter. He (Mansur) said, “Write to ask if he has left a directive will to any man particularly, if so summon him and kill him.” He has said that reply to hisletter came back that said the Imam (a.s.) has in fact, left a will to five people and one of them is abu Ja‘far al-Mansur, Muhammad ibn Sulayman, ‘Abdallah, Musa and Hamida.”

He left a will to abu Ja‘far, al-Mansur, ‘Abdallah , Musa, Muhammad ibn Ja‘far and Mawla of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). Abu Ja‘far then said, “There is no way to kill these people.”

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the in charge of this matter (Leadership with Divine Authority) nad he said. “ The in charge of the task does not trifle or play. At this time abu al-Hassan, Musa came. He was very small. With him there was a baby goat of Makka and he was saying to her, “Prostrate before your Lord. Abu ‘Abdallah then took him and hugged him and said, “May Allah take my soul and the souls of my parents in service for the cause of one who does not trifle and engage in amusement.”

I was in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) that abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) came and he was a young boy. I held and kissed him. Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, “You are the ark and he is the captain.” The narrator has said that he wen to perform Hajj next year and I had two thousand Dinars. I sent one thousand toabu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and one thousand to him (abu al-Hassan). When went to see abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) he said, “You have considered him equal to me.” I said, “I did so because of your words.” He then said, “I swear by Allah, I did not do so, in fact, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has done it for him (abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.).”