The Imams (a.s.) never did and would not do anything except because of the covenant of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and a command from Him and they did not go beyond such limits

“The will came from the heavens to Muhammad (sw) in a book (written). Nothing came to Muhammad (sw) from heavens in a written sealed document form except the will. Jibril (a.s.) said, “O Muhammad, this is your will about your followers with your family. The Messenger of Allah (sw) asked, “Which family of mine, O Jibril?” Jibril replied, “The noble of Allah among them, and his descendents, so they inherit your knowledge as Abraham (as) left it (knowledge) as his legacy. And his legacy (Abraham's) is for Ali (a.s.) and your descendents from his lineage.”
He (the Imam) said, “The document had several seals on it.” He further said, “Ali (a.s.) opened the first seal and followed what the instructions therein. Then al-Hassan (a.s.) opened the second seal and followed the commandments and instructions therein.
When al-Hassan (a.s.) passed away, al-Husayn (a.s.) opened the third seal and found therein: 'Fight to do away with the enemy and be murdered and rise up (against the enemy) with a group of people for martyrdom. There is no matrydom for them except with you.'”
He (the Imam) said, “He (Al-Husayn (a.s.)) followed the instructions and when he left this world he delivered it, to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) just before (his martyrdom). So he opened the fourth seal and found in it: 'Remain silent and gaze in your front because of the concealment of knowledge.'
When he passed away and left (this world), he delivered it to Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.). So he opened the fifth seal and found therein: 'Interpret the book of Allah, the Most High, affirm veracity of your father and leave it as your legacy for your son. Do good to the ’Ummah (the Islamic nation), stand up for right of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, say the truth in fear and in peace and do not be afraid of anyone except Allah.' He did as he was instructed and delivered it to the succeeding Imam.”
He (the narrator) said that he said to him (the Imam (a.s.)), “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, are you then the succeeding Imam?” He said that he (as) responded: “There is nothing wrong in a positive answer to your question except if then you would go, oh Mu‘adh, and narrate things about me (to the public, which would harm me).” The narrator said that he then said to the Imam (a.s.), “I pray to Allah who has granted you through your noble ancestors this high position to grant to your successor the same high position before you will die.” He (a.s.) replied, “Allah has already done so, oh Mu‘adh.” The narrator said that he then asked him (a.s.), “Who is he then, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause?” He (a.s.) replied, “This sleeping one.“ He pointed with his hand to the righteous servant of Allah who was asleep (Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.)).”

“Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High sent a document to His prophet (s.a) before his death. He then said, “O Muhammad, this is your will to the noble ones in your family.” He asked, “Who are the noble ones in my family, O Jibril?” He then said, “They are Ali ibn abu Talib and his sons (a.s.).” On the document there were several seals of gold. The Prophet (s.a) delivered it to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) and commanded him to open one seal and follow the instructions for him therein. Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) then opened one seal and followed the instruction in it. Then he delivered it to his son al-Hassan (a.s.). He opened a seal and followed that which was therein. He then delivered it to al-Husayn (a.s.). He opened one seal and found therein instruction that asked him to rise for martyrdom with a group of people. That there will be no martyrdom for them except along with and sale yourself to Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. He followed all the instructions. Then he delivered it to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.). He opened one seal and found therein instructions therein that asked him to fix his gaze just before him and remain silent, secluded in your house and worship your Lord until your death will arrive. He did as he was instructed and then delivered it to his son Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.). He opened one seal and found therein instructions that asked him to speak to people and make them learn. Do not fear anyone except Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High because no one can harm you. He followed the instructions and then delivered it to his son Ja‘far (a.s.). He opened one seal and found therein instructions that asked him to speak to people, make them learn, propagate the knowledge of your family (Ahl al-Bayt) and affirm the veracity of your righteous ancestors. Do not be afraid of anyone except Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High because you are secure and safe. He did as was instructed and then delivered it to his son Musa (a.s.).In the same Musa (a.s.) will deliver it to the succeeding Imam and so on up to the appearance of al-Mahdi (s.a) “

once Humran asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) the following. “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, ‘Why the cases of Ali al-Hassan and al-Husayn (a.s.) come about the way they did? Their rising and coming out for the religion of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High their suffering and being murdered at the hands of the rebellious devils and their defeat until they all were murdered and defeated.’” Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) then said, “O Humran, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High had destined it for them. So it was decreed, approved and was made unavoidable. Then He executed it but it all happened with the prior knowledge of the same through the Messenger of Allah. Ali al-Hassan and al-Husayn (a.s.) all rose for the cause of Allah with knowledge of the consequences remained silent whoever of us that remained silent.”

Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) narrated to me the following. “I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Was Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) not the writer of the will, the Messenger of Allah dictating, Jibril and the prominent angels as witness?” The Imam (a.s.) has said that he remained silent for quite a while and then said, “O abu al-Hassan what you said was true, however, when the command descended up on the Messenger of Allah, the will also came in the form of a sealed document. Jibril brought it along with the trustees of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, from among the angels. Jibril then said, “O Muhammad (s.a) order every one to leave you except the executor of your will so he can take possession of the same and make us to bear witness that you delivered it to him and he (Ali (a.s.), take charge of the same in our presence. The Holy Prophet (s.a) ordered everyone else, except Ali (a.s.). Fatima was present between the door and the curtain. Jibril then said, “O Muhammad, your Lord declares peace and safety to you and says, “This is the documentation of My covenant that I had made with you, the conditions that I had set up and I had made My angels to bear witness to it. In fact, O Muhammad, I Myself am sufficient as a witness.” The Imam (a.s.) has said, “At that time all the joints in the body of Muhammad began to shake and shiver. He then said, “O Jibril my lord Himself is peace, from Him comes peace and to Him returns peace. He, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has spoken the truth and has granted favors. Please allow me to have the document.” Jibril then delivered it to him and commanded him to deliver it to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.). He asked Ali (a.s.) to read it. He then read it word by word. The Prophet (s.a) then said, “O Ali (a.s.), this is the covenant of my Lord, the Most Holy, the Most High, to me and His conditions upon me and His trust with me. I have now delivered it, given good-advise and fulfilled my responsibility.” Ali (a.s.) then said, “I testify in your favor, may Allah take my soul and the souls of my parents in service for your cause, for delivering the trust, granting good advise and affirmation of your speaking the truth. My ears, my eyes, my flesh and my blood all bear witness to this.” Jibril then said, “I also am of the witnesses to this fact for both of you.” The Messenger of Allah (s.a) then said, “O Ali, have you taken possession of my will, learned its contents and offered a guarantee to Allah and to me to follow the instructions therein?” Ali (a.s.) then said, “Yes, ‘may Allah take my soul and the souls of my parents in service for your cause, it is my responsibility to follow the instructions therein and from Allah comes support for me and my success in the fulfillment of my responsibility.” The Messenger of Allah then said, “O Ali, I would like to ask you to bear testimony to my promise of rewarding for it (your executing my will) on the Day of Judgment.” Ali (a.s.) said, “Yes, I do bear such testimony.” The Prophet (s.a) then said, “Jibril and Mika’il are between us now and with them present are the prominent angels. Would you agree if I would ask them to bear testimony to this fact?” He then said, “Yes, they may bear testimony and I, may Allah take my soul and the souls of my parents in service for your cause, also ask them to bear testimony.” Then the Messenger of Allah made them to bear testimony. Of the matters that the Messenger of Allah set as condition up on Ali (a.s.) on orders from Jibril of the commands of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, were the following. He said, “O Ali, you must follow the instruction in the will about loving those who love Allah and His Messenger and to disdain and maintain unfriendly attitude towards those who are enemies of Allah and His Messenger. It requires patience on your part and control over your anger for the usurpation of my right and the usurpation of one fifth that belongs to you and for the disregard of your respect and honor.” Ali (a.s.) then said, “Yes, O the Messenger of Allah, I accept it (this condition). Ali (a.s.) has said, “I swear by the One Who helps the seed to burst open and shapes the fetuses that I heard Jibril say to the Prophet (s.a) this. “O Muhammad, explain to him that people will disregard his respect and honor which is the respect and honor of Allah and His Messenger and that his beard will be tainted with fresh blood (from his head).” Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) has said, “A loud sigh came out of my mouth when I understood the very words of Jibril, the trustworthy one. I fell up on my face to the ground and I said, “Yes, I accept and agree even if it will end up to the disregard of respect and honor. (I agree) even if (people) will disregard the noble traditions, insult the Book, destroy the Ka‘ba and taint my beard with fresh blood from my head. (I accept it) with patience and leave to Allah for judgement for all times until I will arrive to meet you.” The Messenger of Allah then called Fatima, al-Hassan and al-Husayn to his presence and informed them of what he had explained to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.). They all said just like what Ali (a.s.) had said. The will was then sealed with the seals of gold that fire had not touched. It was delivered to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.).” The narrator has said that he asked the Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.), “May Allah take my soul and the souls of my parents in service for your cause, would you please describe what was there in the will?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “ It contained the traditions of Allah and the traditions of His Messenger.” I then asked, “Was there anything about their attacking and opposition to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “ Yes, I swear by Allah, all and every thing was there letter by letter. Have you not heard the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, “It is We who bring the dead to life and record the deeds of human beings and their consequences (of continual effects). We keep everything recorded in an illustrious Imam (Book).” (36:12) I swear by Allah that the Messenger of Allah said to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) and Fatima, “Did you understand well my presentation of the matter to you and did you agree to and accept it? They replied, “Yes, we did so. We will exercise patience to face what will disappoint us and cause us anger.” In the script of al-Safwan there is the following addition.

“I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, why is it that you members of the family of the Prophet (s.a) live such a short lives? Your deaths are so close and soon after the other Imam even though people need you so much?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “For everyone of us there is a document that contains what he needs to do within his time. When his assignment according to the commandments therein is complete he learns that his time of death has arrived. The Prophet (s.a) comes to him to give the news of his death and informs him of all that is for him with Allah. Al-Husayn (a.s.) read the document that was given to him and the news of his death was explained to him, however, certain things were not yet complete. He came out to face the enemy and of the matters that were not yet complete was that the angels had asked Allah to grant them permission to support al-Husayn (a.s.) against his enemies which He granted them. They delayed to ready themselves and prepare to fight until he was murdered. They descended but his time was over and was killed already. The angels said, “Lord, You granted us permission to descend and to help him. We descended but You have already taken his soul away. Allah then sent them inspiration that said, “Remain on his grave until you see him come out then help him. Weep for him and for your loss of the opportunity to provide him help and support. You were certainly assigned for his support and help and to weep for him. The angels then wept in mourning and sadness for their loss of the opportunity to help and support to him. When he will come out they will be of his helpers.”