Appointees of the four special deputies of the Imam

During the period of the special deputies of Imam Mahdi (a.s) there were reliable individuals for whom the emissaries and deputies of the Imam have issued epistles.

Among them Abul Husain Muhammad Ibn Ja’far Asadi:

Some people asked me in the year two hundred and ninety to accept religious dues. I refused that request and wrote a letter, seeking instructions. The answer came, “In Ray is Muhammad Ibn Ja’far Arabi. He should deliver it to him, for he is from our men of trust.”

Muhammad Ibn Hasan Katib Marwazi said: I sent to Hajiz Washsha two hundred dinars and wrote to the Gharim (a.s) about it and then I received a receipt. The Imam had mentioned that I owed one thousand dinars and had sent only two hundred dinars to him. He had said: “If you desire to act through someone, you must refer to Abu Husain Asadi at Ray.” Then after two or three days, the news of Hajiz’s death came. Ahmad Ibn Yusuf says, I informed Muhammad Ibn Hasan of Hajiz’s death. He became much grievous, so I said to him: “Grieve not, for you have two signs in the holy letter to you, one is the Imam’s statement that the money owed is one thousand dinars and the second is his command to you to refer to Abu Husain Asadi, as he knew the imminent death of Hajiz.”

I intended to go for Hajj and made preparations for this purpose. A message came, “We dislike that.” I became much anxious and grievous. I wrote, “I remain submissive and obedient. However, I am sad for missing the Hajj.” A holy letter came: “Grieve not, for you will perform Hajj next year.” Next year, I sought permission and the answer came in positive. I wrote, “I am leaving Muhammad Ibn Abbas behind, and I am certain of his piety and honesty.” The answer came, “Asadi is the best caretaker. If he should arrive, do not choose anyone over him.” Asadi came and I left him as my caretaker.

Five hundred dirhams short of twenty were deposited before me. I did not like it to be short of this amount, so I weighed another twenty dirhams from my money and sent the amount to Asadi. I did not inform him that I had completed it from my own money. The answer came: “The five hundred, of which twenty were yours, reached us.” Asadi died in the Rabiul Aakhir of the year three hundred and twelve. He was honest, he never changed, and he was not mentioned disrespectfully.

And among them Ahmad bin Ishaq, Ibrahim bin Muhammad Hamadani and Ahmad bin Hamza bin Yasi:

I and Ahmad Ibn Abi Abdullah were at Askar when a messenger came from “the man” and said: “Ahmad Ibn Ishaq Ashari, Ibrahim Ibn Muhammad Hamadani and Ahmad Ibn Hamza Ibn Yasa are all trusted men.”