Shia traditional reports on the topic that Imams are twelve in number

Reports narrated through Shia sources on this topic are so numerous that they cannot be computed; we mentioned only some of them here:

I heard Abdullah bin Ja’far Tayyar [husband of Zainab] say: We were in the company of Muawiyah: I, Hasan, Husain, Abdullah bin Abbas, Umar bin Umme Salma and Usamah bin Zaid when an argument arose between us; I said to…

“O Ali! I, you and eleven of my descendants are the buttons of the earth, its pegs and its mountains. Due to us Allah has prevented the earth from swallowing its inhabitants. When the twelfth of my descendants will pass…

‘I came to Fatima (a.s) and a tablet was placed before her with names of the successors from her progeny. I counted upto twelve, one of them was Al-Qaim (a.s), three were named Muhammad and three were named Ali (peace be…

“After Husain (a.s), there will be nine Imams. The ninth of them is their Qaim.”

“Surely Allah sent Muhammad (s) to the Jinn and the humans and He has appointed twelve successors after him. Some have passed, while others are yet to come. The practice continues through each successor. The successors…

Narrated to me a group of scholars from Abu Muhammad Talakbari from Abil Husain Muhammad bin Ja’far Asadi from Sahal bin Ziyad Adami from Hasan bin Abbas bin Harish Razi from Imam Jawad (a.s) that Amirul Momineen (a.s)…

“Surely Allah chose the prophets from the people and chose the messengers from the prophets and chose me from the messengers and chose Ali (a.s) from me. He granted him (Ali) superiority over all the successors. From Ali…

My father, Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) said to Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari: ‘I have some work with you. So, when would it be possible for you to give me some time so that I may ask you something?’ Jabir replied, ‘Whenever…

I heard Abu Salma, camel keeper of the Prophet, say: The Messenger of Allah (s) said: “When I was taken to the skies, Allah the Mighty, majestic be His praise, said: “The Messenger believed on what was revealed to him…

The Messenger of Allah (s) said on the eve of his departure from the world: “O Abul Hasan, bring a scroll and pen and ink.” Then he dictated his will, till he came to the words: “O Ali, very soon after me there will be…

I heard Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) say: Twelve Imams from Aale Muhammad (a.s) were all Muhaddath and they were from the descendants of the Messenger of Allah (s) and Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s). Thus the Messenger of Allah…

I was present when Abu Bakr died and Umar succeeded him. A Jew from Medina, who was a leader of Jews and whom the Jews considered to be the most knowledgeable person of the time, came to Umar and said: O Umar, I want to…

Amirul Momineen (a.s) entered Masjidul Haraam accompanied by Imam Hasan (a.s) and leaning on Salman; and he sat down (in the Masjid). A man with an elegant appearance and dress nicely entered and saluted Amirul Momineen…

If it is said: First prove to us the veracity of these narrations, for they are singularly narrated traditions and do not prove a topic for sure. This is a subject that requires certainty. Secondly, prove to us that…

Imams are twelve Imams and that they neither exceed this number, nor are they short of it, our creed is proved, because the Ummah is divided into denominations: we, who believe in this number and believe in the Imamate…