he asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) the following. “When the Imam dies through what means one would know the succeeding Imam (a.s.)?” He said, “For the Imam there are certain signs. Of such sign one is that he must be the eldest son of his father. The will and excellence must be found in him and when people come to ask who is appointed the executor of the will in answer it can be said that so and so is appointed the executor of the will. The Armament with us is like the Ark in the Israelites. Imamat (leadership with Divine authority) is always with the Armament wherever it may go.”