How is it possible while he is only three years old?

How is it possible while he is only three years old?’ Imam Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, ‘His little age does not contradict his Imamate. Prophet Jesus (a.s.) was Allah’s Messenger too, while he was younger than three.’’[^7] Mu’ammar Ibn Khallad has said, ‘I heard from Imam Ridha’ (a.s.) some issues about the signs of Imamate. Then he continued, ‘Why do you need these signs?

I appoint my son, Abu Ja’far, as my successor and caliph after me.’ Then he stated, ‘We are a Household whose children are exactly like its elders.’ ’[^8] Husayn Ibn Yasar has said, “Ibn Qiyama wrote in a letter to Abul Hasan Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘How can you be an Imam, while you have no son to be your successor?’ Imam Abul Hasan (a.s.) wrote in reply, ‘How do you know that I will have no son?

By Allah that He will grant me a son in a few days and he will separate the truth from untruth.’”[^9] Ibn Abi Nasr Baznati has said, “One day, Ibn Najashi told me, ‘Who will be the Imam after your master, Imam Ridha’ (a.s.)? Ask it and tell me about the answer.’ I went to Imam Ridha’ (a.s.) and asked the question of Ibn Najashi.

Imam (a.s.) answered, ‘The Imam after me will be my son.’ Then he continued, ‘Who can talk about his son when he has no son?’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.) was not born at that time, but he was born a few days after that.”[^10] Ibn Qiyama Wusta –who was a Waqifi[^11]– said, “I went to see Ali Ibn Musa Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) and told him, ‘Can two people be the Imams at the same time?’ Imam Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, ‘No, except in case one of them is silent.’ I asked again, ‘Do we have a silent Imam now?’ Imam (a.s.) answered, ‘By Allah that He will grant me a son who will support the truth and its followers and will try to abolish the untruth.’ At that time, Imam Ridha’ (a.s.) had no son, but his son, Abu Ja’far, was born after one year.”[^12] Hasan Ibn Jahm has said, “I was with Imam Abul Hasan (a.s.).

He called his little son, sat him on my lap, and said, ‘Take his garment off!’ I did so. Then Imam (a.s.) told me, ‘Look between his two shoulders!’ I looked at it and saw something like a signet between his two shoulders. Then Imam Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘My father had the same sign.’”[^13] Abu Yahya San’ani has said, “I was with Abul Hasan Ridha’ (a.s.) when his little son, Abu Ja’far, was brought.

Imam Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘He is a great blessing for my Shi’ahs and no one has been born like him.[^14]‘” Khiyrani has narrated from his father, “I was with Imam Ridha’ (a.s.) in Khurasan.