Also, care was taken to ensure that this news did not break...

Also, care was taken to ensure that this news did not break out to the general masses. Some Incidents (i) Some descendants of Janabe Abu Talib (a.s.) stayed in Medina. They were true believers, having complete faith that the son of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) would be the twelfth Imam. However, after the martyrdom of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) some of them turned apostates (i.e.

they turned away from Shiaism).[^3] (Although they were Shias of Hazrat Ali (a.s.), they deviated after the demise of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.)) (ii) Muhammad b. Ibrahim was confused after the martyrdom of the eleventh Imam (a.s.). This was despite the fact that his father Ibrahim b. Mahziyar was a representative of Hazrat Wali al-’Asr (a.s.) in Ahwaz. Sheikh Kulaini (a.r.) narrates that when the father of Muhammad b. Ibrahim died, some amount of Khums (Sihm ul-Imam) was in his possession.

His father had mentioned in his will that he should be careful about the Sihm ul-Imam and it should reach to the correct person. In a state of confusion, Muhammad b. Ibrahim carried the money to Iraq. He decided to hand over the amount only after a satisfying proof was presented to him. Later, a messenger came to his house and advanced some convincing signs about the money and took custody of it. Muhammad b.

Ibrahim became distressed and few days had not passed when he received a letter appointing him as a representative in his father’s place.[^4] (iii) Sheikh Saduq (a.r.) narrates from Abu Raje Misri, ‘Two years after the demise of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.), I undertook a journey to search for his successor but I failed in my mission. In the third year while I was still seeking Imam Hasan al-Askari’s (a.s.) successor in Medina, Abu Ghanim invited me to his house one evening.

At that time, a thought crossed my mind that if at all there was any son of Imam (a.s.) then after three years he would definitely have made himself known. Suddenly a voice reached my ears, ‘O Nasr b. Abdullah (Abu Raje), ask the Egyptians whether they have seen the Prophets (a.s.) in whom they believe?’ Abu Raje says, ‘Till then I was unaware of my father’s name as I was born in Madyan and Naufali had brought me to Egypt. After my father’s death I was brought up in Egypt.

Listening to this I got up. Instead of going to Abu Ghanim’s place I took the road to Egypt. [^5] (iv) Hasan b. Abdul Majid says, ‘I was in doubt about Hajiz b.