Then the Hazrat said: He does not need to make a request for intercession.

Then the Hazrat said: He does not need to make a request for intercession. Then I said: There is a man who befriends Ali (a.s.) but does not recognize the legatees (Wasis) thereafter. The Hazrat said: He is misguided. Then I said: He believes in all the Imams but the denies the Imam of the last age (Aakhiruz Zaman). The Hazrat said: He is like the man who testifies the Messengership of Isa (a.s.) but denies the Prophethood of Muhammad (S) or believes in Muhammad (S) but denies Isa (a.s.).

I seek refuge of Allah against the one who denies any of the Proofs (Hujjats) of Allah.[^1] Kulaini and Nomani have narrated with reliable chains of narrators from Muhammad bin Muslim that he said to Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that a Yemeni says that if you know the last Imam of the time (your time) it is enough and that there is no harm if you do not recognize the prior (earlier) Imams. The Hazrat said: Curse of Allah be on him.

I look at him, as an enemy even though I do not either knows him or do not recognize him. He cannot know the last Imam but through the earlier Imam. Kulaini has narrated with authentic chains of narrators from Imam Baqir (a.s.) that the Hazrat said: A servant (anybody) cannot be a believer unless he knows Allah and the Messenger and all the Imams and the Imam of his time and turns towards him for clarification of doubtful matters and obeys him.

Then he added: How can he know the last Imam when he does not know the first Imam and is not aware of his Imamate? Moreover, he has narrated from Zurarah (r.a.) with correct chains of narrators from Imam Baqir (a.s.) that he says: I asked Imam Baqir (a.s.): Will you kindly let me know whether it is compulsory for the entire creation to know the Imam?

The Hazrat replied: The Lord of the worlds has appointed (S) with His Messengership over the entire creation and he was the Hujjat of Allah for the entire creation on earth. So who believes in Allah and His Prophet, obeys him and has testified about him is required to know the Imam.

And a man who did not put faith in Allah and does not follow and testify him and does not recognize his right, how can such a person be made incumbent to know the hidden Imam when he neither believed in Allah and His Prophet nor recognized their rights? Zurarah said: Then what do you say about a man who put faith in Allah and His Messenger and testified to all the things revealed to His messenger? Is it incumbent on such person to know you? The Hazrat said: Yes.