He (a.s.) gave the letters to me and said...

He (a.s.) gave the letters to me and said, 'Go to Madaaen. Your journey will last for fifteen days. On the fifteenth day, you will return to Saamarra. Here, wails and cries from my house will greet you. You will see me in the room where corpses are given the ritual bath.' I asked, 'Master!

In such a case, who will be the Imam after you?' Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) responded, 'One who will ask you about the replies to my letters will be my successor.' I requested, 'Please provide me more details.' Imam (a.s.) replied, 'He will lead my funeral prayers.' I pleaded again, 'Please furnish more information.' He (a.s.) retorted, 'He will inform you about what is in the bag.' The awe-inspiring personality of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) prevented me from further inquiry about the bag.

Anyway, I took the letters to Madaaen and procured the ripostes. On the 15th day, just as Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) had predicted, I entered Saamarra. Loud voices of wailing and crying echoed from the house of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.). I saw Ja'far, the brother of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.), standing on the door and receiving condolences and consolation from the local Shias. I said to myself, 'If this man is the Imam, then it will be clear that the position of Imamat has undergone change.

For, I have seen him drink wine, gamble and play musical instruments.' I went near him and offered my condolences. He did not ask me anything. Afterwards 'Aqeed' emerged from the house and said, 'Master! Your brother has been shrouded. Come and lead his funeral prayers.' Ja'far went ahead to lead the prayers. As he was about to announce the Takbeer, a young boy with a wheatish complexion, curly hair, broad teeth, shining like a brilliant moon, came out of the house.

He caught hold of Ja'far's robe and threw him aside, saying, 'Uncle! Move aside. I am more worthy of leading the funeral prayers of my father.' Ja'far withdrew in a corner as his face went colourless. The child went ahead to recite the prayers on his father's dead body and buried him next to his father's (10th Imam's) grave. Thereafter, he turned towards me and said, 'O Basri!

Give me the replies of the letters that are with you.' I handed the letters to him and said to myself, 'Two prophecies are already fulfilled. Now only the third one about the contents of the bag remains.' We were sitting when some residents of Qum arrived and asked about the condition of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.).