work with Imam Hasan al-’Askari from government informers...

work with Imam Hasan al-’Askari from government informers, ‘Uthman bin Sa’id changed his profession—he became a vendor selling cooking oil on a cart. When the government’s surveillance on the Imam’s house made it almost impossible for the Shi’as to visit him freely, ‘Uthman would put the letters and religious dues from the Shi’as in the oil containers and take them to the Imam’s house under the pretext of delivering cooking oil!

Ahmad bin Ishaq narrates that Imam al-’Askari (a.s.) told him that ‘Uthman bin Sa’id was “trustworthy, and reliable in the eyes of the past Imam as well as myself in my life as well as after my death. Whatever he says to you is from me, and whatever he brings to you is from me.” Wheti ‘Uthman bin Said died, Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) wrote a letter of condolence to his son, Muhammad bin ‘Uthman, as follows: “We belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return.

Your father lived a graceful life and died as an honourable man. May Allah shower His mercy on him and join him with his Masters. He was diligent in his work for the Masters, and worked hard in what pleased the Almighty and the Imams. May Allah shower His grace on him and forgive his faults.” Muhammad bin ‘Uthman was the second special agent of the period of Minor Occultation.

‘Abdullah bin Ja’far al-Himyari says that when ‘Uthman died, we received a letter from the Imam, in the same handwriting that we recognized from his previous communications, stating that Muhammad bin ‘Uthman was appointed in the place of his late father as the new special agent of the Imam.

‘Abdullah bin Ja’far once asked Muhammad bin ‘Uthman, “Have you seen the Master of Affairs (Sahib al-Amr)?” He answered, “Yes; my last meeting with him was by the holy House of Allah (i.e., Ka’ba) where I heard him praying, ‘O Allah! Fulfill for me what You have promised me.’...” Muhammad bin ‘Uthman also said that Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) is present every year at the hajj ceremonies; he sees the people and recognizes them, they also see him but do not recognize him.

Kusayn bin Rawh was the third special agent of the Imam. He was greatly respected by all Muslims; he closely worked with ‘Uthman bin Sa’id. A few days before his death, Muhammad bin Uthman had introduced Husayn bin Rawh to the elders of the Shi’a community as the next special agent of the Imam. Ja’far bin Ahmad al-Qummi was the closest of all companions to Muhammad bin ‘Uthman, and many Shi’as thought that he might succeed Muhammad as the next special agent.