‘Uthmān bin Sa‘īd was also a prominent companion and agent...

‘Uthmān bin Sa‘īd was also a prominent companion and agent of Imam ‘Ali an-Naqi (a.s.) and Imam Hasan al-‘Askari (a.s.). He was resident of Samarra. In order to hide his link and work with Imam Hasan al-‘Askari from government informers, ‘Uthmān bin Sa‘īd 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, ‘Uthmān 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 Ishāq narrates that Imam al-‘Askari (a.s.) told him that ‘Uthmān bin Sa‘īd 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.” When ‘Uthmān bin Sa‘īd died, Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) wrote a letter of condolence to his son, Muhammad bin ‘Uthmān, as follows: “We belong to Allāh, and to Him we shall return. Your father lived a graceful life and died as an honourable man. May Allāh 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 Allāh shower His grace on him and forgive his faults.” Muhammad bin ‘Uthmān was the second special agent of the period of Minor Occultation. ‘Abdullāh bin Ja‘far al-Himyari says that when ‘Uthmān died, we received a letter from the Imam, in the same handwriting that we recognized from his previous communications, stating that Muhammad bin ‘Uthmān was appointed in the place of his late father as the new special agent of the Imam.

‘Abdullāh bin Ja‘far once asked Muhammad bin ‘Uthmān, “Have you seen the Master of Affairs (Sāhib al-Amr)?” He answered, “Yes; my last meeting with him was by the holy House of Allāh (i.e., Ka‘ba) where I heard him praying, ‘O Allāh! Fulfill for me what You have promised me.’...” Muhammad bin ‘Uthmān 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.

Husayn bin Rawh was the third special agent of the Imam. He was greatly respected by all Muslims; he closely worked with ‘Uthmān bin Sa‘īd. A few days before his death, Muhammad bin Uthmān had introduced Husayn bin Rawh to the elders of the Shi‘a community as the next special agent of the Imam.