Imam al-Kadhim (as) replied...

Imam al-Kadhim (as) replied: He should take the support of the rear walls, keep away from the view of neighbors, remain aloof from river banks, avoid the shade of the fruit bearing trees, stay away from the courtyards and streets, leave the mosques, refrain from facing Ka’aba or keeping his back to it, he should take care of his garments, and sit down wherever he likes.

Abu Hanifa asked the boy, ‘What is your name?’ The little boy replied, ‘I am Musa Ibn Jafar ibn Muhammad.’ Abu Hanifa was astounded by this reply coming from a young boy, so his companion Abdullah Ibn Muslim said, ‘Did I not tell you that even the children from the family of prophet are different from ordinary children?’ [^3] The designation (Nass) There are many ahadith in the books of Ithna Ashari Shias where Imam al-Sadiq (as) had specifically announced the Imamate of Imam Musa al-Kadhim after him, in front of his companions.

I would like to list a few:  Mufaddal Ibn Umar Jofi (known for his reliability) narrates: He asked Imam al-Sadiq (as) about the Imam after him, Imam (as) replied: My son Musa.[^4]  Yazid Ibn Sulait (known for his piety) narrates: He met Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) on the way to Mecca and said: May my parents be sacrificed on you; you are an Imam, but no one is exempt from death; thus if something happens to you, who will be the Imam?

Imam (as) gestured to his son, Musa, and said: He is having all the good qualities like knowledge, wisdom, understanding, generosity, cognition of Islamic law, good nature, good behavior to relatives. He is a door of mercy and is having another excellence in addition to these. The narrator asked: What is it? He replied: Allah will create from his progeny one who will be the helper and refuge of this Ummah; who would be the standard of its guidance and effulgence personified.

Through him, Almighty Allah would protect lives, solve disputes and remove disunity; He would provide garments to the unclothed and feed the hungry. The fearful would get reassurance; the rain of mercy will descend.

He would be the best of the sons and the most excellent elder; his statement would be the deciding statement and his silence would be the silence of wisdom.[^5]  Dawood Ibn Kathir narrates, he said to Imam al-Sadiq (as): O’ son of the messenger, before you all have passed away, and if something happens to you, to whom should we refer? He (as) replied, ‘My son Musa’.