The first of them is you O Ali and the last of them is the...

The first of them is you O Ali and the last of them is the Qaem through whom Allah, Mighty and Glorified be He, will conquer the east and the west.’ Kamaal al-Deen[^10]: Ali (a.s.) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) said, ‘The Imams after me will be twelve. The first of them is Ali Ibn Abi Taalib and the last of them is the Qaem. They are my caliphs, my successors, my friends and the proofs of Allah upon my nation after me.

The one who accepts them is a believer and the one who denies them is an unbeliever.’ Al-Amaali of Saduq (a.r.)[^11]: Ameer al-Momineen Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (a.s.) narrates that I requested the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), ‘Kindly inform me of the number of Imams after you.’ He (s.a.w.a.) replied, ‘O Ali! They are twelve. The first of them is you and the last of them is the Qaem.’ Meah Manqebah[^12]: Ibn Abbas narrates that I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) say, ‘O people!

Know that for Allah there is a door. One who enters it will be safe from the hell-fire and the great fear (الفزع الاكبر).’ At this, Abu Saeed al-Khudri stood up and requisitioned, ‘O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)! Guide us to this door that we may recognise it.’ He (s.a.w.a.) responded, ‘He is Ali Ibn Abi Taalib, the chief of the successors, the leader of the believers, the brother of the Messenger of Lord of the worlds (s.a.w.a.) and his caliph on the people, all of them. O people!

Whoever loves to fasten to the strong rope, which will never split, must hold on to the mastership (ولاية) of Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (a.s.) because his mastership is my mastership and his obedience is my obedience. O people! Whoever desires to take Allah and His messenger as his master, he must follow Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (a.s.) and the Imams from my progeny for surely, they are the treasurers of my knowledge.’ Here Jaaber Ibn Abdullah Ansari stood up and enquired, ‘O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)!

What is the number of these Imams?’ He (s.a.w.a.) replied, ‘O Jaaber! May Allah have mercy on you, you have asked me about Islam, the whole of it. Their number is equal to the number of months and these with Allah are twelve months in the Book of Allah (since) the day He created the heavens and the earth. Their number is equal to the number of the springs that gushed for Moosa Ibn Imraan (a.s.) when he struck the stone with his staff and their gushed twelve springs from it.

Their number is equal to the chiefs of Bani Israel.