the Ikmal ...

the Ikmal , al­Saduq quotes Ibn ‘Abbas narrating one hadith in which the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, says: "Allah, the Praised One and the Sublime, cast a scrutinizing look at the inhabitants of the earth and chose me from among them to be the Prophet, then he cast another look and chose ‘Ali as the Imam and commanded me to take him as my brother, and appoint him as the wali and vizier." Al­Saduq, also in the Ikmal , traces one hadith to Imam al­Sadiq (as) who quotes his father and ancestors citing the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, saying: "Gabriel has told me that the Lord of Power, exalted is His Greatness, has said: ‘Whoever comes to know that I am the Lord without any partner, and that Muhammad is my Servant and Messenger, that Ali ibn Abu Talib is Muhammad's successor, and that the Imams from his descendants are My Arguments, then I would let him enter Paradise through My Mercy.'" Al­Saduq, also in his Ikmal , traces another hadith to Imam al­Sadiq (as) who quotes his father and grandfather citing the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, saying: "The Imams after me are twelve: The first is ‘Ali and the last is al­Qa'im [al­Mahdi]; they are my successors and the executors of my will." Al­Saduq, also in his Ikmal , traces yet another hadith to al­Asbagh ibn Nabatah who says that the Commander of the Faithful ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) once approached, his hand in the hand of his son al­Hasan, and said: "The Messenger of Allah once came to us and his hand was in mine like this, saying: ‘The best of creation after me, and their master, is this brother of mine who is the Imam of every Muslim, the prince of every believer after me.'" Al­Saduq, also in his Ikmal , tracing one hadith to Imam al­Rida (as) who quotes his forefathers citing the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, saying: "Whoever likes to uphold my religion and embark upon the Ark of Salvation after me, let him follow the example of ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib, for he is the executor of my will, and my vicegerent over my nation during my lifetime and after my demise." Al­Saduq, also in his Ikmal , attributes another hadith by the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, to Imam al­Rida (as) who quotes his ancestors stating that the Prophet (pbuh) once said: "I and ‘Ali are the fathers of this nation; whoever knows us very well also knows Allah, and whoever denies us also denies Allah, the Unique, the Mighty.