(8th Imam)[^13] And Abu Ja'far Muhammad at-Taqi bin 'Ali was...

(8th Imam)[^13] And Abu Ja'far Muhammad at-Taqi bin 'Ali was poisoned by al-Mu'tasim, may Allah curse him. (9th Imam)[^14] And 'Ali an-Naqi bin Muhammad was poisoned by al'Mutawakkil, may Allah curse him. (10th Imam)[^15] And Hasan al-'Askari bin 'Ali was poisoned by al-Mu'tamid, may Allah curse him.

(11th Imam)[^16] And our belief is that these events actually occurred, and that there was no doubt in the minds of the people regarding the Imams' affairs, as some of those who exceed the bounds (of belief) allege.[^17] On the contrary the people witnessed their murder really and truly, and not by conjecture (hisban) or fancy (khaylula) or doubt (shakk) or false allegation (tuhma).

He who asserts that some person or persons were substituted for one of the Imams, or some of them, is not of our religion and we have nothing in common with him. And verily the Prophet and Imams, on whom be peace, had informed (people) that they would all be murdered. He who says that they were not murdered has verily given them the lie. And he who declares them to be false has imputed falsehood to Allah, the Mighty and Glorious, and denied Him and goes out of Islam.

“And whoso seeketh religion other than al-Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and he will be a loser in the Hereafter.” (Qur'an 3:85) And Imam 'Ali ar-Rida, on whom be peace, used to say in his prayer: O God, I seek absolution from Thee in respect of Thy Strength and Power.[^18] There is neither strength nor power save in Thee. O God, I declare myself before Thee as having nothing to do with those who assert in respect of us things which we ourselves do not know.

O God, to Thee belongs creation and Thou possessest the power of command; “Thee (alone) do we worship and from Thee do we seek help” (Qur'an 1:5) . O God, Thou art our Creator, and the Creator of our ancestors, near and remote. O God, none deserves lordship save Thee; and divinity befits none except to Thee. So do Thou curse the Christians who belittled Thy greatness, and do Thou curse those who declare Thee to resemble Thy Creature. O God, verily we are Thy slaves and the sons of Thy slaves.

We have no power over ourselves in respect of profit, loss, death, life or resurrection (nushur). O God, he who asserts that we (the Imams) have the power of creation and providing (for mankind) - we (Imams) seek absolution from Thee in respect of him, an absolution similar to that of Jesus, son of Mary, in respect of the Christians.