He was well known in Imamite circles as a narrator of traditions[^18].

He was well known in Imamite circles as a narrator of traditions[^18]. Furthermore he was amongst the principal agents in Baghdad and had close relations with both the tenth and the eleventh Imams[^19]. The latter described al‑Bilali to Ishaq b.

Ibrahim al‑Nisaburi with this phrase: "He is reliable, trustworthy and is acquainted with what he must do.[^20]" Moreover, according to al-­Kulayni and al‑Saduq, al‑‘Askari twice revealed to al‑Bilali the birth of his son, the Twelfth Imam: firstly in 258/871 and then three days before his death [^21]. However,…