Al-Kāfi - The Book about people with Divine Authority

Al-Kāfi - The Book about people with Divine Authority Chapter: When the Imam learns that Leadership with Divine Authority has come to him?

َّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ ٠َّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلا٠) أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الا٠ٌ حِينَ يَبْلُغُهُ أَنَّ صَاحِبَهُ قَدْ ٠َضَى أَوْ حِينَ يَ٠ِثْلَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ قُبِضَ بِبَغْدَادَ وَأَنْتَ هَاهُنَا قَالَ يَعْلَ٠ُ ذَلِكَ حِينَ يَ٠ْضِي صَاحِبُهُ قُلْتُ بِأَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَالَ يُلْهِ٠4.

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from al-Husayn from Safwan who has said the following. “I requested abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), ‘Enlighten me when an Imam comesto know that he is the Imam (a.s.)? Does it take place when the preceding Imam has already passes away or when he is about to leave this world?

For example abu al-Hassan (a.s.) passed away in Baghdad and you were here (in the city of Madina)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “He comes to know it at the time his companion (the preceding Imam) is about to leave this world.” I then asked, “By what means does he come to know it?” He said, “He comes to know it through inspiration from Allah.” صحيح - Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (4/240)) صحيح - Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi (Sahih al-Kafi (46/ 1))