He said...

He said, ‘My son, he was the Imam -asws (Leadership with Divine Authority) of the Al-Rafida (those who refuse to accept the leadership of people other than Ali -asws Ibn Abu Talib -asws and his infallible descendants -asws ). He is Al-Hassan -asws Ibn Ali -asws .’ He remained quiet for a while and then said, ‘My son if the Imamat (leadership) would be removed from the Abbassid Caliphs no one from the clan of Banu Hashim [2] could deserve to become the Imam -asws except this man -asws .

He -asws deserves it because of his distinctions, piety, guidance, safety (from mistakes), his -asws chastity, his -asws worship, his -asws beautiful moral characteristics and perfection. Had you had a chance to see his -asws father you would have seen a man of great intelligence, nobility and excellence.’ This made me feel anxious and angry as I thought my father’s behaviour towards him -asws and his words for him -asws were excessive.

‘Thereafter, there was nothing more important to me than to ask more about him and to investigate his -asws affairs. I asked members of Hashemite clan or the guards, the clerks, the judges, the scholars of the law and other people about him -asws and always found him -asws being glorified, mentioned with greatness and a high position. I would hear very beautiful words about him -asws and see him -asws given preference over all members of Hashemite clan and their elders.

A feeling of greatness for him -asws increased in my heart because I did not find anyone of his -asws friends or foe that did not speak well of him -asws and praise him -asws . [3] The Generosity of the 11 th Imam -asws : The narrator of the Hadith says:‘We were under pressure and constraint. My father said, ‘We should go to Abu Mohammed -asws for help.

People describe him -asws as very generous and considerate.’ I asked, ‘Do you know him -asws ?’ He said, ‘No, I do not know him -asws and I have not even seen him -asws as yet.’ We decided to go and meet him -asws . My father said on the way, ‘I hope he -asws will grant us five hundred Dirhams: two hundred for clothes, two hundred to pay the debts and one hundred for expenses.