Al-Kāfi 2, narration 54

Translation

14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and abu Ali al-Ash’ari from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar all of them from Safwan from ‘Amr ibn Harith who has said the following: “Once I went to see Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and he was in the house of his brother, ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad, and I said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, what has brought you to this house?’ ‘Seeking privacy,’ said the Imam. I said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, can I state before you my religion?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, you may do so.’ I then said, ‘I follow a religion (that requires me) to obey Allah and testify that no one else deserves to be worshipped except Allah Who has no partners. That Muhammad (a.s.) is His servant and messenger, that the Hour (of reckoning) will certainly come, that Allah will bring all people from their graves, that it is obligatory to pray, pay Zakat (charity), fast in the month of Ramadan and perform Hajj of the House. I affirm and acknowledge the Divine Authority of Ali ibn abu Talib after the Messenger of Allah, the Divine Authority of al-Hassan, al- Husayn, the Divine Authority of Ali ibn al-Husayn, the Divine Authority of Muhammad ibn Ali and your Divine Authority after him (your father), recipients of divine supreme covenant. You are my Imam. With such beliefs I live and with them I will die and such is my religion before Allah.’ The Imam said, ‘Such, O ‘Amr, I swear by Allah, is the religion of Allah and the religion of my ancestors and such is the religion that 1 follow to obey Allah in private and in public. Maintain piety before Allah and hold your tongue except from good and do not say, “I have guided myself.” In fact, Allah has guided you. Give thanks to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, for the favor that He has done to you. Do not be of those who on their moving forward are hit in the eyes or when moving backwards are hit from the back. Do not allow people ride on your shoulders for if you do so they cause injury to your shoulders.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.