Al-Kāfi 6, narration 38

Translation

11. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Musa ibn Ja‘far from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id from Muhammad ibn ‘Umar [‘Amr] who has said the following: “I never had a child . I went to Makkah and did not have any children. A man met me and gave good news of the birth of a boy to me. I then went on and visited Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.). When I went before him (the Imam), he (the Imam) asked, ‘How are you and how is your son?’ I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I left home but I did not have a son. My neighbor met me and said, “A boy is born to you .’” He (the Imam) smiled and asked, ‘Have you given him a name?’ I replied, ‘No, I have not given him a name.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Name him Ali; whenever a delay would take place in giving birth of any of my father’s girls he would ask her to keep her intention to name him Ali, then without much delay she would give birth to a boy.’”

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