Kitāb al-Ghayba 1, narration 26

Translation

(4) Muhammad bin Ya’qoob narrated from Ali bin Muhammad from Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Khalid from Nasr bin Muhammad bin Qaboos from Mansoor bin as-Sindi from Abu Dawood al-Mustarraq from Tha’laba bin Maymoon from Malik al-Juhani from al-Harith bin al-Mugheera that al-Asbugh bin Nabata had said: “One day I came to Imam Ali (as) and I found him pondering and scratching up the ground. I said: “O Amirul Mo’mineen, you are scratching up the ground. Do you like it (the ground)?” He said: “No, by Allah. I have not liked it nor have I liked this worldly life a moment. But I am pondering on someone that will be born from my progeny. He will be the eleventh son of mine (descendant-eleventh successor in the imamate). He will be al-Mahdi, who will spread justice and equity allover the world after it has been filled with injustice and oppression. There will be confusion and disappearance for him. Some people will go astray and others will be guided.” I said: “O Amirul Mo’mineen, how long will that confusion and that disappearance last?” He said: “A period of time.” I said: “Will that really occur?” He said: “Yes, it will. It has already been determined.” I said: “Shall I be alive until that time? He said: “How far it is to you, O Asbugh! Those (the companions of al-Mahdi) are the best of this umma with the pure ones of the Prophet’s progeny.” I said: “Then what will happen after that?” He said: “Then Allah will do what He wills. He has wills, wishes and ends.”

Translation: Abdullah al-Shahin — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.