Maʿānī al-ʾAkhbār 1, narration 109

Translation

1. We were told by Ahmad bin Muhammed al-Haithami al-‘Ajali, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: We were told by Abu’l-Abbas, Ahmad bin Yahya bin Zakariya al-Qattan, that he said: We were told by Bikr bin Abdullah bin Habib, that he said: We were told by Tamim bin Buhlul, from his father, from Muhammed bin Sinan, from Mufaddal bin Umar, that he said: I heard Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, say: Indeed, the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, looked at Ali, Hasan and Hussain, peace be upon them, and so he wept and said: You are the ones considered weak after me. Mufaddal said: So I said to him: What is the meaning of that, O son of Allah’s Messenger? He said: Its meaning is that «You are the Imams after me». Indeed, Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, says: «And We want to bestow favor upon those who were considered weak on earth and make them Imams and make them the inheritors.» (28:5) This verse goes in us until the Day of Resurrection.

Translation: Basel Kadem — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.