Maʿānī al-ʾAkhbār 1, record 172 of the digital edition

Translation

1. We were told by Ahmad bin Muhammed bin Abdul-Rahman al-Maqarri, that he said: We were told by Abu Amru and Muhammed bin Ja’far al-Maqarri al-Jarjani, that he said: We were told by Abu Bakr, Muhammed bin Hasan al-Mosuli, in Baghdad, that he said: We were told by Muhammed ibn ‘Asim al-Turayfi, that he said: We were told by Abbas bin Yazid bin Hasan al-Kahhal, the servant of Zaid bin Ali, that he said: I was told by my father, that he said: I was told by Musa bin Ja’far, from his father, Ja’far bin Muhammed, from his father, Muhammed bin Ali, from his father, Ali bin Hussain, peace be upon him, that he said: The Imam from us is not but Infallible. Infallibility is not in the apparent disposition by which one is recognized, and therefore, he is not but affirmed. It was said to him: O son of Allah’s Messenger, then what is the meaning of an Infallible? He said: It is he who adheres to the Rope of Allah, and the Rope of Allah is the Qur’an; they do not separate until the Day of Resurrection. The Imam guides to the Qur’an, and the Qur’an guides to the Imam. That is the saying of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «Indeed, this Qur’an guides to that which is more upright.» (17:9)

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