Maʿānī al-ʾAkhbār 1, narration 48

Translation

2. We were told by Ahmad bin Ziyad bin Ja’far al-Hamdani, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: We were told by Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father, from Yahya bin Abi Imran, from Yunus bin Abdul-Rahman, from Sa’dan, from Abu Baseer, from Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, that he said: «Alif Laam Meem» is a letter from the letters of the Great Name of Allah that is segmented in the Qur’an, which is known by the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and the Imam by which if he supplicates, he will be answered. «That Book, in which there is no doubt, a guidance to the godfearing» (2:2). He said: It is a notice to our Shi’a. «Those who believe in the unseen, establish the prayer and from that which We sustained them, they spend.» (2:3) He said: From that which we know, they inform, and from that which we taught them of the Qur’an, they recite.

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