ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā 1, narration 37

Translation

4-28 In another tradition it is narrated that (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdillah quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Abi Abdillah al-Barqi, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abdullah ibnAbdurrahman, on the authority of Mufaz’zal ibn Umar, “I went to see Abil Hassan Musa ibn Ja’far (s) and he was holding his son Ali (s) in his arms. He kissed him, sucked his tongue, put him on his back, hugged him and said, May my father and mother be your ransom! How good-scented you are! How pure a nature! How clear are your nobilities!” Mufadhdhal said, “May I be your ransom! There is a feeling of love in my heart for this child that I have for no one else but you.” The Imam (s) said, “O Mufadhdhal! He is to me as I was to my father (s), ‘Offspring, one of the other. And God heareth and knoweth all things.’” Mufadhdhal asked, “Is he in charge of the affairs after you?” The Imam (s) said, “Yes. Whoever obeys him will make progress. Whoever disobeys him is an infidel.”

Translation: Dr. Ali Peiravi — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.