The Birth of abu ‘Abdullah Ja‘far ibn Muhammad  عليه السلام — report 6

6. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad ibn al-’Ash‘ath who said to me following. “Do you know the reason that we came in this matter (became Shi‘a) and recognized it even though there was no mention of it among us and we had no knowledge of what other people (Shi‘a) had?” The narrator has said that I asked him, “What then is the reason for it?” He said, “Abu Ja‘far, abu Dawaniq once said to abu Muhammad ibn al-‘Ash‘ath, ‘O Muhammad, I want a person of reason who has said the following. can represent me.” My father said, “I have found one for you. He is so and so ibn Muhajir, my maternal uncle.” He said, “bring him to me.” He has said that he brought him to abu Dawaniq. Abu Ja‘far, abu Dawaniq said, “O son of Muhajir, take this property to Madina and gave it to ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hassan ibn al-Hassan and a number of the people of his family among who is Ja‘far ibn Muhammad and say to them, “I am from Khrasan and an stranger in this area. One of your Shi‘a (followers) from Khurasan gave me this property to deliver to you. Then gave to each of them from the property with such and such conditions. When they take the property than ask them for a receipt our people has narrated who for the amount and kind of the property you have received.” He then took the property and went to Madina and came back to abu Dawaniq when Muhammad ibn al-’Ash‘th was also present. Abu Daqwaniq asked, “What did you leave behind?” He said, “I met the people and this is the receipt in their hand writings for what they received accept Ja‘far ibn Muhammad. I went to see him when he was praying in the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah. I sat behind him t wait until he would finish and then I would give him the message as I had done with the others. He hurried up and finished and then turned to me and said, “O you, have fear of Allah and do not deceive Ahl al-Bayt (family members) of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم . They have just experienced the government of the sons of Marwan and they all are needy.” I then asked, “What are you talking about, may Allah grand you well beeing?” He said, “Then he brought his head closer to me and told me about all that had passed between me and you as if he has the third person with us.” He has said that abu Ja‘far, al-Dawaniq said, “O ibn Muhajir take notice and pay attention that there has never been the family of a prophet without a Muhaddath (a person to whom angels would speak) among them. Today the Muhaddath among us is Ja‘far ibn Muhammad.” This was the reason for our receiving guidance and acceptance of this matter and faith.”