The Birth of abu al-Hassan Ali ibn Muhammad  عليه السلام — report 1

1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Khayrana Ali-Asbati who has said the following. “Once I went to al-Madina to see abu al-Hassan عليه السلام . He asked me, “What is the news from Ali-Wathiq (Abbassid ruler)?” I said, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I left him in good health and I am of all people the latest who met him. I met him just ten days ago.” The narrator has said that the Imam عليه السلام then said, “People of al-Madina say that he has died.” When he said, “people say’ I understood that it is he himself. He then said, “What has Ja‘far (Mutawakkil Abbassid) done?” I said, “I left him in the worst condition of all people. He was in prison.” The narrator has said that he then said, “He has become the ruler. What has ibn Ali-Zayyat (the vizir of Wathiq) has done?” I said, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, people are with him and whatever he says it goes.” The narrator has said that he then said, “His progress has proved to become a misfortune for him.” The narrator has said that he then paused for a while and said to me, “The measures of Allah, the Most High and His decrees must go on. O Khayaran, al-Wathiq has died and Ali-Mutawakkil , Ja‘far has replaced him and ibn al-Zayyat is killed.” I then asked, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, when this has happened?” He said, “After six days from the time you left.”