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Uthman Ibn Saeed Amri and his son Muhammad wrote a letter to His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s.) stating that Mithami, a Shia, has informed them that Mukhtar, a deviated person, has called the Shias to the Imamate of Jafar. In reply to that letter, His Eminence (a.s.) wrote as follows:
“May Allah (SwT) make you successful in His obedience and steadfast in His religion and may He make you fortunate by His pleasure. I have learnt of what you have mentioned about Mithami and what he has stated about Mukhtar. And the one who met Mukhtar and spoke to him and concluded that the sole successor of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) is only Jafar, the son of Imam Hadi (a.s.), and that he considered his Imamate to be valid.
We have taken note of the whole matter that you had received from the friends and companions (Shias). And I seek refuge of Allah (SwT) from blindness after light and vision, and from deviation after guidance and from evil deeds and dangerous mischiefs, while the Almighty Allah (SwT) says:
أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ
“Do men think that they will be left alone on saying: We believe, and not be tried?” (Surah 29, Verse 2)
And it is indeed surprising! How people fall into mischief and step into bewilderment and lean towards left and right and separate from their religion. Are they victims of doubt? Are they inimical to truth? Are they ignorant of the message and import of authentic traditions and correct reports? Or is it that they are aware of it but they have made themselves forget it?
Indeed the earth is never devoid of the proof, whether apparent or hidden. They have not seen and do not know that the Imams have arrived one after the other after their Prophet (S) till the position reached Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) and he sat on the seat of his respected father by the leave of Allah (SwT) and guided towards the true path. He was the luminous star and the brilliant moon.
Then the Almighty Allah (SwT) summoned him to His presence and took him in His mercy. He, like his respected forefathers, made a bequest and entrusted his successorship and the covenant and last Imamate to his successor and his legatee. The Almighty Allah (SwT), by His predetermined will, concealed his location and His elevated rank is with us, Ahlul Bayt and His favor is for us.
If the Almighty Allah (SwT) permits me to reappear, I would present truth in the best form and the most illuminated argument and sign, and I would have made myself apparent and established the proof. But the will of Allah (SwT) is more dominant and cannot be subverted and His decision does not change. And the time decided by Him does not become apparent.
On the basis of this they should keep aloof from their sensual desires and remain steadfast on the path they were on before this. And they must not try to search out needlessly that, which Allah (SwT) has kept concealed as they would become sinful and they must not try to expose the divine secret, as they would regret it.
Although they should know that the truth is by us and with us and no one except us would claim thus, but that he or she would be a liar and fabricator. None except us can claim thus, except that he or she be deviated. Therefore, what we have stated here should suffice for them, rather than seeking further clarifications. Rather than desiring more explanation and details, they should rest content with this much, if Allah (SwT) wills.”2
Jafar had spread deviation and misguidance among the Shias and had become a denier of His Eminence, the Awaited Imam (a.s.). In this letter, His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s.) has exposed him and due to their deviation from truth and because of their own misguidance he has denounced his followers. In the same way he has justified his occultation and lack of reappearance to divine will and says that His Eminence (a.s.), had no say in it.
2. Kamaluddin, 2/190