يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ
“O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those vested with authority (by Allah) from among you”
Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari said, When the verse, “O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those vested with authority (by Allah) from among you” was revealed, I asked the Messenger of Allah (sawa), O Messenger of Allah! We understood Allah and His Messenger but who are “those vested with authority (by Allah)” whose obedience Allah has paired with your obedience?
The Prophet (sawa) replied, O Jabir! They are my caliphs and they are the Imams of the Muslims after me. The first one is Ali bin Abi Talib; after him, Hasan is the Imam; after him, Husain; then Ali bin Husain; then Mohammed bin Ali, who is known in the Torah as Baqir. And you O Jabir, will meet him. So when you do, convey my salaam to him. After Mohammed bin Ali, it is the truthful, Jafar bin Mohammed; then Musa bin Jaafar; then Ali bin Musa; then Mohammed bin Ali; then Ali bin Mohammed; and then Hasan bin Ali. After him, it will be the one who bears the same name and title as mine. He is Allah’s Decisive Proof on His land and he is the Remainder of Allah on His creation. He is the son of Hasan bin Ali.
Allah will achieve victory throughout His land through him. He is the one who will disappear from his Shia and his lovers for (a period of time) during which only those whose hearts Allah has tested, will stay steady in believing in his Imamate.
I (Jabir Al-Ansari) asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Will the Shia benefit from him when he is in occultation?”
The Prophet (sawa) replied, Yes! I swear to He who sent me as a prophet, that they will. They will see with his light and benefit from his Wilayat just like people benefit from the sun when it is behind the clouds.
O Jabir! This is one of the secrets of Allah which is contained in His knowledge. Do not share it except with the right people. (Kamaluddin volume 1 page 253)