3. Two Companions of the Imam
Oneof the mostdistinguished of allthe companionsof Imam ‘Ali an-
Naqiwas‘Abdul‘Azimal-Hasani(adescendantofImamHasan)whose
graveoutsidethecityofTehranhasbecomeafamousplaceforvisitation
(ziyārat).‘Abdul‘Azimhadmetandheardahādithfromthecompanions
ofthesixth,seventhandeightImams;andhehimselfhasnarratedmany
ahādith from the ninth and tenth Imams.
Abu Hammād Rāzi narrates that once Imam ‘Ali an-Naqi (a.s.) told
himthat “wheneveryou havereligious problems, go to ‘Abdul‘Azim
and also convey my salaams to him.”
Once ‘Abdul‘Azim al-Hasani came to Imam ‘Ali an-Naqi (a.s.) and
said,“OsonoftheProphet!Iwouldliketodescribemyfaithtoyouso
thatifyouagreewithitthenIwillstayfirmuponittillthelastmoment
ofmylife.”WhentheImamgavehisapproval,‘Abdul‘Azimdescribed
his faith as follows:
“I believe that God is One; there is nothing like Him; He is free
fromibtāl(i.e., saying that He is ‘nothing’) andtashbīh(i.e., comparing
Himtoacreatedthing).Allāhhasnobodyorfigure;neitherisHesub-
stancenorform;intead,Heisthecreatorofbodyandfigure,andofsub-
stance and form. He is the creator and sustainer of everything.
“Ibelievethat Muhammad (s.a.w.)is aservantandprophet of God,
andHis lastMessenger. Therewill be noprophet, shari‘ahor religion
after him till the day of judgement.
“IbelievethattheImamandsuccessorofProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.)
was‘AlibinAbiTālib(a.s.),andafterhimHasan,thenHusayn,‘Aliibn
al-Husayn,Muhammadbin‘Ali,Ja‘farbinMuhammad,MusabinJa‘far,
‘Ali bin Musa, Muhammad bin ‘Ali, and then you are my master.”
Imam‘Alian-Naqi(a.s.)thensaid,“Afterme,mysonHasan,willbe
theImam.HowdoyouthinkthepeoplewillreactinregardtoHasan’s
son [i.e., the Mahdi]?”
‘Abdul ‘Azim: “O my master! How will he [i.e., Hasan’s son] be?”