١٩ - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا يحيى بن زكريا بن شيبان في شعبان سنة ثلاث وسبعين ومائتين قال: حدثنا علي بن سيف بن عميرة، عن أبيه، عن حمران بن أعين أنه قال: وصفت لأبي عبد الله رجلاً يتوالى أمير المؤمنين ويتبرأ من عدوه، ويقول كل شيء يقول، إلا أنه يقول: إنهم اختلفوا فيما بينهم وهم الأئمة القادة، ولست أدري أيّهم الإمام، وإذا اجتمعوا على رجل واحد أخذنا بقوله، وقد عرفت أن الأمر فيهم - رحمهم الله جميعاً -. فقال: إنْ مات هذا مات ميتة جاهلية. وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ الْإِنْسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ ۖ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ
(19) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa’eed narrated from Yahya bin Zakariyya bin Shayban from Ali bin Sayf bin Omayra from his father that Hamran bin A’yun had said: I have told Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq  about a man, who believes in Amirul Mo’mineen  as the guardian, exempts himself from his (Ali’s) opponents and believes in all that Amirul Mo’mineen  has said but he says: They have disagreed among themselves whereas they are the leading imams and I do not know which of them is the imam. If they have agreed upon one man, we will submit to his orders. I have believed that the imamate is among them. May Allah have mercy upon them all. Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq  said: “He will die as an unbeliever.” The same was narrated by Ali bin Sayf from his brother al-Husayn from Mu’ath bin Muslim from Imam as-Sadiq . Let those of understanding, who believe in the guardianship of the infallible imams of Ahlul Bayt, ponder on the traditions narrated from the Prophet (S), Imam Abu Ja’far al-Baqir  and Imam Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq  talking about those, who have doubted anyone of the twelve imams or have spent a night without knowing their imam. These traditions have considered such people as unbelievers, hypocrites and polytheists. Let them also ponder on the traditions that have said: “Whoever denies one of the alive imams is as if he has denied the dead ones.” Let men of understanding look well for the one, whom they will follow, without being deceived by fancies and falsehood in order no to deviate from the path of the truth. Let them know well who will be the means between them and their Creator, Who is One and Only, whereas the devils are so many. Allah has said: “…The Shaitans from among men and jinn, some of them suggesting to others varnished falsehood to deceive (them).” We pray Allah to save us and our brothers in faith from deviating from the truth and guidance and not to let us welter in the abysses of confusion and perishment. We look forward to His mercy; He is merciful to the believers.