One who dies without knowing his imam — Hadith 1

123. Yahya Al-Halby, from Basheer Al-Kunasy who said: ‘I heard Abu Abdullah (asws) saying: ‘You have maintained relations whilst the people have cut-off, and you loved whilst the people hated (you), and you recognised whilst the people denied, and it is the ‘الْحَقُّ’ Just. Allah (azwj) Took Muhammad (saww) to be a servant before He (azwj) Took him (saww) as a Prophet, and that Ali (asws) used to be a servant, and advisor for the Sake of Allah (zwj) Mighty and Majestic. So he (asws) was blessed and Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic Loved him (asws), and he (asws) loved Him (azwj). Surely, our (asws) Rights in the Book of Allah (azwj) are clear. For us (asws) is the clean wealth, and for us (asws) is the Spoils of war (Al-Anfaal- Khums), and that Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic has Obligated the people to be obedient to us (asws), since you follow but the people have no excuse for their ignorance. And the Rasool Allah (saww) said: ‘The one who dies and he has no Imam for him has died the death of a pagan. So it is upon you to obey, and you have seen the companions of Ali (asws). Then he (asws) said: ‘The Rasool Allah (saww) said during his illness in which he (saww) passed away: ‘Call my (saww) friend for me (saww)! ’. So two (females) sent for their respective fathers, but when they came, he (saww) turned his (saww) face away, then said: ‘Call my (saww) friend for me (saww)! ’ They (two fathers) said, ‘He (saww) would have looked at us had he (saww) intended to speak to us’. So they sent for Ali (asws). So when he (asws) came, he (asws) leaned across towards him (saww), and he (saww) narrated to him (asws), and narrated to him (asws) until he was free from it. So (the two fathers) met him (asws) and said, ‘What did he (saww) narrated to you (asws)? ’ He (asws) said: ‘He (saww) narrated to me (asws) by a thousand doors of the knowledge, each door of which opens to a (further) thousand doors’.