He said: "If you doubt, you would be among those whose deeds are most lost, whose effort has been wasted in this worldly life while they thought they were doing good. By God, had my grandfather not cursed Abu al-Khattab and Abu Shu’ayb, the 'Shortcomers' of the Shia would have cursed them both and envied us."

We said: "Praise be to God and to You for keeping us firm in Your obedience and removing the doubts from us."

He said to us: "Beware lest Satan cause you to slip, for whoever Satan causes to slip, our walaya shall not benefit him."

We have cited regarding the curse that which appeared from the Masters, containing sufficiency for the people of knowledge.

As for the Science and the Miracle manifested by our Lord Abu Shu’ayb — peace be upon him — and the merits with which his Master honored him, and the signed decrees (al-tawqiat) that issued from the presence of our Master for him to his Shia: we mention a portion of that in this chapter, such as is easy to narrate and close for the observer to memorize and recite, thereby suppressing his envier and whoever shows him enmity, by the aid of God and His fine success.

(458) Among them is what Abu al-Hasan Ra’iq ibn al-Khidr — may God be pleased with him — narrated to me by his chain from his men from Ishaq ibn Ammar, who said: I came to the house of my Master al-Hasan al-Askari — exalted be his glory — while Ishaq al-Ahmar — may God curse him — was in the vestibule. I entered and sat with him when the permission came for me to enter, but He did not permit Ishaq. When I entered upon my Master, I saw our Lord Abu Shu’ayb Muhammad ibn Nusayr with Him. I offered peace, and He permitted me to sit, so I sat. When I was settled in the assembly, I said to myself: "I wonder if my Master Abu Shu’ayb knows of Ishaq [outside]?" I saw him look at me while saying: {And know that God knows what is within yourselves, so beware of Him. And know that God is Forgiving and Forbearing}¹.