It was narrated by Abu Ali Muhammad ibn Ja'far ibn Abd al-Malik al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, by his chain to Abd Allah ibn al-Ula, from al-Mu'alla ibn Khunays, peace be upon him, from Furat ibn Ahnaf, peace be upon him, who said: I accompanied Uthman ibn Mazin for forty years, then I asked him about the Origin (al-Asl), but he rebuked me. Then I accompanied him for five more years and asked him, but he rebuked me. Then I accompanied him for another five years until he was on his deathbed. I said to him: "Allah is between me and you! If He asks me, I will say: 'I accompanied Uthman ibn Mazin, peace be upon him, for fifty years and he did not introduce me to You.'"

Uthman said: "Sit me up." I sat him up, and he traced on the ground for me: "ILIYYA." I said: "Iliyya?" He said: "You have said it," then he lay back down and died.

Al-Mawardi mentioned that Uthman was the questioner and Furat was the one questioned, and this is correct in the eyes of the people of reason and comprehension, for Furat ibn Ahnaf is the "Orphan of the Religion of Allah."

(80) By his narration from al-Yaqtini, from al-Karkhi, from Abu Samina, from Ibn Sinan and Zayd ibn Talha, from Yunus ibn Zabyan, peace be upon him, from our Master al-Sadiq, may His might be glorified, that he said: "Allah has praised only the few, so do not be among the many by calling [to the faith] those who are not of you."

(81) By this chain of transmission from al-Alim, may His might be glorified, that he said: Amir Almuminin, may His might be glorified, sent Nuwayrah ibn Malik ibn Ghaylan to the Persians to call only five specific individuals from among them. Out of his love for large numbers, he called everyone he saw. Consequently, Allah transformed him into a cat that loves the People of the House (Ahl al-Bayt). For this reason, the Messenger, may His might be glorified, said: "They (cats) are among those who roam around you," meaning: among the callers (al-du'at).