Fifth Objection: it is Not Permissible for the Imams to Be Only Twelve, Since the Proof of God Must Remain Upon This Ummah Until the Day of Resurrection

Narrated to us Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq from Abdul Aziz bin Yahya from Ibrahim bin Fahad quoting from Muhammad bin Uqbah from Husain bin Hasan from Ismail bin Umar from Umar bin Musa Wajihi  from Minhal bin Amr from Abdullah bin al-Harith that he said: I asked Ali عليه السلام “O Amiral Momineen, please inform me of the events that shall occur after your Qaim.” He replied: “O ibn Harith it is something that only he is entrusted to say. And the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم made me promise that except for Hasan and Husain, I shall not tell anyone anything about it.”

Umar ibn Musa al-Wajeehi Zaidi has a book titled 'Qira'at Zaid ibn Ali عليه السلام,' and he said: I heard Zaid ibn Ali saying: This is the recitation of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali عليه السلام."

Narrated to us Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq who said: Narrated to us Abdul Aziz bin Yahya al-Jaloodi from Husain bin Maaz from Qais bin Hafas from Yunus bin Arqam from Abu Sinan Shaibani from Zahhak bin Muzahim from Nizal bin Sabra from Amirul Momineen Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام in a tradition in which there is description of Dajjal. At the end of this tradition the Imam says: “Do not ask me about the conditions following this. This is a covenant that I have made with my dearest one (the Prophet) that I would not inform about this to anyone except my descendants.” Nizaal bin Sabra says that I asked Sa’sa bin Sauhan what Amirul Momineen عليه السلام meant by this? He replied, ‘O ibn Sabra, he is the same behind whom Prophet Isa عليه السلام would pray. He shall be the twelfth descendant and he would be the ninth descendant of Husain bin Ali عليه السلام. He would be the one for whom the Sun would rise from the west and he shall reappear between the Rukn and Maqaam. Then he would purify the earth and establish the scales of justice. Then no one would be able to oppress another. Then Amirul Momineen عليه السلام said that the dearest one of Amirul Momineen عليه السلام, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم had taken an oath from him that he must not inform anyone about the events after this except his purified descendants.
[Al-Saduq says:] And Zaidiyyah shall be asked: Can you deny that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said that the Imams after him would be twelve? If they say that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم did not make such a statement they would be asked: If it is possible for you to reject this report inspite of the fact that it is well-known, beneficial and it is accepted by Imamiyah sect, it is just as if someone were to allege that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم sayings: ‘Min kuntu mawla…’ is not of his real sayings. ’