What is Obligated of People when the Imam عليه السلام Dies

And from him, from Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-Jabbār, from whoever he mentioned, from Yūnus b. Yaʿqūb, from ʿAbd al-Aʿlā, who narrated: “I said to Abī ʿAbd Allāh عليه السلام: “If (news of) the Imam’s death reaches us, what are we to do?” He replied: “It is imperative for you to go forth (in search of the Imam’s successor).” I said: “To go forth altogether?,” to which he replied: “Allāh says: ﴾But why should not there a group from each of their sections go forth to become learned in religion…﴿,” to the end of the verse [9:122]. I asked: “(Once) we have gone forth, what of those who die while on the road?” ʿAbd al-Aʿlā narrated that Imam al-Ṣādiq صلوات الله عليه said: “Verily, Allāh says: ﴾And whoever leaves his home migrating toward Allāh and His Apostle, and is then overtaken by death, his reward shall certainly fall on Allāh﴿.” [4:100]