لَا وَاللَّهِ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ، مَا ذَاكَ إِلَيْنَا، وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، يُنْزِلُ وَاحِداً بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ.
— أصـول الكافـي
Abu Başir said:
'I was in the presence of Abū 'Abdillah (p.b.u.h.) when (some people) were naming the successors, and I named Isma'il (the eldest son of al-Imam aş-Şadiq-p.b.u.h.).
Then he said: "No, by Allah, O Abu Muhammad. That is not for us (to do), it is only for Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty; He reveals (the Imams) one after the other.""
— Usul al-Kāfī
