Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas relates from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), that he said, “0 group of people! Know, that there is a door for Allah (s.w.t.) whoever enters it remains safe from the fire (of hell) and the greatest fright (of Qiyamah)”. Hearing this, Abu Sai’d al Khudri arose and asked, “0 Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)! Guide us to this door so that we may recognize it” He (s.a.w.a.) replied, “It is Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.), the Master of the Vicegerents, the Commander of the believers, the brother of the Messenger (s.a.w.a.) of the Lord of the worlds (s.w.t.) and his Successor upon all the people. 0 group of people! The one who love to lay hold on to the ‘Firm Handle’ that has no break for it, should lay hold to the authority of ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.). Since his Authority is my Authority and his obedience is m obedience. 0 group of people! One who loves to recognize the ‘Evidence (Hujjah)’ after me should recognize ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.). 0 group of people! One who loves to meet Alla (s.w.t.) in a state that He (s.w.t.) is pleased with him, should love the number of A’imma (a.s.)”. Then Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (al Amari) arose and asked, “And what is the number o A’immah (a.s.)”? The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) replied, “0 Jabir! May Allah (s.w.t.) hay Mercy upon you! You have questioned me regarding Islam in its entirety. Their (A’immah number is equal to the number of months (twelve) and that near Allah (s.w.t.) are twelve months in the Book of Allah (since) the day He created the heavens and the earth. And their number is equal to the number of the twelve streams that gushed forth for Musa bin Imran (a.s.) when he struck his staff upon the rock then gushed out from there twelve streamSayyidAnd their number is equal to the chieftains of Bani Isra’il regarding which Allah (s.w.t.) says: And certainly did take Allah a covenant from the children of Isra’il and We raised up from among them twelve chieftainSayyidWhile the A’immah (a.s.) 0 Jabir, are twelve; the first among them is ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) and their last one is Al Qa’im (a.t.f.s.)”. (Abul Hasan Mohammad bin’ Ahmad bin Shadan al Qummi, “Ma’atu Manqabat”; Hasan bin Abil Hasan al Daylami, “Irshadul QuItlb”; Sayyid Hashim al Babrani, “Gayatul Mariam”; etc.)

The Pinnacle Of Hopes ( Muntahal A’maal )is one of the celebrated biographical works dealing with the lives of the ‘Fourteen Infallible Personalities of Islam’ authored by the esteemed traditionist Sheikh ‘Abbas al Qummi. The author has spared no efforts in furnishing reliable and genuine reports dealing with their impeccable lives in this book and since it was compiled by him during the last decade of his life; it is replete with abundant precision and decisivenesSayyidPerhaps on compiling this beneficial work the author reached the pinnacle of his hopes and the zenith of his life, therefore he named it Muntahal A’maal or the Pinnacle of hopeSayyid