Shaykh al-Tusi (may Allah sanctify his soul) narrated in Misbah al-Mutahajjid a supplication for the Master…

Answer

In the name of Allah, my son, know that one of those who claimed to be either a son or deputy of the Awaited Imam (may Allah hasten his reappearance) was once silenced by a pious man who said to him: “If you truly are the Imam’s son, then ask him to restore my youth through his supplication, and to return the black color to my white beard.” That claimant was dumbfounded and left speechless, proving the falsehood of his claim. Know also that the narration which includes the mention of the Imam having a family, children, and progeny is a supplication transmitted by Shaykh al-Tusi from Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him), but its chain of transmission is not sound based on the rigorous standards of scholarly evaluation adopted by al-Tusi and others. Moreover, neither the Imam of the Age (peace be upon him) nor his grandfather Imam Ali al-Naqi (peace be upon him) had been born at the time the supplication was narrated. Therefore, the supplication must be understood as referring to a future state — that once the Imam (peace be upon him) is born and has offspring, he and his progeny would then deserve divine mercy and kindness. We now know of his birth, but we have no evidence of his marriage or offspring. Let anyone claiming to be a son of the Imam present a valid identity document showing his name and the name of his real father. He must also have records in schools and government institutions. If such evidence is not provided, the falsehood of his claim becomes clear. Allah is the Guide and the All-Knowing.