Here, we confide to what was written in “Kifāyat al Muvaḥḥidin”:
The biography 0f Uthmān ibn Saʿīd Umrī
The first deputy was Uthmān ibn Saʿīd Umrī. He was extremely trustworthy and reliable in the eyes of Imām Zamān (mGehr), and confidant in the eyes of Imāms Alī al Naqī and Ḥasan Askarī (pbu th). Also, he was the forgoing Imāms’ deputy in their living time.
He was of Asadī tribe and his ancestor was Ja’far Umrī. At that time, the people called him “Simān” which means oil seller. He saw it better to sell the oil. It was because, he had to Taqiyyah [be cautious] and hide from God’s enemies; the Shiites would present him their gifts [or sometimes Khums, and so on], in order to be given to Imām Ḥasan Askarī (pbuh). Then, he would put them among his merchandises and brought them to the honorable Imām.
There is a narration by Aḥmad ibn Isḥāq Qummī; one of the greatest Shi’a scholars. He mentioned:
One day I went to Imām Alī al Naqī (pbuh). There, I requested, ‘O, my Sayyid and Mawlā! I don’t succeed to come to your service! Well, whose words should I trust on and whose order should I obey?!’
The Imām stated, ‘Abu Amroo is a trustworthy and confidant man. Whatever he will say or bring, is said and given by me!’
Anyway, after Imām Alī al Naqī flew to the eternal world [he was martyred], one day I went to Imām Ḥasan Askarī (pbuh). Then I requested him the same, I asked his honorable father. He also stated, ‘Abu Amroo is a trustworthy and confidant man. He has been trustworthy to both the last Imām and me, whether in my living time or after my death. Whatever he will say or bring, is said and given by me,’
In Bihar, Allamah Majlisī (mGmhs) narrated as follows:
A crowd of trustworthy Muḥadithin narrated, ‘Once, a crowd of Yemenis went to Imām Ḥasan Askarī. They present some properties to the Imām of the world and hereafter. There, the honorable Sir stated, ‘O, Uthmān! In fact, you are the Confidant deputy of God’s possessions [God trusts on you]! Go and get the properties which Yemenis have presented.
The Yemenis said to the Imām, ‘O, our Mawlā! We swear to God that, Uthmān is verily of your selected Shia’s! In fact, we have presented a lot of properties to him, because of his status and dignity!
[We want to be sure,] is he truly your trustable deputy to get God’s possessions?
The Excellency stated, ‘Yes! Be witness, Uthmān ibn Saˈid Umri is my deputy. In addition, his son “Muḥammad ibn Uthmān is my son “Mahdī”’s deputy!
Moreover, in Bihār, Allamah Majlisī narrated from the book “Ghaybah” by Shaykh Ṭūsi (mGmhs). It’s as follows:
A crowd of the Companions narrated in this way, ‘After Uthmān ibn Saˈid died, His Excellency Hujjah (mGehr) sent a letter Muḥammad ibn Uthmān ibn Saˈid Umrī. It read:
وَ الاِبْنُ وَقاهُ اللّهُ لَمْ يَزِلْ ثِقَتَنا فى حَیاةَ الاَبِ ـ رَضِىَ اللّهُ عَنْهُ وَ اَرْضاهُ وَ نَضَّرَ وَجـْھـَهُ ـ يـَجْرى عِنْدَنا مَجْراهُ وَ
يَسُدُّ مَسَدَّهُ وَ عَنْ اَمْرِنا يَاءْمُرُ الاِبْنُ وَ بِهِ يَعْمَلُ تَوَلّیهُ اللّه
It means, now that Uthmān ibn Saˈid has died, may God saves his son! He was always trustworthy and reliable when his father was alive. May God be satisfied with him (his father)
whose son is like his father, in our eyes. Also, his son is his deputy! Whatever he says, is our order and he obeys our order. May God Help and protect him!
According to another narration, they narrated from Kulaynī as follows:
[Once,] His Excellency Imām Sāhib al Amr (mGehr) sent a letter in his noble handwriting. It read, ‘May God be pleased with him “Muḥammad ibn Uthmān” and his father! He is my trustable [one] and what he writes is like mine.’
Anyway, many of the Imām’s proofs and miracles for Shiites were shown by him. He was appointed by His Excellency Hujjah to be the source of Shiites, whether in the time he was a deputy or the time he was messenger.
Based on his daughter “Umme Kulthūm”, Muḥammad ibn Uthmān ibn Saˈid Umri wrote many books in Fīqh, that all of them were drawn from Imām Ḥasan Askarī (pbuh), Sahīb al Amr (mGehr), and his own father. He handed those books to Huṣayn ibn Rauh before his own death.
Along with his document, Shaykh Ṣadūq (mGmhs) narrated this well-known Hadith from Muḥammad ibn Uthmān ibn Saˈid Umri, in this way:
I swear to God, His Excellency Hujjah verily attend in Hajj rituals, every year. He sees the creatures and knows them. Also, they see him but don’t know him.
According to another narration, when some people asked whether he had seen His Excellency Sahib al Amr (mGehr), he replied, “Yes! I saw him for the last time around Bayt Allah [Ka’bah], while I was requesting God,
“اَللّھـُمَّ اَنـْجـِزْلى ما وَعَدْتَنى”
O, God! Please revenge my enemies!
There, I saw the Excellency who was reacting to me,
“اَللّھُمَّ انْتَقِمْ بِى اَعْدائى”
O, God! Fulfill the thing you have promised to me [the Emergence]!
The Excellency’s third deputy and messenger was Huṣayn ibn Rouh. He was commanded and appointed by Muḥammad ibn Uthmān, as the agent of his some affairs. Huṣayn was chosen out of some people who were trustworthy, faithful and reliable people, in Muḥammad’s idea. Moreover, he was more similar to Muḥammad, in characteristics point of view.
It was contrary to the fact, a crowd assumed that Ja’far ibn Aḥmad would be the deputy and messenger, after Muḥammad ibn Uthmān; because, his features were very similar to Muḥammad. Also, when it was Muhammad’s last days of life, he ate food in Aḥmad’s house!
In Bihār al Anwār, Allamah Majlisī (MGbhs) quoted from the book “Ghaybah” by Shaykh Ṭūsi, as follows:
When Muḥammad ibn Uthmān ibn Saʿīd was at the point of death, Ja’far ibn Aḥmad was sitting beside his head [near]. And Huṣayn ibn Rouh was sitting near his feet [further]. There, Muḥammad expressed, “I have been ordered to Abu al Qāsim ibn Rouh as my successor, and leave the affairs to him!”
As Ja’far ibn Aḥmad heard that Huṣayn ibn Rouh was to be the successor, he stood up, took Huṣayn’s hand, and sat him beside Muḥammad’s head. Then, he himself sat near Muḥammad’s feet.
Moreover in an authentic narration, it reads:
Muḥammad ibn Uthmān ibn Saˈid gathered the Shiites’ elders and Shuyūkh. Then he told, ‘If something happens to me, Abi al Qāsim ibn Rouh must be the deputy. In fact, I have been commanded to appoint him as my deputy, after my death! Therefore, refer to him and rely on him to help with your affairs!
Also, there is another narration which is like what was mentioned in “Bihar”. It is as follows:
A crowd of Shiites gathered around Muḥammad ibn Uthmān, while Uthmān ibn Saˈid was shrouding him apparently. Anyhow after the martyrdom of His honorable father, His Excellency Sāhib al Amr (mGehr) appointed Uthmān ibn Saˈid as his deputy, assistant, and the Shiites’ elder. Also, the Shiites could get the answers of their problems thorough him. They would present him the Imām’s portion of their properties.
By Kirāmah of the blessed Sāhib al Amr’s, Uthmān ibn Saˈid could do some metaphysic actions and be aware of some Unseen Knowledge! So, the Shiites [comfortably] would present him their properties. They could see his noble complexion and personality.
He was able to predict the number of their properties or the owner of the properties!
All of the thing he could predict, had been informed by His Excellency Hujjah (mGehr). The Excellency’s other deputies and messengers had the same proofs and abilities, due to his Kirāmahs.