Hadith 1:

الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): كِبارُ حُدودِ وَلايةِ الإمامِ المَفْروضِ الطّاعةِ أنْ يُعْلَمَ أنَّهُ مَعْصومٌ مِنَ الخطأِ والزَّلَلِ والعَمْدِ، ومِنَ الذُّنوبِ كُلِّها صغيرِها وكبيرِها، لا يَزِلُّ، ولا يُخْطئُ، ولا يَلْهو بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الاُمورِ المُوبِقَةِ للدِّينِ، ولا بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ المَلاهي، وأنَّهُ أعْلَمُ النّاسِ بِحَلالِ اللّه‏ وحَرامِهِ، وفَرائضِهِ وسُنَنِهِ وأحْكامِهِ، مُسْتَغْنٍ عَنْ جَميعِ العالَمِ، وغَيْرُهُ مُحتاجٌ إلَيْهِ، وأنَّهُ أسْخَى النّاسِ وأشْجَعُ النّاسِ

Imam Ali (as) said, "Important/Significant aspects of Guardianship (Walayat) of the Imam whose obedience is obligatory is to know that He is infallible from committing mistakes, errors and intentional wrongs, and from all sins, small and big. He does not make any errors or mistakes. He does not divert Himself from matters that can result in the destruction of religion and is not diverted through things of entertainment/distraction/amusement.

He is the most knowledgeable of all people about what Allah has made lawful and unlawful, His obligations, recommendations (Sunnah), and rulings. He is needless of the entire world whilst they all need him. And he is the most generous and courageous of men."

(part of a long narration)

[Source: Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 68, Pg. 389]

Hadith 2:

حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ سَلَّامٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مفرق [مُقَرِّنٍ‏] عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَنَا أَعْيُنٌ لَا تُشْبِهُ أَعْيُنَ النَّاسِ وَ فِيهَا نُورٌ وَ لَيْسَ لِلشَّيْطَانِ فِيهِ شِرْك‏

Narrated by Yaqoob bin Yazeed, from Moosa bin Sallam, from Mohammad bin Mufraq, from Abil Hasan al-Riza (as):

Imam Raza (as) said, "For us are eyes that you cannot be compared with the eyes of the people and in it is light (noor) and there is not share for Shaitan in it."

[Source: Basaair al-Darajaat, Vol. 9, Chapter. 1, Hadees. 1]

Hadith 3:

وَ رَوَى أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْكُوفِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا ع قَالَ لِلْإِمَامِ عَلَامَاتٌ يَكُونُ أَعْلَمَ النَّاسِ وَ أَحْكَمَ النَّاسِ وَ أَتْقَى النَّاسِ وَ أَحْلَمَ النَّاسِ وَ أَشْجَعَ النَّاسِ وَ أَسْخَى النَّاسِ وَ أَعْبَدَ النَّاسِ وَ يُولَدُ مَخْتُوناً وَ يَكُونُ مُطَهَّراً وَ يَرَى مِنْ خَلْفِهِ كَمَا يَرَى مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَ لَا يَكُونُ لَهُ ظِلٌّ وَ إِذَا وَقَعَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِنْ بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ وَقَعَ عَلَى رَاحَتَيْهِ رَافِعاً صَوْتَهُ بِالشَّهَادَتَيْنِ وَ لَا يَحْتَلِمُ وَ تَنَامُ عَيْنُهُ وَ لَا يَنَامُ قَلْبُهُ وَ يَكُونُ مُحَدَّثاً وَ يَسْتَوِي عَلَيْهِ دِرْعُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ لَا يُرَى لَهُ بَوْلٌ وَ لَا غَائِطٌ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَدْ وَكَّلَ الْأَرْضَ بِابْتِلَاعِ مَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ وَ تَكُونُ رَائِحَتُهُ أَطْيَبَ مِنْ رَائِحَةِ الْمِسْكِ وَ يَكُونُ أَوْلَى بِالنَّاسِ مِنْهُمْ بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ أَشْفَقَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَ أُمَّهَاتِهِمْ وَ يَكُونُ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ تَوَاضُعاً لِلَّهِ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ وَ يَكُونُ النَّاسِ عَمَّا يَنْهَى عَنْهُ وَ يَكُونُ دُعَاؤُهُ مُسْتَجَاباً حَتَّى أَنَّهُ لَوْ دَعَا عَلَى صَخْرَةٍ لَانْشَقَّتْ بِنِصْفَيْنِ وَ يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ سِلَاحُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ سَيْفُهُ ذُو الْفَقَارِ وَ يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ صَحِيفَةٌ يَكُونُ فِيهَا أَسْمَاءُ شِيعَتِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ صَحِيفَةٌ فِيهَا أَسْمَاءُ أَعْدَائِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ تَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ الْجَامِعَةُ وَ هِيَ صَحِيفَةٌ طُولُهَا سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعاً فِيهَا جَمِيعُ مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ وُلْدُ آدَمَ وَ يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ الْجَفْرُ الْأَكْبَرُ وَ الْأَصْغَرُ إِهَابُ مَاعِزٍ وَ إِهَابُ كَبْشٍ فِيهِمَا جَمِيعُ الْعُلُومِ حَتَّى أَرْشِ الْخَدْشِ وَ حَتَّى الْجَلْدَةِ وَ نِصْفِ الْجَلْدَةِ وَ ثُلُثِ الْجَلْدَةِ وَ يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ مُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَة

Imam Reza (as) said: 

"There are signs of Imam. He is the most knowledgeable among all men and best judge among all men and the most pious among all men and foremost in patience among men and most brave among men and the most generous among men and the foremost in worshipping among men."

"Imam is born circumcised and is pure and sees from behind just as he can see from the front. And does not have a shadow."

"And when the Imam comes on the earth from his mother's womb, keeps his hands on the ground and raises his voice reciting the Shahadatain."

"Imam does not get wet dreams. His eyes sleep but his heart does not sleep."

"He is a Muhaddass (talk to the angels). And the shield of Prophet Muhammad (saww) fits him."

"And has more authority over the people then they themselfs. And is more compassionate on them then their fathers and mothers. And be the most Humble before Allah (swt) then all other men."

"And his prayers are accepted, even if he calls upon a rock to be split into two."

"And with him is the weapon of the Prophet (saww) and this sword Zulfiqar. And with him is the book in which are the names of his Shias until the day of Resurrection. And with him is the book in which are the names of his enemies until the day of Resurrection."

"And with him is the Jaamia. And that is a book 70 cubits long and in that is all what is needed by the children of Adam. And with him is the Big Jafr and the Small Jafr made of skin of goat and skin of ram. In them are all the knowledge even the recompence of scratching and even for a one, half and one third. And with him is the Book of Fatema (sa)."

[Source: Man la Yahzarul Faqih Vol. 4 Pg.419]

Note: This Narration is Muwassaq/Reliable as per Sanad analysis due to Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Saeed Al-koofi being a Zaidi

Hadith 4:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ غَالِبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ يَذْكُرُ فِيهَا حَالَ الْأَئِمَّةِ ع وَ صِفَاتِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَوْضَحَ بِأَئِمَّةِ الْهُدَى مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّنَا عَنْ دِينِهِ وَ أَبْلَجَ بِهِمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِ مِنْهَاجِهِ وَ فَتَحَ بِهِمْ عَنْ بَاطِنِ يَنَابِيعِ عِلْمِهِ فَمَنْ عَرَفَ مِنْ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَاجِبَ حَقِّ إِمَامِهِ وَجَدَ طَعْمَ حَلَاوَةِ إِيمَانِهِ وَ عَلِمَ فَضْلَ طُلَاوَةِ إِسْلَامِهِ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى نَصَبَ الْإِمَامَ عَلَماً لِخَلْقِهِ وَ جَعَلَهُ حُجَّةً عَلَى أَهْلِ مَوَادِّهِ وَ عَالَمِهِ وَ أَلْبَسَهُ اللَّهُ تَاجَ الْوَقَارِ وَ غَشَّاهُ مِنْ نُورِ الْجَبَّارِ يَمُدُّ بِسَبَبٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ لَا يَنْقَطِعُ عَنْهُ مَوَادُّهُ وَ لَا يُنَالُ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا بِجِهَةِ أَسْبَابِهِ وَ لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ أَعْمَالَ الْعِبَادِ إِلَّا بِمَعْرِفَتِهِ فَهُوَ عَالِمٌ بِمَا يَرِدُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ مُلْتَبِسَاتِ الدُّجَى وَ مُعَمِّيَاتِ السُّنَنِ وَ مُشَبِّهَاتِ الْفِتَنِ فَلَمْ يَزَلِ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يَخْتَارُهُمْ لِخَلْقِهِ مِنْ وُلْدِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع مِنْ عَقِبِ كُلِّ إِمَامٍ يَصْطَفِيهِمْ لِذَلِكَ وَ يَجْتَبِيهِمْ وَ يَرْضَى بِهِمْ لِخَلْقِهِ وَ يَرْتَضِيهِمْ كُلَّ مَا مَضَى مِنْهُمْ إِمَامٌ نَصَبَ لِخَلْقِهِ مِنْ عَقِبِهِ إِمَاماً عَلَماً بَيِّناً وَ هَادِياً نَيِّراً وَ إِمَاماً قَيِّماً وَ حُجَّةً عَالِماً أَئِمَّةً مِنَ اللَّهِ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَ بِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ حُجَجُ اللَّهِ وَ دُعَاتُهُ وَ رُعَاتُهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ يَدِينُ بِهَدْيِهِمُ الْعِبَاد  وَ تَسْتَهِلُّ بِنُورِهِمُ الْبِلَادُ وَ يَنْمُو بِبَرَكَتِهِمُ التِّلَادُ جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ حَيَاةً لِلْأَنَامِ وَ مَصَابِيحَ لِلظَّلَامِ وَ مَفَاتِيحَ لِلْكَلَامِ وَ دَعَائِمَ لِلْإِسْلَامِ جَرَتْ بِذَلِكَ فِيهِمْ مَقَادِيرُ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَحْتُومِهَا فَالْإِمَامُ هُوَ الْمُنْتَجَبُ الْمُرْتَضَى وَ الْهَادِي الْمُنْتَجَى وَ الْقَائِمُ الْمُرْتَجَى اصْطَفَاهُ اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ وَ اصْطَنَعَهُ عَلَى عَيْنِهِ فِي الذَّرِّ حِينَ ذَرَأَهُ وَ فِي الْبَرِيَّةِ حِينَ بَرَأَهُ ظِلًّا قَبْلَ خَلْقِ نَسَمَةٍ عَنْ يَمِينِ عَرْشِهِ مَحْبُوّاً بِالْحِكْمَةِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَهُ اخْتَارَهُ بِعِلْمِهِ وَ انْتَجَبَهُ لِطُهْرِهِ بَقِيَّةً مِنْ آدَمَ ع وَ خِيَرَةً مِنْ ذُرِّيَّةِ نُوحٍ وَ مُصْطَفًى مِنْ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ سُلَالَةً مِنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَ صَفْوَةً مِنْ عِتْرَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص لَمْ يَزَلْ مَرْعِيّاً بِعَيْنِ اللَّهِ يَحْفَظُهُ وَ يَكْلَؤُهُ بِسِتْرِهِ مَطْرُوداً عَنْهُ حَبَائِلُ إِبْلِيسَ وَ جُنُودِهِ مَدْفُوعاً عَنْهُ وُقُوبُ الْغَوَاسِقِ وَ نُفُوثُ كُلِّ فَاسِقٍ مَصْرُوفاً عَنْهُ قَوَارِفُ السُّوءِ مُبْرَأً مِنَ الْعَاهَاتِ مَحْجُوباً عَنِ الْآفَاتِ مَعْصُوماً مِنَ الزَّلَّاتِ مَصُوناً عَنِ الْفَوَاحِشِ كُلِّهَا مَعْرُوفاً بِالْحِلْمِ وَ الْبِرِّ فِي يَفَاعِهِ مَنْسُوباً إِلَى الْعَفَافِ وَ الْعِلْمِ وَ الْفَضْلِ عِنْدَ انْتِهَائِهِ مُسْنَداً إِلَيْهِ أَمْرُ وَالِدِهِ صَامِتاً عَنِ الْمَنْطِقِ فِي حَيَاتِهِ فَإِذَا انْقَضَتْ مُدَّةُ وَالِدِهِ إِلَى أَنِ انْتَهَتْ بِهِ مَقَادِيرُ اللَّهِ إِلَى مَشِيئَتِهِ وَ جَاءَتِ الْإِرَادَةُ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِيهِ إِلَى مَحَبَّتِهِ وَ بَلَغَ مُنْتَهَى مُدَّةِ وَالِدِهِ ع فَمَضَى وَ صَارَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ قَلَّدَهُ دِينَهُ وَ جَعَلَهُ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ وَ قَيِّمَهُ فِي بِلَادِهِ وَ أَيَّدَهُ بِرُوحِهِ وَ آتَاهُ عِلْمَهُ وَ أَنْبَأَهُ فَصْلَ بَيَانِهِ وَ اسْتَوْدَعَهُ سِرَّهُ وَ انْتَدَبَهُ لِعَظِيمِ أَمْرِهِ وَ أَنْبَأَهُ فَضْلَ بَيَانِ عِلْمِهِ وَ نَصَبَهُ عَلَماً لِخَلْقِهِ وَ جَعَلَهُ حُجَّةً عَلَى أَهْلِ عَالَمِهِ وَ ضِيَاءً لِأَهْلِ دِينِهِ وَ الْقَيِّمَ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ بِهِ إِمَاماً لَهُمُ اسْتَوْدَعَهُ سِرَّهُ وَ اسْتَحْفَظَهُ عِلْمَهُ وَ اسْتَخْبَأَهُ حِكْمَتَهُ وَ اسْتَرْعَاهُ لِدِينِهِ وَ انْتَدَبَهُ لِعَظِيمِ أَمْرِهِ وَ أَحْيَا بِهِ مَنَاهِجَ سَبِيلِهِ وَ فَرَائِضَهُ وَ حُدُودَهُ فَقَامَ بِالْعَدْلِ عِنْدَ تَحَيُّرِ أَهْلِ الْجَهْلِ وَ تَحْيِيرِ أَهْلِ الْجَدَلِ بِالنُّورِ السَّاطِع‏ وَ الشِّفَاءِ النَّافِعِ بِالْحَقِّ الْأَبْلَجِ وَ الْبَيَانِ اللَّائِحِ مِنْ كُلِّ مَخْرَجٍ عَلَى طَرِيقِ الْمَنْهَجِ الَّذِي مَضَى عَلَيْهِ الصَّادِقُونَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ ع فَلَيْسَ يَجْهَلُ حَقَّ هَذَا الْعَالِمِ إِلَّا شَقِيٌّ وَ لَا يَجْحَدُهُ إِلَّا غَوِيٌّ وَ لَا يَصُدُّ عَنْهُ إِلَّا جَرِيٌّ عَلَى اللَّهِ جَلَّ وَ عَلَا

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa from al-Hasan ibn Mahbub from Ishaq ibn Ghalib from Abu Abd Allah (as) who has said the following. 

"Describing the condition of the Imams (as) and their attributes in one of his sermons he has said, ‘Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has explained His religion through the Imams of (true) guidance from the family of our Prophet (as) the Ahl al-Bayt (as) and has cleared through them the path of His system and plan. He has opened through them the inner (Batin) springs of His knowledge. Whoever of the followers of Muhammad (as) has recognized his obligation towards the rights of his Imam he has realized the taste of the sweetness of his faith and the superior beauty of his Islam. It is because Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has appointed the Imam the torchbearer for His creatures and authority over those who receive His blessings and His world. He has crowned him with dignity and has encompassed him with the light of His Omnipotence. He extends with a means to the heavens. The blessings do not discontinue from him. Nothing from what is with Allah is achieved except through its right means. Allah does not accept the good deeds of His servants without one’s recognition of the Imam (as).

The Imam (as) knows how to sort out the dark confusing matters and whatever obscures the Sunnah (tradition of the Holy Prophet (as) and the confounding matters in mischievous conditions. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has always been choosing the Imams from the descendants of al-Husayn (as) one after the other Imam. He would select and choose them for the leadership of His creatures delightfully and well satisfied with them. Whenever one Imam would leave this world He would appoint for His creatures his successor as a clear beacon and a shining guide, a guarding leader, a knowledgeable Divine authority. The Imams from Allah guide people with the truth and with the truth they judge. They are Allah’s authority calling people to Him and as shepherds of His creatures. With their guidance people follow the religion and from them the land receive light. Through their holiness the bounties increase. Allah has made them life for the people and the torches in the darkness, the keys to communication and the strongholds for Islam. Thus, has the measures of Allah continued in them towards His final decision.

"The Imam (as) is the outstanding amicable person, the most trusted guide and the guardian who can make hopes come true. Allah has chosen him with such distinctions. He chooses him as such (well protected) in the realm when all things were in the form of particles in the instance that He made him. He choose him as such (well-protected) in the realm in which all things were designed as He had designed him as a shadow, before He made the organisms, on the right side of His throne, gifted with wisdom in the unseen knowledge with Him. He chose him in His knowledge and granted him out-standing nobility for his purity. He is an heir of Adam, the best one among the descendants of Noah, the chosen one of the family of Abraham, a descendant of Ishmael and of the most preferred ones in the family of Prophet Muhammad (as). He has always been looked after by the watchful eyes of Allah Who would provide him security and guard him with His shield, well protected against the evil nets of Satan and his armies. He is well defended against the approaching dark nights and the false accusations of the evil doers. All wickedness is kept away from him and he is kept safe against all forms of defects and flaws. He is veiled against all scourges. He is infallible in matters of sins. He is kept safe and sound against all indecencies. He is well known for his forbearance and virtuousness in the early days of his life. Chastity, great knowledge and excellence are ascribed to him towards the end of his life. The task of Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) of his father rests with him while in the lifetime of his father he remains silent.

"When the time of the Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) of his father ends it is the time when the measures of Allah ends up with him due to His wish. The will of Allah brings him to His love, thus, the end of the Imamat of his father comes and he passes away. The Authority from Allah shifts to him after his father. He then is made in charge of His religion and the Divine Authority over His servants, the guardian over His lands, supported with His spirit and is given of His knowledge. He raises him as a beacon for His creatures, makes him to have His Authority over the people of his world and as the light for the people of His religion and a guardian for His servants. Allah will agree to have him as Imam of the people, entrust him with His secret, makes him a safe-keeper of His knowledge, and to hide His wisdom in him. He protects him for His religion, calls up on him to serve His great task, and revives through him the phases of His system (of religion) and the obligations in His laws.

"The Imam then enforces justice, when the people of ignorance are confused and the disputing and quarreling people are frustrated, with shining light, the beneficial cure and radiant truth. He would do so with clear explanations of all aspects and just in the manner and practice his truthful father and forefathers would do before him. No one would ignore the rights of such scholar except the wicked ones. No one would struggle against him except those who have strayed away from the right path. No one would keep away from him except those who keep a bold face against Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.”

[Source: Al-Kafi, Vol.1, Pg. 203 / Al-Ghaybha - Al-Numani, Chapter.13, Hadees. 7]

Note: All narrators are trustworthy, Hadees is Saheeh (Authentic)

Hadith 5:

مَا رُوِيَ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ ع قَالَ‌ دَخَلَ نَاسٌ عَلَى أَبِي ع فَقَالُوا مَا حَدُّ الْإِمَامِ قَالَ حَدُّهُ عَظِيمٌ إِذَا دَخَلْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَوَقِّرُوهُ وَ عَظِّمُوهُ وَ آمِنُوا بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ وَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَهْدِيَكُمْ وَ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ إِذَا دَخَلْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ لَمْ يَقْدِرْ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يَمْلَأَ عَيْنَهُ مِنْهُ إِجْلَالًا وَ هَيْبَةً لِأَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَذَلِكَ كَانَ وَ كَذَلِكَ يَكُونُ الْإِمَامُ قَالَ‌ فَيَعْرِفُ شِيعَتَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ سَاعَةَ يَرَاهُمْ قَالُوا فَنَحْنُ لَكَ شِيعَةٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ كُلُّكُمْ قَالُوا أَخْبِرْنَا بِعَلَامَةِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِأَسْمَائِكُمْ وَ أَسْمَاءِ آبَائِكُمْ وَ قَبَائِلِكُمْ‌ قَالُوا أَخْبِرْنَا فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ قَالُوا صَدَقْتَ قَالَ وَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ عَمَّا أَرَدْتُمْ أَنْ تَسْأَلُوا عَنْهُ هِيَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى‌ كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُها ثابِتٌ وَ فَرْعُها فِي السَّماءِ قَالُوا صَدَقْتَ قَالَ نَحْنُ الشَّجَرَةُ الَّتِي قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‌ أَصْلُها ثابِتٌ وَ فَرْعُها فِي السَّماءِ نَحْنُ نُعْطِي شِيعَتَنَا مَا نَشَاءُ مِنْ عِلْمِنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ يُقْنِعُكُمْ قَالُوا مَا دُونَ هَذَا مُقْنِعٌ

Narrated that Imam Sadiq (ع) said‌,

“Some men came to my Father (ع) and said, “What is the limit (utmost status) of the Imam?”

Imam (ع) said, “The Limit of the Imam is lofty/exalted. When you come to Him, you should respect Him, glorify Him, and belief in what ever comes from Him. And upon the Imam is to guide you. And in the Imam there are qualities, when you come to Him none has the capability to see the Imam completely with all details due to his lofty status and awe/esteem/respect because the Holy Prophet (ص) was also like this and so is the Imam.

The men said, “Does the Imam recognize His Shias.”

Imam (ع) said, “Yes, the very moment He sees them.”

The men said, “Are we Your Shia.”

Imam (ع) said, “Yes, All of you.”

The men said, “Inform us of some signs.”

Imam (ع) said, “I will inform you your names, the names of your fathers and your tribes.”

The men said, “Inform Us”. So, the Imam (ع) informed them and they said, “You have said the truth”.

The Imam (ع)  then said, “I will inform you of what you wanted to ask about, it’s about the saying of Allah (تعالى), “Like a good tree: its roots are firm and its branches are in the sky” (14:24)

The men said, “You have said the truth”.

Imam (ع) said, “We are the tree about which Allah (تعالى) said that its roots are firm, and its branches are in the sky. We give to Our Shias whatever We wish from Our knowledge”

[Source: al-Kharaej, wa al-Jaraeh, Vol. 2, Pg. 596/597]

Hadith 6:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا عَلامَةُ الامَامِ الَّذِي بَعْدَ الامَامِ فَقَالَ طَهَارَةُ الْوِلادَةِ وَحُسْنُ الْمَنْشَإِ وَلا يَلْهُو وَلا يَلْعَبُ

Narrated from Muawiyah ibn Wahab;

I asked Abu Jafar Imam Baqir (عليه السلام), "What is the sign/distinguishing mark of the Imam?"

Imam (عليه السلام) said, "Purity in birth, good/perfect in origin/birth/upbrinding/formation and He does not get involved into activites of amusement and play (Lahw and Laab)"

[Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Pg. 285]

Hadith 7:

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْهَيْثَمِ الْعِجْلِيُّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ زَكَرِيَّا الْقَطَّانُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا تَمِيمُ بْنُ بُهْلُولٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع قَالَ: عَشْرُ خِصَالٍ مِنْ صِفَاتِ الْإِمَامِ الْعِصْمَةُ وَ النُّصُوصُ وَ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَعْلَمَ النَّاسِ وَ أَتْقَاهُمْ لِلَّهِ وَ أَعْلَمَهُمْ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ أَنْ يَكُونَ صَاحِبَ الْوَصِيَّةِ الظَّاهِرَةِ وَ يَكُونَ لَهُ الْمُعْجِزُ وَ الدَّلِيلُ وَ تَنَامَ عَيْنُهُ وَ لَا يَنَامَ قَلْبُهُ وَ لَا يَكُونَ لَهُ فَيْ‌ءٌ وَ يَرَى مِنْ خَلْفِهِ كَمَا يَرَى مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ

Narrated that Abu Abd-Allah Imam Jafar Sadiq (عليه لسلام) said,

Ten qualities are from the specific qualities of the Imam:

1) Infallibility (Ismat)

2) Explicit appointment by text (i.e., from Allah through the Prophet or the previous Imam) (Nusoos) 

3) He is the most knowledgeable of the people

4) He is the most pious of the people towards Allah

5) He is the most knowledgeable of the Book of Allah

6) He is the one who is apparently known as the person to whom the will (wasiyat) was made

7) He will have Miracles and evidence

8) His eyes will sleep while His heart does not sleep

9) He does not have any shadow

10) He sees from behind Him just as He sees from the front 

Shaikh Sadooq comments on this hadith saying:

إنما لا يكون له في‌ء لأنه مخلوق من نور الله عز و جل‌

“As for the Imam not having any shadow, that is because he is created from the light (Noor) of Allah (عز وجل)”

[Source: al-Khisal – Shaikh Saduq, Ch.10, Hadith. 5]

Hadith 8:

محمد بن خالد الطيالسي، عن علي بن أبي حمزة، عن أبي بصير، عن أبي الحسن الماضي عليه السلام، قال: دخلت عليه فقلت له: جعلت فداك، بم يعرف الامام؟

فقال : بخصال، اما أولاهن فشئ تقدم من أبيه فيه وعرفه الناس ونصبه لهم علما، حتى يكون حجة عليهم، لان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله نصب عليا عليه السلام علما وعرفه الناس، وكذلك الأئمة يعرفونهم الناس وينصبونهم لهم حتى يعرفوه. ويسئل فيجيب، ويسكت عنه فيبتدئ، ويخبر الناس بما في غد، ويكلم الناس بكل لسان 

وقال لي: يا با محمد، الساعة قبل أن تقوم أعطيك علامة تطمئن إليها 

فوالله ما لبثت أن دخل علينا رجل من أهل خراسان، فتكلم الخراساني بالعربية فأجابه هو بالفارسية، فقال له الخراساني: أصلحك الله، ما منعني أن أكلمك بكلامي إلا أني ظننت أنك لا تحسن

فقال: سبحان الله، إذا كنت لا أحسن أجيبك، فما فضلي عليك؟! ثم قال: يا با محمد، إن الامام لا يخفى عليه كلام أحد من الناس، ولا طير ولا بهيمة ولا شئ فيه روح، بهذا يعرف الامام فإن لم تكن فيه هذه الخصال فليس هو بإمام

Narrated from Abu Basir who said, I came to Abu al-Hasan Imam Musa Kazim (عليه السلام) and said to him, "May I be sacrificed for You, by what is the Imam known?"

The Imam (عليه السلام) said, "By certain qualities. The first of them is something that His Father would have said regarding Him, and the people recognized Him and appointed Him for them as a sign, so that He would be a proof upon them. Because the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله) appointed Ali (عليه السلام) as a sign and the people recognized Him, and so likewise the Imams, the people known Them, and they are appointed for them until they know the Imam.

And when the Imam is asked, He answers, and if the person is silent, the Imam would initiate speaking.

And the Imam informs the people of what would happen tomorrow, and He speaks to the people in every language."

Then the Imam (عليه السلام) said to me, "O Abu Muhammad, right now before you stand up, I will give you a sign that you will be at satisfied with."

By Allah, it was not long before, that a man from Khurasan entered upon us, and the Khurasani spoke to him in Arabic, and the Imam answered him in Persian.

The Khurasani said to the Imam, "Nothing prevented me from speaking to You in my own language except that I thought You would not be proficient in it."

The Imam (عليه السلام) said, "Praise be to Allah (Subhan-Allah), if I did not know how to answer you (in your language), then what is My superiority over you?!

Then the Imam (عليه السلام) said, "O Abu Muhammad, no peoples speech/language is unknow to the Imam, nor of the bird nor of an animal nor of anything that has a soul. By this the Imam is known. If these qualities are not in him, then he is not an Imam."

[Source: Qurb al-Isnad, Hadith. 1244, Pg. 239]

(Similar hadith with a bit of difference found in al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Pg. 285)

Hadith 9:

Narrated that Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) said,

إن الله لا يجعل حجة في أرضه يسأل عن شئ فيقول لا أدري

"Indeed Allah does not make those as his Proof (Hujjah) on His earth who if questioned about anything would say, I don't know."

(Only part of a narration quoted here)

[Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Pg. 227]