Hadith 1:

أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد ابن عيسى، عن الحسين بن سعيد، عن فضالة بن أيوب، عن أبان بن عثمان، عن محمد بن مسلم قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: إن لله عز وجل خلقا من رحمته خلقهم من نوره ورحمته من رحمته لرحمته فهم عين الله الناظرة، وأذنه السامعة ولسانه الناطق في خلقه بإذنه، وأمناؤه على ما أنزل من عذر أو نذر أو حجة، فبهم يمحو السيئات، وبهم يدفع الضيم، وبهم ينزل الرحمة، وبهم يحيي ميتا، وبهم يميت حيا، وبهم يبتلي خلقه، وبهم يقضي في خلقه قضيته، قلت: جعلت فداك من هؤلاء؟ قال: الأوصياء.

Narrated through a chain of trustworthy narrators that Abu Abd-Allah Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) said,

"Indeed Allah (عز وجل) created certain creations from His light (noor), and a mercy from His mercy for the sake of His Mercy. So they are the eye of Allah that sees, and His ear that hears, and His tongue that speaks to His creation by His permission, and His gaurdians over what He has revealed of justifications, warnings and proofs. And through them He wards off grievances, and through them He sends down mercy, and through them He enlivens the dead, and gives death to the living. And through them He afflicts His creation (with tribulations & tests), and through them He executes His decisions amoungst His creation."

I (the narrtor) asked, "May I be your ransom - Who are these?"

He (as) replied, "The Trustees/Gaurdians" (al-Awsiyah).

[Source: al-Tawheed by Sheikh Sadooq, Pg 167, H 24]

Hadith 2:

حدثنا محمد بن عبد الجبار عن البرقي عن فضالة بن أيوب عن عبد الله بن أبي يعفور قال:

قال لي أبو عبد الله عليه السلام يا ابن أبي يعفور ان الله تبارك وتعالى واحد متوحد بالوحدانية متفرد بأمره فخلق خلقا ففردهم لذلك الأمر فنحن هم يا بن أب يعفور فنحن حجج الله في عباده وشهداؤه في خلقه وامنائه وخزانه على علمه والداعون إلى سبيله و القائمون بذلك فمن أطاعنا فقد أطاع الله

Narrated to us Muhammad bin Abdul-Jabbar, from Al-Baraqi, from Fazalat bin Ayub, from Abdullah bin Abi Yafoor who said, Abu Abdillah (as) said to me:

"O son of Abi Yafoor, Verily Allah, blessed and high is One and is Alone in his Oneness, unique/individual in His Amr (orders). He created the creation and then made them solely for that Amr (orders) and We are those, O son of Abi Yafoor. And we are the Proofs of Allah (swt) in his servents and His witness in his creations and His Trustees and His treasury over His knowledge and the callers towards His path and those who establish with it (his Amr). Who obeys Us, then he has obeyed Allah (swt)."

[Source: Basaair Al-Darajaat, Vol. 2, Chapter. 3, Hadees. 4]

All narrators are trustworthy, Hadees is Saheeh(Authentic)

Hadith 3: Allah (swt) choose AhlulBait (as) for Himself

حدثنا عباد بن سليمان عن ابيه قال قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام ان الله تبارك و تعالى انتجبنا لنفسه فجعلنا صفوته من خلقه وامناؤه على وحيه وخزانة في ارضه وموضع سره وعيبة علمه ثم اعطانا الشفاعة فنحن اذنه السامعة وعينه الناظرة ولسانه الناطق باذنه وامناؤه على ما نزل من عذر ونذر وحجة

Narrated Abbad bin Sulayman, from his father who said;

Abu Abdillah Imam Sadiq (as) said, "Surely Allah (swt) chose Us for himself and made us the elite ones (best) from His creation and His trustees upon his reveleations (Wahi) and treasure in his earth and place (location) of His secrets and the keepers of His knowledge. Then he gave us Al-Shifa'at (intercession). We are His ears that hear and His eyes that see and His speaking tongue by his permission. And His trustees upon what has been revealed from reasons, warnings and proofs."

[Source: Basaair Al-Darajaat, Vol. 2, Chapter. 3, Hadees. 7]

Hadith 4: The Charge of all matters of the creation given to AhlulBait (as)

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَجَّالِ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولَانِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَوَّضَ إِلَى نَبِيِّهِ ص أَمْرَ خَلْقِهِ لِيَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ طَاعَتُهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَ ما نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hajjal from Tha‘laba from Zurara who has said the following.

"I heard abu Ja‘far and abu ‘Abd Allah (as) say, ‘Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has made the Holy Prophet in charge of the affairs of His creatures to see how their obedience is. He then recited this verse of Holy Quran, "... what the Messenger (of Allah) you, you must take (obey) and what he prohibits you, you must desist from ..." (59:7)

[Source: Al Kaafi Vol.1 Pg.266]

Note: Authentic Hadees as per the Sanad analysis. See Miraat-Al-Uqool - Allama Majlisi - Vol.3 Pg.150]

Hadith 5:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَدَّبَ نَبِيَّهُ ص فَلَمَّا انْتَهَى بِهِ إِلَى مَا أَرَادَ قَالَ لَهُ إِنَّكَ لَعَلى‏ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ (القلم:4) فَفَوَّضَ إِلَيْهِ دِينَهُ فَقَالَ وَ ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَ ما نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا (الحشر:7) وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَرَضَ الْفَرَائِضَ وَ لَمْ يَقْسِمْ لِلْجَدِّ شَيْئاً وَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص أَطْعَمَهُ السُّدُسَ فَأَجَازَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ هذا عَطاؤُنا فَامْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِساب‏

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar from abu ‘Abd Allah (as) who has said the following.

"Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, disciplined and educated His Prophet to the level that He wanted and said, ‘O Muhammad, you certainly possess a great degree of moral discipline and education.’ (64:4). Then He made him the in charge of His religion and said, ". . . what the Messenger (of Allah) would bring you, you must take (obey) and what he would prohibit you, you must desist from. . ." (59:7) Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, declared the laws of inheritance and did not assign any part for the grandfather. The Messenger of Allah assigned one sixth for him. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, granted permission in the matter in His words as follows. "This is our gift to you; you may grant it others or keep it without being held responsible (38:39)"

[Source: Al Kaafi Vol.1 Pg.267]

Note: Authentic Hadees as per the Sanad analysis. See Miraat-Al-Uqool - Allama Majlisi - Vol.3 Pg.153]

Hadith 6:

الحسين بن محمد الأشعري، عن معلى بن محمد، عن أبي الفضل عبد الله بن إدريس، عن محمد بن سنان قال: كنت عند أبي جعفر الثاني عليه السلام فأجريت اختلاف الشيعة، فقال: يا محمد إن الله تبارك وتعالى لم يزل متفردا بوحدانيته ثم خلق محمدا وعليا وفاطمة، فمكثوا ألف دهر، ثم خلق جميع الأشياء، فأشهدهم خلقها وأجرى طاعتهم عليها وفوض أمورها إليهم، فهم يحلون ما يشاؤون ويحرمون ما يشاؤون ولن يشاؤوا إلا أن يشاء الله تبارك وتعالى، ثم قال: يا محمد هذه الديانة التي من تقدمها مرق ومن تخلف عنها محق، ومن لزمها لحق، 

خذها إليك يا محمد

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Asha'ari has narrated from Mu'alla ibn Muhammad from abu al-Fadl Abd Allah ibn Idris from Muhammad ibn Sinan who has said the following:

"Once I was in the presence of Abu Jafar the second Imam Mohammad Taqi (asws) and I mentioned the differences among the Shia."

The Imam said, "O Muhammad, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is One and eternal. He created Muhammad (saww), Ali (as) and Fatimah (sa). They were there for a thousand Dahr (one Dahr equals the amount of time from beginning to present of earth’s existence). Then He created all other things. He made them witness the creation of all other things. He made obedience to them obligatory and gave them control of the affairs of the creation. They can, thus, make lawful whatever they wish and unlawful whatever they wish and they never wish anything unless Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, wishes."

The Imam (as) then said, "O Muhammad (the narrator), this is a religion that any one who goes ahead of it will deviate and the one who falls behind it will be destroyed. Those holding to it properly will have proper contact. Keep it with you, O Muhammad (the narrator)."

[Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Pg. 441]

Now since we get all blessings through the AhlulBait (as) and all the matters (Amr) of the creations are under their control  it would obviously not be wrong to call upon them for our wishes.  Read here for more on calling upon the Imam's (as).

Hadith 7: The nine things given to Imam Ali (as)

أَبِي رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ زَكَرِيَّا عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ نُعَيْمٍ عَنْ يَزْدَادَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ‏ عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‏ وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَعْطَانِي اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى تِسْعَةَ أَشْيَاءَ لَمْ يُعْطِهَا أَحَداً قَبْلِي خَلَا النَّبِيَّ ص لَقَدْ فُتِحَتْ لِي السُّبُلُ وَ عُلِّمْتُ الْأَنْسَابَ وَ أَجْرَى لِي‏ السَّحَابَ وَ عُلِّمْتُ الْمَنَايَا وَ الْبَلَايَا وَ فَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ وَ لَقَدْ نَظَرْتُ فِي الْمَلَكُوتِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّي فَمَا غَابَ عَنِّي مَا كَانَ قَبْلِي وَ مَا يَأْتِي بَعْدِي وَ إِنَّ بِوَلَايَتِي أَكْمَلَ اللَّهُ لِهَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ دِينَهُمْ وَ أَتَمَّ عَلَيْهِمُ النِّعَمَ وَ رَضِيَ إِسْلَامَهُمْ إِذْ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ الْوَلَايَةِ لِمُحَمَّدٍ ص يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنِّي أَكْمَلْتُ لَهُمُ الْيَوْمَ دِينَهُمْ وَ رَضِيتُ لَهُمُ‏ الْإِسْلامَ دِيناً وَ أَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ نِعْمَتِي كُلُّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ مَنِّ اللَّهِ عَلَيَّ فَلَهُ الْحَمْد

Imam Sadiq (as) said that Ameerul Momineen Ali b. Abi Talib (as) said, "I swear by Allah (swt) that Allah (swt) has granted me nine things which He has not granted to anyone before me other than the Prophet (saww):

1) The paths are opened for me.

2) I have been taught the relations/races. 

3) the clouds are set adrift for me.

4) I know about the deaths and the calamities,

5) (I have been granted) decisive speech,

6) And certainly I gaze at the universe with Allah’s Permission, And is not hidden from me what was before Me and what is after me.

7) And through my authority (Wilayat) Allah has perfected the religion of this nation

8) And perfected His Blessings upon them

9) And is satisfied with their religion

As He said on the Day of Wilayat (Ghadeer), ‘O Muhammad! Inform them that today I have perfected their religion and am satisfied with them with Islam as their religion., I have completed my Blessings for them. 

All this is from the blessings of Allah (swt) upon Me and all praise is for Him.

[Source: al-Khisal, Sheikh Sadooq, Vol. 2, Chapter. 9, Hadees. 4]

Hadith 8:

عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن الحسين بن سعيد، عن محمد بن الحسين بن صغير، عمن حدثه، عن ربعي بن عبد الله، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: أبى الله أن يجري الأشياء إلا بأسباب، فجعل لكل شئ سببا وجعل لكل سبب شرحا وجعل لكل شرح علما، وجعل لكل علم بابا ناطقا، عرفه من عرفه، وجهله من جهله، ذاك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله ونحن

Abu Abdillah Imam Sadiq (as) said, "Allah (swt) has insisted/willed that nothing will happen/occur except due to a cause/reason, so for everything He has made a cause and made for every cause an explanation and made for every explanation a knowledge and made for every knowledge a speaking door. So whoever recognizes it (i.e. the speaking door) has recognized it and whoever remains ignorant of it, is ignorant of it. That (speaking door) is the Prophet (saww) and Us (as)."

[Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Pg. 183, Hadith. 7]

Hadith 9:

أَخْبَرَنَا الشَّيْخُ الْمُفِيدُ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الطُّوسِيُّ فِي الْمَوْضِعِ وَ التَّارِيخِ الْمُقَدَّمِ ذِكْرُهُمَا قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا السَّعِيدُ الْوَالِدُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الطُّوسِيُّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا الشَّيْخُ الْمُفِيدُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ الْحَارِثِيُّ (رحمه الله) قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْجِعَابِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُثَنَّى الْأَزْدِيِّ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ(ع)يَقُولُ‏: نَحْنُ السَّبَبُ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏

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

"We are the means (sabab) between you and Allah (عز وجل)."

[Source: Basharatul Mustufa, Pg. 91]