'Ali b. Ibrahim from his father and 'Abd Allah b. Salt all of them from Hammad b. 'Isa from Hurayz b. 'Abd Allah from Zurarah from Abu Ja'far, the 6^th Imam (a.s.)
He said-
Islam is founded on five things:
Prayers (salah), poor due (zakah), pilgrimage (hajj), fast (sawm) and [God given] authority (wilayah).
I said-
Which of these is most excellent?
He said-
Authority is most excellent because it is a key for them and the one in authority (meaning the Prophet or the Imam) is a guide upon them.
I said-
What follows it in excellence?
So he said-
The prayers. The Prophet has said, "the prayer is the pillar of your religion!"
I said-
What comes after it?
He said-
The poor due because Allah has mentioned it immediately after the prayer and the Prophet has said, "the poor due does away with sins".
I said-
What comes after it in excellence?
He said-
The pilgrimage. Allah the mighty the Grand has said, "pilgrimage to the House is a duty imposed on mankind by Allah, for anyone who can afford to do so. Anyone who disbelieves [will find] Allah is needless of the worlds." (ali Imran 3:97). The Prophet has said, "Indeed the proper pilgrimage is better than twenty supererogatory prayers. The one who circumambulates around this house seven times and performs properly its two unite prayers, Allah will pardon his sins" and he said of the merit of the days of 'Arafah and muzdalifah what are aware of.
I said-
And what follows it-
He said-
The fast.
I said-
Why has the fast come at the very end of them all?
He said-