عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ اَبُو جَعْفَرٍؑ يَوْمًا وَ نَحْنُ عِنْدَهُ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنَ الشِّيعَةِ قُومُوا تَفَرَّقُوا عَنِّي مَثْنَى وَ ثُلَاثَ فَاِنِّي اَرَاكُمْ مِنْ خَلْفِي كَمَا اَرَاكُمْ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيَّ فَلْيُسِرَّ عَبْدٌ فِيْ نَفْسِهِ مَا شَاءَ فَاِنَّ اللهَ يُعَرِّفُنِيهِ
Abd a-Rahman Ibn Katheer reports that one day Imam Abu Ja’far (al-Baqer a.s.) said while we a group of Shias were with him, “Stand up, disperse from me, in twos and threes. For, I see you behind my back like I see you in front of me. So, let a person rejoice in himself whatever Allah pleases. Surely, Allah will introduce him unto me.”
References:
1. Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 25, p. 148, H. 22 باب 4- جامع في صفات الإمام و شرائط الإمامة
2. Basaaer al-Darajaat, p. 420, H. 6, Chapter 1