does not make mistakes. Consequently, if he can make a mistake, then Allah, the Exalted has shown us an error. This is unbearable, and Allah does not do anything that is unbearable.
It is said: “If we obey the People of the House in the roots [of the religion], it‟s not permissible to unquestionably adhere to them (at-taqlīd). This is because in the branches [of the religion], every scholar of independent judgment (mujtahid) is correct.”
The reply to him is: Obedience is not unquestioned adherence. That which is derived from consensus is not the unquestioned adherence one would give the prophets, may the blessings of Allah be upon them. The same is the case with the People of the House because the evidence has shown that they are on the truth.
Indeed, it is obligatory for us to obey them whether it be in the roots or the branches because the evidence does not differentiate similar to the evidence demonstrated to obey the prophets, may the blessings of Allah be upon them. We do not acknowledge that all of the scholars of independent judgment are correct.
Now, Allah is the One that knows the secrets, the hidden, the smallest details, and what‟s hidden in the heart. If we were to know the reality of what is with the Jews and Christians or other sects, we would use it to help us and not follow the indifference of our fathers and ancestors. We will not go astray in following this school (madhhab) and there is nothing from this shattered world. We do not want to perish when it perishes. {On that Day it will not profit you in the least [to know] that, since you have sinned [together], you are now to share your suffering [as well]} (Q. 43:39). We do not delude people, stray people when they stray, and carry the burden over our neighbours. {Yet most certainly will they have to bear their own burdens, and other burdens besides their own} (Q. 29:13).
We know of the differences of the community and divisions of the sects. Each sect claims to be on the truth. It was narrated on the authority of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, [that it would happen]. All of these narrations are authentic and come from the Book of our Lord and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny. It is unanimously accepted by all of the communities that if we found witnesses from the People of the House of the Messenger who were on the truth, it would be obligatory for the community to follow them as was indicated in the previous verses and hadīths.
It is as the Exalted says: {You are indeed the best community that has ever been brought forth for [the good of] mankind: you command the good and forbid the evil} (Q. 3:110). They were made the best of the community because they commanded the good and forbade the evil. We do not find anyone like this offspring that commanded the good and forbade the evil, from the time of „Ali bin Abi Tālib to Zayd bin „Ali to our time!
Allah says: {Such of the believers as remain passive other than the disabled – cannot be considered equal to those who strive hard in Allah’s cause with their possessions and their lives: Allah has exalted those who strive hard with their possessions and their lives far above those who remain passive. Although Allah has promised the ultimate good unto all [believers]; yet, has Allah exalted those who strive hard above those who remain passive by [promising them] a mighty reward} (Q. 4:95).
We do not find anyone like this pure offspring to obey. May Allah grant them paradise! [The ones who] struggle hard in jihad and assist them even to this day, if they find them; from the first of them to the last of them, al-Mahdi, upon him be peace.
