Allah says: {Say: “Can those who know and those who do not know be considered equal?”} (Q. 39:9). We do not find anyone like this offspring from the offspring of the Helpers, Emigrants, Abu Bakr, „Amr, „Umar, „Ammār, Abu Dharr, Anas, Sa‟d bin Ubāda, or anyone else.
Regarding this offspring: their houses [i.e. families] and children have remained in the world to our time (1415 A.H.). They have had the upper hand and a vast amount of literature. They are better than others at recalling in their books the different schools, its proofs, the replies to their school, and their proofs. They provide their students with the freedom of debate and variety of opinions (al-astashkārāt). They promoted the good qualities of asceticism (az-zuhd), scrupulousness (al-wara’), fasting, prayer (al-qiyām), al-Hajj, al-Umra; concern for the poor, orphans, widows; as well as the avoidance of the prohibited (al-harām) and perfect piety.
We find among them the apparent performance of miracles (al-karāmāt) but not like the miracles (mu’jizāt) that are reserved for a prophet. Among them [we find] the Star of the Family of the Messenger, al-Qāsim bin Ibrāhīm20, the Caller of Allah, concerning causing dates to fall from a roof for a hungry person; anointing the eyes of the blind, making supplication for him, and the blind person immediately sees; and causing the deaf to instantly hear. Among them [we find] the occurrence of rainfall when he was in the desert and he had to make ritual ablution (wudu). There was a drought so he turned to the right and left, as well as in front of him and behind him. He made supplication, made ablution, and purified himself while in the desert. The rainfall was abundant and it never lessened.
Among them [we find] a cripple man who asked him [i.e. Imam al-Qāsim] for supplication. He said to him “Stand, by the permission of Allah!” Then the man stood up in front of the spectators. Another example is the beautiful scent that exudes from some of their graves. There‟s no fragrance like it amongst the colognes and perfumes! It continues [to smell] even nowadays and the fragrance can even be smelled from far way places on specific days!
Among them [we find] that light frequently shines from their graves on the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr), as well as Friday and Monday nights outside of the month of Ramadan. Many of their supplications were instantly answered, as well as their Shiites and followers. May Allah be pleased with them and increase them in good!
It is known from their people and the examination of their historians that they are the people of truth (ahl al-Haqq). If not, then only the book was sent and not the Sunnah.
Now, if our refutation is odd, very confusing, the following of whims, or astray, then we should not busy ourselves with the lesson [learnt] or taught for the rest of our lives. Consequently, I do not wish to gain advantage except through eradicating ignorance and the wrath of Allah. They [i.e. ignorance and Allah‟s wrath] are only avoided through study. Ignorance existed with us before our study and the path to the fire is not averted except through study.
II. Infallibility of the Imams
We now return to where we were and that is the differences between us and the Imamites and what we differ on. They require infallible imams, but we do not require that. Our requirements are simply the following: justice, masculinity, knowledge, piety, effective governance, courage, and generosity. Our
20 He is Imam ar-Rassi al-Qāsim bin Ibrāhīm (d. 860); he is a jurist, theologian, and one of the pillars of the Zaydi school.
