the oath of allegiance and they gave them the oath of allegiance. They never placed one over the other. If one was in accordance with knowledge and soundness, then it would have been permissible to erect 1300 in general. They did not recognize the Imamate of Umar bin „Abdal-Azīz or others.

Third: It is obligatory for people to obey him in their affairs as well as follow him and help him. If it was obligatory on the People of the House to obey and follow other than them, then it will be obligatory to follow them in that which would be contradictory.

Fourth: According to this hadīth, the Hadīth of the Ark, and Verse of Purification, they are on the truth and verily, the truth is with them. Allah says: {So, is he who guides to the truth more worthy to be followed or he who guides not until only after he is guided?} (Q. 10:35).

Now, these proofs that we included demonstrate that the People of the House and those that follow them are the saved sect. Then after examining this, the reader of our book is able to judge using the intellect and reflection. This is permissible.

Does this then justify that this blessed offspring that are extracted from pure men and women, as designated by the Qur‟ān, counters error and are to be followed? The offspring of the enemies of the Messenger of Allah became Muslims in groups. The enemies of the People of the House were either among their followers; or followed suit and were among the people of the truth.

Allah, the Exalted, says: {Let man consider from what we created him. He is created from a liquid sperm drop; proceeding from the spine and the ribs} (Q. 86:5-7). This verse indicates that man was created from a liquid from the water of the spine of men and ribs of women. Then, the People of the House, upon him be peace, come from the spine of „Ali and the ribs of Fātima. Fātima comes from the spine of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, and the ribs of Khadīja. Therefore, the People of the House are from Muhammad, „Ali, Fātima, and Khadīja, upon him be peace.

What is your opinion on those who branches away from such a source? Is it intellectually possible for them to be in error and ignorant as well as those that follow them in guidance? They are the strongest of men in enmity to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, by the consensus of the Muslims.

Consequently, Allah legitimizes the prayer upon them [the family of the Prophet] by consensus of the Muslims through ennobling the acts of worship in the five prayers, as well as the other prayers, in the testimony of faith (tashahhud)18. Allah makes this a great honour. It is a great source of distraction for the people of perversion and error. But I swear by Allah, it is nothing but a firm proof to those with sound intellect.

Further evidence indicates that to them, the Imamate was based on the unanimity of the Companions. The Helpers (al-Ansār) and the Emigrants (al-Muhājirun) gathered at Saqīfa, and a group of them desired to place Sa‟d bin Ubāda in charge. The Emigrants later claimed the right of authority belonged to them because they were the tree of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny. The Helpers succumbed to this argument; however, Sa‟d didn‟t. He said that this applies to the Banu Hāshim. He died shortly afterwards and was eliminated from the caliphate.

The Helpers were close and the Emigrants were close. However, if it was viewed that the

18 This refers to the statement in the testimony of faith where the person says “O Allah, send your prayers on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad like your prayer on Abraham and the family of Abraham.”