Moreover, when a woman’s guardian is absent from her (1), the judge—or a guardian who is present—gives her in marriage, lest her interests be lost because her known and existing guardian is absent. How, then, can the interests of the Muslim community (2) be neglected throughout this lengthy period on account of this missing Imam?

[The First Chapter of Minhāj al-Karāmah: A General Overview of the Imāmī and Sunni Positions on the Imamate]

(Chapter)

The Rāfidī author (3) said:

(The First Chapter: (Presenting the Doctrinal Positions on This Question):

The Imāmiyyah maintain that Allah (4) is just and wise; He neither does anything evil nor neglects any obligation; His acts occur only for a [sound] purpose (5) and wisdom; He commits neither injustice nor futility; and He is compassionate (6) toward His servants, doing what is best and most beneficial for them. They further maintain that He—Exalted is He—charged them with religious duties while granting them free choice [rather than compelling them] (7); and that He promised them reward and threatened them with punishment through His infallible prophets and messengers, for whom (8) neither error, [nor] forgetfulness (9), nor sins are possible,