and religion, such as Alī ibn al-Husayn, his son Abū Jafar, and the latter’s son Jafar ibn Muhammad. These men are to be treated in the same manner as their peers. There are many within the ummah who are like them or superior to them. Among them is also the Awaited One, who either does not exist or is missing(1) and is of no benefit [to them](2). Such following entails nothing but [pure](3) evil, without any good whatsoever.

As for the rest of them, there are groups among the Alids and Abbasids of Banū Hāshim who equal them in knowledge and religion, as well as others who are more learned and devout than they are. How, then, can one disparage the mention of the Rightly Guided Caliphs—who have no superiors in Islam—and replace it with the mention of a group to whom many Muslims are superior? There are also many people from whom Muslims have derived, in their religious and worldly affairs, benefits many times greater than what they derived from these men. Moreover, those who mention them aim to oppose all other Muslims, enlist the aid of the unbelievers and hypocrites(4) against them, extinguish the guidance and religion of truth with which Allah sent His Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—which Allah promised to make prevail over every religion, and open the door of heresy and hypocrisy to anyone wishing to corrupt the religion(5).

[The Rāfidī’s discussion of wiping the feet during ablution instead of washing them, and the response to it]

Section(6).

The Rāfidī(7) said: “Likewise, there is the wiping of the feet, which Allah Most High expressly prescribed