—and thus He did not command us, when disagreement arises, to refer the matter to anyone other than Allah and the Messenger (1). Whoever affirms that a person other than the Messenger is infallible thereby requires that whatever people dispute about (2) be referred to that person; for, in his view, such a person speaks nothing but the truth, just as the Messenger does. This contradicts the Quran.

Moreover, an infallible person must be obeyed absolutely and without qualification, and anyone who opposes him becomes liable to the threatened punishment. Yet the Quran establishes this exclusively with respect to the Messenger. Allah Most High says:

“Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger will be with those whom Allah has blessed: the prophets, the people of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous. What excellent companions they are!”

[Surah al-Nisā’: 69]

And He says:

“Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger will have the Fire of Hell, where they will remain forever.”

[Surah al-Jinn: 23]

Thus, the Quran demonstrates in more than one place that whoever obeys the Messenger is among the blessed, without making obedience to any other infallible person a condition for this.

Whoever disobeys the Messenger is among those threatened with punishment, even if we suppose that he obeys someone whom he believes to be infallible. The Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—is the one through whom Allah distinguished the people of Paradise from the people of Hell, the righteous from the wicked, truth from falsehood, error from right guidance, and guidance from misguidance. Allah made him the dividing criterion by which He separated His servants into the wretched and the blessed. Whoever follows him is blessed, and whoever opposes him is wretched. This rank belongs to no one else.

For this reason, the scholars—the adherents of the Book and the Sunnah—agree that every person