his existence, regarding his commands. For no one for whom infallibility is claimed ever openly assumed authority over the people except Alī.

We know with certainty that among his subjects in Yemen, Khurāsān, and elsewhere were people who did not know what he had commanded or prohibited. Indeed, his deputies acted in ways of which he himself was unaware.

As for the heirs who inherited the knowledge of Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—they know his commands and prohibitions and are truthful in what they report from him, to a degree surpassing Alī’s deputies in their knowledge of his commands and prohibitions and in the truthfulness of their reports from him. Yet all they mean is that there must be a living, infallible imam.

We therefore say: This claim is false in several respects.

First: No imam fitting this description has existed with these attributes. In our time, no recognized imam is known of whom (1) this is claimed, nor does any such imam claim it for himself. Rather, according to his followers, he is missing and absent; in the judgment of rational people, he is nonexistent and has no reality. Such a person cannot fulfill any of the objectives of the imamate whatsoever. Rather, one who governs the people—even if he is to some extent ignorant and unjust—is more beneficial to them than one who does not benefit them in any way.

Those who affiliate themselves with the infallible imam are never found seeking assistance in their affairs except from someone other than him. Rather, while they affiliate themselves with the infallible one, the only aid they seek is from an utter unbeliever or a gross oppressor. Thus, if no one who believes in this Awaited Infallible One has benefited from him