Furthermore, people’s preservation (1) of the revealed law, their acquisition of a deep understanding of religion, and their exertion in learning the religion and acting [upon it] (2) decrease (3) with the existence of an infallible imam, and these wise purposes and benefits [would therefore be lost] (4).

Furthermore, making someone other than a prophet equal to a prophet in this respect may be one of the greatest causes of confusion and grounds for impugning what uniquely distinguishes a prophet. For if it were obligatory (5) to believe everything this infallible imam says (6), just as it is obligatory to believe everything a prophet says (7), the distinctive quality of prophethood would no longer be evident. Allah has commanded us to believe everything brought by the prophets. Thus, if we had someone equal to them in infallibility, it would be obligatory (8) to believe everything he says, and the distinction would be nullified (9).

The Sixth Argument:

It may be said: Is the infallible person whose existence is deemed necessary able (10) to secure benefits and eliminate harms, or is he incapable of doing so (11)? The second alternative is inadmissible, for one who is incapable can neither bring about benefit nor ward off harm. Rather, ability is a prerequisite for that, since infallibility provides (12) a motive toward