That being so, it is impossible for the purification sought (1) for the four to entail the infallibility that, according to them (2), is exclusive to the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—and the Imam. Accordingly, this cannot constitute a supplication by the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—for anyone (3) to be granted this (4) infallibility, whether Ali (5) or anyone else. For he prayed that four people together be purified, without singling out (6) any one of them with a particular supplication.

Moreover, according to the Qadarite doctrine, it is impossible to pray that someone be preserved from sins—or even that someone be purified. For voluntary acts—namely, performing obligations (7) and refraining from prohibitions—do not, according to them, lie within the Lord’s power. Nor can He (8) make a servant obedient or disobedient, purified from sins or not purified. According to their doctrine, therefore, it is impossible to pray that Allah make anyone perform the obligations and refrain from the prohibitions. The only thing within His power, according to them, is to grant a capacity equally suited to good and evil, like a sword that can be used to kill either a Muslim or an unbeliever, or wealth that can be spent in either obedience or disobedience. The servant then freely chooses to do either good or evil by means of that capacity.

This principle invalidates their argument, while the hadith is itself evidence against them and invalidates this principle, since the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—prayed that they (9) be purified.

If they say, “What is meant by this is that He forgives them and does not take them to task,”