[Surah Fātir: 24]

“He also recited (1):

“‘A warner from among the former warners.’

[Surah al-Najm: 56]

“He said, ‘A prophet from among the prophets.’”

“Bashshār (2) narrated to us; Abu Āsim narrated to us; Sufyān (3) narrated to us, from Layth, from Mujāhid, who said:

“‘The warner’ (4) is Muhammad (5), and ‘every people has a guide’—he said: ‘A prophet.’”

And His words:

“On the Day We will summon every people with their leader.”

[Surah al-Isrā: 71]

For the leader [is] (6) the one whom others follow—that is, take as an example.

It has also been said that “the guide” refers to Allah, who guides them, but the first interpretation is more correct.

As for interpreting “the guide” as Ali, that is false, because He said:

“And every people has a guide.”

This entails that the guide of one people differs from the guide of another, and so the guides are numerous. How, then, could Ali be regarded as the guide (7) of every people among the earlier and later generations?!

Seventh:

A person may be followed for guidance without being appointed their ruler, just as people may be guided by a scholar. Similarly, it is stated in the hadith containing the words:

“My Companions are like the stars; whichever of them you follow, you will be guided.” (8)

Yet this does not explicitly establish the imamate (9), as this fabricator has alleged.