[Section: The Rāfidī says, “Fourth: Their actions”]

Section

The Rāfidī said (1):

“Fourth: their actions (2), most of which have already been discussed.”

We reply:

These have already been answered, both generally and in detail. Setting out the answer (3) to the criticisms directed against them is easier than answering those directed against ‘Alī. No one possessing knowledge and fairness can impugn their integrity while vindicating ‘Alī. Rather, whenever he vindicates ‘Alī, they are even more deserving of vindication; and if he impugns their integrity, his criticism applies with even greater force to ‘Alī.

If the Rāfidah consistently follow their own argument, they must impugn ‘Alī more severely than the three. If they do not follow it consistently, its invalidity and inconsistency become evident—which is indeed the correct conclusion.

The same consequence follows for Jews and Christians when they challenge Muhammad’s prophethood but not that of Moses and Jesus. No objection raised by a Jew or Christian against Muhammad’s prophethood fails to apply with even greater force to the prophethood of Moses and Jesus. Likewise, no objection raised by the Rāfidī against the leadership of the three fails to apply with even greater force to ‘Alī’s leadership. Whatever objection (4) the philosopher raises against the adherents of religions, an even greater objection applies to him. Thus, anyone who is further from the truth than another faces greater objections than those faced by someone closer to the truth (5).