\n To proceed...

\n To proceed, my brother, I have understood the concerns you have raised regarding the common acquiescence of the people of our age in ignorance ; their mutual support and striving to invigorate its pathways; in contrast to their abandoning of true knowledge and its adherents. Consequently, knowledge has almost completely been encompassed (by ignorance) and its fundamental constituents ripped apart.

This because the multitude of people have contented themselves on reliance upon unawareness and have neglected true knowledge and its devotees.

\n You asked: Is it appropriate for people to establish their lives upon ignorance and to follow a particular belief on the basis of unenlightenment; since one enters into a religious faith by confirming to carry out in the best possible way the totality of its teachings, to live by them and to follow the example of its forbears, its pious predecessors and its eminent personalities. In addition to supporting oneself on their (the infallible Imams) understanding in all matters great and small.

\n My brother, Allah have mercy on you, understand that Allah blessed and most High created His bondsmen in a form distinct from beasts in terms of reason and the ranking of intelligence between them, bestowing them with the capacity to comprehend injunctions and prohibitions. He, magnified be His mention, categorised them into two groups. The first were the people of well-being and security, and the second, the company of affliction and harm.

The former He distinguished by assigning to them commands and prohibitions after having perfected for them the tool of legal responsibility (takleef). \n From the company of affliction and harm(i.e the animal kingdom) he lifted this legal responsibility, since He created them without having the capacity to assimilate courteous conduct (adaab) and knowledge.

He, Majestic and Great, made their continuation dependent on the people of well-being and security, hence the revocation of legal responsibility from them was permitted. [However, when applied to people] this permissibility results in the abrogation of the divine books, messengers and courteous conduct (adaab). Consequently, in the raising up of the divine books, messengers and courteous conduct lies the corruption of human thought, and recourse to the opinions of contemporaries (lit.