‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd Mu’tadhidi was at the mosque and a large...

‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd Mu’tadhidi was at the mosque and a large crowd had huddled around him asking questions. I went up and sat among them. Everyone was asking questions. I turned toward ‘Amr and said, ‘O the great scholar!

I am not from this city; may I ask you a question?’ ‘Amr said, ‘ask what you like.’ I said, ‘Do you have eyes?’ He said, ‘Don’t you see I have eyes; why do you ask?’ I said, ‘My questions are of this type.’ He said, ‘Ask though they are useless.’ ‘Do you have eyes?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘What do you do with your eyes?’ ‘I look at beautiful things, and distinguish between colors and types.’ ‘Do you have a tongue?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘What do you do with that?’ ‘With that I taste the flavor of food.’ ‘Do you have nose and the power of smelling?’ ‘Yes.’ What do you do with that?’ ‘With that I smell the odors and distinguish between pleasing and disgusting odors.’ ‘Do you have ears?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘What do you do with them?’ ‘With them I hear the sounds and distinguish between them.’ ‘Do you have heart (intelligence) besides these?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘What do you do with that?’ ‘If other parts are doubtful, heart will put an end to their hesitation.

Because it is evident that sensual perceptions are occasionally erroneous and to rectify their mistakes, I consult the court of my intelligence and heart.’ Hisham says, “As ‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd finished there, I confirmed all his remarks and said, ‘Indeed, God, the Exalted, has created the heart to lead the senses and rectify their errors. O great sage!

Does it make sense to contend that God who has not left eyes, ears and other parts without a guide, such beneficent God could have abandoned Muslims without a guide and leader after the demise of the Prophet, so that people continue to plunge into doubts and divisions and finally into destruction and annihilation?

Could it be accepted by common sense?’ Hisham says, ‘When I drew such a significant conclusion from a series of simple questions, ‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd understood that I am a Shi’ah and one of Imam as-Sadiq’s (‘a) disciples, therefore he fell silent and could not answer me and by beating around the bush he concluded the debate.’”[^1] Hisham intended to draw this conclusion from this debate that God has definitely appointed some leaders as the successors of the Prophet who will lead Muslims one after another.