They are the pillars of Islam and its sanctuaries.

They are the pillars of Islam and its sanctuaries. Through them the truth is restored to its proper place and falsehood is forced to withdraw froth its position, its tongue being cut off from the root. They have understood the religion through the spirit of understanding and observance, not through audition and narration. Indeed, the narrators of knowledge are many, but few are those who observe it.

[^72] Indeed, the virtuous of my kindred and the pure ones of my lineage are the wisest of men in their childhood and the most learned of them in their grown up years. Indeed, we belong to a household whose knowledge derives from God's knowledge and whose judgements derive from the judgement of God, and we have heard the speech of the truthful one. So if you follow in our footsteps, you twill be guided by our insights, and if you do not do so, God will destroy you at our hands.

With us is the banner of the truth: whoever follows it will reach the shore safely, and whoever forsakes it will be drowned. [^73] We are the intimate ones, the companions (of the Prophet), the treasures and the doors (of Divine knowledge). Houses may not be entered except through their doors (2:189), and one who enters them from a place other than the door is called a thief . . . . The Qur'anic verses mentioning noble stations are about them (i.e.

the ), and they are the treasurers of the All-beneficent. When they speak, they speak the truth; and when they are silent, no one may get ahead of them. [^74] Where are those who falsely and insolently claimed that they are ones who are firmly rooted in knowledge' (al-rasikhuna fi al-ilm; ref. to 3:7; 4:162) and not we? Because God has raised us in station and kept them low; He has bestowed upon us and deprived them; He has allowed us entry and kept them out.

Through us, guidance is sought and blindness is turned into vision... Surely the Imams are from the Quraysh, planted in this lineage in Hashim's descent. Others are not entitled to it (Imamate), nor is anyone besides them competent to assume leadership. [^75] No one from this ummah can be compared to the Household of Muhammad, may God's benedictions be upon him and his Household, and one who benefits from their bounties can never equal them.

They are the foundation of the religion and the pillars of certainty. To them the extremist must return and with them must catch up he who lags behind.