Moreover, the manner of intellectuals in affairs that belong to Allah is based on His command, even though it does not rely on His command in affairs that concern themselves. Therefore, their manner in their own affairs, such as construction and medicine, is not a basis for their manner in affairs that belong to Allah, such as practicing religion, and it is clear that Allah’s command in affairs that belong to Him is certainty, which cannot be attained through imitating mujtahids. As a result, the consultation of intellectuals with a builder or a doctor does not necessitate their consultation with a mujtahid in religion, and the analogy between the two is a false analogy.

[The Impossibility of Scholars’ Ijtihad Based on Their Imitation]

Moreover, they reproach a Muslim who has abandoned imitating their scholars and has referred to more authentic sources of Islam, questioning that with the permission of which marja‘ he has abandoned imitation in Islam and has turned to ijtihad in it; because, according to their supposition, a mujtahid is permitted to practice ijtihad only when another mujtahid issues a fatwa permitting his ijtihad. However, this is also a false infinite regress and a clear fallacy; because imitating such a person will depend on imitating someone who has issued a fatwa permitting imitation of him, while imitating that person will also depend on imitating someone who has issued a fatwa permitting imitation of him, and so on, which is neither limited nor practical.

[The Impossibility of Absolute Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist]

Moreover, a group of them in countries such as Iran exaggerate regarding their scholars, considering them as appointees of Allah and guardians like the Prophet, and they obey them as they obey Allah and the Prophet; just like the Jews, about whom Allah Almighty has said: ﴿اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ﴾[1]; “They took their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah”; given that they certainly did not perform prayer or fast for their scholars, but rather obeyed them instead of Allah, and this was a form of polytheism that was concealed from them. However, it is certain that Muslim scholars, no matter how righteous, are not infallible in what they say and do, and this is something they themselves acknowledge. Therefore, they cannot be appointees of Allah or guardians like the Prophet;