it has now become clear to you how we have advanced from this dark trough and how we have repelled what was difficult for all the masses of the observers regarding the determination of the amount in the number of the people of the good if we did not specify a number for him but rather we were satisfied with one person who is pledged allegiance to and we ruled that the imamate was established upon his pledge of allegiance not because he is unique in his eyes but because the souls are carried to follow and pledge allegiance to the one who he submits to his obedience and in his following the strength and power of the imam is established and the hearts of the creation are turned to one person or two persons or three according to what the situation requires in every age it is not a matter of choice that can be reached by human trickery but rather it is a divine provision that god gives to whomever he wills. so on the surface we have attributed the appointment of the imamate to the choice of one person but in reality we have attributed it to the choice and appointment of god almighty. however gods choice appears after the following of one person or persons. rather what corrects the contract of imamate is the turning of the hearts of creation to obey him and submit to him in his commands and prohibitions. this is a blessing and a gift from god almighty. so if he makes it available to one of his servants and directs the faces of most of his creation to his love this was a kindness from god almighty in choosing him for his succession and appointing him to follow his orders in checking on his servants and this is something that not all people are able to contrive to obtain.
وقد لاح لك الآن كيف ترقينا من هذه المغاصة المظلمة وكيف دفعنا ما أشكل على جميع جماهير النظار من تعيين المقدار في عدد أهل الأخيار إذا لم نعين له عددا بل اكتفينا بشخص واحد يبايع وحكمنا بانعقاد الإمامه عند بيعته لا لتفرده في عينه ولكن لكون النفوس محموله على متابعة ومبايعة من أذعن هو لطاعته وكان في متابعته قيام قوة الإمام وشوكته وانصراف قلوب الخلائق إلى شخص واحد أو شخصين أو ثلاثة على ما تقتضيه الحال في كل عصر ليس أمرا اختيارا يتوصل إليه بالحيلة البشرية بل هو رزق إلهي يؤتيه الله من يشاء فكانا في الظاهر رددنا تعيين الامامة إلى اختيار شخص واحد وفي الحقيقة رددناها إلى اختيار الله تعالى ونصبه إلا أنه يظهر اختيار الله عقيب متابعة شخص واحد أو أشخاص وإنما المصحح لعقد الإمامة انصراف قلوب الخلق لطاعته والانقياد له في امره ونهيه وهذه نعمة وهدية من الله تعالى فاذا أتاحها لعبد من عباده وصرف إلى محبته وجوه اكثر خلقه وكان ذلك من الله تعالى لطفا في اختياره لخلافته وتعيينه للاقتداء بأوامره في تفقد عباده وذلك أمر لا يقدر كل البشر على الاحتيال لتحصيله