 group of them were unable to adhere to the method of reason because it contradicted their approach in invalidating reason and requiring following so they turned to the method of the imamis whereby they proved the imamate of ali may god be pleased with him by the text and they claimed that it was widespread in his family. these people hoped to adhere to the text while their doctrine contradicted the doctrine of the imamis so they claimed that he peace be upon him designated ali and ali designated his son until he reached the one who is now assuming the imamate by being it was stated by those who came before him and this is not possible for this group as they are between clinging to individual reports that do not give knowledge and do not provide certainty and peace of mind but rather it is possible that they deliberately lied at times and made a mistake at other times.
وقد عجزت طائفة منهم عن التمسك بطريق النظر لمناقضة ذلك مسلكهم في إبطال نظر العقل وإيجاب الإتباع فعدلوا الى منهج الإمامية بحيث استدلوا على إمامة علي رضي الله عنه بالنص وزعموا أنها مطردة في عترته فطمع هؤلاء في التمسك بالنص مع مخالفة مذهبهم مذهب الإمامية فزعموا انه عليه السلام نص على علي ونص علي على ولده حتى انتهى الى الذي هو الان متصد للإمامة بكونه منصوصا عليه ممن كان قبله وهذا غير ممكن لهذه الفرقة فإنهم بين التعلق فيه بأخبار آحاد لا تورث العلم ولا تفيد اليقين وثلج الصدر بل يحتمل فيه تعمد الكذب تارة والغلط فيه اخرى