I still stand by those words; you have NOT proven Imamah. However, you have proven us right on two points:
1. You will continuously fail to prove Imamah (since it is not in the Qur'an).
2. Imamah leads to Hellfire (as per the verse in Surah Qasas).
Thank you
This is what you said in post #69,
"You could not prove Imamah and now you are out to go against the Qur'an in which there is a verse which was revealed when Abu Talib refused to accept Islam"
Let me highlight your words "YOU COULD NOT PROVE IMAMAH"
And here is what you said in post #80,
"However, as I always do, I am willing to concede that it "proves" Imamah"
Are you reading this Mythbuster. Muslim 720 has accepted that IT PROVES IMAMAH.
So tell me have I proved Imamah from the Qur'an or not?
"I do not give two $hits if you agree or disagree"
Yes you do. Otherwise you wouldn't be refuting me.
"The verse is cited by Shias not only to prove Imamah but also to show that it is a "promotion", something you have often alluded to as well"
It proves Imamah, something you and others have been constantly denying all along. You tell me what it is in this particular case. Is it promotion, demotion or was Abraham given a title a grade of a similar nature and level. Or was it something else. And if it was then what was it.
"Therefore, Prophethood becomes a necessary in that equation (if we accept your interpretation of the verse)"
No it doesn't. Allow me to educate you in this matter. Messengers, are all Messengers the same, are they exactly equal? Messenger hood, is that equal and the same? Prophets, are all prophets the same, are they equal? Prophecy, is that equal and the same?
The answer is NO. Just as all Messengers and Prophets aren't equal and the same neither are the Imams and Imamah. And this can be easily proven from the Qur'an. Obey and follow the Qur'an. Not your own instincts and assumptions.