The majority of classical Imami scholars—including Shaykh al-Mufid (d. 413 AH) and Shaykh al-Tusi—rejected the criticism of Yunus. Their counter-arguments are powerful:
Report 176 in Rijal al-Kashshi details an incident where Qais ibn Sa'd, under pressure to pledge allegiance to Mu'awiya, defers to Imam Hussain, who clarifies that his allegiance is to the acting Imam, Hassan. This narrative establishes the hierarchical structure of the Imams and frames the pledge as a political necessity. For more context on this historical account, visit this Reddit discussion
Report 176 is a textbook example of the concept of Ghuluww —the act of exaggerating the status of the Imams. In Shia theology, there is a rigid line between venerating the Imams as divinely appointed guides and ascribing divinity to them. Mughira bin Sa’id crossed this line. This report establishes that those who ascribe divinity to the Imams are outside the fold of Islam and their narrations are void.
