And in his view, the seal of saints surpasses the seal of prophets in knowledge of Allah. He says that all prophets and messengers draw illumination from this seal who claims knowledge of Allah—knowledge whose true substance is the unity of existence. This amounts to denying the Creator—glory be to Him—and is the hidden meaning of Pharaoh’s statement.

The leaders of the Qarmatians and Ismāʿīlīs, such as Ibn al-Sabbāh, received the foundations of their mission from al-Mustansir, the longest-reigning of their caliphs. During his reign, the upheaval associated with al-Basāsīrī and others like him took place. As for Sinān and other heretics like him, they openly displayed unbelief among their followers and said, “We have made lawful for you whatever sexual pleasure and drink you desire, and have, for you, removed the duties of worship from you: no fasting, no prayer, no pilgrimage, and no zakat.”