in His Essence. Imām Ismāʿīl believed that Allah descends in His Essence. This was well known as his position: he recorded it in several fatwas and dictated numerous discourses on it. Nevertheless, he used to say: ‘This chain of transmission reported by Nuʿaym is flawed and subject to criticism, and some of its narrators are open to objection. It cannot serve as proof. Although we believe this, it may not be attributed to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, unless it is transmitted through an authentic chain.’”