constitute some of the gravest forms of unbelief. This continued to intensify until its true nature became manifest among the Qarmatians, the Bātiniyyah (esotericists), and similar heretics, and until outright polytheism appeared through the worship of others besides Allah Most High.

Some of these misleading innovations came to taint many who, for the most part, professed adherence to the way of the people of the Sunnah and the community. This was due to the prominence of their adherents and the spread of these innovations, for among those adherents and within those movements were people who championed these doctrines through arguments and disputation, the sword and warfare. Many such events have occurred in Islamic history; some are known to anyone acquainted with the recorded events of the Islamic era.

Imam Ahmad mentioned that Jahm resorted to a doctrine resembling that of the Christian heretics. Those heretics affirm indwelling specifically in Christ, whereas the Jahmiyyah affirm unrestricted, universal indwelling—namely, that He is in every