that he is a descendant of Ibrāhīm ibn Adham, falsely claiming this so that he might become the custodian of his grave. As for lies about the Prophet’s family, they are too numerous to describe.
The Banū ʿUbayd—known as al-Qaddāh—claimed to be Fatimids, built Cairo, and remained kings for some two hundred years, claiming descent from ʿAlī. They gained control over half the Muslim realm, at times even taking control of Baghdad. They were as Abū Hāmid al-Ghazālī described them:
“Outwardly, their doctrine is Rāfidī Shiism; inwardly, it is pure disbelief.”
Judge Abū Bakr ibn al-Tayyib wrote his book entitled “Uncovering the Secrets and Tearing Away the Veils” to expose their true character. Numerous other Muslim scholars did likewise, including Judge Abū Yaʿlā and Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Karīm al-Shahrastānī.
All scholars know that they were not descendants of Fātimah. Rather, they were descended from Magians; it has also been said that they descended from a Jew. They were among those furthest removed from the Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—in their adherence to his Sunnah and religion. Their inward religion combines the religions of the Magians and the Sabians, while what they outwardly profess of the Muslims’ religion is Rāfidī Shiism. Thus, the best of their religious adherents are the Rāfidīs: their ignorant followers and common people, and everyone who joins them thinking himself a Muslim and believing Islam to be true.
Their elite, however—their kings and scholars—know that they stand outside all these religions: those of the Muslims, Jews, and Christians. And those closest