al-Tūsī,” who had served as their vizier at Alamūt and was the one who ordered that the caliph be killed and these people be placed in power. They have “designations” known among Muslims: sometimes they are called “heretics,” sometimes “Qarmatians,” sometimes “Bātiniyya (esotericists),” sometimes “Ismā‘īliyya,” sometimes “Nusayriyya,” sometimes “Khurramiyya,” and sometimes “Muhammira.” Some of these names encompass them all, while others apply only to particular groups among them, just as Islam and faith encompass all Muslims, while some Muslims have a particular designation based on ancestry, doctrine, locality, or something else.
A full explanation of their aims would be lengthy. As the scholars have said of them: “Outwardly, their doctrine is that of the Rāfidīs; inwardly, it is pure unbelief.” The truth about them is that they believe in none of the prophets and messengers: neither Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, nor Muhammad—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon them all—and in none of Allah’s revealed Books: neither the Torah, the Gospel, nor the Quran. Nor do they acknowledge that the world has a Creator who created it, that He has prescribed a religion to be followed, or that He has an abode other than this world in which He recompenses people for their deeds.