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Know—may Allah guide you and direct you aright—that a proper understanding of these people’s doctrine reveals its falsity without requiring any further proof. Confusion arises only because most people do not understand the true nature of what they assert and intend, owing to their use of vague expressions and terms with multiple meanings. Indeed, they themselves do not understand the true nature of what they intend and say. This is why they frequently contradict themselves: they merely adopt a notion and profess it or follow it.

For this reason, they have split into factions, yet cannot distinguish between their factions despite being aware of their divisions. Thus, when I explained to groups of their followers and leaders the true nature of their assertions and the underlying secret of their doctrine, they came to hold that explanation in great esteem. Had I not accompanied it with condemnation and refutation, they would have made me one of their leading authorities and offered me obedience in person and wealth beyond description—just as Christians offer it to their leaders, the Ismāʿīlīs to their notables, and Pharaoh’s people offered it to Pharaoh.

Anyone who accepts these people’s assertions is one of two kinds: either someone ignorant of their true nature, or a wrongdoer seeking supremacy and corruption on earth; or someone who combines both qualities. Such is the condition of