and their beliefs. They told every missionary calling others to their misguidance what I shall reproduce here in their exact words, without addition or omission, so that their disbelief and hostility towards all (1) the messengers and religions may be known. They said to the missionary:

‘If the person you are seeking to win over is a Muslim, you must present Shiism to him as your religion and distinguishing mark. Approach him through the wrongdoing of the early generations, their killing of al-Husayn (2), their taking his women (3) and descendants captive, and disavowal of Taym, ‘Adī, Banū Umayyah and Banū al-‘Abbās. You must profess belief in likening Allah to created beings, attributing a body to Him, al-badʾ, the transmigration of souls, the return, and religious excess; and that ‘Alī (4) is a god who knows the unseen and has been entrusted (5) with creating the world, along with similar outlandish beliefs of the Shia (6) and their ignorance. They will respond to you more readily through this guise, until you gain a hold (7) over them to the extent (8) needed by you and those who come after you among your trusted companions. Then lead them, stage by stage, to the realities of things.

Do not do as the Messiah did, making his guise adherence to the falsehood (9) of Moses—professing the Torah and observing the Sabbath—then acting hastily and overstepping the bounds, whereupon what happened to him happened: meaning that they killed him after declaring him a liar, rejecting him and deserting him. If, when making your appeal, you discern responsiveness and sound understanding in one of the Shia, acquaint him with the faults of ‘Alī and his descendants. Make known to him the reality of the truth, to whom it belongs and in whom it resides, and the falsity—the nullity (10)—of everything upheld by the followers of the religion of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and of others