Foundation

But perhaps the most prominent among the "Babs" (Gates) and the one after whom the Muwahhidin group was named is our master Muhammad ibn Nusayr al-Numayri, who was contemporary with four of the Imams. The features of the esoteric (Batini) group began to appear at that time.

Until the matter reached Sheikh al-Khasibi (260 H - 358 H), peace be upon him, who is considered the most prominent figure in establishing the features of this group. After a time in which heresies (bida') multiplied, false speech abounded, and the power of the "Muqassirah" (those who fall short/detractors) and the "Nawasib" (enemies of 'Ali) grew, the true religion almost disappeared and its light was almost extinguished. Then God supported the Truth and its people with a man of utmost brilliance and knowledge, a man who laid the foundations for the religion whose narrators had been killed, its protectors slaughtered, and its supporters and followers exiled. This great man was the cornerstone in building the esoteric (batin) religion, and he is the Sheikh of the religion, Master Abu 'Abdillah al-Husayn ibn Hamdan al-Khasibi, may God's blessings be upon him.

The Sheikh was born in the year 260 of the sacred Muhammadan Hijra in Kufa, where he grew up. He moved in search of Hadith from there to Baghdad, then migrated from it, fleeing the oppressors. We do not wish to speak of what is mentioned in the history books of the Muwahhidin (Unitarians) or the Muqassirah. The people of Tawhid (Unitarianism) affirmed his leadership, and the people of Tafwid (delegation) from the group of Ibn Khallad also affirmed his leadership. Some sheikhs of the Muqassirah counted him among their scholars, masters, and hadith narrators. And no wonder, for he is the one who says in his poems:

And I blinded and led astray with my poetry

and my narrations, men who were not noble

They were blind at all my times, and deaf,

when the caller summoned to those loyalties