Since we have mentioned that which Allah the Generous, may His majesty be extolled, has favored us with regarding this "means" (sabab) which brought us to the knowledge of the Truth and its People—namely, the [spiritual] fatherhood from our sheikh and master Abu Abd Allah al-Husayn ibn Hamdan al-Khasibi, may Allah sanctify his soul, which is a branch from the branches of the noble and lofty Shu’aybi Household and the source of authentic honor—we shall mention the circumstances of that and explain it, if Allah wills.

We say: My father, the Emir Mu'izz al-Dawla Ali ibn Isa Kubakh, may Allah be pleased with him, was among those who reached this Household and recognized the Truth. He heard it in Iraq from a man known as Abu Tahir Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Zanjani al-Simsar al-Surani. He told me that this Abu Tahir Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Zanjani had heard it from Ahmad al-Sa’igh ibn Harun, may Allah have mercy on him.

Since my youth, I knew no way other than the doctrine of Tashayyu' (Shi'ism). I had a tutor known as Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn al-Qasim al-Rahawi; he was a pious man, may Allah have mercy on him, and he had heard from Abu al-Qasim Ali ibn Muhammad al-Baghdadi, known as al-Danaf the Reciter. My father used to charge him with teaching me the doctrine of the Imamate, and he accepted the charge and taught me that. I accepted it, believed in it, and acted upon it.

When my knowledge of it grew strong, my soul yearned to know that which my father followed. I asked him about it, but he put me off for a long time while I persisted in my questioning. Eventually, he transitioned me to the doctrine of "Delegation" (al-Tafwid) and addressed me with it orally. When he imparted it to me, I did not accept it; I rejected it and said to him: "The matter you believe in is other than this; you have hidden it from me and veiled it."

My master and mentor, may Allah be pleased with him, was a close friend to my father, a narrator of hadith, and a companion. I used to sit with them often when they met. When my father realized the intensity of my eagerness to discover what he followed, he became wary of me and ceased much of the discussion with my master and what used to take place between them in my presence. I became deeply grieved by this, weeping much before him and entreating him.