and there was not a single one among them who did not associate with the children of the Sheikh—may God sanctify his soul and their souls—and with the trustworthy youth, from whom they adapted and drew their knowledges, and not a single one among them ever believed this corrupt doctrine, nor did they follow this wicked faction or these fabricated narrations.

As for 'Ismat al-Dawlah—may God make his ultimate return beautiful—when some of the early notables (al-sadat al-qudama') questioned him regarding the path (al-sabab) that led him to the gnostic recognition of God, he replied:

"Indeed, Abu al-Fath was his master; his father had entrusted him to Abu al-Fath when he was fourteen years of age. Abu al-Fath used to elevate him through the schools of thought until he introduced him to the doctrine of Delegation (al-Tafwid) and the Imamate. However, he rejected it and sought the science of Pure Monotheism ('Ilm al-Tawhid) after fulfilling his assigned obligations. Thus, Abu al-Fath brought him to a place called Qati'at al-Rabi', in the presence of his father and a gathering of the believers.