The begining of Ismailis

According to De Sacy, proto-Ismailis didn't begin until after year 863 AD, to coincide with lifetime of Abdullah son of Maimoun, who by now was a fugitive in Syria. His son, Ahmed become the chief/leader of the Ismailis after his demise.

The author stressed that the link between the Ismailis and the Qaramite is the fact that Ahmed sent emissary to Kufa, Iraq who met with Hamdan Karmat

The family of Maimoun Kaddah were glorifying their own household and were in no way promoting the Imamah of Ismail ibn Jaffar as-Sadiq. Hamdan, the leader of the Qaramite, was also promoting his own set of beliefs and doctrines.

Briefly, here's the belief system created by Abdullah Maimoun
He divided his system into seven degrees after the pythagorean and Indian philosophers. Members are initiated gradually.

He appointed emissaries to enlist disciples.

He used the names of the descendants of Muhammad ibn Ismail son of Jaffar as-Sadiq to further his own political agenda.

Following are the seven degrees (part of the teaching)

- First Degree: Initiation. Taking a solemn oath to bound a person to the secret doctrine with blind faith and unconditional obedience.

- Second Degree: Establishing the faith of the divinely appointed Imams.

- Third Degree: Recognizing the seven Imams of Ismailis. Their names are Ali, Hassan, Hussein, Zayn al Abidin, Muhammad al-Baqir, Jaffar as-Sadiq and Ismail as the last and the seventh Imam.

- Fourth Degree: Belief in the seven law-giving Prophets or speaking Prophets (Natiq). They were each succeeded by non-speaking prophets/mutes (Samit). The seven speaking prophets were Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed and Ismael (son of Jaffar who was also know as Sahib ez-Zaman (Lord of time)). Their seven assistants were Seth, Shem, Ishmael son of Abraham, Aaron and afterwards Joshua, Simeon/Shamoun or Simon Peter, Ali and Mohammed son of Ismael.

- Fifth Degree: Each of the seven mute prophets had twelve apostles for the extension of the true faith.

- Sixth Degree: All precepts of Islam/legislation must be subordinate to the general and philosophical using the dogmas of Plato, Aristotle and Pythagoras.

- Seventh Degree: similar to the doctrine of Unity as the Sufis.

These two degrees were added on top of the seven by certain group of Ismailis (not by all)

- Eight Degree: The rules of religion were no longer deemed important. The pupil no longer hold prior religious dogmas.

- Ninth Degree: Rejecting every principle of religion and morality. Nothing that appeared sinful was forbidden.