An esoteric interpretation of the Basmala in the Kitab shajarat al-yaqin

The study analyzes the basmala according to the Isma‘ilism, in particular to the formulation adopted in a Qarmatian Isma‘ili. treatise, Kitab šajarat al-yaqin (IV/X sec.). The theory represents an interesting example of Isma‘ili attitude to the basmala, that is considered the only and adequate way to speak of God. Particularly striking is that, in conformity with the Isma‘ili doctrine, the author reads the basmala as a metaphorical representation of three systems, the cosmological, the epistemological and the imamic. Thus, it is displayed the intrinsic unity of all the levels of reality recognized within the Isma‘ilism. On the other hand, this symbolic exegesis of the basmala can be related to the simiya, the esoteric science of letters which was considered by the Isma‘ili groups with philosophical tendencies to be the most and universal kind of knowledge. In so doing, the application of the simiya to the basmala becomes the sign of the intrinsic unity of the Universe and of its perfection.