The “science of letters” and the seven Hells in the Qarmaṭian tradition

The study analyzed the idea of Hell according to a 4th/10th century Qarmatian work, the Kitab šajarat al-yaqīn. Just like the Qurʼan, the treatise admits the existence of seven hells. On the other hand, starting from the esoteric interpretation (taʼwil) of the Quranic verses, it gives a vision of Hell which is quite different if compared with the Sunnite teaching. Even the idea of sin and sinners is quite unusual. According to this, the passages analyzed show how Qarmatians developed in their representation of Hell, an idea of sin and sinners that was functional to discredit their adversaries, either politically or doctrinally.