PLATE I.

The First Part of the Seven

original: al-Juz' al-Awwal; this refers to the first of the seven volumes of the Risā'il al-Hikma (Epistles of Wisdom), the foundational scripture of the Druze faith.

I have placed my trust in our Master, al-Hakim al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985–1021), the sixth Fatimid Caliph, whom the Druze revere as the manifestation of the Divine, the All-Bountiful. By gratitude to Him, time is renewed. Praise be to our Master, the Manifestor of Universal Truths and the ultimate goal of all intellectual purposes, the Originator of Names and Attributes. He is the Ruler by His own essence over all who are beneath Him; exalted be His mention, and transcendent is He above resemblance to created things.

May His peace, prayers, flourishing blessings, and purest greetings be upon His servant whom He chose for the guidance of the nation, and whom He made their savior from blindness and darkness: the Resurrector of the Age original: Qā’im al-Zamān, a title often referring to Hamza ibn Ali, the primary founder of the Druze faith, the Speaker with Clarity, the Guide to the Truth, the Imam who takes vengeance upon the polytheists and tyranny.

Know, O assembly of those who exist through our Master al-Hakim and who acknowledge His leadership original: Imamate, the Creator of the purpose/guidance? in which the form of worship was hidden, and the Resurrector was prevented from physical existence altogether?. By this, souls are purified from... prosper?...