House of Wisdom

An Encyclopaedia of Occultism (1920)

The tarik or "path of the House of Wisdom was founded by Moslem mystics at Cairo in the ninth century, and had seven initiatory degrees. The original founder appears to have been one Abdallah, a Persian, who, believing in the Gnostic doctrine of the Aeons or Sephiroths, applied the system to the successors of Mohammed, stating that Ismael was the founder of his tarik and one of his descendants as the seventh Imaum. He established an active system of propaganda and sent missionaries far and wide. He was succeeded in his office as chief of the society by his son and grandson. After the institution had been in existence for some time it was transferred to Cairo, and assemblies were held twice a week, when all the members appeared clothed in white. They were gradually advanced through the seven degrees of which the tarik consisted, and over which a Dai-al-doat or Missionary of missionaries" presided. A later chief, Hakem-bi-emir-Illah, increased the degrees to nine, and in 1004 erected a stately home for the society, which he elaborately furnished with mathematical instruments. As the institution did not meet with the approval of the authorities, it was destroyed in 1123 by the then Grand Vizier, but meetings continued elsewhere. The officers of the society were :- Sheik, Dai-el-keber, or Deputy, Dai, or Master, Refik, or Fellow, Fedavie, or Agent, Lassik, or Aspirant, Muemini, or Believer. The teaching was to the effect that there had been seven holy Imaums, that God had sent seven Lawgivers, who had each seven helpers, who in turn had each twelve apostles. (See Assassins .)