as for the qarmatians they were given this title in relation to a man called hamdan qarmat who was one of their preachers in the beginning. men responded to his call so they were called qarmatians and qarmatiyyah. the one called hamdan qarmat was a man from the people of kufa who was inclined towards asceticism. one of the preachers of the batiniyyah came across him on the road while he was heading to his village and in front of him were cows that he was driving. hamdan said to that preacher although he did not know him or his condition i see that you have traveled from a distant place so where is your destination? he mentioned a place which was the village of hamdan so hamdan said to him ride. a cow from these cows to rest from the fatigue of walking. when he saw him leaning towards asceticism and religion he came to him from where he saw him leaning towards it and said i was not commanded to do that. hamdan said it is as if you do not work except by command.
وأما القرامطة فانما لقبوا بها نسبة الى رجل يقال له حمدان قرمط كان احد دعاتهم في الابتداء فاستجاب له في دعوته رجال فسموا قرامطة وقرمطية وكان المسمى حمدان قرمط رجلا من اهل الكوفة مائلا الى الزهد فصادفه احد دعاة الباطنية في طريق وهو متوجه الى قريته وبين يديه بقر يسوقها فقال حمدان لذلك الداعي وهو لا يعرفه ولا يعرف حاله أراك سافرت عن موضع بعيد فأين مقصدك فذكر موضعا هو قرية حمدان فقال له حمدان اركب بقرة من هذه البقر لتستريح عن تعب المشي فلما رآه مائلا الى الزهد والديانة اتاه من حيث رآه مائلا اليه فقال اني لم اومر بذلك فقال حمدان وكأنك لا تعمل الا بامر