The second known extant copy of this major philosophical treatise by one of the most influential early Ismaili thinkers. Possibly the largest among al-Sijistani‘s works and like most of his others, it is strongly influenced by Neoplatonism. According to Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani (d. after 411/1020), the composition of al-Maqalid  follows chronologically that of Kitab al-Nusra which al-Sijistani wrote in support of Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Nasafi (d.332/943), whofirst masterminded the adaptation of Neoplatonism to Ismailism, against the position of Abu Hatim al-Razi (d.322/934-5). The work is divided into seventy iqlids and centres around cosmology. In particular it elaborates on the Word (kalima) or Command (amr) as intermediary between the Originator (mubdi‘) and the Intellect (‘aql).