The Qarmatians The Qarmatian revolution was no less significant than these. It was also a Shi'ite, Mahdist revolt. We saw, unexpectedly, that it had spread among the people that the Islamic world was drowning in ignorance and injustice, and that there was no way to escape these injustices except through a Mahdi who would fill the earth with justice and mercy. Thus, the Qarmatian sect appeared in Iraq, led by a man named Hamdan Qarmat. It is said that the meaning of Qarmat in the Aramaic language is "the secret teacher," and Arabs say it is derived from "qarmat," meaning short. The sect is attributed to him and first appeared in Iraq. Hamdan built a house called Dar al-Hijra, imitating the Prophet, peace be upon him. He called for socialism, meaning equality in wealth, and his followers held communal meals for each other called "al-bulgha," which is why the Franks call them "Shia of the Arabs." They wrote books on their religious beliefs to educate their disciples. The Qarmatians had religious teachings.