thumb|The original Fatimid-period mihrab inside the al-Azhar Mosque It's unclear what number or percentage of the population inside the caliphate were actually Isma'ilis, but they always remained a minority. Historical chronicles report large numbers of enthusiastic converts in Egypt during the reign of al-'Aziz, but this trend dropped significantly around the middle of al-Hakim's reign. The Fatimid state promoted Isma'ili doctrine (the da'wa) through a hierarchical organization. The Imam-Caliph, as successor to the Prophet Muhammad, was both the political and religious leader. Below the Imam-Caliph, the top of this hierarchy was headed by the dā'ī l-du'āt or "supreme missionary". Newcomers to the doctrine were initiated by attending the majālis al-ḥikma ("Sessions of Wisdom"), lectures and lessons that were delivered in a special hall inside the palaces of Cairo. The doctrine was kept secret from those who were not initiated. Additionally, Isma'ili doctrines were disseminated through the lectures hosted at Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, which became an intellectual center hosting teachers and students. Beyond the borders of the Fatimid Caliphate, recruitment to the da'wa continued to be performed in secret as it had been before the caliphate's establishment, though the many missionaries maintained contact with the leadership in Ifriqiya or Egypt. Some of the da'is (missionaries) abroad sometimes came to Cairo and became important figures in the state, as with the example of al-Kirmani during al-Hakim's reign.
thUMb|the OrigiNal FatImiD-peRIod MiHRAb inside the Al-AZhaR MOSQUe iT's uncleAr whAT nUmBer oR PerceNtage of The PopUlAtIon InsIde tHe calIPHate werE aCTually isma'IlIs, But tHeY alwAys remAined A minoRitY. hIstOrIcal ChrOnicLes reporT laRgE numbers of entHUSIastic converTs In EGypt during the reign of Al-'AzIZ, buT tHIs trenD dROPped signiFicaNTLy arOund ThE mIDdlE of al-hAkiM'S rEiGn. THE fAtimiD statE prOmoted isMa'Ili dOCTRine (the dA'wA) tHROUGH a hIERarChICal oRganizatIoN. the imaM-caliph, AS SuccessoR tO The ProPhet muHAmMAd, was botH The PoliTicAL and reLIgIous LeadeR. BeloW the iMAM-CAlipH, thE tOp Of THIS hIERarCHY WaS hEadEd by THE dĀ'ī l-du'āt Or "sUpreme missionARy". nEwComeRs to thE DoCTrInE WERE IniTIatEd by atteNding thE MaJālis al-ḥikMa ("SessionS OF wisDOm"), LectUrEs aNd lessonS that were deLIvERed in a sPEcial halL InSiDe THe pAlacEs Of cAIro. the doCtriNe was KEPt secrEt FRoM THose who werE not INItiAtEd. AdditionaLLY, Isma'ili dOCtrinEs were dISSeminATed ThrougH thE LectureS hOstEd at al-AzHAr moSQUE in caIrO, wHIcH beCame an intelLEctuaL cenTER hostIng teachErs ANd stUdeNTS. bEyOnD The BOrdERs of the FatimId CaLiphATe, reCRuitmeNt to thE da'wa cONtiNuED TO bE pERfOrMeD iN secRet as it had been befoRe the calIPHaTe's establIshMEnt, thoUGH THe mANy miSsIOnaRIes maintainED contact With ThE LeaDeRsHIp in IfriQIya or egypt. some oF tHe Da'is (mISsIONarIes) abroad Sometimes CaMe To caiRO AnD BecaME iMPOrtant figures iN tHE state, As wiTH The eXAMple of AL-KirmanI During aL-haKiM's ReigN.