Idolatry is hateful to a Mussulmaun, who acknowledges ‘one only true God’, and ’Him alone to be worshipped’.[44] They respect, venerate, love, and would imitate, their acknowledged Prophet and the Emaums (who succeeded Mahumud in the mission), but they never worship them, as has been often imagined.  On the contrary, they declare to me that their faith compels them ’to believe in one God, and that He alone is to be worshipped by the creature; and that Mahumud is a creature, the Prophet sent by God to make His will known, and declare His power.  That to bow down and worship Mahumud would be gross idolatry; and, although he is often mentioned in their prayers, yet he is never prayed to.  They believe their Prophet is sensible of whatever passes amongst his true disciples; and that, in proportion as they fulfil the commands he was instructed by God to leave with them, so will they derive benefit from his intercession, on that great and awful day, when all mankind shall appear before the judgment seat of God.’

[1] Imambara, ‘enclosure of the Imam’, the place where the
    Muharram rites are performed, as contrasted with Masjid, a mosque, and
    ’Idgah, where the service at the ’Id festivals is conducted.

[2] Ta’ziya, ‘consoling’.  The use of these miniature tombs is said to
    date from the time of Amir Taimur (A.D. 1336-1405), who on his
    return from Karbala made a model of Husain’s tomb.  See a good account
    of them in Sir G. Birdwood, Sva, 173 ff.

[3] Abrak, tale.

[4] From Karbala, the place of pilgrimage.

[5] Mardanah.

[6] Maqbarah, ‘place of graves’.

[7] Shatranj[-i], a chequered cloth, from shatrang, the game of chess.

[8] Majlis.

[9] Mulaqat.

[10] Mimbar, sometimes a wooden structure, sometimes of masonry.

[11] Green is the Sayyid colour (E.W.  Lane, Modern Egyptians, i. 38). 
    But it is an innovation in Islam, and Sayyids in Al-Hijaz, as a
    general rule, do not wear a green turban (Burton, Pilgrimage, ii. 4).

[12] The spread hand designates the Sheah sect.  There are times when
    holding up the spread hand declares the Sheah, whilst the Soonie is
    distinguished by his holding up three fingers only.  In villages, the
    spread hand is marked on the walls where Sheahs reside during Mahurrum.
    [Author.]

[The five spread fingers are regarded as emblematical of the Prophet, Fatimah, ’Ali, Hasan, and Husain.  The Sunnis prefer three fingers, signifying the first three Caliphs.  In its ultimate origin, the spread hand is a charm against demons and evil spirits.]

[13] Maulavi, a Muhammadan doctor of law, a judge.

[14] From Dhie, ten; Mudgelluss, assembling together for sacred purposes.
    [Author.] or [Dah, or Dahha majlis denotes the ten days of
    Muharram; see Sir L. Pelly, The Miracle Play of Hasan and Husain,
    i. 74.]