[14] This is incorrect, Sunnis very largely preponderating
over
Shi’ahs. According
to the latest information there were in the
United Provinces of Agra and
Oudh, nearly 6-1/2 million Sunnis and
183,000 Shi’ahs (Imperial
Gazetteer (1908), xxiv. 172). This
information was not collected
in recent census reports. In the whole
of India, in 1881, there were
46-3/4 million Sunnis, as compared
with 809,561 Shi’ahs.
[15] The correct list of the Imams recognized by the
Imamiya or
orthodox Shi’ahs is
as follows: ’Ali, son-in-law of the Prophet;
Al-Hasan, son of ’Ali,
Al-Husain, second son of ’Ali; ’Ali
Zain-ul-’Abidin, son
of Al-Husain; Muhammad Al-Baqir, son of
Zain-ul-’Abidin; Ja’afar
as-Sadiq, son of Muhammad Al-Baqir;
Ar-Raza, son of Musa; Muhammad
At-Taqi, son of Ar-Raza;
’Ali-an Naqi, son of
Muhammad At-Taqi; Al-Hasan Al-Askari,
son of ’Ali-an Naqi;
Muhammad, son of Al-Hasan Al-Askari, or
the Imam Al-Mahdi, who is
believed to be still alive, and will
appear in the last days as
the Mahdi.
[16] Kafn, properly ‘a winding-sheet’.
[17] Qanat.
[18] The religious man generally prepares his own
winding-sheet, keeping
it always ready, and occasionally
taking out this monitor to add
another verse or chapter,
as the train of thought may have urged at
the time. I have seen
this done by the Meer Hadjee Shaah, who
appropriated a piece of fine
white cambric muslin, he had received
from me, to this sacred purpose.
I have often been a silent observer
of my revered friend whilst
he was engaged in writing passages from
the book whose rules he lived
by. The anticipated moment when he
should require this his kuffin
dress, was never clouded by dread, but
always looked forward to with
cheerfulness and fervent hope; for he
trusted in the mercy of God
whom he loved and worshipped. [Author.]
[Many pilgrims buy at Mecca
the shroud in which they desire to be
buried, and wash it in the
well Zamzam, supposing that the holy water
will secure the repose of
the soul after death.]
[19] Maccurrub means those angels who are at all times
privileged to
appear in the presence of
God;—they are supposed to have eyes of
great brilliance. In
order that the Mussulmauns may have the reply
ready for that awful moment,
they have a custom of repeating the
responses to the angel every
evening, when the lamp is first lighted,
as they say this sudden light
resembles the angels’ eyes. I had
noticed the custom for some
time, and fancied the Mussulmaun people
worshipped light, until I
was made acquainted with the real motive for
this general observance both
with the men and women. [Author.]
[Muqarrab, ’those
allowed to come near’.]