The Dabistán, or School of manners, Volume 2 (of 3): translated from the original Persian, with notes and illustrations
Religion
The Dabistán, or School of manners, Volume 2 (of 3): translated from the original Persian, with notes and illustrations
Iran -- Religion; Religions
They say that Yazîd killed Hasan, the son of Alí, in his house, and
did not bring him forth from the corner where he was concealed.[546]
He was come for subduing the country of Bîrak; on that account he was
put to death. On the tenth day of the Moheram, they go on horseback
upon a wide field which is before their town; there they make, of
earth, an image of Hosain who was killed; against him they dash their
horses, and think fortunate those who can say, that they have been
riding against the bodies of the martyrs of Kerbala;[547] this they
call a day of victory, and on this day they make a greater show of
festivity and rejoicing, because the Imám of the time, that is, Yazîd,
was upon the field of victory. And on Fridays and festivals they
revile from their pulpits the lord Alí and his offspring. Among them
is one sect in particular which act in this manner, and, with their
swords drawn, curse Alí and his sons, and in this way they pass one
day: they are called _Sîáf_, “fencers.”
The same say that the prophet and his offspring, and particularly
their prophet, had the power of recalling to life and putting to
death, of creating and annihilating any being; and that they did
whatever they wished. But this mode of acting was no more allowable to
their successors, such as that of the prophets to destroy the living,
which power they possessed on account of their having also that of
recalling to life; but it is not one of our attributes to render
lifeless the living, because we have not the power of restoring them
to life; also because the creatures have not been made on our account;
besides, the prophet took whatever mate he liked, because the world
was his share, whilst it is not permitted to us to take the woman of
another man. It is however right, making it our profession, to wage
war against the opposers of faith, and to fight the enemies of
religion for the protection of the law. This people kill no living
beings in the country of Shekúnah. Their usual food is animal juice,
such as honey, butter, and the like; they use no intoxicating liquors,
nor that prepared from the palm-tree, nor opium.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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