the direction” (revelation), and the _ra-is_ (chief) of the sect, and _sikat al islám_, “the trusty friend of the right faith,” and head of the Shaiks, _Alsadik_, “speaker of truth,” that is, _Muhammed Ebn Bábúyah[573] Alkamî_; and others: hence the whole tribe _Mahakah_ professed this as true, and, after _Alámah-hally_, the shaikh _Shahîd awl_, “the first witness,” that is, the shaikh _Muhammed maki_, made it the rule of his religion, and laid the foundation of his literary works upon it; after them, the _sultan Almadkakín_, “the sultan of the refiners” (acute investigators), shaikh _Alí_ (the mercy of God be upon him!) conformed himself to them, and _Al âalem al rabánî, Shahid-alsánî_, “the learned of the world, the doctor of divinity, the second witness,” that is, the shaikh _Zin eddin_ “the ornament of the faith,” _Jabel al âamlî_ (the mercy of God Almighty be with him!) took also the rule of this religion. This was until the time arrived for the learned of the moderns, in the science of _Muhammedan_ traditions, and the science of biographies and characters of persons to whom the traditions were handed down, and the most pious among them, the master of the whole in the whole, that is, _Mirza Muhammed of Asterabâd_ (may the light of God illume his tomb!). _He said_:[574] “At last, as a sequel to this, he (Jabel) instructed me, a humble individual, in all the sciences relative to the traditions, and gave me this injunction: ‘Revive thou the religion of the Akhbárîn, and if any doubt arise, that creates an opposition to this creed, discard that doubt.’ And this doctrine has fixed itself in my mind. But it was decreed by the Lord of Glory that it should be manifested through my pen. Afterwards, having received all the praised sciences from the greatest of the learned, I, humble individual, during some years staying in the splendid town of Medina, bowed my head under the collar of meditation, and humbled myself at the door of the temple of the Lord of Glory; I sought refuge with the spirits of the sacred place of the companions of prophecy, and I repeated afresh the sacred sayings, and the book of the common religion; that is, that of the opposers to the Imámíyat, and the special book, that is, that of the Imámíyat; in order to perfect myself in penetration and meditation; so that, by the favor of the Lord of Glory, and by the benedictions of the prince of prophets (Muhammed), and of the pure Imáms (the blessing and peace of God be upon them all!) by the direction of him, to whom obedience is due, I conformed to what was right, and succeeded in composing the _Faváid madaníy_, ‘The Useful Notes, by a Citizen of Medina.’” Subquently, Muhammed Asterabádí had the honor of being instructed by the most noble of this sect; afterwards they approved his composition, and congratulated the author upon it. (The mercy of God be upon them!)