[162] Several derivations are given to the word _Sufí_; it may be here sufficient to adduce the three most specious of them. Some derive the name from the verb صفا, _Safá_, “he was sincere, pure;” this derivation is claimed by these sectaries themselves, who frequently call themselves اصفيا, _Asfíá_, “pure,” as may be seen in Jami’s work, _Tohfat ol ebrar_, “a present offered to the pious:” and in _Gulshenraz_ (work quoted). To this etymology is objected, that a substantive derived from the said verb should be صفى, and not صوفى. Others deduce it with grammatical strictness from صوف _súf_, “wool,” and _sufí_ signifies therefore “wool-dressed.” But the fact is, that not all wool-dressed persons are Súfis, and not all Súfis are wool-dressed: a Súfi may wear a Durvish’s patched coat, or satin, as it was said by a true Súfi. If, of the two etymologies quoted, the first does not answer the grammatical construction, the second does not render the meaning to be expressed. The latter appears to me so much more important, that I am disposed to pass over an anomalous construction, which in other names is not without numerous examples. Nor would I be averse to derive the word, with other etymologists, from the Greek σοφος, “wise,” or σαφες, “pure;” notwithstanding the general use of representing in words of Greek derivation the _sigma_, Σ, by a _sin_, س, and not by a _sad_, ص, if I did not perceive a great difference between the doctrine of a _Sofos_ and that of a _Súfi_, which latter bears most especially an Asiatic character, and the origin of which remounts to the kings Mahabad and Jemshid (_Dasá tir_, Eng. Transl., pp. 23, 97). Our author says: “Súfism is to be found among all nations.” The first Muhammedan Súfi is said to have been _Abu Hashem_, a native of Kufa, who died in the year of the Hejira 150 (A. D. 767).――(See _Notices et Extraits des manuscrits de la bibliothèque du Roi et d’autres bibliothèques_, vol. X. p. 290.) The origin of such a character among Muselmans, if not in name, yet in fact, may be traced further back to the first century of the Hejira.――(See note 2, p. 18.) [163] The more correct title of this work is _Resalah fil vujud_.――(See _Geshichte der Schönen Redekünste Persiens von Joseph von Hammer, S. 314_). [164] بحسب مراتب و مقامات. [165] مرتبه احديت. [166] حقيقت الحقايق. [167] وحدت مقام. [168] جمع. [169] شيء. [170] لاشى. [171] هويت, a substantive formed from هو, _hu_, “he is” (_Yahu Yehovah_). [172] I interpret in this place the word _sárí_ in the sense which is given to it by the commentator of the Gulshen Raz, in a passage of that work which will be quoted hereafter.