[227] Fasting, with the Muhammedans, imposes an entire abstinence from all food whatever, and a perfect continence during the whole day from the first canonical hour of morning, which begins at day-break, until sunset. There are different sorts of fasts; canonical, satisfactory, expiatory, votive, and supererogatory. Each of them, although determined by different motives, requires, nevertheless, the same abstinence during the whole day.――(_Ibid._, t. III. p. 1). [228] A possessor of velayet, a _veli_, “a saint,” according to Jámi (in the Lives of Súfís) is destined to serve as an instrument for manifesting the proof of prophetic mission. Extraordinary powers over all nature are ascribed to such a man. According to the _Kashef ul mahjub_, “the revelations of the veiled being,” composed by Shaikh _Ali Osman Ben Ebil-Ali el Ghaznavi_, there are four thousand saints in the world, walking separate from each other upon the ways of God. Among these, the first three hundred are called _Akhyár_, “the best;” the next four hundred are the _Abdal_, commonly called “Santons;” after them seven hundred _Ebrar_, “just men;” further, four hundred _Awtad_, “posts or stakes;” finally, three hundred _Nukeba_, “chosen.” According to the author of _Futuhat-i-Mekkí_, “the revelations of Mecca,” that is, Mahi-eddin Muhammed, before-mentioned (p. 334, note 1), there exist at any time seven _Abdal_, or Saints, who preside the seven terrestrial zones, or climates. Each of them, in his climate, corresponds to one of the seven prophets in the following order: Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Edris, Joseph, Jesus, and Adam, who reside as we have said (see pp. 186-89, notes 2. 1. 1. 2. 3. 1. 2.) in so many heavenly spheres. To the said Abdal belong the _Oweis_, that is the great shaikhs, and pious men who, nourished in the prophet’s lap, are never tainted by age. [229] The text has ملھمہ _malhamah_, which means “gluttonous, eager after any thing to excess;” if _mulhim_, it means “inspired.” [230] The ecstatic conditions desired by the Súfís are attainable only in a perfect apathy, that is, in a cessation of all action of the corporeal organs and intellectual faculties. [231] According to the Dict., _Ferhengi Shuuri_ (vol. II p. 430, edit. of Constantinople) the seven heavens mentioned in these pages as habitations of the perfect are called _Heft-aureng_, “seven thrones” (a name commonly given to the seven stars of the Great Bear); they have seven colors, the highest is the black.