The Dabistán, or School of manners, Volume 3 (of 3): translated from the original Persian, with notes and illustrations
Religion
The Dabistán, or School of manners, Volume 3 (of 3): translated from the original Persian, with notes and illustrations
Iran -- Religion; Religions
In the month Rajeb of the year of the Hejira 987 (A. D. 1579), the
Emperor Akbar was ordered (by Heaven) to fix the sentence: “There is
but one God, and Akbar is his Khalifah,” to be used. If the people
really wished it, they might adopt this faith; and his Majesty
declared, that this religion ought to be established by choice, and
not by violence. In this manner, a number of men, who were more pious
or wise than those of their times, chose this creed according to their
conscience. The command came from God, that the attachment to the
cause of the Lord God and to one’s master has four degrees, which are:
sacrifice of property, life, reputation, and religion. The command of
the _Ilahi_, “divine,” faith means that, in case of an indispensable
conflict, if one does not sacrifice all he possesses, he must renounce
these four degrees. Further, it is the divine command, that one may
relinquish something of the four degrees, but never make an
abandonment of his God.
The Emperor further said, that one thousand years have elapsed since
the beginning of Muhammed’s mission, and that this was the extent of
the duration of this religion, now arrived at its term.
Another of his ordinances abolished absolutely the obligation of
bathing after pollution _by spermatic emission_. The sages said that
the most exquisite and best part of a man is _maní_, “sperm,” and that
the seed of creation is pure. What sense is there that, after the
common natural secretions bathing be not required, whilst the release
of a quantity of delicate matter is subject to an entire ablution? Yet
it is suitable to bathe before indulging sexual propensity.
It is equally absurd to prepare food for the spirit of a corpse, which
then belongs to minerals: what sense is there in it? Yet the birth-day
of a person is justly made a great festival, and called “the banquet
of life.” Moreover, when one’s soul has attained the full knowledge of
the primitive cause, and has left its mortal garment, this day also is
devoted to rejoicing, and named “the day of union.”
On account of the difference between the era of the Hindus and that of
the Hejira used by the Arabs, the Emperor introduced a new one,
beginning from the first year of the reign of Hamáyún, which is 963 of
the Hejira (A. D. 1555-6); the names of the months were those used by
the Kings of Ajem; and fourteen festivals in the year instituted,
coinciding with those of Zardusht, were named “the years and days of
_Ilahí_.” This arrangement was established by _Hakím Sháh Fattah ulla
Shírází_. On account of hearing so many disputes of the learned in the
midst of the multitude, the custom of reading the comments on the
Koran and the science of religion and law, were laid aside, and in
their place astronomy, physic, arithmetic, mysticism, poetry, and
chronology became current. The people of Ajem used to repeat
frequently these verses:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account