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
When the Sultán Khajah, who was one of the Ilahian, was about to leave
this world, he said to the emperor: “Let not your Majesty bury me as
if I had been an adorer of Divs.” On that account he was placed in a
tomb with lamps, like a person of distinction, and a lattice was left
towards the great majestic luminary, the splendor of which purifies
from of all sins. Further, orders were issued that, in imitation of
the kings of Ajem, low people may be prevented from reading the books
of the wise, and from the pursuit of sciences. By other ordinances,
the affairs of the Hindus were to be decided by learned Brahmans, and
those of Muselmans by their own Káśis. Likewise the followers of other
religions and persuasions received orders, that the head of a corpse
may be laid in a tomb towards the east, and its feet towards the west;
and that persons, even in their sleep, may dispose themselves in that
direction. It was further ordained, that the Ilahian may not apply to
any other sciences of the Arabs but to astronomy, arithmetic, physic,
and philosophy, and not spend their life-time in the pursuit of what
is not reasonable. The interdiction of slaying cows was confirmed. It
was also regulated, that a Hindu woman is not to be prevented from
burning with her dead husband, but that the sacrifice ought to take
place without violence used towards, or abhorrence shewn by, the
widow. Another regulation was that, whoever eats with one whose
profession is the slaughter of animals, should have his hand cut off;
but only a finger, if he belong to the people of his house.
Again, a woman who is going about in narrow streets or in
market-places, without having at that time her face veiled, ought not
to be approached by her husband; and a woman of improper conduct, who
quarrels with her husband, ought to be sent to the place of
prostitutes, whose business it is to offer themselves for sale. In
addition to this, in times of distressing famine, a father and a
mother may happen to sell their children under age; when they find
themselves in better circumstances, they must be allowed, by giving
money, to rescue their offspring from the bonds of servitude.
Moreover, a Hindu who, in his infancy, without his will, has been made
a Muselman, if later he chooses to return to the faith of his fathers,
is at liberty to do so, and is not to be prevented from it; also every
person is permitted to profess whatever religion he chooses, and to
pass, whenever he likes, from one religion to another. But if a Hindu
woman, having fallen in love with a Muselman, wishes to adopt his
religion, she can be taken by force and delivered up to her family.
And likewise a Muselman woman, if she has fallen in love with an
Hindu, and wishes to adopt his faith, is prevented from it, and not
admitted in his caste. Finally, the erection of a temple of idols, of
a church, of a fire-temple, and a sepulchral vault, ought not to be
impeded, nor the building of a mosque for the Muselmans.
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