546 The Rev, Mr. Lei^s Translation of a Cufic Inscription. 



TRANSLATION. 

 Li the name of the compassionate and merciful God. There is no God 

 but God. Mohammed is the prophet of God. May the blessing and 

 peace of God be upon him. O God pardon, have mercy upon, and pass 

 away from (the sins of) a servant, the son of thy servant, Khalid Ibn Abu 

 Bakdya (Takaya or Nakaya), (who) has left the world, and (who) was de- 

 pendent on thee ; but thou wast sufficient without him : (who) has departed 

 to thee, and thou art his best place of departure. O God pardon his sin, 

 that his piety may remain, and grant him his last (reward), and that he may 

 be justified. And protect thou, and multiply favour and security to him. 

 And may he (God) appoint our excellent prophet supreme, that he may 

 aflford to us and shew us the truth clearly ; for lie has admonislied with the 

 established word, and his decision has obtained, and his resistance is (as) 

 the (depth) lake of reproaclu Amen. Lord of Worlds. It was written on 

 the second day (of the week) fi\e nights taken out of (the month) Rejeb 

 (/. e. on the 5tli of Rejeb) in the year 337.* And in the vicinity he com- 

 pleted a security for religion with (other) conveniences, in tlie year 317. 

 May God give blessing and peace upon his prophet Mohammed. 



This, as I have already remarked, is the best interpretation which I have 

 been able to give of this interesting inscription. Allow me now to say a 

 few words on those passages of it which have appeared to me doubtful. We 

 have in the fifth line <>oUj .i\ which has been translated by Abu Bakaya 

 (Takaya or Nakaya) : where tlie first word ^\ Abu, is incorrect, the rules 

 of the grammar requiring ^\ Abi, not Abu, and the second is doubtful, in 

 consequence of the omission of the points necessary to distinguish the letters. 

 But I have further doubts as to the letters themselves, from comparing the 

 two copies together, which, in this, as in other instances, differ very widely. 

 Upon turning over the travels of Ibn Batouta (which I hope to have it in 

 my power shortly to give to the public), I find that he \isited a grave in 

 the island of Ceylon, which contained the remains of cJ-ii ^^j^ •sill J-.= ^1 

 Abu Abd Allah Ibn Khafeef. "Wliether this can be the same with the name 

 in this inscription, I will not take upon me to say. It is possible and not 

 improbable that it is. But nothing can be said on this point, until we get 

 better copies of the inscription, or a sight of the original itself. 



• Of tlie Hejira. 



