AUTHORITIES OF MOSULMAN LAW. 479 



rities, which are admitted by the two sects for the 

 Ahaadees, received by them respectively. The Sconees 

 allow traditionary credit to the Sahabah, or companions 

 of their Prophet ; especially to the most eminent 

 amongst them, or those who had the longest and most 

 familiar intercourse with Mohummud ; and to the 

 Klioolfa-'i rashidetn, or the ibur Khuleefahs, who were 

 the immediate successors of the Prophet ; and in- 

 structed by him in the principles, and tenets of his 

 religion Aho to several intelligent and learned men, 

 who were conteaiporary with the companions and first 

 Khuleefahs, and who are included in the general de- 

 scription of Tdhiken already mentioned ; as well as to 

 others^ who succeeded these; (the Taha-i-ialn-icen\) 

 and have verified their reports of traditions, by citing 

 the names of the persons, through whom they were 

 successively traced to tlieir genuirc source, the inspired 

 Apostle of God*. 



The Shlyd^ on tiie contrary, gave no authority, o^ 

 credit, to the throe f.rsi Khuleefahs, Aboo Bukr, 

 Om.i{ and Othma'n : nor to any other companions 

 of MoHUMMUD, excepting such as were partisans of 

 Alee. They extend ti.eir faith and obedience, how- 

 ever, to the admission of ail traditions of their Pro- 



* The nature of this treatise does not admit ofa fuller account ef 

 the Soonee tradititions 5 which are distinguished by some iiuthors as 

 Safieek (authenticated ;) Husim (approved ;) Zaieef-o-ghiireeli (weak 

 and poor;) M&:,nlitir-o-viou7.0Qa [^tm^<^ ..wA imposed ) by others, as 

 Moosnud (vouched rr certified ;) and Msorsul, or Aloonki.'ta (detached 

 or divided.; The Moosriud are aha subdivided ^s /l/wr/oofl (ascend- 

 ing to the Prophet;) Moukoof (restin:^; witti the Sakabak \) and 

 Muktooa (severed or cut short among the Tdhueev ;) or by any other 

 classification as Moota-xatur (repeated, sncC'-ssN'e ;) Mush^hoor 

 public, notorious; and IVa/iid s'ing\e, particular.) The Ah j/ikui, 

 referred to in h former njtf, 'ms ncwever be^-n translated by nn of- 

 ficer of the ^t'Tz^--^^/ estaMishment, and if !t icccive suliicieiit ei:i- 

 couragepient to repay the heavy txpcnce of printing in hdia, it wiil 

 be speedily published. 



