480 REMARKS UPON THE 



pliet's sayings and actions, which they believe to have 

 been verified by any one of the twelve Imameeyah ; ae 

 well as to the precepts and examples of those Imams 

 themselves ; the whole of whom they venerate, as being 

 the lineal descendants (through Fa'timah), and ac- 

 cording to their tenets, the rightful successors, of 

 MoHUMMUD ; and the last of whom they believe to 

 be still living, though invisible ; it having been pre- 

 dicted of him), that he will return to judge and rule the 

 world ; to punish sinners, and those who have de- 

 parted from the true faith ; and to restore and con- 

 firm the genuine truths of religion, with piety, justice, 

 and every other virtue *. 



When neither the written nor oral law prescribes a 

 rule of decision, the concurrence of the companions 

 ofMoHUMMUD {J/md/ i Sahal^ah) is received by the 

 Soonees, as a third source of legal authority : and if 



• The names of the twelve Imams are given by D'Heebelot, 

 under the head of Imhm. He has also given a brief statement of 

 the tenets of the 5/i/^d, under the lilies of Schiah, ^/?, and other 

 titles of his valuable, though (as miglit be expected in so volumi- 

 nous and miscellaneous a work) sometimes erroDeous and often im- 

 perfect compilation. A fuller account of the doctrines, and practice 

 of the Shhia is contained in the 2d vol. of Chardin. (Description 

 dela Religion des Per sans, in the Amsterdam Edition of his Vai/a^e en 

 Perse published in M.DCC.XI.) But the most authentic informa- 

 tion upon the iurisprudence of the Imameei/ah sect, (wiiich, not 

 having been established, for the administration of justice, in any 

 part ot the C'lmpany's terriioiies, needs not to be further noticed in 

 this tract,) will be furnished by the completion of a work, the first 

 volume of which is already printed,) and entitled — " A Digest of 

 Mohummudan Law, according to the tenets of the Twelve Imams ; 

 " compiled under the superintendence of the late Sir \\ illiam 

 *• Jones: extended, so as to comprise the whole of the Imameea code 

 " of jurisprudence, in temporal matters; and translated, f'om the 

 " original Arabie, by order of the Supreme Government of Bengal ; 

 " with Notes, illustrative of the decisions of other sects of Alohum- 

 *' 7«a^«« lawyers, on many leading and important questions. By 

 *' Captain John Bailljb, Profelfor of the Arabic and Persian Lau- 

 " guages, aud of Mohummudttn Law, in the College of FoK 

 *' WiUiamr 



