1832.] the followers of Syed Ahmed. 493 



low the example of Mohammed of Arabia," is the concluding direction 

 in this part of the treatise, " and relinquish all the usages of Hind 

 and Sind, of Fars, or of Rum ;" a comprehensive exhortation 

 which gives in a few words the whole spirit of the reforming 

 doctrines. 



Another abuse of this class, attributed to intercourse with Hindus, 

 is the prohibition of widows from a second marringe. u If there be a 

 widow among- your relations," (is the injunction on the subject,) 

 " make her, if you can, marry a second time, whether she wishes it or 

 not. Should she persist in refusing, relinquish all kindly intercourse 

 with her — Shrink not, should you in this depart from the fixed cus- 

 toms of your ancestors ; God has a higher claim upon you than they." 

 It should be mentioned, however, that it is not known how far this in- 

 junction is at present respected, or at least practically acted upon, by 

 the members of the sect generally. 



Of the further abuses, referrible to this last division, there may 

 also be mentioned, from either the Siratul Mustaqim, or the 

 Taqwiatul Iman, the vain glorious relying on the good qualities 

 of pious ancestors, which is noted as the special sin of Syeds and 

 Pirzadas — the placing faith in the practices of astrology or sooth- 

 saying in any shape, or in omens or Fals from the Qoran — the at- 

 tending to lucky or unlucky days — the worshipping, like the Hin- 

 dus, their goddess of the small-pox, Sitala, or even [a curious 

 excess of enthusiasm] the adopting the infidel custom of keep- 

 ing children from going near others who have the small-pox — the 

 keeping pictures of the Prophet or of Pirs— the swearing by any one 

 but God — the using the words Malik and Banda to express the rela- 

 tion between master and slave — besides which are enumerated very 

 many others, defying any concise enumeration, against each of which 

 the Taqwiatul Iman arrays a battery of texts from the Qoran and 

 traditions, made accessible to all readers by translations and comments 

 in the plainest Hindustani. 



The above comprises as complete a sketch of the peculiar opinions 

 of the sect of Syed Ahmed, in all matters of external worship and 

 morals, as has been found immediately procurable from information 

 and books to be obtained in Calcutta, and presents doubtless a suffi- 

 ciently accurate outline of them. The effect which they must have in 

 separating their professors as distinct communities will be obvious 

 on the mere perusal of them — for they may be literally said to affect 

 every important event in which men can be concerned from their cra- 

 dle to their grave. 



