494 Notice of the Tenets held by [Nov. 



It is to be remarked, as a new feature in the history of efforts for 

 the propagation of Mahommedanism, or for the reform of its corrup- 

 tions, how extensively the emissaries of this sect have availed them- 

 selves of the press to disseminate their tenets. The Siratul Musta- 

 qinv, the Taqw'iatnl Iman, the Hidayatul Mominin, and a little 

 tract attached to it, named the u Muzihul Kubair waH Bidadt," 

 and two other tracts, entitled the " Nasihatul Muslimin" and " Tam- 

 bihul Ghafiiin* ," have all been printed at private presses in Calcutta 

 or at Hooghly. 



The pretensions of Syed Ahmed as a holy Sufi devotee, and his 

 system of enthusiastic discipline and devotion, remain to be adverted 

 to — but any thing beyond a very cursory notice of them would be 

 tedious. A few words will explain all that appears to be peculiar in 

 the system, and the details here given do not therefore extend beyond 

 the account which has been stated to be contained in the Siratul Mus- 

 taqim, of the rapid progress of this apt scholar in the paths of spiri- 

 tual knowledge. With this branch of his opinions and instructions, it 

 is to be supposed, that the great mass of his followers have but little, 

 if any, minute acquaintance. 



It has been mentioned, that the author utterly denounces the infi- 

 delities, which have attended the more refined and metaphysical specu- 

 lations of numerous Sufi professors. This denunciation is to the 

 following purport. " Among the greatest obstructions of the path 

 to God are infidel or heretic pretenders to Sufiism (Mulhidin i Sufi 

 Shiar), who so far from fearing to violate the commands of the law, 

 make the doing so their habit and characteristic — who teach and learn 

 detestable, innovating, impious exercises or practices — and propa- 

 gate infidelity ((Iliad) in the world ; Let such be dealt with according 

 to their deeds. Let those who deserve death, be put to death ; and let 

 those who merit the other grades of punishment (Tazirwa Tambih) 

 receive them. If it be not in your power to enforce the orders of the 

 law, look on such persons with loathing, and regard the very sight of 

 them as an abomination." — On the question of the identity of God and 

 matter — an opinion very prevalent among Sufis — it is declared, that 

 the point is one which it is worse than useless to be constantly discuss- 

 ing, but that what has been said respecting it by the illustrious 

 authorities of. Sufiism — the Akabr i Tariqat — does not go beyond 



* Since this paper went to Press, the writer has seen another Treatise printed 

 in the course of last year, the Miayatul Masail, or the hundred questions: be- 

 ing answers by Sliekli Mohammed Ishak, a grandson of Shah Abdul Aziz, to 

 queries stated to have been put to him by some of the Royal family at Delhi. 



