S84 ^ ON THE ROSHENIAK SECT 



which he received, to take up his residence in the country of Hashtnag'an 

 Ba'yezid was not slow in perceiving the advantages which this situation 

 aflExrded him, for pursuing the operations, which he had so successfully be- 

 gun. He proceeded to Hashtnagar, and took up his residence at Kaleder 



A 



ill the distridl of Omarzei, where he founded a city. Thence he issued cir- 

 cular letters, in every direftioo, addressed both to the learned and to the 

 ignorant, in the following terms, *' Come unto me, for I am a perfe6l Pffi 

 whoever lays hold of the skirt of my garment, shall obtain salvation, and 

 whoever does not, shall utterly perish." He now assumed the appellation* 

 oi Pir Roshdn,'w\\\Qh may be rendered "- the father of light," and it is- 

 from this title, that his se6l were termed Rosheniah, or the enlightened. 

 The alarm of the orthodox Moslems, was now extreme; they had tam^- 

 pered with the new sect, till it was almost too late to attempt to suppress it by 

 force; Bayezid had firmly established his principles among the Afghans^ 

 he increased in influence, day by day, and the Country was overrun with 

 Infidelity. Many o-f the most learned of his opponents, had been baffled 

 in controversy, by the profound knovN^ledge, and versatile genius which he 

 displayed. If we may credit the authority of Akhu'n Derwe'zek, how- 

 ever, very different success attended his own exertions, and those of his 

 spiritual instru(?Lor, Said Ali Tirmizf, who, at this period resided at 

 Banhe'r in the territory of the Tusefzei, and was the spiritual guardian 

 of the age ; the preserver of true religion among the Afghans, the 

 Sheikh of Sheikhs and Oulias, and the scymiter of the Sunnis. — " Pokh- 

 tankha' was now like night, and knew not its own good from its evil, 

 but Said Ali was a light in the midst of darkness. He remembered 

 that it is said in the Hadis, or traditions, " When any heretic appears, 

 among the followers of my religion, and there shall be any learned marij 

 who is able to confute him, and shall negledl this duty of reproof, may the 



