414 ON THE ROSHENIAH SECT 



it was not necessary for him to perform Zaeat, or offer the stated aims. He 

 was desirous of going on Haj, or pilgrimage ; but he was still too young 

 (for this to be a duty) when he attained to the perfection of religion. God 

 Almighty has said, " Verily, I am near to mankind, nearer than their own 

 necks ; there is no separation between me and mankind, and I am one with 

 mankind, but mankind know it not : nor can a man attain the knowledge 

 of me, unless by means of the assiduous perusal of the sacred volume, 

 and not by much travel of the feet ; but he may attain the knowledge of 

 me, by ardent meditation ; and. By obedience, a man becomes perfect."— 

 Thus far from the Hal J^dmeh of Miya'n Ba'yezid. 



- IL ACCOUNT' OF THE HISTORY OF MIYAN BAYEZID. 



HAVING assumed the character of a prophet, Ba'yezid ordered his 

 followers to practise religious austerities, and caused them to perform- 

 J'^amdz-; but not towards- any determined quarter; for., as the sacred text 

 runs,. " wherever you turn, you turn towards God." He said, ceremonial 

 bathing in water is unnecessary, for as soon as the air blows upon us, the 

 body is purified; for the four elements are equally pure. He said, whoever 

 knows not himself, and knows not God, is not a man ; and if he be 

 harmful, he is to be counted a wolf, a tiger, a serpent, or a scorpion i 

 and the Arabian prophet has said, " kill a harmful creature before it causes 

 harm." If, however, such a person be of good conduct, and a performer , 

 of Jfamdz, then he is to be considered as an ox or a sheep, and the killing 

 of such a creature is lawful. In conformity to this doctrine, he ordered his 

 enemies, who were self-conceited, to be put to death, because they were 

 to be regarded as brute beasts : as it is said in the Koran, " they are lik© 

 brute beasts, nay, worse/' -■■ v---.--- .',;-i^ '•^'. 



