422 ON THE ROSHENIAH SECT 



secret gate is that of mercy, the apparent one, is that of sutfering/* 

 They say that God is neither present nor absent ;• living nor dead ; power- 

 ful nor weak ; ignorant nor wise ; first nor last ; capable of seeing, nor of 

 speaking ; capable of hearing, nor yet deaf; and thus they describe ail the 

 divine attributes. They also say that Isa was the son of Yusef, the car- 

 penter ; and they ailedge that where it is said in the Koran ^ that Isa had' 

 no father, it is only to be understood, that he was not instructed in learn- 

 ing by his father, but acquired it from the chief men of his time, yet not 



A 



from the infallible instru<5lor. Also, where it is said that Isa restored' 

 the dead to life, the meaning: is, that by learning he revived the dead 

 and torpid mind, and instru6ted the people in the right way ; and many 

 such futile opinions they state, in giving an account of their do6trines. 

 They pretend, that no trouble need be taken about external ordinances ; 

 ■and that whatever the Imam says, is Namdz; and that Zacat, is the giv- 

 ing in charity to the poor, (derweshafi) whatever is more than necessary 

 for a person's own family. The proclaiming of Jfamdz, and the pro- 

 nouncing the prayer termed kdmet, are intended for the purpose of cal- 

 ling every one before his own religious direftor, or Peshwa; and the 

 meaning of Rozeh or religious abstinence from food is this : whatsoever 

 the Peshiva does, be silent, and refrain from blaming him ; and whatever 

 he does, which is unchaste, or Z^waf^^^A, (heterodox) reckon this right 

 and proper; on no account disobey him, and be so obedient, as to kill 

 yourselves without hesitation, if he should order you to kill yourselves 

 for him. Haj (or pilgrimage) according to them, signifies an ar- 

 dent desire of visiting their Imam; and they reckon it incumbent, on 

 every one who is able, to go and visit him. Every thing prohibited, they 

 reckon lawful ; and Haram or prohibition; they pretend, denotes enmity 



