AND ITS FOUNDER. 423 



that if they are not endowed with sufficient understanding, then right 

 cannot be distinguished from wrong : and if the understanding is sufficient, 

 there is no need of an Imam, for the knowledge of God, Where is 

 that Imam, whom you mention, and set forth your summons in his name ? 

 Such an Imam you can never become acquainted with, excepting by the 

 word of an unerring instru(5lor. If any person come, and pretend to he 

 Imam, you can never know whether his claim be false or true, excepting 

 by means of a preceding 5"a6//i?, or unerring teacher. If any one . pre- 

 tend, that we may know him, by miracles; then we answer (say they) 

 that a miracle, when exhibited, is a proof, as far as respects you, that the 

 author is a skilful operator, and that the miracle is his performance ; but 

 a miracle can never make falsehood truth. You cannot, therefore, know 

 the Imam, till you know the. performer of the miracle, and be acquainted 

 with the divine union and equality; it follows, therefore, that you can 

 never, of yourselves, know either God, or his Imam. 



3. The Masariah. Their chief is JVas'ar, who was a poet and learned 

 •man, and seduced a multitude of people. 



3. The Kardmitah. These are the followers of Ah'med-beni-Kar- 

 MAT, who was a rustic, and becoming acquainted with one of the Malheds, 

 was perverted. When that deceiver died, the other pretended that he 

 had succeeded him ; and many persons became infidels, at his persuasion. 

 He collected his adherents, and destroyed a caravan, and plundered its 

 wealth, and formed the resolution of ruining the Cdbah; but God 

 almighty destroyed both him, and his adherents, 



4, The Baheciah. Babec was an accursed wretch of Azerbaijan, and 

 colle6led a vast multitude of adlierents, and rose in rebellion in the time 

 of Matas'em. After severe lighting, he was taken and put to death. 



K 6 



