Ghazzali' s Alchemy of Happiness. 149 



admit only the grammatical and literal — the external meaning of 

 the Koran ; but many Soofees pretend that the outward meaning is 

 but the shell, and that they seek for and expound the inward or 

 mystical meaning. The reverence and esteem for the Soofees and 

 Monks is so great with the people, that the clergy and doctors usu- 

 ally conceal their opposition and jealousy. 



" Soofeeism has existed in one shape or other in every age and re- 

 gion ; its mystical doctrines are to be found in the schools of ancient 

 Greece and in those of the modern philosophers of Europe. It is 

 the dream of the most ignorant and the most learned : it is to be 

 found in the palace and the cottage, in the luxurious city, and the 

 pathless desert." 



The fundamental doctrine, and the great object of longing of the 

 oriental mystic is union with God. The whirling Dervishes as they 

 are popularly called, imitate the founder of their particular order 

 and whirl around on their toes for an hour to the sound of soft music 

 and muttered chants : and they imagine that the dizziness which is 

 created and the prostration which follows is an inspired ecstacy and 

 an approximation to the desired union. Mussulman mystics are ex- 

 tensively accused as are also a class of perfectionists in the Chris- 

 tian church, of regarding external actions as morally indifferent to 

 those who are spiritually enlightened. Their doctrines have been 

 abused among themselves by fanatics to lead them to the commission 

 of crime, as in the case of the attempt to assassinate the shah of Per- 

 sia by the Babis. We should no more be led to think that there 

 was any tendency to abuse for evil purposes from reading this trea- 

 tise of Ghazzali, than to infer the same from devotional and mystic 

 writings c*f the western world. Ghazzali, is as much disposed to 

 censure hypocritical pretence among Soofees, as some writers on Per- 

 sia have been to class nearly the whole body as hypocrites. 



Note C, p. 82. 



The Mohammedan calendar being regulated by the lunar months, 

 every twelfth lunar month is devoted to fasting, and it is of the 

 greatest importance that the very first appearance of the moon should 

 be watched, to know just when to commence the fast. Certain 

 months and days of the month are peculiarly appropriate to works of 

 charity. The days on which the caravans of pilgrims ought to ar- 

 rive at Mecca, and the days for going around the black stone of the 

 Caaba, occur also on certain fixed days of lunar months. The 

 advantages and moral ends of having a moon, must be looked at 



