THE BA YAZI. 



399 



Mesopotamia, Seistan, and Oman. They hold 

 persistency in the minor sins (Sughair) equiva- 

 lent to polytheism (Shirk) ; whereas mortal sins 

 are not damnable unless accompanied by persist- 

 ency (Israr). 



3. The Baghghasiyyeh, Banhasiyyeh, or Bay- 

 hasiyyeh, followers of Abu Baghghas, Banhas, or 

 Bayhas. I have found no account of their c doc- 

 trinal quiddities.' 



4. The Safar, so called from their founder 

 Ziyad ibn el Asfar, believe concealment of tenets 

 ( c Takiyyeh ') permissible in word not in deed, and 

 they extend infidelity (Kufr) even to such offences 

 as neglecting prayer. 



5. The Abazi or Bayazi, who form the mass 

 of Arab population at Zanzibar, and who are 

 also numerous in Oman. They are Karmati and 

 anti-Moslem in the matter of Freewill, a vital 

 distinction from the Sunnis ; like the Ismailiyyeh 

 and sundry mystic schools, they believe the Imam- 

 ship to be a supreme pontificate, but not the 

 succession, by grace, of the prophethood and the 

 caliphate. They are opposed to the Mutazali by 

 respecting the Shaykhayn (Abubekr and Omar), 

 their exoteric reason being that El Islam then 

 throve under a single head. Therefore they deem 

 it lawful and right to abuse Usman and Ali (damn- 



