328 Origin mtc^ fJermdnies b^^ Mohimnim. {Omt 



troop of Moosien killed soitie centuries t)efore ; atid, as 

 a sacred relic, began to exhibit it in public in honoi' of 

 the memory of that saint, during the first ten dsiys of 

 Mohurrum. In process of time the exhibition with all 

 its above named superstitious accompaniments tecaiiie 

 sreneral. . . . , 



With respect to flie origin of the Mohurrum ia- 

 keers t think,/ that, originally, they were' nothing btlte 

 parties of mourners ; but that by degrees fanaticism 

 exerted its pernicious influence over their minds to such^ 

 an unpardonable extent as to convert them into the full- 

 and complete masqueraders we now behold them. "^^ ' " 1 



In regard to the Mahomedan law on the subject/'ai^ It; 

 obtains among the Soonnees, I think I may venture tp^ 

 say, th^t these things are wholly unknown to it, except! 

 praying and fasting during the anniversary. .' .^.^ 



The basis of Mahomedan law, religious, civil' and 

 criminal as it prevails among the Soonnees, is the Ko* 

 ran. If the matter in dispute is not determined by th^' 

 ordinances of w (Kitabj the (sacred) book, ^'^m^- 

 (Soonnut) or rule of conduct, deduced from the oral 

 precepts, actions, and decisions, of the prophet ; .or in 

 other words^ the authentic traditions which have beep^ 

 preserved in numerous compilations of dicla^ factaqy.^ ; ' 

 institutavitee -exempla ; constitute a second authority of^ 

 Mahomedan law. These were not committed to. writ- 

 ing by Mahomed; but were collected after his death, by 

 tradition^ from his companions and their contemporaries. 



When neither the written nor oral law prescribes 

 rule of decision, the concurrence of the cpmpanions of' 

 Mahomed (^ji^J^a) is received by the Soonnees,. 



as a third source of legal authority: and if this also-" 

 fails, they allow the validity of reason, restricted by ana-j 

 iogy L/^ V- (Qias; in applying, by inference, the generi^^ 

 principles of law and justice, to the various transactions 



