1877.] 
of Eastern Turhistdn. 
825 
EXTEACTS 
From the Tazkiratu-’l Bughra. 
(Literal translation.) 
Extract I. 
At* At* vU. 
< 7 ^ *7v* 'TV' W W -tv* 
One day a disciple^ of the holy Abu-an-nasar Samani inquired : “ Oh; 
Eeverend man, so much goods and wealthf being (in your possession), 
why do you (lit. they) carry on commerce ?” he said : Then the holy Kh’a- 
jah Abu-an-nasr Samani said : “ Oh disciple, you say well; hut since I have 
come to my wits I have never at any time set aside the traditions of the Holy 
Prophet of God. Therefore I do not choose to neglect them (lit. the 
neglecting them). When I go out on a journey (lit. in my going out to 
a journey) by paying customs (lit. having given customs), I cause advan¬ 
tage to Musalmans ; should I abandon trade I should remain excluded 
from the merit of paying customs.” 
And again he spoke : “ Oh disciples, have ye not heard this story ? 
One day the Prophet of God had sat down in the Blessed Mosque. Several 
indigent companions (of the Prophet) came in (lit. having entered, came). 
They said : ‘ Oh Prophet of God, other companions (of thine) (who are) 
rich, pay customs. To us also command some work that may obtain (for 
us) the merit of customs (paying), (that) we also having done that work 
may obtain the merit of customs (paying).’ Thus they petitioned (lit. 
having said they made petition). 
“ The Holy Prophet said : ‘ Oh poor companions, daily the service of 
morning prayer having been recited, if you say thirty-three times ‘ Subhan- 
allah thirty-three times ‘ Al-hamdu- l Illah thirty-three times 1 Alla- 
Im alibar ten times 1 La Ilaha ilV Allah , wahdahu , la-sharika lahu, 
lahu'l-mulhu, wa lahu-l-hamdu wa luia ala hulli shai-in qadirj% ye will 
obtain the merit of giving customs. (Thus) saying he commanded.” 
“ These indigent companions remained very happy. Some days after 
the rich companions having heard, they also recited (the words). These 
poor companions having again come into the presence of the Holy Prophet 
of God, said : 1 Oh Prophet of God, the rich companions also having recited 
the prayers which we have to recite (lit. the us-to-be-recited prayers), 
are obtaining the merits of these also !’ thus they represented. 
* Here the word “ disciple” is put in the plural out of respect, although a single 
one is indicated by the word Mr “one.” This is a very common usage. Abu-an- 
nasr seems to have lived in the 4th century after Muhammad. 
f Lit. “ to that extent goods and wealth having stood.” 
+ There is no Divinity hut Allah alone. He has no partner ; Dominion is His, 
and praise is His, and His power extends over all. A. 
