THE PRIESTHOOD.
The Muj-ta-hid is the highest order of the priesthood but this order is
divided into four degrees. The members of the highest degree reside at
Karbala, the sacred city. The chief of this degree is called
Naib-el-emam and in the belief of Shiite Moslems he is the
representative of Mohammed. His position is the same as that of the
pope in the Roman Catholic Church; and he is believed to be infallible.
His authority extends over the entire clergy and in some respects over
government. He resides in the most holy mosque which was built on the
tombs of Hassan and Hussein, children of Ali, who were Martyrs in the
war between the Shi-ites and Sun-neh Moslems. He has power to declare
holy war. Vast sums of money are contributed into his keeping every
year which he spends in defraying the expenses of thousands of pilgrims
who flock to this shrine, and also for students who study in that
mosque. He leads a simple life but it was stated by one of the pilgrims
that he makes considerable money for his children. When this great
chief dies there is a day of lamentation throughout Persia and lords
and counts feed thousands of poor men and divide money among them. All
business is suspended for the day.
The late Shah, it is said, sent three different messengers to this high
Church official before he could get an interview, the churchman
pleading humility and unworthiness to receive the king but before the
latter departed after the interview he was charged to be a good and
faithful ruler.
The second degree in the Muj-ta-hid is called Arch-Muj-tahid. It is
composed of four priests who reside in the four places known as
Era-wa-nee Shirazee, Khorasonee and Isphahonee, and one of these
officials succeeds Na-ib-el emam at the death of the latter.
The third degree is the common Muj-ta-hid who are numerous. In my city
Oroomiah of 30,000 inhabitants there are ten or more priests of this
degree. Sometimes they are called Eulama meaning divines.
THE METHOD OF THEIR LIVING.
They are executors of civil and religious law; no man can be a judge or
lawyer unless he is a Muj-ta-hid. These priests judge such cases as the
division of property for which he charges a fee. Where the interested
parties are rich they are frequently required to appear before the
priest several times before a decision is given that he may charge them
a larger fee. As a general rule the man who pays these priest-magistrates
the most money will win the case, even if it is necessary to pervert
the law. Many a well-to-do man has been brought to poverty by the
extortions of these Muj-ta-hid. Government cannot resist them. When
lords or counts or rich people marry they charge large sums of money
for performing the ceremony. Large fees are also made for writing legal
documents in the transference of land or other valuable property. The
common people consider it a privilege to make presents to the
Muj-ta-hid. These men are usually very rich, and own one or more
beautiful palaces and have from two to four wives. Every young widow
who has beauty and riches is sought in marriage by some of the priests.
The fourth degree is called Mollah, and their office is the same as the
Protestant elder. The Mohammedans have no preaching services such as we
have except on holidays, when certain ceremonies are carried out. The
Mol-lah visit the sick, call on families, teach them prayers and
traditions and conduct funerals. Some of them teach children who come
to them each day for instruction. Their meals are provided by the
students who bring them some food, usually very choice each morning.
One dime a month is generally the tuition fee. In the fall his
parishioners who are able give him a collection of provisions for the
winter such as grapes, apples, wheat, fuel, etc. He is highly respected
in the community and is always invited out to a feast in some private
home on holidays. He writes documents for the people for which he gets
from two to ten cents, but the fee is often two or three eggs or a
basket of fruit. This is the poor Mollah's only income. Some of them
have no parish and do secular work for a living, others recite Koran on
the tomb of a lord for which they are paid by the relatives of the
deceased. I have seen one Mollah reciting Koran for fifteen years at
the tomb of a noted army officer.
There are a class of priests, more learned and devout, who work as the
revivalists of their religion. On holidays, which are quite frequent,
the mosques are crowded with worshipers, when one of these priests
mounts an elevated pulpit with great ostentation and in an impressive
voice begins to read or repeat Koran. He will chant traditions of the
prophets and martyrs and relate pathetic stories of the noble
sacrifices of departed heroes of the faith. His charming tones and
utterances have much effect on his audience and men and women weep and
beat their breasts.
THE GARMENTS OF MUJ-TA-HID.
The Muj-ta-hid wears underclothes of white linen, his long coat is made
of woolen cloth. His outer cloak is a robe that hangs to the feet. This
robe is quite expensive, being made of the fur of animals, and is dyed
yellow. They believe it a duty to wear a robe of skin as a sign of
meekness. The robes cost from $50 to $500. He wears a girdle of white
linen in many folds. His turban is large and white. The light, heelless
shoes cover only half of his feet. When he goes out he has a fine staff
in his hand, the handle being of gold or silver. From ten to twenty
servants accompany him, some stepping before, others after him. Men of
all class rise and salute him by bowing with their hands across their
breast. Many men kiss the shoes of the high Muj-ta-hids.
THE PLACE OF SAY-YIDS IN MOHAMMEDANISM.
Mohammedanism is divided into two great sects:--viz. Shiites and
Sunnites. Both hold Mohammed to be the Prophet and Savior of mankind
and Koran to be the holy bible, written by the finger of God and given
to Mohammed through the mediation of Gabriel. But they differ in their
belief as to who are the true successors of Mohammed. Shiites claim
that Ali the son-in-law and nephew of Mohammed was Caliph, while
Sunnites contend that four disciples of Mohammed were his true
successors. This difference led to war and bloodshed and gave rise to a
permanent division in Mohammedanism.
Persia generally belongs to the Shiites tribe. They receive Ali as the
Caliph after Mohammed. The descendants of Ali are therefore held in
high esteem and rank in Persia. They are called Say-yids, which means
prophets and masters and they have privileges that do not belong to
common men. They are very zealous to perpetuate their own sect. From
the time of Ali they have kept a careful record of their genealogy.
This book of testimony called Sajjara, is given from father to son and
serves as a credential to the Say-yidical tribe. Each family must have
in its possession a credential at least two hundred years old. When
these are worn by age and use their leaders may draft copies and duly
certify them.
The Say-yid's dress distinguishes him from other men. He wears a green
turban and girdle, so that he is really known whether alone or in a
throng. If a common man should presume to wear these articles of dress
he would be severely punished. The Say-yid's turban is to them more
precious than a kingly crown. It is the sign of their glory. The girdle
is a symbol of strength. Their rank is higher than all other degrees
among men and their high priest is more honored than a prince. So
Say-yid ruleth over other men. He demands and receives their honors. In
the assemblies of lords and influential men, the Say-yid occupies the
chief seats, and are always served first. Oaths of gravity are sworn by
their heads. All men fear them, believing that their curse will surely
be brought to pass. They are never smitten or reviled. If a Christian
should lift his hand against them that hand must be severed from his
body. They are exempt from legal punishment. Governors cannot impose on
them fines or imprisonments. If a Say-yid should kill a common man it
would be impossible to punish him with death for his murder. The
governor cannot punish him for it would be a sin against God; it is
believed that God created all men for the sake of Mohammed and his
descendants. A Say-yid's punishment must come through the leader of
that order.
Many vows are made to them. Parents when their daughters are sick, vow
to marry them to a Say-yid, believing that God will cure her for the
sake of the Say-yid. They generally ride on gray horses, claiming that
those of that color belong to them. They lead the large pilgrim
caravans, which go every year to worship at the tomb of Ali. Their
presence is believed to protect the caravans from thieves and robbers.
Their law gives them authority over the property of other men. They are
masters while others are peasants. Sometimes they smite and punish
other men without mercy. By their law one-tenth of all property belongs
to them. Generally they do not work, but live well, because of their
position as Say-yids or holy men. The more noble of them will sit in
their houses and receive tithes of the fruits, coffee, tea and money of
the surrounding people. If these tithes are not freely given a servant
will be sent with authority to demand and take same. The less noble of
the Say-yids go personally to the homes vineyards and gardens and
gather their portion. Sometimes there might be seen no less than ten
Say-yids going to vineyards for this purpose. Generally they ask
nothing from Christians, as their law restrains them and they are
ashamed to ask of other religions.
I once met a Say-yid in my father's vineyard and he asked a portion. I
refused, telling him that I myself was also a Say-yid _i.e._, a
Christian Say-yid, and asked if one Say-yid should receive something
from another. He laughed, and said: "yes sir, sometimes." I gave him
three pounds of raisins. These Say-yids are in only the Shiites branch
of Islam. In later years their honor is decreased; the government is
against them. Some of them are very religious. Two of them in the city
of Ispha-han were converted to Christianity and suffered martyrdom. One
has been converted to Christianity in my city, Oroomiah. He is one of
the most spiritual men among Christians.
THE DARWISHES.
Shiites Mohammedanism rests upon two pillars one of which is Darwishes.
This is one of the most holy orders of the Musalmans. It corresponds to
the monasticism of Christianity. It contains several degrees, such as
asceticism, mandicanism, etc. It is a volunteer consecration to Allah
and his prophet, except in cases in which parents had dedicated their
sons to the order. There are numerous instances in which women without
children made a vow to Allah that if given a son they would consecrate
him to God to be a Darwish. This order contains members from all
classes, high and low, rich and poor, and even from the royal family.
Celibacy is not required but they are taught that it is far better for
them not to marry.
[Illustration: HIGH-CLASS DERVISH.]
THEIR CHARACTER.
A Darwish is expected to be and usually is humble, kind and liberal,
ready to serve any man. He must suffer all the trouble of life and live
in an humble condition because this is holiness. He is required to be
well informed in all religious stories, tradition, and Koran, and
particularly in the poetical writings of Maw-le-wee order, which is
their own order, founded by An-wa-ree the father of the Darwishes. Some
of the members know from one to five thousand of these sacred poems.
Most of them are sufficiently educated to read. The Darwishes are the
most faithful, honest and pure of all the followers of Mohammed. In all
my life I have never heard of a single immoral Darwish. Some of them
are very intelligent and well educated and familiar with all their
religious rites. On the other hand they are very superstitious,
fanatical and ambitious to propagate their religion, believing it to be
a true religion. They are free to discuss their faith with all men in a
kind spirit. In a discussion with one of them he could not answer me
but proposed that we prove the truth of our religion by both entering a
burning fire, and the one who came out unharmed would have the true
religion. I told him to enter the fire and if he was not burned I would
believe in his religion and become a Mohammedan. He did not dare do it
and was ashamed.
THE NATURE OF THEIR SERVICE.
The darwishes' work is to tell stories, tales and traditions during
week days in the streets. Friday is holy day among Mohammedans and is
to be observed in worshiping God. The darwishes begin at one o'clock
P.M. on that day singing poems on the streets and continue until
evening. Their poems are for the glory and honor of Mohammed and Ali,
for they believe these two men were the supreme creation of God. One of
their poems reads as follows:
"The first of creatures is Ali; the supreme of beings is Ali; the true
calif of the prophet all is Ali; the lord of all the world is Ali; the
lord of my soul is Ali."
The darwishes wear long hair, and a pointed orange shape cap, a cloak
of patch work and a long white robe and in his right hand a tomahawk
with a fancy handle with some poems written on the blade. In the other
hand is held a kashkul for the collection of money. These are the
rituals of his office. A dozen or more of them may be seen on every
street, not far from each other, standing in front of the stores
singing some poems for the praise of Ali in a loud voice, and with an
earnest and enthusiastic spirit. Then he will pass his kashkul and the
shopman will drop in it from one to three pennies and sometimes only a
bit of sugar or ginger. Any gift is acceptable. One passing in the
streets hears voices of base, tenor, etc, some rough, some clear as the
sound of a bell of gold making an attractive melody. Sometimes they
sing two by two, one for the praise of Mohammed, the other for the
praise of Ali. Once I heard a darwish singing a poem to the praise of
Ali, and when he had finished another responded near by singing to the
praise of Mohammed in the following words: "He (Mohammed) has attained
to the supremacy of his personal holiness; he has enlightened the
darkness by personal beauty; beautiful are all his deeds. The blessings
of God be upon him and upon all his children." Some darwishes travel
over all Persia, spending a short time in each city they visit doing
their work.
The cap which the darwish wears has embroidered upon it a verse from
Koran and signifies his consecration to the service of Allah. The
kashkul is a box in which to collect money for the poor and sick. The
white robe is a sign of purity. The sheepskin on his shoulder is a sign
of meekness. The beads on his neck are to remind him of the duty of
prayer. The tomahawk is a sign of war and victory for his prophet and
Allah. Those who have excelled in their holy service go to their leader
and he places on the skin of the right shoulder of the darwish an
inscription which remains as a sign of consecration and honor.
There is a low class of darwishes who are very ignorant, superstitious
and fanatical and are like beggars. They pitch their tents at the gates
of rich people and will not go away until they have been satisfied with
money. Sometimes a large crowd of this class will gather in a mosque
and spend several hours in howling unto Allah and the prophets until
made weary by the exertion.
When the good darwish goes home Friday evening he will have gathered
some money and also provisions, such as tea, coffee, sugar etc. He will
keep for himself and family enough to last one week; the remainder is
given to the poor.
THEIR PLACE IN MOHAMMEDAN RELIGION.
The darwish is highly respected by all classes from the royal family to
the most humble. No man dares to beat or lay hands on one of them, as
it would be considered a great crime. In case a darwish does wrong or
commits crime the government does not punish him but refers the matter
to the leader of the order. Sometimes they are called Kallander, which
means humble and holy men of Allah. They are exempted from paying tax
and from military service. Many presents are given to them by the
people. The salutation is different from the common people. The first
says, "Ya-ho" which means: "O living God"; the response is "Ya-mal-ho,"
which means: "O God the Giver of life."
So it is plain that the darwishes are one of the two pillars that
support Islamism. Thank God we have some darwishes converted to
Christianity.