DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4646#0018
18
of the two parties is right theologically, we need not contend. If the
present enquiry was as to the religious teaching of a charitable school
or college, it might be necessary to examine into the true construc-
tion of Koranic texts, but here------
The Judge : You can relieve yourself from the necessity for
going into that, Mr. Howard.
Mr. Howard : I am much obliged to your Lordship. I will leave
that point, but as also charges of immorality have been made against
the Shias at great length, I must be allowed to answer those charges,
though shortly. In order to do this-------
The Judge : I merely point out to you that, sitting here as Judge,
I disclaim any capacity for forming a Judgment between the theology
of the two sects. I do not at all wish to shorten your observations
to replying to Mr. Anstey's speech.
Mr. PIoward : The charge of immorality is almost equally ir-
relevant in this suit with that of heresy, but as it was made at great
length, I must answer it, in justice to my clients. For that purpose
I shall first consider Mr. Anstey's historical sketch of the sects of
Islam, which I think was neither very correct, nor very clear, owing
to the absence of dates and places.
After the death of the Prophet's son-in-law, Ali, and his two sons,
who were murdered in A. D. 660, the family of Ali fell into obscurity.
"Under the Ommiads, they could, of course, have no political influence,
but the living head of the family was revered in the highst sense by
his secret adherents, under the title of Imdm. This term originally
meant a person who presides at religious worship. But the followers
of Ali understood it in a far higher sense, as .signifying, semi-Divine
teacher. Hence they were called " Imamies." The Aliites
did not in those early days bear the name of Shias. They called
themselves " the Just," and the other party, who were in power,
were stigmatised as " Rafezis" or " separatists." They never lost
the hope of recovering the Khalifat, and looked for the appearance of
a Messiah who was to deliver them from oppression. The house of
Ommiad lost no opportunity of persecuting the family of Ali, and
did their worst to crush them. After the death of Imam Jafr Sadek,
in A. D. 769, the sect of " Ismailies" arose, who traced the Imaruic
succession through Ismail, Jafr's son, who died in his father's life-
time. Jafr seems to have been a very devout person, and given
of the two parties is right theologically, we need not contend. If the
present enquiry was as to the religious teaching of a charitable school
or college, it might be necessary to examine into the true construc-
tion of Koranic texts, but here------
The Judge : You can relieve yourself from the necessity for
going into that, Mr. Howard.
Mr. Howard : I am much obliged to your Lordship. I will leave
that point, but as also charges of immorality have been made against
the Shias at great length, I must be allowed to answer those charges,
though shortly. In order to do this-------
The Judge : I merely point out to you that, sitting here as Judge,
I disclaim any capacity for forming a Judgment between the theology
of the two sects. I do not at all wish to shorten your observations
to replying to Mr. Anstey's speech.
Mr. PIoward : The charge of immorality is almost equally ir-
relevant in this suit with that of heresy, but as it was made at great
length, I must answer it, in justice to my clients. For that purpose
I shall first consider Mr. Anstey's historical sketch of the sects of
Islam, which I think was neither very correct, nor very clear, owing
to the absence of dates and places.
After the death of the Prophet's son-in-law, Ali, and his two sons,
who were murdered in A. D. 660, the family of Ali fell into obscurity.
"Under the Ommiads, they could, of course, have no political influence,
but the living head of the family was revered in the highst sense by
his secret adherents, under the title of Imdm. This term originally
meant a person who presides at religious worship. But the followers
of Ali understood it in a far higher sense, as .signifying, semi-Divine
teacher. Hence they were called " Imamies." The Aliites
did not in those early days bear the name of Shias. They called
themselves " the Just," and the other party, who were in power,
were stigmatised as " Rafezis" or " separatists." They never lost
the hope of recovering the Khalifat, and looked for the appearance of
a Messiah who was to deliver them from oppression. The house of
Ommiad lost no opportunity of persecuting the family of Ali, and
did their worst to crush them. After the death of Imam Jafr Sadek,
in A. D. 769, the sect of " Ismailies" arose, who traced the Imaruic
succession through Ismail, Jafr's son, who died in his father's life-
time. Jafr seems to have been a very devout person, and given