DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4646#0097
97
says, there were many Sliias in India, and the subsequent authorities!
describe them as few, and what I suggest is, that like many others,!
the family of this old man living among Sunis, may through fear,i
though originally Shias, have outwardly conformed to Sunyism.1
Wherever there was a majority of Sunis, a bloodthirsty and fanatic
people, ever ready to turn out in arms and destroy the heretics on the
slightest hint that the Suni faith had been insulted, the Sliia minor-
ity would be^ led to lay aside, and perhaps in a generation or two forget
their faith. The Khojas in Bombay were always small in number com-
pared with the Sunis, and being timid in character like all the Hindoo
races, in the presence of genuine Moslems they easily submitted to'
pressure.
In further confirmation of my contention that the Khojas were always
Shias, I point to their observances in regard to the Mohurrum, and
their mourning for Hassan and Hosein, which so far as it is a genuine
mourning is essentially a Sliia institution. In Chardin's Travels we
read- of the way in which the Mohurrum is observed by the Shias of
Persia. They lament, beat their breasts and really mourn.
The Judge. Yes, we read the same thing in Porter's elaborate
account of what he saw at Teheran ; that was written in 1818. And
Watson in his recently published History of Persia, describes the
magnificent dramatic representations of the sufferings and the death
of Ali. According to all the accounts 1 have read, the Persians
appear to be affected by the representation of the Mohurrum, in the
most wonderful manner.
Mr. Howaed. Similar feeling is manifested by the audience at
the representation of the Passion at Ammergau in the Tyrol. The
Sunis of Bombay observe the Mohurrum also, but not in the same
spirit that the Shias do. They carry about what purports to be the
tomb of Hussan, but as a mere empty show, and they only pretend
to be mourning. In a book relating to the natives of Bombay there
is a very elaborate description of the Bombay Mohurrum, and the
author states that the taboots are intended by the Sunis as a great
pantomime, and ludicrous exhibition, while the Shias regard the
anniversary as a most solemn season of mourning and would be deeply
scandalized at any one who should make merry over the death of
their martyrs. One piece of fun practiced by the Sunis on the taboot
day, is to dress as fakeers and scatter obscene ribaldry on all sides.
13
says, there were many Sliias in India, and the subsequent authorities!
describe them as few, and what I suggest is, that like many others,!
the family of this old man living among Sunis, may through fear,i
though originally Shias, have outwardly conformed to Sunyism.1
Wherever there was a majority of Sunis, a bloodthirsty and fanatic
people, ever ready to turn out in arms and destroy the heretics on the
slightest hint that the Suni faith had been insulted, the Sliia minor-
ity would be^ led to lay aside, and perhaps in a generation or two forget
their faith. The Khojas in Bombay were always small in number com-
pared with the Sunis, and being timid in character like all the Hindoo
races, in the presence of genuine Moslems they easily submitted to'
pressure.
In further confirmation of my contention that the Khojas were always
Shias, I point to their observances in regard to the Mohurrum, and
their mourning for Hassan and Hosein, which so far as it is a genuine
mourning is essentially a Sliia institution. In Chardin's Travels we
read- of the way in which the Mohurrum is observed by the Shias of
Persia. They lament, beat their breasts and really mourn.
The Judge. Yes, we read the same thing in Porter's elaborate
account of what he saw at Teheran ; that was written in 1818. And
Watson in his recently published History of Persia, describes the
magnificent dramatic representations of the sufferings and the death
of Ali. According to all the accounts 1 have read, the Persians
appear to be affected by the representation of the Mohurrum, in the
most wonderful manner.
Mr. Howaed. Similar feeling is manifested by the audience at
the representation of the Passion at Ammergau in the Tyrol. The
Sunis of Bombay observe the Mohurrum also, but not in the same
spirit that the Shias do. They carry about what purports to be the
tomb of Hussan, but as a mere empty show, and they only pretend
to be mourning. In a book relating to the natives of Bombay there
is a very elaborate description of the Bombay Mohurrum, and the
author states that the taboots are intended by the Sunis as a great
pantomime, and ludicrous exhibition, while the Shias regard the
anniversary as a most solemn season of mourning and would be deeply
scandalized at any one who should make merry over the death of
their martyrs. One piece of fun practiced by the Sunis on the taboot
day, is to dress as fakeers and scatter obscene ribaldry on all sides.
13