Meer Hassan Ali, B.: Observations on the Mussulmauns of India: descriptive of their manners, customs, habits, and religious opinions ; made during a twelve years residence in their immediate Society (Band 1) (London, 1832)

BRIDGE OP SIRRAAT. 139

compiled by Mahumud Baakur, first in Arabic,
and afterwards translated by him into the Per-
sian language, for the benefit of the public ;
and is of great antiquity—I cannot now ascer-
tain the exact date.

The Mussulmaun belief on the subject of
the resurrection is, " When the fulness of time
cometh, of which no man knoweth, then shall
the earth be destroyed by fire—and after this
will be the resurrection of the dead."

The branches emanating from the roots of
the Mussulmaun faith will require further
explanation which shall follow in due course.
I will in this letter merely add what is meant
by the Bridge of Sirraat, the Scales, and Look-
ing into the Book as noted in the burial ser-
vice.

" The Bridge of Sirraat," they understand, is
to be passed over by every person in their pas-
sage to eternity, and is represented sharp as the
keenest sword.* The righteous will be gifted
with power to pass over with the rapidity of
lightning, neither harm nor inconvenience will

* May not this be a poetical symbol, similar to the scythe.