Page 220 - PERSIAN 2 1879_1883

50 ADMINISTRATION KKrORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
Those who do the right, whether written or unwritten should
receive support. ' a
It is necessary to be clear of the errors of the sect of i\
Sefritiych,* who believe that persons who indulge in things forbidden
by God and violate his prohibitions, may still be in the faith; and who
doubt his promises and warnings.
The false doctrine of the sect called Morjiyehf arc also renounced
bv the believers (IMdhi), for they pretend that God will punish them
for a limited period, after which he will release them from torment, and
cause them to enter paradise, receiving them after being angered against
them.
Let the errors of the sect Slu’ah be repudiated; they who pretend
that God has commanded recognition of vicc-regents, executors of His
will on earth, and obedience to them.
They believe that God bas bestowed on these vice-regents (notwith­
standing they be sinners treading the paths of error) power and
dominion on earth, and that those who acknowledge and follow the
vice-regents are pardoued their sins through their merits.
The false doctrines also must be shunned of those who assert the
Koran to have an outward and apparent, and an inward and hidden
meaning, the former known to mankind
i.e., Exoteric and Esoteric.
in general, but the latter only to God's
inspired vice-regents, by whom it is revealed to their faithful followers.
They hold also that God at no time leaves the world without an inspired
vice-regent. These are the tenets of the Isinailiyeh, J a sect of the
Rafidhis. The latter are heretics who deny Abu Bekr and 'Omar, calling
them oppressors who kept the rightful heirs from the Imaniate. As
to the vicars of God on earth, they believe that a man§ will appear in
the latter days, bringing verifications of their sayings.
Another set of errors is needful to be avoided, that of those who, like
the Azarekeb ||, assert that persons dwelling in abodes, not governed
by the rules sent down by God*J, will not be accepted of God. That
their good deeds will not avail them; nor are any such meet for reward;
neither are their sins forgiven. They assert that God will not excuse
any for remaining therein unless they remove, and that those who die
before removal are infidels; but that those who have removed even
though they be murderers or adulterers, or thieves, are Muslims, and
have their reward with God, and that in the abode to which they have
removed, none shall be accounted impious or wicked; it is even as ^they

• The Scfitians or 44 attribulists” comprise Asbairiaus, Mushebbeliites, Kerimi***1*
Jabirians, and Horjuna.
f The Morj Cans relj on faith alone.
J Ismailians called by the crura dors “assassins** from 44 Hash (shin,**
of Hashish. The word assassin is said to have been so introduced into the Engli**
language.
$ •*, MahdL
1} Airekites, so called from Xafa-hin-Azrelr, e sect formerly found ei Knteef.
T countries or dwellings of infidels, or Dar-el-Harb.