EXPLANATORY NOTES.
“Shams-i-Tabriz.”—To this day the Shrine of this saint is to be seen in Mūltān. He lived in the time of the Emperor Shah Jehan, who had a passion for building tombs and palaces. The well-known “Taj Mahal” was erected in his reign, A.D. 1627 to 1657.
This tale can hardly be classed as “Folk-lore,” but it was given as tradition, and it is interesting as indicating the element of superstition which has come to be embodied with what is actual matter of fact.
Shams-i-Tabriz was a Sufi philosopher, and the leader of Jalal-ud-din, and tradition says that he was flayed alive at Mūltān.
The Sufi doctrines are well known both in India and Turkey, and are followed to this day, and they rest all their system of morality upon the practice of Divine love, and the Fakirs are their exponents.
Sufis have laid down the following rules for their disciples:
Hear, attend, but speak little.
Never answer a question not addressed to you, but if asked answer promptly, and never be ashamed to say “I know not.”
Do not dispute for disputation’s sake.
Never boast before your elders.
Never seek the highest place, nor even accept it if offered to you.
Do not be over ceremonious.
Observe in all cases the etiquette appropriate to the time, place, and persons present.
In indifferent matters conform to the practice and wishes of those with whom you are associating.
Do not make a practice of anything which is not either a duty or calculated to increase the comfort of your associates, otherwise it will become an “idol” to you, and it is incumbent on everyone to break his “idols,” and renounce his habits.
(See Hughes’ “Dictionary of Islam.”)
It has been said by Major Osborne in his “Islam under the Khalifs of Baghdad,” that the spread of this Pan-theistic spirit has done harm to the Mahomedans; and that the true function of religion is to vivify and illuminate all the ordinary relations of life with light from a Higher world. The weakness to which religious minds are peculiarly prone is to suppose that this world of working life is an atmosphere too gross and impure for them to live in. They attempt to fashion a world for themselves where nothing shall soil the purity of the soul, or disturb the serenity of their thoughts.
“Tabriz.”—Is the chief town of the Persian province of Azerbijān, or as some call it Adebaijan, the ancient city “Media Atropotene,” so called from Atropates who after the death of Alexander made himself independent. Mount Ararat rises on the N.W. border, or as the Persians call it “Koh-e-Nuh,” or Noah’s Mountain.
“Bhāgpūr.”—Bhāg is the Sanscrit for “destiny,” and Pūr is the Sanscrit for a City, as also is Pūra.
“Sultān.”—This is the Arabic title for a King or Emperor, but sometimes is applied to saints and martyrs, as for instance, Sultān Surwar, an eminent Mahomedan Saint whose shrine is at Baluch, not far from Mūltān, and who was distinguished for his purity of manners. At his tomb it is narrated several miracles were performed. (See “Araesh-e-Muhfil.”)
It may be added here that several sayings are attributed to Shams-i-Tabriz such as the following:
Badshâh noonh bheek mangâwânh
Mangla noonh takht Bahâwânh
Pul vich “oolut pullut” kurr sathân
Dhun Hookum merah sirdahi dhâh
TRANSLATION.
Kings I can bring to beggary;
Beggars I can place upon a throne.
In a moment I can dissolve all things;
For mine are the orders of supremacy.
Burton says that the people of Mūltān slew him in order to keep his body with them, but we can trace no local tradition as to this.