The third degree is the common Muj-ta-hid who are numerous. In my city Oroomiah of 30,000 inhabitants there are ten or more priests of this degree. Sometimes they are called Eulama meaning divines.
THE METHOD OF THEIR LIVING.
They are executors of civil and religious law; no man can be a judge or lawyer unless he is a Muj-ta-hid. These priests judge such cases as the division of property for which he charges a fee. Where the interested parties are rich they are frequently required to appear before the priest several times before a decision is given that he may charge them a larger fee. As a general rule the man who pays these priest-magistrates the most money will win the case, even if it is necessary to pervert the law. Many a well-to-do man has been brought to poverty by the extortions of these Muj-ta-hid. Government cannot resist them. When lords or counts or rich people marry they charge large sums of money for performing the ceremony. Large fees are also made for writing legal documents in the transference of land or other valuable property. The common people consider it a privilege to make presents to the Muj-ta-hid. These men are usually very rich, and own one or more beautiful palaces and have from two to four wives. Every young widow who has beauty and riches is sought in marriage by some of the priests.
The fourth degree is called Mollah, and their office is the same as the Protestant elder. The Mohammedans have no preaching services such as we have except on holidays, when certain ceremonies are carried out. The Mol-lah visit the sick, call on families, teach them prayers and traditions and conduct funerals. Some of them teach children who come to them each day for instruction. Their meals are provided by the students who bring them some food, usually very choice each morning. One dime a month is generally the tuition fee. In the fall his parishioners who are able give him a collection of provisions for the winter such as grapes, apples, wheat, fuel, etc. He is highly respected in the community and is always invited out to a feast in some private home on holidays. He writes documents for the people for which he gets from two to ten cents, but the fee is often two or three eggs or a basket of fruit. This is the poor Mollah's only income. Some of them have no parish and do secular work for a living, others recite Koran on the tomb of a lord for which they are paid by the relatives of the deceased. I have seen one Mollah reciting Koran for fifteen years at the tomb of a noted army officer.
There are a class of priests, more learned and devout, who work as the revivalists of their religion. On holidays, which are quite frequent, the mosques are crowded with worshipers, when one of these priests mounts an elevated pulpit with great ostentation and in an impressive voice begins to read or repeat Koran. He will chant traditions of the prophets and martyrs and relate pathetic stories of the noble sacrifices of departed heroes of the faith. His charming tones and utterances have much effect on his audience and men and women weep and beat their breasts.
THE GARMENTS OF MUJ-TA-HID.
The Muj-ta-hid wears underclothes of white linen, his long coat is made of woolen cloth. His outer cloak is a robe that hangs to the feet. This robe is quite expensive, being made of the fur of animals, and is dyed yellow. They believe it a duty to wear a robe of skin as a sign of meekness. The robes cost from $50 to $500. He wears a girdle of white linen in many folds. His turban is large and white. The light, heelless shoes cover only half of his feet. When he goes out he has a fine staff in his hand, the handle being of gold or silver. From ten to twenty servants accompany him, some stepping before, others after him. Men of all class rise and salute him by bowing with their hands across their breast. Many men kiss the shoes of the high Muj-ta-hids.
THE PLACE OF SAY-YIDS IN MOHAMMEDANISM.
Mohammedanism is divided into two great sects:—viz. Shiites and Sunnites. Both hold Mohammed to be the Prophet and Savior of mankind and Koran to be the holy bible, written by the finger of God and given to Mohammed through the mediation of Gabriel. But they differ in their belief as to who are the true successors of Mohammed. Shiites claim that Ali the son-in-law and nephew of Mohammed was Caliph, while Sunnites contend that four disciples of Mohammed were his true successors. This difference led to war and bloodshed and gave rise to a permanent division in Mohammedanism.
Persia generally belongs to the Shiites tribe. They receive Ali as the Caliph after Mohammed. The descendants of Ali are therefore held in high esteem and rank in Persia. They are called Say-yids, which means prophets and masters and they have privileges that do not belong to common men. They are very zealous to perpetuate their own sect. From the time of Ali they have kept a careful record of their genealogy. This book of testimony called Sajjara, is given from father to son and serves as a credential to the Say-yidical tribe. Each family must have in its possession a credential at least two hundred years old. When these are worn by age and use their leaders may draft copies and duly certify them.