A literary history of Persia

THE ULTRA-SHf'ITES 311[who believe that the Deity can pass into a human form], theTandsukhiyya [who hold the doctrine of Metempsychosis], the Jews,and the Christians. For the Jews liken the Creator to the creature,while the Christians liken the creature to the Creator. And theseanthropomorphic tendencies have so infected the minds of theseultra-Shi'ites that they ascribe Divine virtues to some of theirImams. This anthropomorphism belongs primarily and essentiallyto the Shi'a, and only subsequently was adopted by certain of theSunnis. . . . The heretical doctrines of the ultra-Shi'ites are four :Anthropomorphism (tashbih), change of [Divine] Purpose (bada),return [of the Imam ; rij'at], and Metempsychosis (tandsukh). Inevery land they bear different names; in Isfahan they are calledKhurramiyya and Ki'idiyya, in Ray Mazdakiyya and Sinbddiyya, inAdharbayjan Dhaqriliyya, in some places Muhammira (wearing redas their badge), and ill Transoxiana Mubayyida (wearing white astheirbadge)."These ultra-Shi'ite sects, then, which we have now to consider,and which, under the leadership of Sinbadh the Magian,al-Muqanna* " the Veiled Prophet of Khurasan," Babalc, andothers, caused such commotion in Persia during this period,do but reassert, like the later Isma'ilis, Batinis, Carmathians,Assassins, and Hurufis, the same essential doctrines of Anthropomorphism,Incarnation, Re-incarnation or " Return," andMetempsychosis which doctrines ; appear to be endemic inPersia, and always ready to become epidemic under a suitablestimulus. In our own days they appeared again in theBabi movement, of which, especiallyin its earlier form(A.D. 1844-1852), they constituted the essential kernel;though in later time, under the guidance of Baha'u'lldh(t A.D. 1892) and now of his son 'Abbas Efcndi "the MostGreat Branch" (who appears to be regarded by his followersas a " Return " of Jesus Christ, and is so considered by thenow fairlynumerous adherents of this doctrine in America),they have been relegated to a subordinate, or at least a lessconspicuous, position. The resemblance < between thesenumerous sects, whose history can be clearlytraced throughthe last eleven centuries and a half,is most remarkable, and