We now come to the second great heretic group, the Sefatians. The Sefatians (attri butionists) held a precisely contrary view to that of the Motazilites. With them, God's attributes, whether essential or operative, or what they afterwards called declarative or historical, i.e., used in historical narration (eyes, face, hand), anthropomorphisms, in fact, were considered eternal. But here, again; lay the germs for more dissensions and more sects in their own midst. Some taking this notion of God's attributes in a strictly literal sense, assumed a likeness between God and created things; others giving it a more allegorical interpretation, Without, however, entering into any particulars beyond the reiterated doctrine, that God bad no companion or similitude. The different sects into which they split were, first, the Asharians, so called from Abul Hasan al Ashari, who, at first a Motazilite, disagreed with his masters on the point of God's being bound to do always that which is best. He became the founder Cf a new school, which held (1) that God's attributes are to be held distinct from his essence, and that any literal understand ing of the words that stand for God's limbs in the Koran is reprehensible. (2) That pre destination must be taken in its most literal meaning, i.e., that God preordains every thing. The opinions on this point of man's free will are, however, much divided, as indeed to combine a predestination which ordains every act with man's free choice is not easy; and the older authors hold it is well not to inquire too minutely into these things, lest all precepts, both positive and negative, be argued away. The middle path, adopted by the greater munher of the doctors, is expressed in this formula: There is neither com pulsion nor free liberty, but the way lies between the two; the power and will being both created by God, though the merit or guilt be imputed to man. Regarding mortal sin, it was held by this sect that if a believer die guilty of it without repentance, he will not; for all that, always remain a denizen of bell. God will either pardon him, or the prophet will intercede on his behalf, as lie says in the Koran: "My intercession shall be employed for those among my people who shall have been guilty of grievous crimes;" and further, that he in whose heart there is faith but of the weight of an ant, shall be delivered from hell-fire. From this more philosophical opinion, however,' departed a number of other Sefatian sects, who, taking the Koranic words more literally, trans formed God's attributes into grossly corporeal things, like the Mossliabehites, or Assimi lators, who conceived God to be a figure composed of limbs like those of created beings, either of a bodily or spiritual nature, capable of local motion,•ascent, or descent, etc. The notions of some actually went so far as to declare God to be "hollow from the crown of the head to the breast, and solid from the breast downward ; he also had black curled hair." Another subdivision of this sect were the Jabarians, who deny to man all free agency, and make all his deeds dependent on God. Their name indicates their religious tendency sufficiently, meaning " Necessitarian's?: The third principal division of "heretical sects" is form ad by the Kharejites, or "rebels" from the lawful prince—i.e., Ali—the first of whom were the 12,000 men who fell away from MITI after having fought under him at the battle of Seffein, taking offense at his submitting the decision of his right to the caliphate (against Moawiyah) to arbitra tion. Their " heresy" consisted, first, in their holding. that any man might be called to the Imamat though he belong to the Koreish, nor was- dven a freeman, provided lie was a just and pious man, and fit in every other respect. It also followed that an unrighteous Imam 'night be deposed, or even put to death; and further, that there was no absolute necessity for any Imam in the world.
Of the fourth principal sect, the Shiites, 'or "Sectaries," the followers of Ali Ibn Abi Tffleb, we have spoken under that special heading.
It remains Only to mention a few of the many pseudo-prophets who arose from time to time in the bosom of Islam, drawing a certain number of adherents around them, and threatening to undermine the church founded by Mohammed, by either declaring themselves his legal successors, or completely renouncing his doctrines. The first, and
most prominent among these, was Mostlylima (q.v.). Next to him stands Al-Aswad. originally called MUM, of the tribe of A118; of which, as well as of that of a number of other tribes, lie was governor. He pretended to receive certain revelations from two angels, Sohaik and Sboraik. Certain feats of legerdemain, and a natural eloquence, procured him a number of followers, by whose aid he made himself master of several provinces. A counter-revolution, however, broke out the night before Mohammed's death, and Al-Aswad's head was cut off; whereby an end was put to a rebellion of exactly four mouths' duration, but already assuming large proportions. In the same year (11 Hegira), but after Mohammed's death, a man named Toleilia 'set up as prophet, but with'very little success. He, his tribe and followers, were met in open battle by Elialid, at the head of the troops of the faithful, and being beaten, had all finally to submit to Islam.
A few words ought also to be said regarding the " veiled prophet," Al-Mokanna, or Borkai, whose real name was Hakem Ibn Hashem, at the time of Al-Mohdi, the third Abbaside caliph. He used to hide the deformity of his face (he had also but one eye) by a gilded mask, a circumstance which his followers explained by the splendor of his countenance being too brilliant (like that of Moses) to be borne by ordinary mortals. Being a proficient in jugglery besides„ which went for the power of working miracles, be soon drew many disciples and followers around him. At last he arrogated the office of the Deity itself, which, by continual transmigrations from Adam downward, had at last resided in the body of Abu Moslem, the governor of Khorassan, whose secretary this new prophet had been. The caliph, finding him growing more and more formidable every day, sent a force against him, which drove him back into one of his strongest fortresses, where he first poisoned and then burned all his family; after which he threw himself into the flames, which consumed him completely. except his hair. He had left a message, however, to the effect that he would reappear in the shape of a gray man riding on a gray beast, and many of his followers for many years after expected his reappearance. They wore, as a distinguishing mark, nothing but white gartnents. He died about the middle of the 2d c. Hegira.
Of the Karmathians and the Ismatlis, we have spoken under these special headings. We eau scarcely enumerate among the prophets Abul Teyeb Ahmed Al-Motanebbi. one of the most celebrated Arabic poets, who mistook, or pretended to mistake, his poetical inspirations for the divine afflatus, and caused several tribes to style him prophet, as his surname indicates, and to acknowledge his mission. The governor of his province, Lfi10, took the promptest steps to stifle any such pretensions m the bud, by imprisoning him, and making him formally renounce all Osumi pretensions to a prophetical office. The poet did so with all speed. He was richly rewarded by the court and many princes for his minstrelsy, to which henceforth he clung exclusively; but the riches he this accumulated became the cause of his death. Robbers attacked him while he was return ing to his home in Kula, there to live upon the treasure bestowed upon him by Ada •io'ddawla, sultan of Persia.—The last of these new prophets to be mentioned is Baba, who appeared in Amasia, in Natalia, in 638 Hegira, and who had immense success. chiefly with the Turkmans, his own nation, so that at last lie found himself at the head of nearly a million men, horse and foot. Their war-cry was, God is God, and Baba— not Mohammed—is his prophet. It was not until both Christians and Mohammedans combined for the purpose of self-defense, that this new and most formidable power was annihilated, its armies being routed and put to the sword, while the two chiefs were decapitated by the executioner.