‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎214v] (435/722)

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<{ Priesthood. —The priesthood of Persia have few distinct usages. Their
occupation enjoins plainness of dress, and forbids the vanity and display to
which other persons in this country are so much attached. They are almost
all Saiyids—an appellation which marks their claim to a descent from the
Prophet of Arabia. The lower ranks of this class are seldom so much
entitled to respect as the higher; and the order of priesthood in Persia
is degraded by a crowd of persons, who are, or pretend to be, Saiyids, and
who assume the name of ‘ haji 3 (a term which denotes ‘ a pilgrim to Mecca’),
as also that of mulla, or ‘'learned man/ and beg, or rather demand, alms,
on the ground of their holy character. These persons, who are remarkable
for their low cunning and impudence, may be said to live upon the charity
of the other classes of the community, by whom they are in general feared
and despised. In every tale in which roguery is described, we meet with
the name of a mulla, saiyid, or haji. Though many of the priesthood are
respected on account of their personal merit, they do not, as a body, enjoy
that consideration which they possess in some other Muhammadan nations;
but the respect which is denied to the order, as a body, is granted to
individuals. The principal ‘ mujtahids/* or ( high priests of Persia/ are held
in great estimation. The most powerful as well as the weakest of the
monarchs of that country have equally sought to conciliate their good
opinion. We read in the history of Abbas the Great, that a person com
plained to Mulla Ahmad, the mujtahid of Ardabil, that the king had taken
his sister by force into his harem. The holy man immediately gave him a
note to the following effect: ‘ Brother Abbas, restore to the bearer his
sister/ The king commanded the woman to be instantly given up and,
showing the note he had received to his courtiers, said aloud— f Let this
be put into my shroud, for, on the day of judgment, having been called
brother by Mulla Ahmad, will avail me more than all the actions of my
life/ The most cruel of the successors of Abbas were only merciful, at
the solicitations of the chief priests of their kingdom. Agha Muhammad
Khan allowed them to approach him when no others dared to come near;
and they sometimes pleaded with success for those w r hom he had doomed
to destruction.
“ There are a number of persons in Persia, who pursue their studies till
they are entitled to the name of Mulla and to all the honours of a Persian
college, without classing themselves with the priesthood. These follow
various occupations. Some devote themselves wholly to study ; and to the
most eminent of those who follow literary pursuits a very high rank in
society is assigned. An author, who has acquired any fame as an historian,
an astronomer, ora poet, is respected by all ranks, and has a place of distinc
tion given him in every company in which he mixes. Every prince and
noble in Persia desires to be considered a patron of genius, and this feeling
secures to men of learning a very fair share in the enjoyments of the com
munity among which they live. They are not only esteemed on account
pf their real or supposed talents as authors, but as agreeable companions.
Their reading furnishes them with anecdotes, which amuse and instruct;
and some of them are alike remarkable for the excellence of their composi
tion and the sprightliness of their conversation. Even the common
pretenders among this class, who are very numerous, are in general men of
good manners and ready wit.
* ‘ Mujtahids’ = YIII conjn. active participle from “ he endeavoured, 55 —applied to
those who “ endeavour 55 to interpret the Kuran, or suggest meanings of passages.