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INTRODUCTION
meditation." "The doctrine of Baruz, in which the rih of a departed saint could foster and cherish and guide the rüh of a living man was in favour with the Sūfis. The rüh is neither within nor without the body; only its vision is on the body, the rüh of a departed "friend of God" could guide the rūh of a living man on whom it has fixed its vision."
Prayer is also offered at ordinary graves for the benefit of the soul of the deceased. If the deceased be in Paradise, the prayer is conveyed as an offering to the happy soul, if in hell it aids it out of that place of punishment. The practice, however, should not be confused with Grave Worship; for in Sufism worship is only intended for One God and to no man excepting the Prophet Mohammed.
Many of the takiās of Darvishes are erected at, or even over, the tombs of eminently pious shaikhs, or other holy men. Much reverence is shown to them irrespective of the position the deceased may have held in the world. At many such Dargāhs lamps are kept burning as emblems of spiritual light shed around. Costly shawls and embroidered cloth are spread over them. With a view to procure relief, through their saintly intercession, from sickness, mis-fortune, sterility, etc. vows called Nazr, are offered up at them by visitors. Miraculous results are declared to have occured at these tombs. Lights are often seen to float over them, or to lead to them.
MIRACULOUS PRACTICES The spiritual exercises of those of the Order of the Rifa'is embrace nearly all those of the other Orders. They excel others in these excercises. The Rifā'īs are the only ones who use fire in their devotions. It is in the last and ecstatic stage of their devotion called Hälat. Then they make use of red-hot irons. Even cutlasses and other sharp -pointed iron instruments are stuck by them with fury into their sides, arms and legs. Over the red-hot irons the Shaikh first recites some prayers and invokes the founder of the Order Ahmad-ur-Rifā'i, and breathes over them before delivering same to the Darvishes. The latter transported by frenzy, seize and gloat upon them tenderly, lick them, bite
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