A plain and literal translation of the Arabian nights entertainments, now entituled The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 4 (of 17)
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25
Arab. “Misr” vulg. Masr: a close connection of Misraim – the “two Misrs,” Egypt, upper and lower.
26
The Persians still call their Consuls “Shah-bandar,” lit. king of the Bandar or port.
27
Arab. “Dukhúl,” the night of going in, of seeing the bride unveiled for the first time, etcætera.
28
Arab. “Barsh” or “Bars,” the commonest kind. In India it is called Ma’jún (= electuary, generally): it is made of Ganja or young leaves, buds, capsules and florets of hemp (
29
Arab. “Sikankúr” (Gr. Σκίγκος, Lat. Scincus) a lizard (
30
Alá al-Din (our old friend Aladdin) = Glory of the Faith, a name of which Mohammed, who preferred the simplest, like his own, would have highly disapproved. The most grateful names to Allah are Abdallah (Allah’s Slave) and Abd al-Rahmán (Slave of the Compassionate); the truest are Al-Hárith (the gainer, “bread-winner”) and Al-Hammám (the griever); and the hatefullest are Al-Harb (witch) and Al-Murrah (bitterness, Abu Murrah being a kunyat or by-name of the Devil). Abu al-Shámát (pronounced Abush-shámát) = Father of Moles, concerning which I have already given details. These names ending in – Din (faith) began with the Caliph Al-Muktadi bi-Amri ‘llah (regn. A.H. 467 = 1075), who entitled his Wazir “Zahír al-Din” (Backer or Defender of the Faith) and this gave rise to the practice. It may be observed that the superstition of naming by omens is in no way obsolete.
31
Meaning that he appeared intoxicated by the pride of his beauty as though it had been strong wine.
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33
Meaning that he had been delicately reared.
34
A traditional saying of Mohammed.
35
So Boccaccio’s “Capo bianco” and “Coda verde.” (Day iv., Introduct.)
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The opening chapter is known as the “Mother of the Book,” (as opposed to Yá Sín, the “heart of the Koran”) the “Surat (chapter) of Praise,” and the “Surat of repetition,” (because twice revealed?) or thanksgiving, or laudation (Al-Masáni) and by a host of other names for which see Mr. Rodwell who, however, should not write “Fatthah” (p. xxv.) nor “Fathah” (xxvii.). The Fátihah, which is to Al-Islam much what the “Paternoster” is to Christendom, consists of seven verses, in the usual Saj’a or rhymed prose, and I have rendered it as follows: —
In the name of the Compassionating, the Compassionate! ✿ Praise be to Allah who all the Worlds made ✿ The Compassionating, the Compassionate ✿ King of the Day of Faith! ✿ Thee only do we adore and of Thee only do we crave aid ✿ Guide us to the path which is straight ✿ The path of those for whom Thy love is great, not those on whom is hate, nor they that deviate ✿ Amen! O Lord of the World’s trine.
My Pilgrimage (i. 285; ii. 78 and
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Arab. “Asídah” flour made consistent by boiling in water with the addition of “Samn” (clarified butter) and honey: more like pap than custard.
39
Arab. “Ghábah” = I have explained as a low-lying place where the growth is thickest and consequently animals haunt it during the noon-heats.
40
Arab. “Akkám,” one who loads camels and has charge of the luggage. He also corresponds with the modern Mukharrij or camel-hirer (Pilgrimage i. 339); and hence the word Moucre (Moucres) which, first used by La Brocquière (A.D. 1432), is still the only term known to the French.
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Taken from Al-Asma’i, the “Romance of Antar,” and the episode of the Asafir Camels.
43
A Mystic of the twelfth century A.D. who founded the Kádirí order (the oldest and chiefest of the four universally recognised), to which I have the honour to belong, teste my diploma (Pilgrimage, Appendix i.). Visitation is still made to his tomb at Baghdad. The Arabs (who have no hard g-letter) alter to “Jílán” the name of his birth-place “Gilan,” a tract between the Caspian and the Black Seas.
44
The well-known Anglo-Indian “Mucuddum;” lit. “one placed before (or over) others;” an overseer.
45
Koran xiii. 14.
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47
Arab. “Ráfizí” = the Shi’ah (tribe, sect) or Persian schismatics who curse the first three Caliphs: the name is taken from their own saying “Inná rafizná-hum” = verily we have rejected them. The feeling between Sunni (the so-called