i, the twelfth Imam, to
be his true successors, and to consider all of them in character, position
and dignity as raised far above all other Muslims. This is the doctrine of
the Imamat.

{80}

The first principal divisions of the Shia'h sect are the Isma'ilians and
the Imamites. The latter believe in twelve Imams, reckoning 'Ali as the
first.[73] The last of the twelve Abu'l-Qasim, is supposed to be alive
still, though hidden in some secret place. He bears the name of Al-Mahdi,
"the guided." It is expected that he will reappear at the second advent of
Christ. They say that he was born near Baghdad in the year 258 A.H. He
afterwards mysteriously disappeared. When he was born the words, "Say:
'truth is come and falsehood is vanished: Verily falsehood is a thing that
vanisheth,'" (Sura xvii. 83) were found written on his right arm. When he
came into the world, he pointed with his fingers to heaven, sneezed, and
said: 'Praise be to God, the Lord of the world.' A person one day visited
Imam Hasan 'Askari (the eleventh Imam) and said: 'O son of the Prophet who
will be Khalif and Imam after thee?' He brought out a child and said: 'if
thou hadst not found favour in the eyes of God, He would not have shown
thee this child; his name is that of the Prophet, and so is his
patronymic,' (Abu 'l-Qasim). The sect who believe Mahdi to be alive at
present, say that he rules over cities in the far west, and he is even said
to have children. God alone knows the truth.[74]

The other large division, the Isma'ilians, agree with the Imamites in all
particulars save one. They hold that after Sadiq, the sixth Imam, commenced
what is called the succession of the "concealed Imams." They believe that
there never can be a time when there shall be no Imam, but that he is now
in seclusion. This idea has given rise to all sorts of secret societies,
and has paved the way for a mystical religion, which often lands its
votaries in atheism.[75] {81}

The Ghair-i-Mahdi (literally "without Mahdi") are a small sect who believe
that Al-Mahdi will not reappear. They say that one Syed Muhammad of Jeypore
was the real Mahdi, the twelfth Imam, and that he has now gone never more
to return. They venerate him as highly as they do the Prophet, and consider
all other Musalmans to be unbelievers. On the night called Lailat-ul-Qadr,
in the month of Ramazan, they meet and repeat two rak'at prayers. After
that act of devotion is over, they say: "God is Almighty, Muham