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creatures, to occupy themselves with perusing the
books of the masters of purity and sanctity, and
the books of moral philosophy, which Is the medi-
cine of spirituality and the essence of all sciences;
such as Ikhldk Noseri, " the Ethics of Nas'ery;"1
and tnanjiat wa mahelkat, " the Causes of Salvation
and Perdition," Ahydyi alum dl din, *4 the Revival
44 of the Sciences of Faith ;"2 the Kimidyi S&adet, Al-
" chymy of Felicity;"3 and Mamavi, " the poetical
"- composlion of the Maulavi of Rum,"4 so that
having attained the highest degree of religious
knowledge, they may not be liable to be moved
from their station by the fictions of the masters of
deceit and falsehood; as in this state of dependence
the best sort of worship is, after all, the most im-

1 A work of Nas'ir-eddin Tusi, upon whom see vol. II. p. 417.

2 This is a celebrated work of Ghazali.— (See vol. II. p. 350, note.)

3 A work of the same author.

4 Rumi is the surname underwhichAli Ebn Abbas, an illustrious poet,
is most known. He was of Turkish origin, but born in Syria, He com-
posed several works, which Avisenna used to read with delight, and the
most difficult passages of which he commented. He died in the year
of the Hejira 283 (A. D. 896)—(see Herbelot). But the poet above allu-
ded to is Mawlana Jelal eddin Ruvm', whose proper name is Muham-
med of Balkb, who derives his origin from Muhammed, son of Amam.
He is praised as the greatest mystical poet of the Orient, the oracle of the
Sufis, the nightingale of contemplative life, the author of the Masnavi
(a double-rhymed poem), the founder of the Mawlavis, the most cele-
brated order of mystic Durvishes. He died in the year of the Hejirah
661 (A, D. 1262 }. We shall quote hereafter a specimen of his poetry.—
(See upon him Schone Redckunsto Persiens, by baron von Hammer, pp.
163 et seq.}