Shiahs
This article is an extract from
THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL. Ethnographic Glossary. Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press. 1891. . |
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Shiahs
The Shiahs, formerly large landholders in Eastern Bengal, have been steadily decreasing in numbers and influence during the last fifty years. At the present day they constitute a small proportion of the Muhammadan community, and in the city of Dacca do not possess above a hundred houses, although one fourth claim to be Sayyids. The majority are poor, a few only holding property which has been transmitted from father to son for three or four generations. When the English Government acquired possession of the Diwani of Bengal, many of the oldest and most respected families emigrated to Lucknow or Murshidabad, and those who remained had local ties which prevented them following the example of their neighbours.
By the Sunni the Shiah is styled Rafizi (heretic), Tashaiyu', Irani, or Mugha; while he designates the Sunni Char-yari, Sunni Jam'at, or Tasannun.
In Dacca, the Shiahs having no Imam-dar, or priest, to lead the congregation at their devotions, the duty devolves on the most learned, or most honoured, among them. Although many of the old mosques in the city were built by Shiah nobles, the Sunnis will not permit any of that sect to enter them unless at hours when the service is not going on. A few years ago, quarrels arose between the rival sects, and, nowadays, the hatred of the Farazi is with such difficulty suppressed, that the Shiah rarely claims the right of worshipping in the public mosque, and very seldom resorts to it. Many Shiahs have turned Sunnis, marrying Sunni wives: but no Sunni will give his daughter to a Shiah.
Since the death of the last Nawab of Dacca, in 1843, there has been no leader to keep the Shiahs united, or to prevent their absorption by the masses of Muhammadans around, while the disreputable life of the last Nawab, and the absence of all restraint, have hastened the downfall of the old families. Many have become drunkards and libertines, and opium eating or smoking is very generally practised. Among them, however, a few gentlemen with literary tastes are to be found, and their knowledge of the world, more especially of Persia and other Muhammadan countries, is more intimate than generally obtains among Sunnis. At their homes Persian is still spoken, Hindustani being only used out of doors and to servants, while Bengali is an unknown language.
Although by long residence in Bengal the Shiah race has degenerated like the Armenian, the occasional importation of pure Persian blood has preserved a few families, among whom tall muscular men with characteristic Mughal physiognomy and pale olive complexion are to be found. The women are of a pale brown, or sallow complexion, often pretty, and with finely shaped figures. Both men and women are grossly superstitious, being more thoroughly imbued than the Sunni with Muhammadan legends and traditions.
The Shiah, again, is more reserved, exclusive, and dignified than the Sunni. The latter is beginning to attend school, and to advance with the onward movement of his contrymen, but the former rarely exhibits any energy or ambition to get on in life. Like the descendants of the early Portuguese, they dwell on the past, lamenting the decadence of their power, and differing in no material respect from their forefathers of a century ago. They cherish old customs and repudiate new ones, allowing the different races around to adopt modern ideas, and to progress towards a happier civilisation, while they alone remain unchanged.
The Shiahs are charitable to the poor, a few even paying "Zakat" at the rate of a fortieth of their income, and "Khams," or one-fifth of their profits, to the Sayyids. Although the Zakat is only distributed among Muhammadans, they inculcate and bestow charity on the destitute of all creeds.
The Muharram the great Shiah fast, during which they do nothing but mourn and weep, eschewing fish for thirteen days, chewing no pan, and leaving the hands and feet unstained. The Husaini Dalan is still crowded with the "Marsiya," singers, and with spectators, but the number of Shiahs joining in the most solemn services do not exceed thirty. The number is decreasing yearly, and there is every prospect of the building being soon closed for want of worshippers.
The Shiah still preserves many superstitions regarding food. He will not touch the flesh of hares, peacocks, wading-birds, birds without gizzards, and fish without scales.
The 'Aqiqa, or thanksgiving festival on the birth of a child, though adopted by the Farazi, is peculiarly a Shiah custom, and connequently rejected by the Sunny. Like the Farazi the Shiah does not ccnsider it meritorious to visit or make votive offerings at the tombs of Indian saints, a point in which they differ from the Persian Shiah..
The Dacca Shiahs still observe the Mundna ceremony on the seventh day after birth, but they are too poor to comply with all the requirements, such as weighing the child's hair with gold coins, and distributing the amount in charity.
During the palmy days of Muhammadan rule, the Shiahs were the merchants, the Hindus the agents, brokers, and carriers of the inland commerce. At the present day the Shiah still trades, purchasing goods cheap in Calcutta and selling them at a profit in the villages of the interior. The ordinary name for a miscellaneous store, where mirrors, pictures, glass shades, and candelabra are sold, is "Mughaliya dukan," although the proprietor is not a Shiah.
It need hardly be added that the religion of the Shiahs is the same as that of the Persians, and has remained unaffected by the Farazi movement around.
1 Sanskrit, Rishta, Sapindus detergens.
