'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎26r] (56/982)

ALt-ALT
43
1905.)
’ALIILAHI—
A religious sect of Persia who are said to regard ’AH as God. Their belief
would appear to be an exaggeration of Shi’ahism, of which the foundation
is an excessive devotion to ’All and his descendants. The votaries of this
creed are very numerous, though chiefly confined to the genuine Persian
tribes of Lak descent. They are also found among the Guran Kurds, and
around the higher parts of Zagros. Rawlinson considers them to _ be of
Jewish origin, from their features having a decided Jewish cast. It is said
that their religion enjoins that at certain periods they shall congregate at
night in a particular spot. At these times the greatest license is said to
prevail, and the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes to form part of the
ceremonies prescribed by their singular creed. It is certain that a more than
masonic secrecy is maintained among them in regard to the mystical rites
and ceremonies connected with their religion, and that they are exceedingly
jealous of curious enquiries on the subject. The ’AH Ilahi, says Jones,
when journeying in Muhammadan cities, outwardly conform to the cere-
monies of the established faith. They also adopt the deportment and dress
of their Muhammadan nders* so as not to excite the prejudices of the fanatic
people. This probably is not applicable to the sect in South Turkey, but in
Persia. S-heil says that, though their tenets are perfectly well-known, not
the slightest attempt is made to disturb their opinions, though they do not
openly proclaim their dissent from the prevailing religion of the country.
The ’AH Ilahi in their own villages do not deny themselves the use of wine
and spirits, nor do they abstain from the prohibited food of the Quran ; on
the contrary, they indulge freely both in swine’s flesh and intoxicating
liquors,— [She'll — M^ciIcoItyi — J ones—Rctwlinson Chesney .)
Saiad Rustam is the name of the present chief priest of the ’AH Ilahis,
and he lives at Zardeh, the sacred place of the sect on Mount Dalahu. The
’AH Ilahis have no religious books, and rarely, if ever, pray. They do not
keep Ramzan. ’AH is invoked by them under the name of Daud, accomt
panied by a sacrifice of a sheep or some beast. _ The marriages of this sec-
are supposed to require the sanction of the chief priest, but resort is not
unfrequently had to Shi’ah Mullas. The dead are buried without prayer,
but the head of the corpse faces the Kiblah gs amongst Musalmans. On the
birth of a child the father and mother give it its name, but if the family is
well-to-do, a Saiad is invited to a feast on the seventh day after its birth,
and is called on to name it.^— {T. C. Plowden, 1881.)
ALIJAN, vide Chigha khHr. Lat. 32° 7' 30" N. Long. 50° 37' E.
’ ALI Kte—L at. Long. Elev. 6,500'.
An Iliat habitation in the Bakhtiari country, situated on the left bank of
the Karim river, at about the 60th mile of its course. The village is deserted
during the summer months. It contains an Imdmzddeh (tomb of a saint) ;
while the river is crossed by a temporary wooden bridge, with a span of 50
feet and a narrow foot-way 6 feet in breadth, called the I ul-i- AH Kuh,
though situated miles above that village.—0^^ mQ—Arbuihnot,