A Geographical, Statistical, and Historical Description of the District, Or Zila, of Dinajpur/Book 2/Chapter 4/Section 1
§ 1—Of the Muhammedans.
The chiefs of the Muhammedan religion in this district are the Kazis, who have a jurisdiction in all things considered as more immediately connected with religion, such as marriage, circumcision, the eating of forbidden things, and the like, and who act in some measure as notaries public in giving authenticity to contracts. The establishment in this province seems to be very irregular, some persons having under their jurisdiction 11 pergunnahs, and others, only one; and the extent of their jurisdiction has no connection with that of the magistrate. Many of them are not resident, at least within the bounds of their jurisdiction, and act by deputy. I believe, that formerly their office was in general hereditary; although the confirmation of the magistrate is now necessary. Their profits arise from fees. Those of them that I saw were decent persons, who had much more the manners of gentlemen than any other natives that I met in the district.
Under the Kazis area set of priests called Mollas, of whom there is one in general for every very populous subdivision (Mouza), or for every collection of smaller ones, that is called a Diyar. They are generally appointed by the Kazi, according to the wish of the heads of families. Although they are only a kind of deputies to the Kazi; yet as they are usually ignorant fanatics, they are more beloved by the populace. They read, or repeat, prayers or passages of the Koran at marriages, funerals, circumcision, and sacrifices; for no Muhammedan here will eat meat or fowl, over which prayers have not been repeated, before it has been killed; and the animals are frequently killed before the monument of some saint. According to the Kazis, many of these Mollas cannot read, and these only look at the book, while they repeat the passages. Indeed they are in little danger of detection, none of their audiences understanding a word of Arabic. Even these who are able to read very seldom understand this language.
The religious persons, however, who are most respected among the Moslems, are the mendicants called Faqirs. The number of reputed saints who have had monuments erected to their memory, generally over their tombs, is astonishing; and is a clear proof of the ignorance and bigotry that prevailed during the Muhammedan government. It may on an average be estimated, that there is at least one saint’s (Pir’s) monument in each subdivision, and the worship of these by offerings (Sirni) is the principal act of devotion in this district. Many of these monuments have no endowment, but the people of the village unite to keep it in repair, which is easily done, as it is usually a heap of earth, perhaps a little whitewashed; and in the evenings they also in turns light a lamp before it. But to many of the monuments, and at all those of any considerable reputation, there is an endowment in land to support one or more Faqirs, who repair the tomb, light the lamp, receive the offerings, and read or repeat the prayers (Fatya), that should accompany these donations. The mosques too, that have endowments, are usually placed under the charge of a Faqir, who should perform there the same duties; but the first is in general much neglected. He also calls the people to pray at the proper hour; but this part of worship, and the ablutions prescribed by Muhammed, are in general very much neglected by his followers in this district. Some of these Faqirs are no doubt very decent men in their manners; and some families, from their features and appearance, would seem to have preserved their blood free from mixture with the natives of this country: but in general they are very poor creatures, sunk in bigotry and ignorance, and affecting great sanctity and austerity of manners. Several whom I met would scarcely answer any question, but were continually sighing, groaning, and muttering prayers. The common conversation of the more rational among them is concerning the wonders performed by their saint; and while they very seldom can tell when he lived, from whence he came, or any circumstance relative to his history, they generally suppose, that the whole affairs of the neighbourhood, if not of the world, are conducted by his interposition. As serpents are the common agents of some of the most usually worshipped Hindú deities, so tigers seem, not unaptly, to have been chosen by the Muhammedan saints. Many of the woods in this district grow on ruins, and most ruins have been taken possession of by a saint, whose vicinity is of course the common haunt of a tiger: and as these animals seldom attack man in this district, the Pir is generally allowed by persons of both religions to have restrained the natural ferocity of the beast, or, as it is more usually said, has given the tiger no order to kill men. The tigers and Faqirs are therefore on a very good footing, and the latter denounces the vengeance of the saint on any person who molests the beast of prey, and assures the people, that he is perfectly harmless towards all such as respect the saint, and make him offerings.
Besides these Faqirs, who have a regular establishment, whose office is hereditary, and none of whose families have been known to contaminate themselves by labour, but have lived entirely on the charity that has been procured either by themselves or ancestors, and who are exceedingly respected, there are some who have degraded themselves by industry, and many, who tempted by their notions of religion, or by indolence and avarice, have assumed the life of a Faqir, have dedicated themselves to God, and who live by begging. Fortunately some expense attends the ceremony, which prevents the order from increasing too rapidly, and new Faqirs are also expected to observe the rules of the order, according to the strict manner of those called Muríds. Faqirs in general marry, and all their children belong to the order; but a family does not obtain full respect for some generations, nor until all memory of their adoption into the order has been obliterated.
Some old Faqirs also observe particular customs, and are considered as more peculiarly dedicated to God. These are called Muríds, and cannot shave the head nor beard, and must perform the prayers and ablutions, as prescribed by their prophet.
Besides the neglect of prayer and ablution, the Muhammedans of this district forget the rules of their law in many points. They are in particular accused of being too easy husbands; for they neither confine their wives with proper strictness, nor are they even much offended at occasional private intercourse with those, who can render the situation of the family somewhat more comfortable. The Mollas also allege, that many persons, in order to save expense and defraud them, live as man and wife without having had the advantage of a religious ceremony.
A still more flagrant breach of the law is, I know, exceedingly common. Offerings at the monuments of saints are generally made from rather interested motives. The votary is in fact generally hopeful to procure some favour from the saint of much more value then the offering, and should he be disappointed, he usually has recource to some Hindú deity, and tries what may be done by means of a sacrifice. The heathen priest makes a little stretch of conscience, receives the offering for the honour of the god, and is liberal in his assurances that his prayers will be effectual. These priests, it must be observed, are of the dregs of the Brahmins; a man of a proper way of thinking would scorn to pray for a Turk.
Another practice savouring of idolatry is also very common. Images of horses, made of clay, are sold by many potters, and are placed on the monument of saints as offerings to induce them to cure the sick, or in consequence of vows made by those who have been in any danger.Many of the resident Faqirs have been concerned in thefts and robberies; and it was a number of adoptive Faqirs, that some years ago collected in great bodies, in this and the neighbouring district, which they plundered with the utmost barbarity, and when pursued were wont to retire to Morang, in the dominions of Nipal, where they found shelter, anda sale for their booty. While spending the produce of their illicit gains, the Faqirs residing in Dinajpúr were suspected of watching for a favourable opportunity of bringing down their accomplices. Many still reside in Morang; but their depredations have of late been on a small scale, nor have they ventured for some years to enter this district in hostile array. By some unaccountable mistake they have been called Sonyasis, who are a sect of Hindú mendicants; and the pilgrims going to bathe in the Brohmaputra have often been suspected as concerned. That among these there are spies of the Faqirs, as well as many idle and disorderly persons, I have no doubt; but I was assured, both by Hindús and Muhammedans, whom I consider as perfectly well informed, that the Morang gang are entirely of the latter religion.
Pilgrimages are very much in fashion among the Moslems, as well as among the Hindús; very few however of this district ever think of going to Mecca, but wisely content themselves with Peruya, which I believe is the most celebrated pilgrimage in Bengal.
The parts of their religion that are most strictly observed, are fasting through the days during the month Ramzán, and the commemoration of the death of the two Imáms Hasan and Haseyn, which is performed with as much show and noise as possible; and for this purpose a kind of musicians named Zari are employed. Another kind (Pirer Gayon) is employed to celebrate the praises of the different saints, for this sort of noise is extremely grateful to the ear of the natives.