ABSTRACT
The reader will have perceived the inṭimate connexion existing between the Darvish Orders and the Fourth (Direct) Caliph ‘Alī. Indeed, nearly all of these are ‘Alīides, as if he had been the great originator of them, and the advocate and patron of their peculiar principles. Whether this was the case or not, much that is of a ‘spiritual ‘character is attributed to him, and even in those Orders that are sunnī, or orthodox, ‘Alī is held in high respect. I have therefore thought it necessary to devote a chapter especially to him, and for this purpose have translated a short biographical sketch of him from the work in the Turkish language, entitled The Chahār Yār, or the “Four Friends “, by Shams-ud-Dīn Sīwāsī 1 (of Sīwās, in Asia Minor). From this sketch the reader will readily imagine why such honour is paid by a large portion of the Islam world, and by the Darvish Orders in particular,—so much so as to give him the sublime title of ‘Alī al-Ilāhī, or “‘Alī the Divine”.
