Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/270

 The third of the annual kanduris held in the déah of Teungku Anjōng in Gampōng Jawa, takes place on the night of (i. e. before) the 14$th$ of this month. The other two have been already mentioned under the months Mòʾlōt and Kanduri Bu. This is more especially dedicated to the saint himself, who according to the Achehnese died on the 14$th$ of Ramadhān 1196 (August 1782). It is thus called kanduri Teungku Anjōng.

A night of great importance according to Mohammedan teaching is the night of the qadar or "divine decree." This is the night on which, it is said, the eternal Qurān was sent down by Allah to the world below, to be finally revealed to Mohammed piece by piece through the agency of the Archangel Gabriel.

It is generally believed that on the day, or rather night which forms the anniversary of this great event, the whole creation feels its influence. On this special night, no less than on that of the middle of Shaʿbān, all manner of rich blessings are supposed to be dealt forth by Allah to those who keep vigil therein, wakeful and if possible engaged in pious devotions.

At the present time, however, no one can fix the date with certainty. The sole rule is the prevalent idea that the night of the qadar is one of the last five odd-numbered nights of the fasting month, i. e. the nights preceeding the 21$th$, 23$d$, 25$th$, 27$th$ or 29$th$. A weighty reason is found herein for devoting all of them to devotional exercises!

These nights are in all Mohammedan countries spent by the devout in recitations from the Qurān and other such-like devotions. Here and there we find certain superstitious practices resorted to by the people for the purpose of drawing down upon their own heads the blessings of the qadar night. In Java feasts known as malěmans are given on these nights by princes and other persons of distinction to a multitude of guests.

Among these five nights are two which in the general estimation dispute with each other the right to the name of qadar night with a greater show of probability than the other three, viz. the 21$th$ and 27$th$. The 21$th$ (malěm salikur) enjoys this preference throughout a great portion of Java, a preference which displays itself principally in popular rejoicings. In Acheh it is on the night before the 27$th$ that the greatest animation is displayed. Before every housedoor is set a lighted lamp with seven mouths, or "eyes" as the Achehnese call them. The young amuse themselves by letting off crackers (beudé China i. e. "little