Page:Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894.djvu/39

Rh they went to Medina to the prophet Mohammed, who referred to the angel Gabriel, who himself had given him Paradise water. But the angel again went to God, and God acknowledged him as a fourth partner; for there was a prisoner among the Christians who called for help; the Badawi would have brought him within three hours, the Erfa'i within two hours, and the Dsuki within one hour—but 'Abd el Kader flew off and brought him within half an hour. They all now acknowledged him. 'Abd el Kader was looking to the west for a throne. When he was going to Algeria he met Bajazid, and, as above mentioned, remained forty years, whilst he was crippled, without praying; so the angel Gabriel came and asked him to pray, but he said he would only kneel down on the neck of Bajazid. So Gabriel went to tell God, and God allowed him to kneel down on the neck of Bajazid and Majazid. . The last expression means to whom will become more. He then became the holiest of the orders. He then loosed his knee, but limped ever after—wherefrom his title, the limper. He wore a white woollen shirt only; his Derwishes ought to wear no other, and the more their garments are patched the more honourable they are before God. He now knew that he was going to be buried in Bagdad, and sent there to have an abode for him to pray,, Khalwé, and a well for his ablutions, but the Wélies of Bagdad sent a plate of milk, full to the brim, and asked him to drink from this without spilling a drop, saying, "As little space as there is left for your fingers in this plate, so little is there any space in Bagdad for you." 'Abd el Kader then stretched out his hand to Paradise and brought a rose, covered the milk, and sent it back, telling them, "As I covered this milk with the Rose, so will I take you under my protection." They at once knew the Paradise rose, and acknowledged him as their protector. He settled and married in Bagdad, and dreadfully persecuted the Devil-worshippers,, Abadeen el Shetân, who hate him to this day, for they still exist. He died and left sons and daughters. He had a son who used to hate women, because he "walked with God." His father told him to leave Bagdad, because he could not thus live with human beings. Next morning he was dead, and when they wanted to carry him off to be buried, his bier flew off to Alouss, in the midst of the Euphrates, where his abode is still visited. Another son, Sidi 'Abd el Jabbar,, is buried near his father in Bagdad, where only clean women can light and clean the abode; men are not allowed to enter. One day the father and son were praying, when a serpent came along to visit 'Abd el Kader. She had eight horns, four big ones and four small ones alternately, as a crown on the head. The son being afraid, kicked her away. When the father had done praying, he reproved his son for interrupting his prayer. The serpent asked a place in Paradise, which he promised her, and she told him to kill her at once, that she may enjoy it at once. The son killed her, and her head is still hanging there to this day.