Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/109

* SHIITES. 85 SHIKOKXJ. of opposition to the principles of Islam, existing iu uudergTound oryanlziitioiis, taking advantage of political and theological opportunities and of free-thinking rulers, now and again creating in- dependent States through the personal ability of some Alide scion. An early instance was the establishment of the Idriside dynasty in North Africa (about 800), through a great-grandson of Ali. From this connection the present Sherifs of Jlorocco, whose dynasty has existed since the end of the eighteenth century, claim to possess the legitimate caliphate. Another branch of the family, that of the Zaj'dites, arose in North- ern I'ersia and in Yemen, in Southern Arabia; in the latter land the sect, still maintains itself. The doctrine of the Hidden Imam or the Mahdi soon produced innumerable divisions in the sect. Any Alide might come to be regarded as the Promised One, and so gain a following. The most notable split of this kind occurred in 765, when a disjiute arose as between the two sons of the sixth Imam, Jafar al-Sadik. Through one of these, the line was traced down to the twelfth in descent, Mohammed ibn al-Hasan, who was supposed to have been mysteriously trans- lated to abide his return. His followers are called the Ithnaashariya, i.e. Twelvers, and have come to be the prevailing Shiite sect, and the only one now possessing an important political domain, namely, Persia, which came into their hands by conquest in 1502. But Jafar's other son, Ismail, who was the seventh in succession, was accepted bj- another faction, the Ismaelites or Sabaiyites, i.e. Seveners. His cause was taken up by a remarkable machinator, one Abdallah ibn Maimun (about 850). who founded the secret society which developed into the Karma- thians. A more abiding political result was produced in Africa. Said, great-grandson of al-JIaimun, gave himself out in the western regions of North- ern Africa as the Mahdi, and gained a political following which enabled him and his line, the Fatimite dj'nasty. to conquer Egypt and Syria, which they ruled for over two centuries. Dur- ing the same period (932-1055) the Shiite Buwey- hides were political ma.sters of the Sunnite cali- phate at Bagdad, so that Shiism appeared tri- umphant in the heart of Islam. But the mass of the people remained orthodo.x, and the Sara- cens finally turned the scale in their favor. From the Shiite Fatimite movement in Egj'pt sprang two developments, which were for many cen- turies disturbing factors in Southwestern Asia, namely, the Druses and the Assassins (qq.v. ). Also the Syrian Nosairies (see .4nsakies) adopted the Shiite doctrines, and are still a con- siderable sect. Modern history finds the Shiites, outside of scattered sects, in political importance in the following lands: There is the Moorish Alide dy- nasty, although the land is practically Sunnite. In Southern Arabia Yemen is Shiite, and there are other traces of the sect through the penin- sula. A large number of the Indian ^Moslems are of the same persuasion. But Persia is now the only Shiite nation of importance. Here, how- ever. Shiism has not been able to achieve its po- litical ideals. The Snfawide dynasty, to which the Shahs belong, and which conquered Persia in 1502, claims descent from Ali, but the Church disowns them, and there has been con- tinuous strife between the political and eccle- siastical authorities. In any case the Shiite the- ology could recognize their power as but tem- porary until the appearance of the Hidden imam. The ecclesiastical head is the Imam-Ju- maa, at Ispahan, who is regarded as the repre- sentative of the Mahdi. An interesting attempt at reform was made by Ali Mohammed. 'al-Bab' (1843), but, becoming a political agitation, it was cruelly repressed by the Government. See Babism. The following points of contrast and agreen^ent between the tw'o great sects of Islam may be noted. The mysticism and extravagant theology of Shiism and the volatile Persian character have sadly corrupted the morality of the Shiite Moslems, and a divorce between religion and ethics exists among them that does not prevail in orthodox Islam. The dervish type of holiness prevails to excess, while superstition, especially in the nuitter of worship of the saints, runs riot. The people have lost all respect for the minis- ters of religion. In law the two bodies agree except in details. There exists, however, one important difl'erence in principle between Shiite and Sunnite law. The latter has developed its four schools of law, and the lawyers in each school must keep strictly to the decisions of their accepted masters ; they have no power of creat- ing new law. The Shiites have the theory of a living authority in law, and their Mujtahids have the right to make new decisions without appeal to traditional precedent. The tradition- al mutual hatred of Shiites and Sunnites is still maintained, but the intensity of this sentiment is said to lie now with the Sunnites. On the other hand, the two parties acknowledge one an- other as Moslems, and stand together as against the Unbelievers. For literature, besides the works mentioned in the articles Mahdi. Mohammedanism, Mo- hammedan Sects, consult: Goldziher, Bvilriirie zur LitterattirgescMchle der Shi'a (Vienna, 1874) ; Baillie, Imameca Code, vol ii. (London, 1869). SHIKARPUE, shik'ar-poor'. A to^vn in Sindh, British India, 23 miles northwest of Suk- kur (Map India, A3). It has a fine covered bazaar, and has long been noted for its com- mercial interests, its situation giving it sole con- trol of the trade carried on through the Bolan Pass. The section is chiefly engaged in farming and fruit-growing, and there are manufactures of carpets, leather, pottery, and coarse cotton cloth. Population, in 190l", 40,491. SHIKOKU, she'ko'koo' (Jap., Four Prov- inces). The third in importance of the principal islands of the Japanese Empire (Slap: .lapan, C 7). It is separated from Hondo and Kiushiu by the Inland Sea. Area, 6842 square miles. Its coast line is very irregular, with many long points jutting out into the Pacific and the In- land Sea. It has no really good harbor, but a number of small ones afford safe refuge for junks and small steamers. Its surface is moun- tainous, so that the greater part is not culti- vated. There ari* no long rivers, and communica- tion for the most part is by sea. The valleys are fertile, bearing the usual grains. On the slopes of the hills the paper mulberry and the