The Institutes of Akbar 135.3.6

135.3.6

Thus Latíf Khwájah, who came from a noble family in Turkistán, made a frivolous remark on a passage in Tirmizí’s Shamáil, and asked how in all the world the neck of the prophet could be compared to the neck of an idol. Other remarks were passed on the straying camel. Some again expressed their astonishment, that the prophet, in the beginning of his career, plundered the caravans of Quraish; that he had fourteen wives; that any married woman was no longer to belong to her husband, if the prophet thought her agreeable, &c. * * * At night, when there were social assemblies, His Majesty told forty courtiers to sit down as ‘The Forty,’ and every one might say or ask what he liked. If then any one brought up a question connected with law or religion, they said, “You had better ask the Mullás about that, as we only settle things which appeal to man’s reason.” But it is impossible for me to relate the blasphemous remarks which they made about the Çahábah, when historical books happened to be read out, especially such as contained the reigns of the first three Khalifahs, and the quarrel about Fadak, the war of Çiffín, &c.,—would that I were deaf! The Shí’ahs, of course, gained the day, and the Sunnís were defeated; the good were in fear, and the wicked were secure. Every day a new order was given, and a new aspersion or a new doubt came up;