261.)

(3). _Sunan-i-Abu Daud._ Abu Daud Sajistani, a native of Seistan, was born
A.H. 202. He was a great traveller, and went to all the chief places of
Musalman learning. In knowledge of the Traditions, in devotion, in piety,
he was unrivalled. He collected about 500,000 Traditions, of which he
selected four thousand eight hundred for his book.

(4). _Jami'-i-Tirmizi._ Abu Isa' Muhammad Tirmizi was born at Tirmiz in the
year A.H. 209. He was a disciple of Bukhari. Ibn Khallikan says this work
is "the production of a well-informed man: its exactness is
proverbial."[61]

(5). _Sunan-i-Nasai._ Abu Abd-ur-Rahman Nasai was born at Nasa, in
Khorasan, in the year A.H. 214, and died A.H. 303. It is recorded of him,
with great approbation, that he fasted every other day, and had four wives
and many slaves. This book is considered of great value. He met with his
death in rather a sad way. He had compiled a book on the virtues of 'Ali,
and as the people of {69} Damascus were at that time inclined to the heresy
of the Kharigites, he wished to read his book in the mosque of that place.
After he had read a little way, a man arose and asked him whether he knew
aught of the praises of Muavia, 'Ali's deadly enemy. He replied that he did
not. This answer enraged the people, who beat him so severely that he died
soon after.

(6). _Sunan-i-Ibn Majah._ Ibn Majah[62] was born at 'Irak A.H. 209. This
work contains 4,000 Traditions.

The Shia'hs reject these books and substitute five books[63] of their own
instead. They are of a much later date, the last one, indeed, having been
compiled more than four hundred years after the Hijra.

The belief which underlies the question of the authority of the Traditions
is that before the Throne of God there stands a 'preserved Table,' on which
all that can happen, and all that has ever entered, or will enter, the mind
of man is 'noted in a distinct writing.' Through the medium of Gabriel, the
Prophet had access to this. It follows then that the words of the Prophet
are the words of God.

Of the four great "Canonical Legists" of Islam, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal was the
greatest collector of Traditions. It is said that he knew by heart no less
than one million. Of these he incorporated thirty thousand into his system
of jurisprudence. That system is now almost obsolete. Abu Hanifa, who is
said to have accepted only eighteen Traditions as authentic, founded a
system which is to this day the most powerful in