MUFTI
The Muezzin.
of the singers, together with the simplicity and solem- nity of the melody, make a strikingly poetical impres- sion upon the mind of the hearer in the daytime; much more, however, is this the case whenever the sacred chant resounds from the height of the mosque through the moonlit stillness of an Eastern night. See Cham- bers, Cijclop. s. V. ; Trevor, India under Muh. Rule (see Index).
Muffler (^1^"^, ra'al, a reeling, as in Zech. xii, 2; Sept. and Vulg. undistinguishable), a term occurring in Isa. iii, 19, among articles of female apparel or orna- ment, and thought by Gesenius {Ileh. Lex. s. v.) to sig- nify a veil, from its tremulous motion, the corresponding Arabic word denoting a similar article of dress. See Veil. The margin of the Auth. Vers, has " spangled ornaments," a mere conjecture. lioberts explains the ornaments spoken of by reference to the costume of the women of India: "The 'chains,' as consisting first of one most beautifully worked with a pendant ornament for the neck; there is also a profusion of others, which go round the same part, and rest on the bosom. In making curious chains, the goldsmiths of England do not surpass those of the East. The ' bracelets' are large ornaments for the wrists, in which are sometimes en- closed small bells. The 'mufllers' are, so far as I can judge, not for the face, but for the breasts." Kit to, however, accedes to the opinion of Gesenius that the last are a species of outdoor veil (see Daily Bible lllus- tra. ad loc). See Attire.
Mufti {kxabhc, expounder of the lair) is the name of the chief of the Turkish ecclesiastical and judicial order. There is a mufti in every large town of the Ot- toman empire. In his religious capacity he administers the property of the Church, and watches over the due observance and preservation of its rites and discipline. In his civil capacity he pronounces decisions in such matters of dis|)ute as tnay be submitted to him. The Turki'-'.. grand mufti is the supreme head of the Ulfmas (servants of religion and laws), and has, together with the grand vizir (Vizir Azim), the supreme guidance of the state, nomiiuilly ruled by the sultan. He is the chief si)iritual authority, and in this capacity he is also denominated Sheik-al-Islam (Lord of the FaithX The imams (priests\ however, chosen from the body of the ulemas, are, from the moment of their official appoint-
MUFTI
119
MUGGLETONIANS
roent, under the authority of the Kislar-Aga, or Chief of the Black Eunuchs. The better class of the iilemas are the teachers and expounders of the law, from among whom the mollahs and cadis are elected. The Turkish laws have their basis in the Koran ; the mufti thus, as head of the judges, acquires a spiritual authority, and so great is the popular regard for the mufti that even the sultan himself, if he will preserve any appearance of religion, cannot, without first hearing his opinion, put any person to death, or so much as inflict any corporeal punishment. In all actions, especially criminal ones, his opinion is required by giving him a writing, in which the case is stated under feigned names, which he sub- scribes with the word Olur or Olmiiz, i. e. he shall or shall not be punished, accompanied with these em- phatic words, in which he repudiates all claims to in- fallibility, " God knows better." Such outward honor is paid to the grand mufti that the grand seignior himself rises up before him, and advances seven steps towards him when he comes into his presence. He alone has the honor of kissing the sultan's left shoulder, while the prime vizir kisses only the hem of his garment. When the grand seignior addresses any writing to the grand mufti, he gives him the following titles: "To the esml, the wisest of the wise; instructed in all knowledge; the most excellent of excellents; abstaining from things unlawful; the spring of virtue and true science; heir of the prophetic doctrines; resolver of the problems of faith; revealer of the orthodox articles; key of the treasures of truth; the light to doubtful allegories; strengtiiened with the grace of the Supreme Legislator of mankind. May the ]\Iost High God perpetuate thy favors." The election of the grand mufti is vested solely in the sultan, who presents him with a vest of rich sa- bles, and allows him a salary of a thousand aspers a day, which is about five pounds sterling. Besides this, he has the disposal of certain benefices belonging to the royal mosques, which he makes no scriqjle of selling to the best advantage ; and on his admission to his office he is complimented by the agents of the bashas, who make him the usual presents, which generally amount to a very considerable sum. It is the grand mufti's pre- rogative generally to gird the sultan with the sword
Ihe (j.1 md JIulii.
at his ascension to the throne, a ceremony which takes place at the Mosque of Eyub, and which is equal to the ceremony of coronation. In modern days the position of mufti has lost much of its former dignity and impor- tance. His fetwa, or decision, although attached to the imperial decrees, imparts to it but little additional weight. Nor is his own dictum in things spiritual al- ways considered as finally binding. The only preroga- tive of muftis and ulemas which has hitherto remained untouched is their being exempt from bodily or other- wise degrading punishments; nor can their property ever be confiscated, but descends to their successors.