Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10
Chieftain of the Gilani.

"Sayid Effendi" means a prince of the
descent. He writes his name, "Sayid NJ.
descent. He writes his name Sayid NJ.
Wajih Zeid-ul-Gilani. "Sayid NJ" signi-
fies his descent from Mohammed. "Wajih'
is his given name; "Zeid" is the name OF
his immediate family line. "Ui-Gilani."
meaning "of the Gilani.' tells of his mem
bership in one of the powerful Arabic
generic families.
The Gilani, who. number 5000, 900. claim
descent from a descendant in the fourth
generation from Mohammed, who subse-
quently settled in Persia, founding one OF
the greatest families under the Star and
Crescent. OF this family, or clan, Say1d
Effendi is the titular head.
Sayid Effendi destroys occidental pre-
conceived notions of the tenets of Moham-
medism, to whom it has meant a creed
Of fire and sword against all who deny
the prophet. He is an advocate of educa-
ton of woman suffrage and of freedom
of worship, finding basis for his convic-
lions in the sayings of the prophet, con-
tanned either in the Koran or in that COL
lection of Mohammed's ~utterances. Ell
'Sunnah. Admitting that Nohammedism has
permitted plural marriage, he is himself
an advocate of monogamy and would have
his fellows in Islam observe it as a proper
ideal of life.
Sat on Bench as Judge.
He studied at -Constantinople to qualify
for a seat as judge in the courts. AS
judge Of a district he found his sympa-
thies too keen, and he abandoned this
course.
Then it was that he became under-sec-
rotary to the Sheik-ul-Islam at CONSTANT
nople. Although he advanced to the first
sec~retaryship, he did not find himself in
accord with the minds about him, and
lacked opportunity to voice freely his re-
ligious views interpreting the Koran as
he had read it. The rest he tells:
1T happened that Maj. Finley came
to C~onstantinople accredited to his i'm
per'al majesty. the Caliph of Mohamme-
dism, Sultan of Turkey, requesting on
behalf of the Moros of the Philippines
that there be sent to- the islands a re-
ligious leader qualified for such an i'm
portant mission. Having been chosen
by his majesty the caliph to be the rep
resentative of the Mohammedan faith
in the Philippines. I went to the islands
with a craving to enlighten the poor
Moros in a way pleasing to the AL
mighty, according to the spirit Of the
Koran.
Il became ill while there and was
compelled to return to my home for a
IldI6c VI III hS'Coooh IitNA
cal treatment. HoweveH, my main OBJ
Ject in returning home was to interest
benevolent Mohammedans in aiding the
cause Of, the Moros financially. and
thus enable me to obtain suitable in
structors. free from fanaticism, to
teach the religion as I know it, avoid
ing any instruction that may prove in
furious to humanity now or in the
future.
"All possible help was promised by
people of high standing. But l mem
ton with great regret that no sooner
had l returned to ~Constantinople and
commenced my course of medical treat
ment than this detestabie war was de-
clared. May God shorten its days as q
blessing to his people"
The American cruiser Tennessee con-
veyed Sayid Efendi from Beirut to
Barcelona. Spain, on his way to the
United States and back to his post in
the Philippines. A steamer brought him
thence to New York. He has been
spending about two months in that city
and in Philadelphia. The date of his
return to the Philippines is not fixed.