iv.BA.xiv. NATIVE MANUSCRIPTS OF THE SUDAN 17
preservation and guarding of such is obligatory because of the [record
of] blood-relationships that they contain.
III The object of preserving them is not to cause boastful com-
parisons of pedigrees; for, as v^^as said by the Commander of the
Faithful the Imam 'Omar ibn el Khattab. . ." Ye know from your pedigrees how ye are connected."
IV Some of the learned say that 'Omar may have heard this from the Prophet . . . , but that which has no other claim to be obligatory than his [sole] authority is yet obligatory.
V But the knowledge of the pedigrees of persons who are unrelated to yourself is of no use, because the authoritative dictum does not apply to such ; and the following saying of the Prophet . . . about one
who was learned in pedigrees bears this out : " A knowledge [of them] is useless and ignorance harmless."
VI But if a man devote himself to the study of what does not con-
cern him, his labour is impious : VII that is in times of mutual love and affection ; but in these pre-
sent days of mutual hatred and jealousy the study of pedigrees is obligatory, for at the end of the age the use of abusive epithets will be prevalent, and the difficulty will not be resolved save by means of pedigrees.
VIII So [the keeping of] pedigrees has been ordained, and it is not dutiful to neglect them: in fact he who does so is a rebel, owing to the danger of disturbance being caused among the people, and trouble in the hearts of the various nations.
IX Thus the study of pedigrees is obligatory because the obser-
vance of blood-relationships is obligatory by the authority of the
Book and the Law ["el Sunna"] and the Unanimities ["el Igma'a"].
X As regards the Book, God Almighty said "Fear God by whom ye beseech one another and [honour] the womb that bore you."
XI As regards the Law, we have the saying of the Prophet...
"He that puts his trust in God and the Last Day will honour his guest and observe the duties of relationship and speak good words
or none at all,"
XII As regards the "Unanimities," all alike have agreed that the observance of blood-relationships is specifically ordained; and he who neglects it is disobedient.
XIII In the " Traditions " it is said " The womb is suspended upon the throne [of God] and says 'Lord, honour him that honours me and cut off him that cuts me off.' "
XIV Some too have said that the observance of blood-relationships lengthens life.