IV. AB. LXXVL OF THE SUDAN 69
LVII On this point too it is to be noted that a noble pedigree con-
fers no merit upon a man from the religious point of view, and pride in such is blameworthy.
LVIII Yusef ibn 'Omar says " If a man devote himself to the study of what does not concern him^ in his religion, his labour is
impious." LIX I say that this is the tradition, and if the warning against pride of ancestry is [admitted to have been] proved, then it becomes a
matter of knowledge that the study of other people's pedigrees is of no use and unprofitable, since "knowledge of them is useless and
ignorance harmless,"
LX El Imam Abu el Hasan says " He who is ignorant of this should not be called ignorant." LXI An unprofitable form of genealogical research is the tracing of
pedigrees to one's infidel ancestors. Indeed a knowledge of the relationships of infidels is not demanded by the law.
{The author enlarges on this topic for half a page and then continues — para, lxii.)
LXI I Thus I have shown you from the above what is profitable and what unprofitable in [the study of] pedigrees and the obligation of
knowing so much as is profitable, as proved by the saying of el Imam
'Omar quoted above.
LXI II This is supported by the quotation I have found in some genealogical records from the Words of the Prophet. . .about one
who was learned in pedigrees "A knowledge of them is useless and
ignorance harmless " :
LXIV-LXX That is. . .{here follow, word for wordy paras. BA, vii to XI, followed by a series of quotations front Abu el Hasan, etc.).
LXXI-LXXII {An explanation of terms used.) LXXIII (Identical with BA, xiii.) LXXIV (Identical with BA, xiv.)
{The author then continues in the same strain for half a page. Then begins the long third chapter concerning the numerous descendants of elfeki Bishdra el Gharbdwi. The first 12 pages are omitted: then occurs the following, i.e. para. Lxxv.)
LXXV Now our ancestor, the feki Bishara el Gharbawi, was by origin
one of the most noble Ga'al, the dignitaries of high lineage, and he was descended from the children of 'Abbas the uncle of the Prophet
. . . , and this I dealt with in the first chapter in enumerating my ancestors.
LXXVI Now his forefathers were among the dignitaries of the
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