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Encyclopedia of Religion entry for
Idiots
Arabic majnun "An idiot or a fool is vulgarly regarded by them as a being whose mind is in heaven, while his grosser part mingles among ordinary mortals; consequently he is considered an especial favorite of heaven. Whatever enormities a reputed saint may commit (and there are many who are constantly infringing precepts of their religion), such acts do not affect his fame for sanctity; for they are considered as the results of the abstraction of his mind from worldly things; his soul, or reasoning faculties, being wholly absorbed in devotion, so that his passions are left without control. Lunatics who are dangerous to society are kept in confinement; but those who are harmless are generally regarded as saints. Most of the reputed saints of Egypt are either lunatics, or idiots, or imposters." 
, pl. majanin. Mr. Lane, in his Modern Egyptians, vol. i. p. 288, says:-
citations: Dictionary of Islam, Hughes
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12
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