MOSLEM'S PRIVATE PRAYER AND FASTING.
PRAYER.
Prayer carries the Musselman half way to heaven. There is no salvation
by grace or by atonement. Allah forgives his sins only on the condition
of good works. Hence it is an obligation with every one to pray. Prayer
is not a duty issuing from his love to Allah, but a yoke which binds
him against his will. It is reduced to a mechanical act without spirit.
The Moslem always washes with cold water before prayer. He will take a
jar of water and say, "Bism Allah" meaning, "in the name of God I do
this holy service." Then dipping his right hand in the water he rubs
his arms from the wrist to the elbow; with the tips of his fingers he
will wet his forehead and the inside of his ears, and the surface of
his feet. Travelers in the desert, use sand as a substitute for water.
The worshiper must have a seal of Mecca which is made of clay and is
about the size of a half-dollar. On it are the words, "There is no God
but God." Facing Mecca, he puts the seal on the ground and standing
erect he raises both hands to his head, kneels to the ground, puts his
brow on the seal, then kisses it. Rising to his feet he puts both index
fingers in his ears; and also makes numerous other gestures. They have
one prayer which is always repeated. They have five stated seasons
daily for prayer; daybreak, noon, soon after noon, after sunset (to
avoid the idea of sun worship) and just before retiring. The general
place of prayer is the mosque, but few of the Moslems pray there, as
they prefer praying in the streets, open squares and in meadows before
mosques where they will be seen by more men and can better show their
piety and integrity. In the midst of his prayer he will stop and speak
a few words to the surrounding people as a religious custom, or to
revile children whose noise while at play may have interrupted him. A
prayer often prayed by faithful Moslems, quoted from the Koran, is a
foolish and selfish prayer and is entirely against the spirit and
teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. It reads: "O Allah, I seek refuge
to thee from Satan and all evil spirits. O Lord of all creatures
destroy all heathen and infidels, even those who believe in the
Trinity, the enemy of our religion. O Allah, make their children
orphans, their wives widows, and defile their abodes. Give their
families, their households, their women, their children, their
relatives, their possessions, their race, their wealth, their lands,
and their daughters as a booty to the Moslems, Thy only people, O Lord
of all creatures." Every word is against the blessed teachings of our
Lord who said: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good
to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and
persecute you."
The Mohammedan religion does not require women to pray. It is a
question if she has the same soul that man has. However some women
among the higher classes and some old widows do pray. But they cannot
pray in the most holy mosques on account of their uncleanness, nor in
the streets for they ought not to be seen of men. If they wish to they
may pray in their private houses.
While prayer carries a Musselman half way to heaven, fasting carries
him to the gate and alms admit him. So fasting and alms are the keys to
paradise and every man must practice them. The Moslems have only one
month of fasting called the ramadhan. Their month begins with the new
moon; but sometimes in some parts of the land it is cloudy and they
cannot see the moon. So men will be appointed by the government
throughout all the empire to watch carefully for the new moon,
sometimes from the peaks of mountains. When she is discovered telegrams
are sent announcing the beginning of the fast on the morrow. They will
fast from one hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset, or
till it becomes too dark for a man to discriminate between red and
black thread. During this time they abstain from eating, drinking, and
smoking. The poor class work till noon. The rich do not work at all.
The most of the day is spent in reciting the Koran, praying and
sleeping. Christians cannot eat in the street, for the Moslems might
long to eat too, or even take a taste, and thus break their fast. Boys
and girls above eight years must fast, while sick men are not compelled
to during this month. However when they recover they are required to
fast thirty days as soon as they are able. They do not converse much in
the day but wear a sad countenance. They do not allow a Christian to
speak to them. At morning and evening in the cities a cannon is fired
for the beginning and ending of the fast. During this month much alms
is given. The lords and princes especially send meals from their table.
They believe fasting and giving secure absolute forgiveness of sins and
admittance to heaven. The night is changed to a feast. They eat and
drink and converse till twelve o'clock. Then they retire but are up
again at three and eat and drink till one hour before sun is down.
Death among them occurs most often in that month because many eat too
much. So many different meals hurt their stomach and they fall sick and
die. The Mohammedans say they go to heaven for its gates are open
during this month for Musselmen. Hundreds of them eat everything they
want and at any time of the day. They do not believe in fasting: But
they must be careful that the high priest does not catch them breaking
the fast, for he would punish such offence severely. The writer has
seen many Mohammedans eating in this month. They would eat and smoke in
their houses and then wash out their mouths and tell everyone they were
fasting. Thousands fast either for their own glory or from the fear of
men.