D.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Hughes, Thomas Patrick
“Q. Who brought the gospel to light, and preached it?
“A. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.”
“Q. Why did not the Christians acknowledge the unity of God?
“A. Because God had not so decreed.
“Q. Why does God permit the introduction of evil and infidelity?
“A. Because He chooses to mislead some from, and to guide others to, the truth.
“Q. If infidelity and error proceed from Him, why does he punish those who follow them?
“A. Because when He deceived them, they did not obey Him.
“Q. How can a deluded man obey, when he is ignorant of the true state of the case?
“A. We are not bound to answer this question, for God is not accountable to his creatures for his dealings with them.”
DUʿĀʾ (دعاء). “Prayer.” The word duʿāʾ is generally used for supplication, as distinguished from ṣalāt, or the liturgical form of prayer, e.g. Qurʾān, Sūrah xiv. 42: “O my Lord! make me and my posterity to be constant in prayer (ṣalāt). O our Lord! and accept my supplication (duʿāʾ). [PRAYERS.]
DUʿĀʾ-I-MAʾS̤ŪR (دعــاء مــاثــور). Lit. “Recorded prayer.” A term used for prayers which were offered up by the Prophet, and have been handed down in the Traditions.
DUʿĀʾU ʾL-QUNŪT (دعاء القنوت), called also the Qunūtu ʾl-Witr, “The prayer said standing.” A form of prayer recited after the qarāʾah in the night prayer. Recited by some sects in the early morning. It is found in the Traditions. It is as follows:—
“O God, we seek help from Thee, and forgiveness of sins.
“We believe in Thee and trust in Thee.
“We praise Thee. We thank Thee. We are not unthankful.
“We expel, and we depart from him who does not obey Thee.
“We serve Thee only, and to Thee do we pray.
“We seek Thee, we prostrate ourselves and we serve Thee.
“We hope for Thy mercy. We fear Thy punishments.
“Surely Thy judgments are upon the infidels.”
DUALISM. Professor Palmer, following the remarks of al-Baiẓāwī the commentator, says there is a protest against the dualistic doctrine that Light and Darkness were two co-eternal principles, in the Qurʾān, Sūrah vi. 1: “Praised be God who created the heavens and the earth, and brought into being the Darkness and the Light.” (Palmer’s Qurʾān, vol. i. p. 115; al-Baiẓāwī in loco.)
AD-DUK͟HĀN (الـدخان). “The Smoke.” The title of the XLIVth chapter of the Qurʾān, in which the words occur (9th verse): “Expect thou the day when the heaven shall bring a palpable smoke.”
DULDUL (دلدل). The name of the Prophet’s mule which he gave to ʿAlī.
DUMB, The. Arabic abkam (ابكم), pl. bukm.
The intelligible signs of a dumb person suffice to verify his bequests and render them valid; he may also execute a marriage contract, or give a divorce, or execute a sale or purchase, or sue or incur punishment by signs, but he cannot sue in a case of qiṣāṣ, or retaliation for murder. This rule does not apply to a person who has been deprived of speech, but merely to one who has been born dumb. (Hidāyah, vol. iv. p. 568.) A dumb person can also acknowledge and deny the faith by a sign.
AD-DURRATU ʾL-BAIẒĀʾ (الـدرة البيضاء). Lit. “The pearl of light.” A term used by Ṣūfī mystics to express the ʿāqlu ʾl-awwal, the first intelligence which God is said to have created at the beginning of the animate world. (ʿAbdu ʾr-Razzāq’s Dictionary of Ṣūfī Terms.)
DURŪD (درود); a Persian word. Arabic aṣ-Ṣalāt (الصلوة). A benediction; imploring mercy. A part of the stated prayer, recited immediately after the Tashahhud, whilst in the same posture. It is as follows: “O God, have mercy on Muḥammad and on his descendants, as Thou didst have mercy on Abraham and on his descendants! Thou art to be praised, and Thou art great! O God, bless Muḥammad and his descendants as Thou didst bless Abraham and his descendants. Thou art to be praised and Thou art great.” The merits of this form of prayer are said to be very great; for, according to Anas, the Prophet said, “He who recites it will have blessings on his head ten times, ten sins will be forgiven, and he will be exalted ten steps.” (Mishkāt, book iv. c. xvii.) [PRAYER.]
DŪZAK͟H (دوزخ). The Persian word for hell. [HELL.]
DYER. According to the Imām Abū Ḥanīfah, a dyer of cloth is at liberty to detain it until he receive his hire for dyeing it; and if the cloth perish in his hands whilst it is detained, he is not responsible. (Hidāyah, vol. iii. 320.)
DYING, The. Very special instructions are given in Muslim books as to the treatment of the dying. In the Durru ʾl-Muk͟htār (p. 88), the friends of the dying are recommended, if possible, to turn the head of the dying person towards Makkah; but if this be not convenient, his feet should be placed in that direction and his head slightly raised. The Kalimatu ʾsh-Shahādah should then be recited, and the Sūrah Yā-Sīn (xxxvi.) and Sūratu ʾr-Raʿd (xiii.) should be read from the Qurʾān. When the spirit has departed from the body, the mouth should be tied up and the eyes closed and the arms straightened, and the body should be perfumed, and no unclean person should be suffered to approach the corpse. Immediate steps should then be taken for the washing of the corpse. [DEATH.]