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Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Hughes, Thomas Patrick
I bear witness that Muḥammad is the Apostle of God!
I bear witness that Muḥammad is the Apostle of God!
Come to prayers! Come to prayers!
Come to salvation! Come to salvation!
(The Shīʿahs add “Come to good works!”)
There is no other god but God!”
(The Shīʿahs recite the last sentence twice.)
In the early morning the following sentence is added: “Prayers are better than sleep!”
THE MUʾAZZIN CALLING THE AẔĀN FROM A MINARET. (A. F. Hole.)
When the prayers are said in a congregation or in the mosque, they begin with the Iqāmah, which is a recitation of the same words as the azān, with the addition of the sentence, “Prayers are now ready!” The regular form of prayer then begins with the Nīyah, which is said standing, with the hands on either side:—
THE NIYAH.
“I have purposed to offer up to God only, with a sincere heart this morning (or, as the case may be), with my face Qiblah-wards, two (or, as the case may be) rakʿah prayers Farẓ (Sunnah, or Nafl).”
THE TAKBIR-I-TAHRIMAH.
Then follows the Takbīr-i-Taḥrīmah, said with the thumbs touching the lobules of the ears and the open hands on each side of the face:—
“God is great!”
THE QIYAM
The Qiyām, or standing position. The right hand placed upon the left, below the navel (the Shāfiʿīs, and the two other orthodox sects, place their hands on their breasts, as also the Wahhābīs; the Shīʿahs keep their hands on either side. In all the sects the women perform the Qiyām with their hands on their breasts), and the eyes looking to the ground in self-abasement. During which is said the Subḥān (the Shīʿahs omit the Subḥān):—
“Holiness to Thee, O God!
And praise be to Thee!
Great is Thy name!
Great is Thy greatness!
There is no deity but Thee!”
The Taʿawwuẕ, or Aʿūẕubillah, is then said as follows:—
“I seek refuge from God from cursed Satan.”
After which the Tasmiyah is repeated:—
“In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful.”
Then follows the Fātiḥah, viz. the first chapter of the Qurʾān:—
“Praise be to God, Lord of all the worlds!
The compassionate, the merciful!
King of the day of reckoning!
Thee only do we worship, and to Thee only do we cry for help.
Guide Thou us in the straight path,
The path of those to whom Thou hast been gracious;
With whom Thou art not angry,
And who go not astray.—Amen.”
After this the worshipper can repeat as many chapters of the Qurʾān as he may wish; he should, at least, recite one long or two short verses. The following chapter is usually recited, namely, the Sūratu ʾl-Ik͟hlāṣ, or the 112th chapter:
“Say: He is God alone:
God the Eternal!
He begetteth not,
And is not begotten;