History of the Christian Church, Volume IV: Mediaeval Christianity. A.D. 590-1073.

(Rick Simeone) #1

With shining minaret, thin and high,
From whose fine trellised balcony,
Announcement of the hour of prayer
Is uttered to the silent air:
Such is the Mosque—the holy place,
Where faithful men of every race
Meet at their ease and face to face."
(From Milnes, "Palm Leaves.")


In worship the prominent feature of Islâm is its extreme iconoclasm and puritanism. In this
respect, it resembles the service of the synagogue. The second commandment is literally understood
as a prohibition of all representations of living creatures, whether in churches or elsewhere. The


only ornament allowed is the "Arabesque," which is always taken from inanimate nature.^199
The ceremonial is very simple. The mosques, like Catholic churches, are always open and
frequented by worshippers, who perform their devotions either alone or in groups with covered
head and bare feet. In entering, one must take off the shoes according to the command: "Put off
thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." Slippers or sandals
of straw are usually provided for strangers, and must be paid for. There are always half a dozen
claimants for "backsheesh"—the first and the last word which greets the traveller in Egypt and


Syria. Much importance is attached to preaching.^200
Circumcision is retained from the Jews, although it is not mentioned in the Koran. Friday
is substituted for the Jewish Sabbath as the sacred day (perhaps because it was previously a day
for religious assemblage). It is called the prince of days, the most excellent day on which man was
created, and on which the last judgment will take place; but the observance is less strict than that
of the Jewish Sabbath. On solemn occasions sacrifice, mostly in the nature of a thank-offering, is
offered and combined with an act of benevolence to the poor. But there is no room in Islâm for the
idea of atonement; God forgives sins directly and arbitrarily, without a satisfaction of justice. Hence
there is no priesthood in the sense of a hereditary or perpetual caste, offering sacrifices and mediating


between God and the people.^201 Yet there are Mufties and Dervishes, who are as powerful as any
class of priests and monks. The Mussulmans have their saints, and pray at their white tombs. In
this respect, they approach the Greeks and Roman Catholics; yet they abhor the worship of saints
as idolatry. They also make much account of religious processions and pilgrimages. Their chief
place of pilgrimage is Mecca. Many thousands of Moslems from Egypt and all parts of Turkey pass
annually through the Arabian desert to worship at the holy Kaaba, and are received in triumph on
their return. The supposed tomb of Moses, also, which is transferred to the Western shore of the
Dead Sea, is visited by the Moslems of Jerusalem and the neighboring country in the month of
April.
Prayer with prostrations is reduced to a mechanical act which is performed with the regularity
of clock work. Washing of hands is enjoined before prayer, but in the desert, sand is permitted as


(^199) The lions in the court of the Alhambra farm an exception.
(^200) For an interesting description of a sermon from the pulpit of Mecca, see Burton’s Pilgrimage, II. 314; III. 117, quoted
by Stanley, p. 379. Burton says, he had never and nowhere seen so solemn, so impressive a religious spectacle. Perhaps he has
not heard many Christian sermons.
(^201) Gibbon’s statement that "the Mohammedan religion has no priest and no sacrifice;" is substantially correct.

Free download pdf