Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates Vol 2 - The Search For Mecca

2 1 8 Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates, [ch. xxvi.
Though in
no sense religious, the Bedouins, like
all Arabs, make frequent use of the name of God,
generally as a mere form of speech, but occasionally
to emphasize a declaration.
" HamduUah," " Inshallclh,"
and the like expressions are in their mouths
all the day long, but these certainly have less of
serious meaning in them than the corresponding
" thank God," and " please God," with us. " Mashallah,"—
" as it pleases God " —has, perhaps, a slight
tinge of superstition mixed with its meaning.
It is
used to correct expressions of admiration, for fear of
ill luck. Thus it would be considered impolite and
a little
dangerous to remark upon the beauty of a
mare w^ithout adding " mashallah," and we have
more than once been corrected for this by the owner
of the animal.
The only solemn use made of the Divine name is
when an affirmation is to be strengthened by an
oath. Then the right hand is raised, and Allah is
invoked.
A statement thus emphasized may in all
instances be relied on from a pure Bedouin ; but I
have not been able to discover that their fidelity is
enforced by any fear of consequences.
Among the
low Felkihin tribes, who profess Mahometanism, false
oaths are of common occurrence.
The Bedouin's oath
is in fact an appeal to honour, at least as much as to
religion ;
and this may be further seen in the corresponding
form of affirming a promise, " aala rasi,"
("on my head be it,") where no name of God is used.
There is, however, one solemn act, to which God