Studies in a Mosque - The Search For Mecca

THE KORAN. 159
of faith—the recital of the creed, prayer, almsgiving,
fasting, and pilgrimage—but lays down scarcely any
rules as to how they are to be performed. " Observe
the prayers and the middle prayer," Mohammad
vaguely directs, "and stand instant before God";
" Seek aid from patience and from prayer ; verily
God is with the patient " ; but he says nothing of the
perplexing alternations of prostrations and formulas
which are practised in the mosques. He refers to the
Friday prayers, but not in a compulsory tone. '* When
ye journey about in the earth, it is no crime to you
that ye come short in prayer, if ye fear that those
who disbelieve will set upon you. God pardons every-
thing but associating aught with Him." The fast is
more clearly defined, but with ample reservations :
There is prescribed for you the fast, as it was prescribed for
those before you ; maybe
—
ye will fear God for a certain number
of days ; but he amongst you who is sick or on a journey may
fast a (like) number of other days. And for those who are able
to fast (and do not), the expiation is feeding- a poor man ; but he
who voluntarily doeth a good act, it is better for him ; and to
fast is better for you, if ye only knew. The month of Ramadan,
wherein the Koran was sent down : . . . whoso amongst you
seeth this month, let him fast it; but he who is sick or on a
journey, a (like) number of other days—God wisheth for you what
is easy.
This reads more like advice than commandment.
Turning the face to the Kibla of Mekka is distinctly
enjoined in chapter ii., and the pilgrimage to the Kaaba
is thus commended : " Verily Safa and Marwa are of
the beacons of God, and he who makes the pilgrimage
unto the House (Kaaba), or visits it, it is no crime
for him to compass it about ; and he who obeys his own