Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/45



1. Prayer. Mohametans have five daily prayers, which are nothing but mechanical repetition of some portions from the religious books, in appointed times and in certain manner.

At first Allah demanded forty daily prayers from the Moslems, but through the intercession and wise counsel of the Greatest Prophet, he was willing to reduce the number to five. The time for first prayer is at one hour before sunrise, the second at noon, the third two hours before sunset, the fourth at sunset, and the last about two hours after sunset.

Prayers must be preceded by ablution, the ceremonious washing of the hands, arms, nostrils, mouth, face, ears, forehead and feet.

Each time of prayer a crier called "muezzin" ascends to the top of the minaret, the slim, high tower attached to the mosque, to invite the believers to worship. He must cry as eagerly and loudly as he can, by which he will be able to reach more people, and also secure a larger space in paradise, as large as the distance of his voice.

To pray with the congregation is regarded more virtuous, but in case of necessity the believer may perform his prayer at home, in the shop, in any public place, or on the wayside. The Friday noon prayer,