Page:Judaism and Islam, a prize essay - Geiger - 1898.pdf/84

 66 JUDAISM AND ISLAM.

Judaism is known to be very rich in single precepts, and Muhammad has borrowed from it much that seemed to him suitable.

1. Prayer. Muhammad like the Rabbis prescribes the standing position 1 for prayer. Thus : "Stand obedient to the Lord; but if ye fear any danger, then pray while walking or riding" ; a and also : "Who standing, and sitting, and reclining, bear God in mind." 3

These three positions are mentioned again in Sura X. 13:4 "When, evil befalleth a man he prayeth unto us, lying on his side or sitting or standing," where with a true perception, of the right order, the least worthy position is the first spoken of. 5

Baidhawi comments thus on Sura III. 188, the passage alluded to above: "The meaning is that the man may take any of the three positions according to his strength, as Muhammad said to Amran Ibn Husain: ' Pray standing if thou art able ; if not, sitting; and if thou canst not sit up, then, leaning on the side." 6 The Jews were not so. strict in this matter, yet they too have the rule that prayer should be offered standing ; 7 and in Rabbinical writings it is

1 Note the technical expression fiJu-jj

Comp, Kabb.

2 Sdra II. 240. lL/i

3 Sura III. 188.

5 Of. also Sftra IV. 46.

3l Of. Beraohoth.X.