The prayers were recited by an Iman or priest, who stood on the top of the pulpit, in company with other priests. From my position I was not able to see clearly all that was done at the pulpit, but I could see that the prayers were quite analogous to the mass of the Catholic church, and included readings, chant-ings and responses, with frequent bowings and genuflections on the part of the people. The congregation moved as a unit; when one man bowed, all bowed; when he knelt, all knelt; when he prostrated himself, the rest did likewise. The service was an impressive one in every respect, and the most casual observer could not fail to see that every worshipper felt the solemnity of the place and occasion.
The following illustration is an exact _facsimile_ of the opening chapter of the Koran.
{ 164}This has been anglicized by Rodwell as follows:
7 Sirat alezeena anamta aleihim, gheiri’lmoghdoobi aleihim wala’daleen. Ameen.
Burton made a rhyming translation of the same, which I herewith give.
1 In the Name of Allah, the Merciful the Compassionate!
2 Praise be to Allah who the three worlds made,
5 Thee alone do we worship and of thee alone do we ask aid.
6 Guide us to the path that is straight--
7 The path of those to whom thy love is great,
And now let me say a word to the Infidel, and show him how much he gains or loses by not being a Moslem.
The first article of faith is: “There is no God but God.”
In chapter 112 of the Koran, his unity is set forth thus: “Say he is God, one God, God is the Eternal. He begetteth not, nor is he begotten; and there is none equal unto him.” The Moslems believe that Christ was the Messiah, and brought the gospel upon the earth; they do not call him the Son of God--but simply a prophet or apostle. They believe he was taken up to Heaven after having accomplished his mission, and that he will come again on earth to establish the Moslem religion.
The second article of faith is: “Mohammed is the Prophet of God.”
The Moslems acknowledge six prophets--Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Christ, and Mohammed--and that each brought a system of revealed religion. They claim that each system was a true one, but was abrogated by that which followed it.
Consequently, Christianity was the true faith from the begin{ 165}ning of our era down to the time of Mohammed, except when it was corrupted by the belief that Christ was the Son of God.