MORALITY OF MAHOMETANISM.

[Continued from page 136.]

Extracts from the Koran, arranged under alphabetical heads.*

ALMS.

Observe the stated times of prayer, and pay your legal alms,t and bow down yourselves with those who bow down. Will ye command men to do justice, and forget your own souls? Yet ye read the book of the law; do ye not therefore understand? Chap. ii. Vol. i. p. 9.

Be constant in prayer and give alms; and what good ye have sent before for your souls, ye shall find it with God; surely God seeth that which ye do. c. 2, v. 1, p. 22.

The references are to the London editions of Sale's translation, of which there are two whose pages correspond.

What is to be understood by these legal alms which are thus referred to, is explained by the following passage in Sale's Preliminary Discourse. "Alms, according to the prescriptions of the Mohammedan law, are to be given of five things; 1. Of cattle, that is to say, of camels, kine, and of sheep. 2. Of money. 3. Of corn. 4. Of fruits, viz. dates and raisons; and 5. Of wares sold. Of each of these a certain portion is to be given in alms, being usually one part in forty, or two and a half per cent. of the value. But no alms are due for them, unless they amount to a certain quantity or number nor until a man has been in possession of them eleven months, he not being obliged to give alms thereout before the twelfth month is begun: nor are alms due for cattle employed in tilling the ground, or in carrying burdens. In some cases, a much larger portion than the before mentioned, is reckoned due for alms: thus, of what is gotten out of mines, or the sea, or by what art or profession, over and above what is sufficient for the reasonable support of a man's family, and especially where there is a mixture, or suspicion of unjust gain, a fifth part ought to be given in alms. Moreover at the end of the fast of Ramadan, every moslem is obliged to give in alms for himself, and for every one of his family, if he has any, a measure of wheat, barley, dates, rice, or other provisions, commonly eaten,"

They will ask thee what they shall bestow in alms; answer, the good which ye bestow, let it be given to parents and kindred, and orphans, and the poor, and the stranger. c. ii. v. 1. p. 38.

O true believers, give alms of that which ye have bestowed on you, before the day cometh wherein there shall be no merchandizing, nor friendship, nor intercession. c. ii. v. 1. p. 47.

O true believers, make not your alms of none effect by reproaching or mischief, as he who layeth out what he hath to appear unto men to give alms, and believeth not in God and the last day. The likeness of such a one is as a flint covered with earth, on which a violent rain falleth, and leaveth it hard. They cannot prosper in any thing which they have gained, for God directeth not the unbelieving people. c. ii. v. 1. p. 50.

O true believers, bestow alms of the good things which ye have gained, and of that which we have produced for you out of the earth, and chuse not the bad thereof to give it in alms, such as ye would not accept yourselves, otherwise than by connivance : and know that God is rich and worthy to be praised.—And whatever alms ye shall give, or whatever vow ye shall vow, ve rily, God knoweth it; but the ungodly shall have none to help them. If ye make your alms to appear it is well; but if ye conceal them, and give them unto the poor, this will be better for you, and will atone for your sins and God is well informed of that which ye do. The direction of them belongeth not unto thee; but God directeth whom he pleaseth. The good that ye shall give in alms, shall redound unto yourselves; and ye shall not give unless out of desire of seeing the face of God. And what good thing ye shall give in alms, it shall be repaid you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly; unto the poor who are wholly employed in fighting for the religion of God, and cannot go to and fro in the earth; whom the ignorant man thinketh rich because of their modesty: thou shalt know them by this mark, they ask not men with importunity; and what good ye shall give in alms, verily God knoweth it. They who distribute alms of their substance night and day, in private and in public, shall have

their reward with their Lord; on them shall no fear ́come, neither shall they be grieved. c. ii. v. 1. p. 51.

Alms are to be distributed only unto the poor and the needy, and those who are employed in collecting and distributing the same, and unto those whose hearts are reconciled, and for the redemption of captives, and unto those who are in debt, and insolvent, and for the advantage of God's religion, and unto the traveller. This is an ordinance from God: and God is knowing and wise. c. ix. v. 1. p. 251.

Your wealth and your children are only a temptation: but with God is a great reward. Wherefore fear God, as much as ye are able; and hear and obey and give alms for the good of your souls; for whoso is preserved from the covetousness of his own soul, they shall prosper. If ye lend unto God an acceptable loan, he will double the same unto you, and will forgive you : for God is grateful and long suffering, knowing both what is hidden, and what is divulged; the mighty, the wise. c. lxiv. v. 2. p. 442.

AVARICE, &c.

Woe unto every slanderer, and backbiter: who heapeth up riches, and prepareth the same for the time to come! He thinketh that his riches will render him immortal. By no means. c. civ v. 2. p 509.

BENEFICEnce.

Serve God, and associate no creature with him; and shew kindness unto parents, and relations, and orphans, and the poor, and your neighbour who is of kin to you, and also your neighbour who is a stranger, and to your familiar companion, and the traveller, and the captives whom your right hands shall possess ;* for God loveth not the proud or vain-glorious, who are covetous, and recommend covetousness unto men, and conceal that

• The reader is requested to compare this command of the prophet Mahomet with those recorded in the Scriptures of God's chosen people, the Jews, respecting captives.

which God of his bounty hath given them; (we have prepared a shameful punishment for the unbelievers ;) and who bestow their wealth in charity to be observed of men, and believe not in God, nor in the last day; and whoever hath Satan for a companion, an evil companion hath he. c. iv. v. i. p. 101.

CALUMNY.

God loveth not the speaking ill of any one in public, unless he who is injured call for assistance; and God heareth and knoweth: whether ye publish a good action, or conceal it, or forgive evil, verily God is gracious and powerful. c. iv. v. 1. p. 122.

CHARITY.

These (i. e. the just) fulfil their vow, and dread the day, the evil whereof will dispense itself far abroad; and give food unto the poor, and the orphan, and the bondman, for his sake, saying, we feed you for God's sake only: we desire no recompence from you nor any thanks: verily we dread from our Lord, a dismal and calamitous day. Wherefore the Lord shall deliver them from the evil of that day, and shall cast on them brightness of countenance and joy, &c. c. lxxvi. v. 2. p. 474.

It is to free the captive; or to feed in the day of famine, the orphan who is of kin, or the poor man who lieth on the ground. Whoso doeth this, and is one of those who believe and recommend perseverance unto each other, and recommend mercy unto each other; these shall be the companions of the right hand. But they who shall disbelieve our signs, shall be the companions of the left hand : above them shall be arched fire. C. XC. v. 2. p. 498.

:

Verily the life to come shall be better for thee than this present life and thy Lord shall give thee a reward wherewith thou shalt be well pleased. Did he not find thee an orphan and hath he not taken care of thee? And did he not find thee wandering in error, and hath he not guided thee unto the truth? And did he

not find thee needy, and hath he not enriched thee? Wherefore oppress not the orphan; neither repulse the beggar: but declare the goodness of thy Lord. c. xciii. v. 2. p. 500.

CIVILITY.

When ye are saluted with a salutation, salute the person with a better salutation, or at least return the same; for God taketh an account of all things. c. iv. v. 1. p. 111.

O true believers, enter not any houses beside your own houses, until ye have asked leave, and have saluted the family thereof : this is better for you; peradventure ye will be admonished. And if ye shall find no person in the houses, yet do not enter them until leave be granted you; and if it be said unto you return back do you return back. This will be more decent for you; and God knoweth that which ye do. c. xxiv. v. 2. p. 191.

CONVERSATION.

Dost thou not perceive that God knoweth whatever is in heaven and in earth? There is no private discourse among three persons, but he is the fourth of them; nor among five, but he is the sixth of them; neither among a smaller number than this, nor a larger but he is with them, wheresoever they be: and he will declare unto them that which they have done, on the day of resurrection; for God knoweth all things.

O true believers, when ye discourse privily together, discourse not of wickedness, and enmity, and disobedience, toward the apostle; but discourse of justice and piety: and fear God before whom ye shall be assembled. Verily the clandestine discourse of the infidels proceedeth from Satan, that he may grieve the true believers; but there shall be none to hurt them in the least, unless by the permission of God; wherefore in God let the faithful trust. c. lviii. v. 2. p. 424.