He has left thee his brethren.
He has left thee his children;
They shall be the bulwarks of thy shoulders.
He is not dead! His soul is with Allah.
We shall see him again some day.
After these funereal lamentations, the adjaïze, or old women, take possession of the body, wash it carefully, place camphor and cotton in all the natural orifices, and wrap it in a white shroud sprinkled with water from the well of Zem-Zem[[96]], and perfumed with benzoin. Four relatives of the deceased then lift by the four corners the carpet on which it is laid, and take the road to the cemetery, preceded by the Iman, the marabouts, and the tolbas, and followed by the others. The former chaunt in a grave manner: "There is only one God!" to which the latter respond in chorus: "And our lord Mohammed is the messenger of God!"
For a brief space resignation soothes their despair. Not a cry, not a sob, troubles these prayers offered in common, these professions of the faith of the deceased, which the pious assemblage repeats on his behalf. On arriving at the cemetery, the bearers depose their sacred burden on the edge of the grave, and the Iman, placing himself by its side and surrounded by the marabouts, recites with a strong sonorous voice the salat el djenazat, or the burial prayer:
"Praise to Allah who gives death and who gives life!
"Praise to Him who raises up the dead!
"To Him reverts all honour, all greatness. To Him alone belong the commandment and the power. He is above all!