[128]. See Kur-án, ch. vii., v. 139.
[129]. “Aboo-Farrág” is a surname of a famous saint, the seyyid Ahmad El-Bedawee, buried at Tanta in the Delta: it implies that he obtains relief to those who visit his tomb, and implore his intercession.
[130]. The morning-prayers, two rek’ahs sunneh and two fard: the noon, four sunneh and four fard; the afternoon, the same; the evening, three fard and two sunneh; and the night-prayers (or ’eshë), four sunneh and four fard, and two sunneh again. After these are yet to be performed three rek’ahs “witr;” i.e., single or separate prayers: these may be performed immediately after the ’eshë prayers, or at any time in the night; but are more meritorious if late in the night.
[131]. There are some little differences in the attitudes of the four great sects during prayer. I describe those of the Hanafees.
[132]. Some persons previously utter certain supererogatory ejaculations, expressive of the praise and glory of God; and add, “I seek refuge with God from Satan the accursed;” which petition is often offered up before reciting any part of the Kur-án on other occasions, as commanded by the Kur-án itself (ch. xvi., v. 100). The Kur-án is usually recited, in the fard prayers, in a voice slightly audible, excepting at noon and the ’asr, when it is recited inaudibly. By Imáms, when praying at the head of others, and sometimes by persons praying alone, it is chanted. In the sunneh prayers it is recited inaudibly.
[133]. In the third and fourth fard rek’ahs, the recitation of a second portion of the Kur-án after the Fát’hah should be omitted; and before fard prayers of four rek’ahs, the “ikámeh”[“ikámeh”] (which consists of the words of the adán, with the addition of “the time of prayer is come,” pronounced twice after “come to security”) should be repeated; but most persons neglect doing this, and many do not observe the former rule.
[134]. The doctors of El-Islám differ respecting the proper position of the fingers of the right hand on this occasion: some hold that all the fingers but the first are to be doubled, as represented in Part II. of the sketch of the postures of prayer.
[135]. Some say that every believer is attended by two angels; others say, five; others, sixty, or a hundred and sixty.
[136]. Beginning with the words “God: there is no deity but He;” and ending with, “He is the High, the Great.”
[137]. Adjoining each mosque are several “latrinæ,” in each of which is a receptacle with water, for ablution.