[168]. Kur-án, chap. v., v. 4.
[169]. The Arabic words of this prayer, “God give thee patience,” etc., are, “Allah yesabbirak (for yusabbirak) ’ala má belák.”
[170]. In some respects the Muslim code does not appear to be so strictly founded upon exigencies of a sanatory nature as the Mosaic. See Leviticus xi. 9-12. In Egypt, fish which have not scales are generally found to be unwholesome food. One of the few reasonable laws of El-Hákim was that which forbade the selling or catching such kinds of fish. See De Sacy, “Chrestomathie Arabe,” 2nde ed., tome i., p. 98.
[171]. It is unlawful to give or receive interest, however small, for a loan, or on account of credit; and to exchange any article for another article of the same species, but differing in quantity. These and several other commercial transactions of a similar kind are severely condemned; but they are not very uncommon among modern Muslims, some of whom take exorbitant interest.
[172]. Many of the Muslims hold that only sculptures which cast a shadow, representing living creatures, are unlawful; but the Prophet certainly condemned pictures also.
[173]. A law given in the Kur-án is called “fard.”
[174]. A law derived from the Traditions is called “sunneh.”
[175]. Kur-án, chap. iv., v. 3.
[176]. Some Muslim moralists argue, that, as four wives are a sufficient number for one man, so also are four concubine-slaves, or four women consisting of these two classes together; but, notwithstanding what Sale and some other learned men have asserted on this subject, the Muslim law certainly does not limit the number of concubine-slaves whom a man may have, whether in addition to, or without, a wife or wives.
[177]. In like manner, when a Christian man marries a Jewess, the Muslim law requires the offspring to profess “the better faith,” namely, the Christian, if unwilling to embrace El-Islám.