[561]. Kur-án, ibid.
[562]. It is also called “’Eed el-Fitr” (or the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast); and, by the Turks, “Ramazán Beyrám.”
[563]. The salutation of peace should be pronounced on entering the burial-ground and on arriving at the tomb, in the manner described in Chap. x., in my account of visits to the tombs and cenotaphs of saints. In the former case it is general; and in the latter, particular.
[564]. This was denied by several of my Muslim friends, before whom I casually mentioned it; but, by producing a piece of the Kisweh, I proved the truth of my assertion. I state this to show that a writer may often be charged with committing an error on authority which any person would consider perfectly convincing.
[565]. The Kaabeh is a building in the centre of the Temple of Mekkeh, most highly respected by the Muslims. It is nearly in the form of a cube. Its height is somewhat more than thirty feet; and each side is about the same, or a little more, in width. It is not exactly rectangular, nor exactly equilateral. The black covering, after having remained upon it nearly a year, is taken off on the 25th of Zu-l-Kaadeh, cut up, and sold to the pilgrims; and the building is left without a covering for the period of fifteen days: on the 10th of Zu-l-Heggeh, the first day of the Great Festival, the new Kisweh is put on. The interior is also hung with a covering, which is renewed each time that a new Sultán ascends the Turkish throne. It is necessary to renew the outer covering every year, in consequence of its exposure to the rain, etc. As the use of stuffs entirely composed of silk is prohibited, the Kisweh of the Kaabeh is lined with cotton to render it allowable.
[566]. This is often called, by the vulgar, “the veil of sitna Fát’meh;” because it is said that Fátimeh Shegeret ed-Durr, the wife of the Sultán Es-Sáleh, was the first person who sent a veil of this kind to cover the door of the Kaabeh.
[567]. I went to the mosque of the Hasaneyn a few days after, to examine the Kisweh and the other objects above described, that I might be able to make my account of them more accurate and complete. I was permitted to handle them all at my leisure; and gave a small present for this privilege, and for a superfluous piece of the Kisweh, for which I asked, a span in length, and nearly the same in breadth.
[568]. These are described in the chapter on music.
[569]. “’Arafát” is the name of the mountain which is one of the principal objects of pilgrimage.
[570]. Thus is properly pronounced the name of the town which we commonly call Suez.