Turn thy face towards the Sacred Mosque: i.e. towards the Kaaba of Mekka. Originally Mohammad placed the Kibla, or direction of prayer, at Jerusalem; but after his disagreement with the Jews of Medina he reverted to the old Mekkan temple as the focus of Islām.
P. [135]. It is enacted (ii. 183) that the fast is to be observed from the time when you can distinguish a white thread from a black thread in the morning, till night; but from nightfall till dawn the Muslim may eat and drink and enjoy himself.
P. [136]. Make mention of God’s name over the beasts: i.e. Sacrifice them, saying, “In the name of God.”
P. [140]. The Korān contains a list of prohibited degrees (“Women,” iv. 26, 27), which comprises mothers and stepmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, fostermothers, fostersisters, mothers-in-law, stepdaughters, daughters-in-law, and two sisters, and other men’s wives.
P. [142]. Keep the women in houses. Immuring was afterwards changed to stoning both the man and the woman.
Table-Talk of Mohammad.
P. [147]. Retaliation is equal.—It is worth noticing, that while sin is requited with equal punishment or with forgiveness, good deeds are rewarded tenfold.
P. [150]. Rising or setting of the sun.—The exact moment was forbidden, for fear of even the suspicion of sun-worship.
P. [164]. It is recorded of the prophet, that when, being on a journey, he alighted at any place, he did not say his prayers until he had unsaddled his camel.