Kailah says: “I saw him sitting in the mosque upon his buttocks, in the greatest humility and lowliness.”
Jābir says, again: “The Prophet used, after he had said morning prayer, to sit with his feet drawn under him, until sun-rise.” (Mishkāt, book xxii. ch. v.)
Muḥammadans always sit on the ground in their places of public worship. In social gatherings, people of inferior position always sit lower than their superiors.
SIX FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH. Al-Īmān (الايمان), or “the Faith,” is defined as consisting of the six articles of belief:—
- 1. Allāh, God.
- 2. Al-Malāʾikah, the Angels.
- 3. Al-Kutub, the Books (of the Prophets).
- 4. Ar-Rusul, the Prophets.
- 5. Al-Yaumu ʾl-Āk͟hir, the Last Day.
- 6. Al-Qadar, the Decrees of God.
These Six Articles of Faith are entitled Ṣifātu ʾl-Īmān, “the Attributes of Faith,” or Arkānu ʾl-Īmān, “the Pillars of Faith.” [[MUHAMMADANISM].]
SIYAR (سير), pl. of sīrah. Lit. “Going in any manner or pace.” The record of a man’s actions and exploits. Stories of the ancients.
Kitābu ʾs-Siyar is the title given to a history of the establishment of Islām, hence as-Siyar means an historical work on the life of Muḥammad, or any of his Companions, or of his successors, &c. The earliest book of the kind written in Islām is that by Imām Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq, who died A.H. 51. (Kashfu ʾz̤-Z̤unūn, Flügel’s edition, vol. iii. p. 634.)
SLANDER. [[QAZF].]