Syed. By prayer, by fasting, by the commanded alms, by pilgrimage, and fighting for the cause of God.
H. I serve him by shedding the blood of infidel man. You pretend that Hassan and Houssain, your ancestors, were descendants of the prophet; but how can that be, when God has declared in the Koran Mahummud was not of your obstinate race; but the prophet of God, and last of divine messengers?
S. Hear the answer to that in the verse following it. "Hath not a prophet come unto you of your own nation? Receive him, and from what he hath forbidden be forbidden." Surely, then, God hath forbidden the shedding of the blood of him whom he sanctified.
H. Thou hast spoken justly, young man; but inform me what God hath daily and nightly commanded us as obligatory to do?
S. To pray five times.
H. What to observe in each year?
S. To keep the month of Ramzaun as a fast.
H. What to perform in the course of life?
S. To make a pilgrimage to Mecca, the temple of God.
H. Truly said; but what hath mostly dignified and enlightened
Arabia?