CHAPTER XXV

168. 26-7. fichant sa lance en terre. The Books of Traditions say: " When any one of you says his prayers, he must hâve something in front of him; but if he cannot find anything for that purpose, he must put his vvalking stick into the ground; but if the ground be hard, then let him place it lengthwise in front of him; but if he has no staff, he must draw a line on the ground, after which there will be no détriment in the prayers from any one passing in front of it." The reason for that and many similar recommendations is to avoid distraction on the part of the worshiper. " Any wandering of the eyes," we read in the Books of Traditions, " or of the mind, a coughing or the like, answering a question, or any action not prescribed to be performed must be avoided . . . otherwise the worshiper must begin again."

29. La Kibla est devant nous, et si nous n'usons pas d'eau pour les ablutions. . . . Kibla or Giblah, the direction in which ail Mohammedans must pray, whether in public or in private dévotions, namely towards Mecca. (Koran II 109-136, 138-145.) — The purification by sand instead of water is grantcd in the Koran V, 9: "if ye cannot find water, then take fine surface sand and wipe your faces and your hands thcrcwith. God does not wish to make any hindrance for you." The substitution is authorized: (1) when water cannot be procured except at a distance of about two miles; (2) in case of sickness, when the use of water may be injurious; (3) when water cannot be obtaincd without incurring dangers from an enemy, a beast, or a reptile; (4) when on the occasion of the prayers of a feast day the worshiper is Iate.

171. 7. Il a sauvé Abraham du milieu des flammes. According to this legend Abraham one day tried to convert his people, the Chaldeans, to the true God. " He said: 'Do ye then worship instead of God, that what does not profit you at ail, nor injure you if ye worship it not? Fie on you, and on that which ye worshiped instead of God. Do ye then not understand? ' They said: ' Burn ye him and avenge your gods if ye will do so.' So they colle* ted abundance of firewood for him and put liim into an engine, and cast him into the fire. But said God: '() lire, be thou cold, ami a security unto Abraham! ' No nought of him was burned aave lus

bonds; the heat of thc fire ceased, but its light rcmained; and by God's saying: 'Sccurity,' Abraham was saved from dying by reason of its cold." (Koran XXI 68-69.)