ry.

(4) The Jihad, or Holy War.

(5) Food, drink and ablutions.

But full details connected with the above will be found, if required,
in Hughes 'Dictionary of Islam,' so that further reference to them
here is unnecessary. It must, however, always be remembered that faith
and prayer were the two points which Muhammad always insisted upon as
absolutely essential.

The Muhammadan religion may be regarded as creating in theory the
purest democracy in existence. All men are supposed to be equal. There
are no hereditary titles. Every man can rise, either by interest or
talent, from the very lowest to the very highest position. There is a
universal feeling of brotherhood among the Muslims. All this is
excellent in theory, but in practice the ways of the world are
different. A Pasha holds his place and upholds his position, while a
humble follower of the said Pasha, or other person in an inferior
position, knows his place also, and treats his superiors and his
inferiors accordingly. In fact, both in the East and the West there
appears to be a place for all men, and that place is established by
the unwritten laws of the world or by the law of nature, in spite of
the many theories propounded by religion, politics, or political
economy. Still, Muhammad himself instilled equality among his
followers, and in his parting address at Mina, at the time of the
farewell pilgrimage, spoke as follows:

'Ye people! hearken to my speech and comprehend the same. Know that
every Muslim is the brother of every other Muslim. All of you are on
the same equality' (and as he pronounced these words he raised his
arms aloft and placed the forefinger of one hand on the forefinger of
the other, intending thereby to signify that all were absolutely on
the same level); 'ye are one brotherhood.

'Know ye what month this is? What territory is this? What day?' To
each question the people gave the appropriate answer, viz.:

'The sacred month, the sacred territory, the great day of pilgrimage.'
After every one of these replies Muhammad added:

'Even thus sacred and inviolable hath God made the life and the
property of each of you unto the other, until ye meet your Lord.

'Let him that is present tell it unto him that is absent. Haply, he
that shall be told may remember better than he who hath heard it.'

CHAPTER IV.

TALES AND STORIES.

Of the two hundred and fifty books of tales, the titles of which are
given in the 'Fihrist,' only