n by heretical
Khalifs employing Christians at Baghdad to translate Greek books;
whilst in Spain, where philosophy most flourished, it was due largely
to the contact of intelligent Muslims with learned Jews. Even there,
the philosophers were, as a rule, the objects of bitter persecution.
Now and again, a liberal minded Khalif arose, but a system such as
Islam survives the liberal tendencies of a generation. From the close
of the twelfth century (A.D.) downwards it would be difficult to point
to any Muslim Philosopher, much more to an Arab one, whose work is of
any real value to the human race. For four hundred years the contest
raged, a contest such as Islam has never since seen. This great effort
to bring it into accordance with the main stream of human thought, to
introduce into it some element of progress utterly failed. The lesson
is plain. Any project of reform in Islam which admits in any degree its
fundamental principles must fail. Revolution, not reform, is the only
hope for the permanence of an independent Muslim state when it enters
into the circle of civilized nations.

{187}

* * * * *

CHAPTER V.

THE PRACTICAL DUTIES OF ISLAM.

The portion of the creed considered in the last chapter was connected with
Iman (faith); the remaining portion is connected with Din (practical
religion). The five principal acts are called Irkan-i-Din, pillars of
religion. They are: (1) The recital of the Kalima, or short confession of
faith; (2) Sulat, the five stated periods of prayer; (3) Roza, the thirty
days' fast of Ramazan; (4) Zakat, legal alms; (5) Hajj, the pilgrimage to
Mecca. These are all _farz_ duties, being based on a Nass-i-Zahir, or
"obvious," sentence of the Quran, a proof derived from which is called
dalil-i-qata'i. This is the strongest of all kinds of proofs.

The authorities, however, specify other religious duties which good Muslims
should perform. Such are the seven duties which are _wajib_, or duties
based on the more obscure texts of the Quran, called Khafi, or "hidden"
sentences, a proof derived from which is called dalil-i-zani. These duties
are: (1) To make the 'Umra, or Pilgrimage to Mecca in addition to the Hajj;
(2) obedience to parents; (3) the obedience of a wife to her husband; (4)
the giving of alms after a fast; (5) the offering of sacrifice; (6) the
saying of Namaz-i-witr, a term which will be