Page 218 - PERSIAN 2 1879_1883

43 ADMIN I.STRATI ON REPORT OP TIIR PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL
Faith.—The religion of Islam also i» based on “ faith.” This*
cousists in testifying that there is but one God, without co-partner, that
Mohammed was His servant and messenger sent to guide to the true
religion, making it manifest to the people of all creeds regardless of the
scoffs of the inlidcl. Since the religion was brought from God it i3
manifest truth. No doubt nor uncertainty attaches to it. As*to the
coming hour, there is no doubt of that, nor that God will raise the dead
from their graves. But Islam iu its completeness requires the practice
of the following observances

Religious Observances.
Firstly.—Prayer with its accompanying rites,f conditions^ and
obligations, such as the necessary purifications and washings; observ­
ance of appointed times, selecting a pure place, and turniug towards the
Kiblch.
Prayer must be offered with earnest intention, and any word or
deed calculated to affect the perfeetiou of the act must be avoided. It
is needful to understand the essential principles of prayer, to discriminate
between those forms prescibed for persons at homo and those for journey­
ing. To know the observances for Friday according to the ordinances of
the Almighty as laid down by his Apostle aud the just “ Imams” who
followed him. The believer should be acquainted with the forms of
prayer for festivals, for the dead, and those to be repeated in times of
trouble. Also the distinctions of voluntary and supererogatory prayers
aud the rest as enjoined by the Prophet.
Alms.
Secondly.—Alms§, the payment of zekat or legal alms from
such property as the law ordains. The obligations regarding this must
be understood, and the zekat paid to the proper parties where the Nisib,1]
estate, reaches the full value, the proper proportion being paid from the
flocks.
The Zekat-el-Fitr also must be paid, that is a Sa'a^ measure from
the consumption of each person.** The dole to be given to the .proper
persons among the poor.

• The orthodox describe faith to consist in belief, (1st,) in God; (2nd,) Hi* Angel*;
(3rd,) Scripture*; ( ltl«,) Prophet*; (5th,) resurrection; and (6th,) decrees,
f r£*., (1,) prayer; (2,) almsgiving; (3.) fasting; (4,) pilgrimage.
X Conditions of prayer—
1. Member* of the body moat be free from imparity.
2. Garment* most be dean.
3. A clean place is necessary.
4. Fixed times most be observed.
6. The face mast be turned towards the Kihleh.
$ Alms are of two kinds, zekit or legal alms, and Sadakii or voluntary* Tl*
being divided by law on fixed conditions.
H The property must reach a certain raise in cattle called Nisib.
T Six pounds. This is paid at the t^sination of the fast of Rammdhan.
•• Alma are levied on five things. (I) cattle, (2) money, (3) corn, (4) tnxiU, ( /
merchandize. The Ibidhi* should pay to their ** Imams.1*