Page 379 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (2)

Occasions of Stumbling
Rkv. Edwin E. Cai.vkri.icy

I 'I' MAY lie well to gather together and put on record in .Vet/lccted
Arabia some observations concerning a few practices that arc
forbidden to Muslims in order that those who have dealings with
Muslims may also refrain from them, and thus avoid unintentional
and unnecessary offence. They are all mentioned in al-Gha/./ali’s Hook
of the Secrets of the Worship, which has recently been published in
English with an introduction and commentary under the title of 11'or ship
m /slam by the Christian Literature Society for India.
It is possible to maintain that some of the practices here mentioned
are absolutely harmless in themselves, and therefore there is no valid
reason for avoiding them. Katlicr, one may say, to do stub tilings
might give an opportunity to call attention to the matters of religion
upon which emphasis should properly be placed. Missionaries, however,
have one great purpose in view in all their lives and dealings with

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S1IKIKI1 AHMAD, AMIR OF KUWKIT, IN HIS HOICK
Muslims, and they may therefore well consider whether they should nu
abstain from doing anything that would bring unfavorable attention w
their conduct, and thus hinder a favorable reception of their m**
message. None of these things to be mentioned involves compromise m
the part of a Christian. It was Paul’s practice to avoid giving ullcxxt
in matters of expedience rather than of principle. His example
seem to apply in these cases.
The Muslim is forbidden to stand with his arms akimbo. TU
prohibition applies especially to the time when he is at worship. U
Saiyid Murtada says, in his Ithaf al-Sada, that it is extended to uth*