Page 381 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (2)

*

XHGLliCTli1) AKA III A II
nines as well. An Arab may be seen at times standing with one hand
on his side, but seldom or never will one be seen with both his hands
oil his sides.
There is disagreement about the reason for this prohibition. Some
>ay it is because the proud stand that way; others say because the Jews
jo it; others claim that it is an act of Satan’s; others declare that
jl is one of the attitudes of rest assumed by the people of the Fire
(of Hell).
The Muslim is also forbidden to stretch out his hands so that, with • i
die ■'body, they form a cross. This attitude is prohibited because it
i
resembles the position of a man when he is crucified. In this connection
it may be noted that the Arabs use the word "crucified” to describe the
I act of binding a man to an upright post with his feet on the ground
and his hands tied behind him.
It is prohibited to the Muslim to spit in the direction of Mecca during
the worship. A tradition from one of the Companions of Mohammed
that Mohammed saw an expectoration mark in the direction of
Mecca and became very angry. He scraped it with a palm branch and
uid, "Bring me some perfume.” Smearing over the mark with
Mlfron, he turned and said, "Which one of you likes to be spit on in the
(acc?" They said, "Not one of us.” He replied, “Then any one of you.
* believer he enters upon the worship, has Allah between himself and
the (jibUi at Mecca. So do not let any of you expectorate in front of
his face, nor on his right, but to his left, or beneath his left foot.” It
i, to be noticed that it is not expectoration itself that is prohibited, even
during the worship, but spitting toward Mecca. This is, of course, a
flutter in which foreigners while at worship and at other times lind
it easy to be far more punctilious than their Arab friends. Indeed, it
mi^lit be said that the Arabs’ habits leave something to be desired in
this respect. It is, however, worth while to know that they do have
leruples about expectoration to, a certain extent.
One of the most offensive things that can be done by a Westerner
to walk in front of a Muslim while he is at worship. It is, of course.
j>c duty of the worshipper to select a place out of the way of people
«ho might pass in front of him. If he cannot do better he should at
test put a stick in front of him to mark the boundary of his place of
■uoliip- But in the narrow quarters on board ship or in crowded
jAicca it may be difficult to find a secluded spot. It is at such times
jUt the foreigner should exercise special care to avoid offending the
•urdiipper- It is the duty of the worshipper to repel anyone who
uicnipts to pass in front of him. A tradition says that Mohammed
"Let him repel him, and, if he objects, let him contend with him.
iur he is a devil." It is, of course, mere rudeness to pass closely in
Pont of anyone when it can be easily avoided, but it is well to know 4^
bo* to avoid doing anything that makes it a matter of duty for a
Hudim to niake a disturbance.