large/12430/twooldfaiths_1901_librivox_64kb_mp3/twooldfaiths_12_mitchell_64kb_84
large/12430/twooldfaiths_1901_librivox_64kb_mp3/twooldfaiths_12_mitchell_64kb
English
12430
But although the minuteness of detail with which these are enjoined tends toward that jejune and formal worship which we witness every where in Moslem lands, still there is nothing in these observances themselves which (religion apart) should lower the social condition of Mohammedan populations and prevent their emerging from that normal state of semi barbarism and uncivilized depression in which we find all Moslem peoples. BUT ALTHOUGH THE MINUTENESS OF DETAIL WITH WHICH THESE ARE ENJOINED ENDS TOWARDS THE G JUNE AND FORMAL WORSHIP WHICH WE WITNESS EVERYWHERE IN MOSLEM LANDS STILL THERE IS NOTHING IN THESE OBSERVANCES THEMSELVES WHICH RELIGION APART SHOULD LOATH THE SOCIAL CONDITION OF MAHOMMODAIN POPULATIONS AND PREVENT THEIR EMERGING FROM THAT NORMAL STATE OF SEMI BARBARISM AND UNCIVILIZED DEPRESSION IN WHICH WE FIND ALL MOSLEM PEOPLES
ere night merges into day and day into night, impracticable. Again, with the lunar year (itself an institution divinely imposed), the month of Ramzan travels in the third of a century from month to month over the whole cycle of a year. The fast was established at a time when Ramzan fell in winter, and the change of season was probably not foreseen by the Prophet. But the result is one which, under some conditions of time and place, involves the greatest hardship. For when the fast comes round to summer the trial in a sultry climate, like that of the burning Indian plains, of passing the whole day without a morsel of bread or a drop of water becomes to many the occasion of intense suffering. Such is the effect of the Arabian legislator's attempt at circumstantial legislation in matters of religious ceremonial. [Sidenote: Political and social depression owing to relations between the sexes.] Nearly the same is the case with all the religions obligations of Islam, prayer, lustration, etc. HO ARE FAR REMOVED EITHER TOWARD THE NORTH OR THE SOUTH AND STILL CLOSER TO THE POLES WHERE NIGHT MERGES INTO DAY AND DAY INTO NIGHT IMPRACTICABLE AGAIN WITH THE LUNAR EAR ITSELF AN INSTITUTION DIVINELY IMPOSED THE MONTH OF RAMSAN TRAVELS IN THE THIRD OF A A CENTURY FROM MONTH TO MONTH OVER THE WHOLE CYCLE OF A YEAR THE FAST WAS ESTABLISHED AT A TIME WHEN RAMSAN FELL IN WINTER AND THE CHANGE OF SEASON WAS PROBABLY NOT FORESEEN BY THE PROPHET BUT THE RESULTY IS ONE WHICH UNDER SOME CONDITIONS OF TIME AND PLACE INVOLVES THE GREATEST HARDSHIP FOR WHEN THE FAST COMES ROUND TO SOME MORE THE TRIAL IN A SULTRY CLIMATE LIKE THAT OF THE BURNING INDIAN PLAINS OF PASSING THE WHOLE DAY WITHOUT A MORSEL OF BREAD OR A DROP OF WATER BECOMES TOO MANY THE OCCASION OF INTENSE SUFFERING SUCH IS THE EFFECT OF THE ARABIAN LEGISLATOR'S ATTEMPT AT CIRCUMSTANTIAL LEGISLATION IN MATTERS OF RELIGIOUS CEREMONIAL NEARLY THE SAME IS THE CASE WITH ALL THE RELIGIONS OBLIGATIONS OF ISLAM PRAYER ILLUSTRATION ET CETERA
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