Islam, a challenge to faith; studies on the Mohammedan religion and the needs and opportunities of the Mohammedan world from the standpoint of Christian missions . by water, or, in itsabsence, by sand. The ritual of purification is one of thechief shibboleths of the many Moslem sects. In Moham-medan works of theology there are chapters on the properway of washing, on the use of the toothbrush,^ on thedifferent kinds of water allowed for ablution, and on allthe varieties of uncleanness. As a sample of the pueriledetails of their ritual, here is a verbatim transcript of thecorrect religious use


Islam, a challenge to faith; studies on the Mohammedan religion and the needs and opportunities of the Mohammedan world from the standpoint of Christian missions . by water, or, in itsabsence, by sand. The ritual of purification is one of thechief shibboleths of the many Moslem sects. In Moham-medan works of theology there are chapters on the properway of washing, on the use of the toothbrush,^ on thedifferent kinds of water allowed for ablution, and on allthe varieties of uncleanness. As a sample of the pueriledetails of their ritual, here is a verbatim transcript of thecorrect religious use of the toothbrush, as given in ortho-dox tradition: Abu Huraira said that Mohammed (onhim be prayers and peace) said. Had I not doubted con- iA]l Moslems use a vegetable toothbrush made ot a root or twig andcalled miswak. •Brushes for the head and teeth have not yet been intro-duced into Moslem families, nor is it ever likely they will, unless someother material than pigs bristles can be used in their manufacture. Theswine is abominable to Moslems.—Mrs. Meer Hassan Ali, Observationson the Mussulmans ot India, 105. T. P. Hughes, Dictionary of Islam,353-. FOUNTAIN IN A :\10S0UE, ALGIERS The inscripticn o>er tlie arch is from the Koran, and reads: And washyour forearms and your feet as far as the ankles. 104 THE RITUAL OF ISLAM IO5 cerning my people I would have commanded them to burnincense at night and to use the toothbrush before everyprayer. This is a sure tradition.—Shuraib said, I askedAyesha what the Prophet (on him be prayers and peace)first did on entering a house, and she said, He used atoothbrush. Huthaifa relates that the Prophet (on himbe prayers and peace) when he got up for night prayerswould brush his teeth with a miszvak. . Ayub said,The Prophet (on him be prayers and peace) said. On fourthings all the prophets of former times agreed: Saluta-tion, circumcision, perfumes and the use of the tooth-brush. . Ayesha said, The Prophet would not liedown at night


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