Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-20
mosLEm Forms AND cEREmos1Es.


The life of good Moslem seems all in.
terwoven with forms and ceremonies, and
the law of the Koran or some such sacred
words seem forever on his lips, mixing most
freely with all secular matters No action,
| however trivial, may be commenced with.
out commencing it to Allah. A Moham-
medan will not even light lamp without
blessing the name of the Prophet. Even
the cries of the street hawkers bring in
frequent illusions to spiritual market, as
when the poor water carrier offers cup of
| cool, refreshing drink to all passers by.
crying aloud, "Oh! may God reward me !"
| Whatever be the matter in hand, one Of
the company will certainly utter some such
reminder as I" Semmoo," and his friends
will reply, Bismillah," meaning in the
name of God. La truth, the fatalism of
which we hear 80 much seems little else
than a strong faith power of living
calmly as in the presence of God (iust as
the strongest practical characteristic Of
poor Hindus faith seems to be simple
submission to the will of the Almighty,
under whatever name he may recognize
| HIM. So faith or fatalism seems well nigh
to merge, and our own Scotch expression
! of at was been TO be" seems tolerably
akin to the "Kismet" of the East. | re.
member an old housemaid being sorely per-
turbed at having knocked over and smashed
| a valuable china vase but fow minutes
later she recovered her equaninlity and ex-
| claimed, "Weel, weel it had been lang
| / the family, and it was been to re broke"
so laying this hattering JUNCTION to her soul,
she went calmly on with her busting. Lane,
speaking of this continual allusion to the
providence of God, mentions that no Mos
lem will speak of any future event or &C.
ton without adding, "1f it be the will Of
God" He explains the cries Of the night
Waterman, whose deep-toned voices re-
sound through the dark hours. One man
cries, 80 Lord Everlastingp Another
says, 81 extol the perfection of the living
King who sleepeth not, nor dieth." He
tells, too, OF mode of entertaining party
of guests in Cairo by the recital of ktat
aaeh, which means the whole of the Koran
chanted by men hired for the occasion.
Just imagine inviting party in London to
hear the whole Bible chanted as pastime,
with an accompaniment of pipes and coffee.
Mr.. Lane also speaks of the reverence with
which the Holy Book is treated-always
placed on some high, clean place, where no
OsiiSi D'Sh VI OlSO may w
above it. He attributes the Mohamme-
dams dislike to printing their sacred books
to the dread lest impurity should attach to
the ink, the paper, or, above all, lest the
ink should be applied to the holy name
with hxush made of hogs brissles. Worse
than all, the book becoming thus common,
is in double danger of being touched by
infidels. This dread of dishonoriug sacred
names extends even to the 80 titles of the
| Prophet and the names of those near OF kin
to him. Thus one man will refuse to stamp
mis- name upon his pipe bowls because it
bears one of the names OF the Prophet,
which will thus be made to pass through
the fire. Another man, less scrupulous, is
blamed because he has branded his name,
which is also sacred name, on certain
camels and horses. The sin thus commit
ted is threefold First, the iron brand ia
put in the fire, which is horrible sacrilege
secondly, it is applied to the neck of the
camel, causing blood to flow and poIlute
the sacred name thirdly, the camel is GER
tain some day; IN lying down, to rest his
neck on something unclean. This dread
of casting holy things into the fire does
not, however, seem to apply to such as can
be consumed. A Mohsmmedan, finding a
fragment OF paper covered with writing,
will burn it, so that if holy words should
be thereon inscribed, the flames may bear
them up and the angels carry them to
heaven The Gentleman's Magazine.