The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-22
MOSLEMS IN NEW YORK.
The Faithful of that City Now Called
to Prayer in a Mosque.
New York Mercury.

A novel and picturesque event was wit
messed last Sunday on Union square. The
first call to prayer by the muezzin of the
at IL O'Clock from the window Of Union
Square Hall. There have been societies for
the study of Islamic or Mohammedan re-
ligion established in various cities since the
advent of Mohammed Alexander Webb on
his mission to turn Americans into Mussel-
mans. but none of them except the
named above has established a regular
public meeting mosque for the saying of
prayer and the carrying out OF the full
Moslem order of ablution and prayer. The
society is to be independent and self-sup-
porting. and will do missionary work as
AT 1920 O'Clock the congregation collected
in the hall and went through the ablution,
or woozoo In this religious observance the
the elbows, the worshipers saying a short
prayer which goes: 81 intend to purify
myself of all physical unSle Plea. before
shall draw my soul nearer to the most
aht In 6he name me t OF od the great , and
us grace to be NIussulmans. Islam is truth
and infidelity falsehood." The hands are
washed and the mouth rinsed three times
worshiper praying, My God, If am pleas
ing in Thy sight perfume me with the odors
Of Paradise" Then the face is washed
three times and the arms up to the elbows,
short prayers being repeated with every
particular ablution- In every mosque there
sary appurtenances for the woozoo the es-
sentials prior TO prayer being publication
of the body. cleanliness of clothing to cover
the nakedneSS Of the body, punctuality in
the times OF prayer, facing the Kaaba and
forming in the mind definite idea of the
prayer to be offered. This over the azan,
or call to prayer by the mueZzin. comes
on this occasion the rnuezzin instead of as
cending to the mnaret, appeared at the
window of the hall on the third floor Of
hind the lobes of his ears. with the palms
of his hands turned forward, he will call
9H6 IN to dopG he Wors a ne in no ra
bic, and, translated, run thus:
God is great! God is great! God is great!
II bear witness that there is no god but
God.
II bear witness that Mohammed is the
Come to prayersl Come to prayers
turning the head to the right!
Come to salvation! Come to salvation
turning the head to the lefD!
Prayer is better than sleep.
God is great! God is great!,
There is god but God! There is no
Each one of these lines is said twice for
mpressiveness. While the picturesquely
dressed figure at the window was making
selves in a straight line elbow touching
elbow. facing toward the Kaaba, or Mecca,
the holy city of Arabia. In this country
his call on all the faithful on Manhattan
island the muezzin disappears from the
window and taxes MS place among Ihe
worshipers. Here he says The Accahmut
which is exactly the same as the regular
azan with the addition of the words,
prayers are now ready. The Moslem
service Of the prayer is very impressive
and the language is lofty and fervent.
One popularity with Mohammedan pray
ers is that they never ask for any material
or earthly gain, such as give us this day
our daily bread" All of them are aspira-
tions after higher spiritual perfection, and
the old New Jersey farmers who pray for
rain in dry weather or for other earthly
benefits. would be considered base and
selfish dog by an orthodox Mosem While,
with the exception of the aZan, they have
no stereotyped prayers there are certain
forms which are generally used. one or
these may be given as sample:
I'm the name of the most merciful Godi
Praise be unto God, the Lord of Creation.
The All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate,
Ruler of the day of reckoning,
Thee do we worship, and to thee. do we
pray for help.
Direct us in the right way,
In the ways of those TO whom thou hast
Not in the way of those who are the OBJ
iectS of wrath
Or who walk in error
I supplicate Thee for an innocent heart,
Which shall not incline to wickedness.
And for that virtue which thou knowest
And | praV thee to defend me
From that vice which thou knowest
And forgiveness of those faults which thou
knowest!
oh, my defender!"
The society contemplates the issuing of
the American Moslem, a bimonthly. to
teach the truths and beauties Of Islam to
the decaying Christians of New York and
the whole country.