File:The religious denominations in the United States- their history, doctrine, government and statistics. With a preliminary sketch of Judaism, paganism and Mohammedanism (1854) (14777401505).jpg

Identifier: religiousdenomin00belc (find matches)
Title: The religious denominations in the United States: their history, doctrine, government and statistics. With a preliminary sketch of Judaism, paganism and Mohammedanism
Year: 1854 (1850s)
Authors: Belcher, Joseph, 1794-1859
Subjects: Sects Sects Religions
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. E. Potter
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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Text Appearing Before Image:
fifty feet in the air, who sing out their commands in a recitative, is mu-
sically solemn. At Cairo, very compact compared with Constantino-
ple,—four hundred lubberly bawling men wake the heaviest sleepers at
the early dawn.
In Egypt the Muezzins are very frequently blind ; for men without
eyes are there preferred, because they cannot look down into the yards,
to see what the females are doing. In villages throughout Turkey, a
similar precaution leads to the employment of the blind for the same
function. In the Capital, however, this is not always the case, as may
be seen in the engraving. These Muezzins are generally men in middle
life, are pretty warmly dressed, and hold their hands to their ears, as
though they were afraid to have their drums cracked with their own voices.
The next duty is that of Almsgiving. Prayer, say they, brings a
man half way to God : fasting brings a man to the door of his palace ;
but by alms he enters in. Accordingly alms are strictly enjoined ; and
there is mention of five kinds of alms,—alms of cattle, alms of money,
Text Appearing After Image:

THE MUEZZIN CALLING TO PRAYERS.

105


Mohammedanism. 107


alms of grain, alms of fruit, and alms of wares that may be sold ; and
every man is obliged, according to these laws, to give alms largely.
Fasting is the third duty that is enjoined. Once a year, during the
month of Ramadan, all Mussulmen are compelled to fast; every day,
from sun-rise to sunset, they never eat or drink, or indulge any appetite ;
but from sun-set to sun-rise they may eat, drink, and indulge as they
please. The fourth duty is a pilgrimage. Every year pilgrims from the
entire Mohammedan world turn their faces toward the great temple at
Mecca. From the shores of the Atlantic at Morocco, a caravan starts
and passes all along Africa, receiving accessions of pilgrims as it goes.
Another starts from the north, travelling through Syria. Another comes
from the east, and another from the south of Arabia. As they go they
use the opportunity to carry the merchandize of their country, and
make it a time of gain as well as of devotion.

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