impressive. The court where the worshippers assemble is—at least in India—in most cases
unroofed and open to the sky, only the upper part, where the minbar
(
مِنْبَرُ )
or preacher's chair
(or pulpit) stands being covered over. The noble simplicity and the absence of tawdry adornment,
pictures and sculptured images, harmonises well with the scene and adds not a little to its charm.
What Lane1 says with special reference to the Muhammadans in Egypt may well be asserted
of them almost everywhere, "The utmost solemnity and decorum are observed in the public worship
of the Muslims . . . . Never are they guilty of an irregular word or action during their prayers—they
appear wholly absorbed in the adoration of their Creator." Nor does it become any of us too
hastily and uncharitably to judge whether this seeming devotion is or is not heartfelt. May we not
rather find comfort in the thought that2 GOD is no respecter of persons; but that in
every nation he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness is acceptable to Him?
1 "Modern Egyptians," vol. i. p. 120. 2 επ αληθειας
καταλαμβανομαι οτι ουκ εστιν προσωπολημπτης ο θεος
αλλ εν παντι εθνει ο φοβουμενος αυτον και
εργαζομενος δικαιοσυνην δεκτος αυτω εστιν
[..."I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.] Acts 10:34-35 (NIV)
THE STRENGTH OF ISLAM.
43
§ 12. The last grand truth of Islam with which I purpose to deal is their belief in the
The After Life.
After-Life. They hold that every man is responsible to his Creator for his conduct and belief in
this world, and must render an account to Him in the Day1 of Judgment. Even as soon as he
is buried he undergoes a trial—or at least an examination regarding his faith—at the hands of
the two angels, Munkir and Nakir,2 who visit him in the grave. But when the Resurrection
Day shall come—a day the very mention of one of the many3 names of which sends a thrill
of terror through the heart of every Muslim—then the angel Israfil, who now stands with his
The Last Trump.
Resurrection.
trumpet to his lips awaiting the signal, will sound the last4 trump. Then the dead shall
rise from their graves to be judged. The CI. Surah5 says:—
1 See the Qur'an passim, esp. Suras 101, 88, 70, 75, &c., and Mishkat,
Kitabu'l Hashr. 2 "Rusum-i Hind," p. 263, Mishkat. 3 It is called
