42 THE RELIGION OF THE CRESCENT.

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
السَّاعَةُ , يَوْمُ الْحَشْرِ , الْغَاشِيَةَ , الْقَارِعَةُ , يَوْمُ اْلديِن
,&c. 
4
Mishkat, ut supra, p. 473, sqq.
5 Surah ci.:1-8

الْقَارِعَةُ
مَا الْقَارِعَةُ
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْقَارِعَةُ
يَوْمَ يَكُونُ النَّاسُ كَالْفَرَاشِ الْمَبْثُوثِ
وَتَكُونُ الْجِبَالُ كَالْعِهْنِ الْمَنفُوشِ
فَأَمَّا مَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَازِينُهُ
فَهُوَ فِي عِيشَةٍ رَّاضِيَةٍ
وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَازِينُهُ