who had to assemble for divine worship in dark caves or lonely mountain-tops were more acceptable to God than prayers in the finest and cleanest mosque or church, if not proceeding from a devout believing heart?

But as all this is sufficiently clear, we may, without further dwelling on the remaining conditions above mentioned, at once pass on to the five 'internal pillars' or essentials of a true prayer. They are: the standing erect; the rehearsal of portions of the Qur'an and other forms: the bending forward with the whole body; the prostration in which to touch the earth with the forehead; and the sitting on the thighs after prayer. After reading this can the true and spiritual worshipper of God help exclaiming, 'Alas for a religion that can regard such externals as the internal essentials of genuine prayer!' It is true, they are not all expressly insisted upon in the Qur'an, but they are found in the earliest traditions, so that there can be no doubt Muhammad himself prescribed and practised them, as his followers have done ever since. The unspiritual, external character of four out of these five points is so self-evident, that we need not enlarge upon them. The remaining point, namely, the rehearsing, might possibly be of a nature to compensate in some degree for their want of spirituality. But, alas! upon investigation, how far otherwise do we find it! Even this rehearsing bears the impress, not of an elevated and spiritual,

but of a most formal and mechanical religion. To illustrate this, it will be sufficient to advert to the fact, that during the five daily prayers enjoined upon every Muslim, the first Sura of the Qur'an and several other formulas are repeated forty times, the words 'Subhana rabbiya-laala', i.e. 'Praised be the highest Lord', one hundred and twenty times; and the ejaculation, 'Allahuakbar', i.e. 'God is great', two hundred and twenty-one times; whilst the words, 'Subhana rabbiya-l-'azim', i.e. 'Praised be the great Lord', are repeated no less than two hundred and forty times.¹ Human nature must change, before such a practice, carried on day after day, from one year's end to another, can issue in aught else than a most withering and deadening formalism, so that the warning of the Lord Jesus, recorded in Matt. vi. 7-8, becomes truly applicable—'And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.'

Besides prayer, the pilgrimage to the shrine of Mecca has to be regarded by the Muslims as part of their divine service. This we learn from the words: 'The first temple that was founded for mankind was that in Becca, blessed, and a guidance to human