a small part of it, during half of it, or take from it a little, or add to it, and repeat the Qur'an with distinct enunciation. . . . Verily the early¹ part of the night is stronger for treading down (evil thoughts) and more suitable for distinct pronunciation. Verily thou hast long-continued business during the day. And mention the name of thy Lord, and separate thyself unto Him with seclusion. The Lord of the East and of the West, there is no God but He, therefore take thou Him for a guardian."²

Again and again in the Qur'an is repeated the command to pray. It is true that the Muslim is taught that prayer is a duty rather than a privilege, and that in this and other

Prayer a Duty, not a Privilege.

respects the view which Muhammad took of prayer was very defective. This we shall have to point out more fully when we come to consider the defects of Islam as a religious system. But the very fact that every true Muslim recognises—and is by his creed obliged to recognise—the obligation and to some extent the

value of prayer, is a matter for¹ which we should be very thankful.

Five times a day there sounds forth from the minarets of the Mosque the solemn call to prayer in these² words: "Allahu akbar!" "God is most great," repeated

Cry of the Muezzin.

four times in a loud tone of voice. Then in a lower tone the Muezzin says, repeating each clause separately twice, "I bear witness that there is no God but GOD, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Apostle of God." Then raising his voice once more he again recites these two clauses twice over, and then proceeding in the