of the noble, Muhammad, on whom be the greatest blessing and peace! and the grace of God be upon us and upon them! Verily they were followers of him, and gained esteem from him, having been generous to him.[1] But the Prophet came from us, and from us came the chosen Khalîfah,[2] and to us belongs the Frequented House,[Endnotes 1] and el-Maʾasa,[Endnotes 2] and Zem-zem,[Endnotes 3] and el-Makám,[Endnotes 4] and el-Mimbar,[Endnotes 5] and er-Rukn,[Endnotes 6] and el-Hatîm,[Endnotes 7] and el-Mashâʾir,[Endnotes 8] and el-Hijâbat,[Endnotes 9] and el-Bathaʾa,[Endnotes 10] together with all the qualities which we are known to possess.[3] And no excellent thing can be found that we cannot equal, nor can uttered words express our superiority. And from us came es-Sadîk,[Endnotes 11] and el-Farûk,[Endnotes 12] and el-Wasy,[Endnotes 13] and Asad-Allâh,[Endnotes 14] and Saʾîd, esh-Shúhadah,[Endnotes 15] and Zhu ʾl-Janahîn,[Endnotes 16] and Saif-Allâh.[Endnotes 17] These knew God, and He brought them to the True Faith. And whosoever overrides us we will override him; but whosoever shows enmity towards us we will exterminate."
- ↑ The Kaʾabah at Mekkah. See Note *, p. 69.
- ↑ A road between two hills called Sáfah and Merwah, within the city of Mekkah. One of the rites observed by pilgrims consists in traversing this road seven times, and invoking blessings upon themselves, their families, and friends the while.
- ↑ The holy well at Mekkah. Muhammadans are persuaded that this is the very spring which appeared miraculously in the desert for the relief of Ismael when he and his mother were cast out by Abraham. It is drank with particular devotion by the pilgrims, and sent, in bottles to all parts of the Muslim dominions. According to a tradition derived through the Khalîfah ʾOmar-ibn-el-Khattâb from the Prophet, the water of this well is medicinal, and will heal many bodily distempers. Taken copiously, adds the same tradition, it will heal all spiritual disorders, and procure an absolute remission of sins.
- ↑ A stone upon which Abraham stood whilst rebuilding the Kaʾabah, and which, as the walls grew higher and higher, was miraculously raised from the ground to form a platform upon which he might stand to work.
- ↑ The pulpit whence the Friday's sermon is preached.
- ↑ The Corner. Every corner in the Kaʾabah has a name, but this is par excellence The Corner, as it contains the stone said to have been one of the precious stones of Paradise which fell to the earth with Adam, and became black on account of the iniquity of mankind. Pilgrims kiss this stone with great devotion, believing that at the end of time it will return to Paradise and bear witness to the faith of true believers.
- ↑ A semicircular wall built to the height of a few feet, which encloses a portion of ground belonging to the Kaʾabah though not within its walls, and which the pilgrims are in duty bound to circumambulate when making the round of the building.
- ↑ All those places at Mekkah where any particular ceremony takes place during the pilgrimage.
- ↑ The hereditary right to hold the office of Guardian of the Kaʾabah.
- ↑ The desert plain surrounding the city of Mekkah.
- ↑ The faithful witness. Surname given by the Prophet to Abu-Bekr.
- ↑ The Divider or Distinguisher. Surname given by the Prophet to ʾOmar-ibn-el-Khattâb upon the following occasion. A wicked Muslim having a dispute with a Jew, appealed from the adverse decision of Muhammad to ʾOmar. The latter, greatly angered that any one should dare to prefer his judgment to that of the Prophet himself, cut the Muslim in two with one blow of his scymitar. El-Farûk alludes both to the division of the pleader's body and to ʾOmar's distinction between truth and falsehood.
- ↑ The legatee or heir—(of the Prophet). An honourable title or surname conferred by the Arabs upon ʾAly-ibn-Abu-Tâlib.
- ↑ The Lion of God. Surname given by the Prophet to his uncle Hámzah-ibn-ʾAbd-el-Múttalab, who was slain at the battle of Ohod A.H. 3.
- ↑ The Prince or first of the Martyrs. I have not been able to discover to whom this title was applied.
- ↑ Possessing two wings. At the battle of Muta (A.H. 8) the Muslim general, Zaïd, who bore the Prophet's standard, was killed. He was succeeded by Jaʾafar-ibn-Abu-Tâlib. A sabre stroke deprived him of his right hand, with which he held the standard. He then took it in his left hand, which he also lost. He then held it between his mutilated arms until he fell mortally wounded. The Prophet was greatly moved on hearing of his death, and said, "Of a truth, in the stead of those two hands which he has lost, God has given him two wings, with which he now traverses Paradise amongst the Angels."
- ↑ The Sword of God. Surname given to the great commander Khâlid-ibn-el-Walid.
