Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 4.djvu/369

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339

dried dates for fresh and fresh figs for dry and jerked for fresh meat and cream for butter; in fine, of all eatables of one and the same kind, it is unlawful to sell some for other some.’[1]

When the professor heard her words and knew that she was keen of wit, ingenious and learned in jurisprudence and the Traditions and the interpretation of the Koran and what not else, he said in himself, ‘Needs must I go about with her, that I may overcome her in the assembly of the Commander of the Faithful.’ So he said to her, ‘O damsel, what is the lexicographical meaning of the word wuzou?’[2] And she answered, ‘Cleanliness and freedom from impurities.’ (Q.) ‘And of prayer?’ (A.) ‘An invocation of good.’ (Q.) ‘And of ghusl?’[3] (A.) ‘Purification.’ (Q.) ‘And of fasting?’ (A.) ‘Abstention.’ (Q.) ‘And of zekat?’[4] (A.) ‘Increase.’ (Q.) ‘And of pilgrimage?’ (A.) ‘Visitation [or quest].’ (Q.) ‘And of jehad?’[5] (A.) ‘[Endeavour in] repelling.’ Night ccccxliii.With this the doctor’s arguments were exhausted, so he rose to his feet and said, ‘Bear witness against me, O Commander of the Faithful, that this damsel is more learned than I am in the Law.  Quoth she, ‘I will ask thee somewhat, which do thou answer me speedily, an thou be indeed a learned man.’ ‘Say on,’ quoth he; and she said, ‘What are the arrows of the Faith?’ ‘They are ten in number,’ answered he; ‘to wit, (1) Testification,[6] that is, religion (2) Prayer, that is, the Covenant (3) Alms, that is, purification (4) Fasting, that is, defensive armour (5) Pilgrimage, that is, the Law (6) Fighting for the Faith, that is, a general duty (7) Enjoining to beneficence and (8) Forbidding from iniquity, both of which are jealousy [for good] (9) The communion

  1. i.e. at a profit. The exchange must be equal and profitless.
  2. Ablution.
  3. Complete ablution.
  4. Poor-rate.
  5. Warring for the Faith.
  6. i.e. saying, “I testify that there is no God, etc.”