PERFECT RELIGION 53
of the belief that Mohammed was divinely guided in all that he said and all that he did. Everything that the Prophet said in his table talk or at other times in ordinary conversation, everything he did or did not do, has been collected in the form of thousands and tens of thousands of traditions, sifted, edited and finally preserved in six accepted collections.
The following specimen traditions will give an idea of this class of inspired writing that is held in such high regard by Moslems as a basis for faith, and as a rule for life:
The Apostle of God said, "When a dead person is placed in the grave, then two black angels with blue eyes come to him one of whom is called Munkar and the other Nakir. . . ."
Ayesha was once asked what the Apostle of God did the first thing when he entered his house. She replied: "He began to use a twig for cleaning his teeth."
The Apostle of God said: "He who builds a mosque for God, God will build a house for him in paradise."
"Verily, God does not accept the prayer of a man clothed in long trousers."
It is not the Koran alone but the traditions as well which give the true understanding of Islamic faith and practice.
4. "/ believe in his apostles." Islam distinguishes between prophets and apostles and puts the latter in a higher class than the former. It is said that there have been one hundred and twenty-four thousand prophets, and only three hundred and fifteen apostles,
