168 THE REV. W. ST. CLAIR TISDALL, M.A., ON ISLAM: 
the Qui’an, “ As for every* man, We have firmly fixed his fate 
(it. his bird) upon his neck.” Itis unnecessary to dwell upon 
this point as it is so wellknown. The word “ Islim” denotes 
self-surrender or resignation, but it is resignation to such a 
Deity as this, the resignation of impotence, of terror, and of 
despair.- The proper and fitting attitude of the pious Muslim 
towards Gop, Muhammadan theologians tell us, is that of the 
corpse when in the hands of the washers of the dead.f The 
evil results which this blighting and soul-deadening doctrine 
has produced in every Muhammadan country can be appre- 
ciated by none but those personally acquainted with Eastern 
lands. 
Although the obligation to offer Prayer to Gop is most 
fully recognised{ by every Muslim, yet Islim fails to realise 
what Prayer really is. It is regarded as a duty imposed by 
the arbitrary$ fiat of Gop, rather than as a spiritual means of 
refreshment and of enabling the worshipper to hold com- 
munion in spirit with Gov. Indeed, of such communion 
Muhammad never even dreamed} The worshipper is 
required to offer his homage to his Master at certain fixed 
times in the day, and in doing so he must use definitely pre- 
scribed genuflexions and prostrations, and he is obliged to 
follow with the utmost precision the appointed ritual. If he 
fails in this, his prayer is ineffectual, no amount of heart 
devotion can render it acceptable to. Gop, nay rather it is 
turned into sin.§ “Resting on the arms while at prayer is 
pleasing to the people of Hell,” said the “ Prophet.” The 
amount of merit attached to a prayer is greatly dependent 
* Sarah XVII, 14 :-- 
Ane SS + Za or US 7c Derr 
dias she sleep! hil US, 
Z s 
+ Hauri, ‘ Der Islam,” p. 76. 
t Vide Mishkaét, Kitébu’s Salat; Qur’in passim ; also A. von Kremer, 
“ Kulturgeschichte des Orients,” Vol. II, pp. 30, sqq. 
§ Vide the account which Qatédah gives of how Gop commanded 
Muhammad during his “ Night Journey ” to command his people to offer 
fifty times a day their prayers, but how on Muhammad’s entreaty the 
number was reduced to five, whereupon a heavenly herald proclaimed in 
Gop’s name, ‘I have completed My injunction and removed a burden 
from My servants.” (Quoted by Sayyid Ahmad, “ Essay on Shaqq-i- 
Sadr and Mi‘raj,” p. 31.) 
|| Mr. Bosworth Smith acknowledges this (op. cit., p. 199, ete.). 
“I Vide on the whole subject Mishkat, Sifatw’ Saldt and Bdbw’l Masdjid 
wa Mawddhi' i's Saldt. 
