ANIMISTIC ELEMENTS IN 

 MOSLEM PRAYER.* 



SAMUEL M. ZWEMEli, F.R.G.S. 



Islam, as is well known, has not only borrowed many 

 beliefs and practices from Judaism and Christianity but 

 grew up in the midst of Arabian paganism and retained pagan 

 elements and superstitions prevalent in Mecca at the time. 



The Moslem creed of six articles especially in its 

 demonology and eschatology shows these pagan sources. 

 The ritual also is not free from old animistic practices; wit- 

 ness the pilgrimage to Mecca which with all its grotesque 

 ceremonies is simply the old Arabian idolatory in a badly 

 fitting monotheistic dress. We find pagan elements also in 

 their rules for fasting and in the magical use of the con- 

 fession. 



This paper, however, deals only with one part of 

 the subject namely the pagan or animistic practices con- 

 nected with Moslem prayer. The subject was examined 

 in one aspect by A. J. Wensinck t although Noldeke had 

 already made a valuable contribution in one of his essays. 

 Further study of the sources given and long experience in 

 many Moslem lands have led to the following observations 

 and conclusions on the subject. 



In the preparation for the five daily prayers especially 

 in the process of ablution — the object of the Moslem seems 

 to be to free himself from everything that has connection 

 with supernatural powers or demons as opposed to the 

 worship of the one true God. That is the reason for its 

 supreme importance. Wensinck tells us that these beliefs 

 have little or nothing to do with bodily purity as such, but 

 are intended to free the worshipper from the presence or the 

 influence of evil spirits. It is this demonic pollution which 

 must be removed. In two traditions from Muslim we read, 

 "Said the Prophet: 'If any of you wakens up from sleep 



*Read before the Society May 30, 1918. 



\ Der Islam, Band IV, Animisme und Daemonenglaube. 



