ANIMISTIC ELEMENTS IN MOSLEM PRAYER 45 



The Moslem lives constantly in dread of evil spirits as 

 is shown by many traditions regarding the prayer ritual. 

 For example, we read in the Sunnan of Ibn Maja* that 

 Mohammed forbade prayer being made on or near watering 

 places of camels because camels were created by devils. 

 It is an old superstition that Satan had a hand in the creat- 

 tion of the camel; the explanation is given in the com- 

 mentators. We are solemnly told that the fingers must be 

 spread so as to afford no nestling place for evil demons and 

 that therefore the method of washing the hands (Takhlil) 

 consists in rubbing the outspread fingers of both hands 

 between each other. (Ibn Maja, Vol. i, p. 158; Nasai, 

 Vol. i, pp. 30, 173, 186-7). The last reference is particularly 

 important as it shows that Mohammed inculcated the prac- 

 tice of moving the first finger during prayer, f Undoubtedly 

 the practice of combing the hair with the fingers outspread 

 (Takhlil esh-Sha'ar) to which al-Bukhari refers (Vol. i, p. 51) 

 has a similar significance. Some of the sects do not spread 

 the fingers of the right hand during prayer but make a special 

 effort to spread out those of the left. This may be because 

 the left hand is used for ablutions and therefore is specially 

 apt to be infected by demonic influence. 



We give further reference to all these practices as re- 

 corded in a standard work on tradition, the Sunnan of 



An-Nasai.J 



The niche in a mosque that shows the direction to which 

 prayer is made called the Mihrab, i.e. "the place of fight- 

 ing," or rather, the instrument by which we fight the 

 demons. There are many traditions concerning Moham- 

 med's struggle with afrits and Jinn in a mosque. The most 



•Vol. i, p. 134. 



•\Takhlil is not only used of the fingers but of the toes as well, 

 there also demons lurk. (See Sha'arani's Laiva'ih al Anwar fi tabakat 

 al Ahjar, p. 26). 



JThat in prayer there should be no gaps in the ranks of the wor- 

 shippers lest Satan come between. Nasai : vol. i, p. 131. 



That one should blow the nostrils three times when awakening 

 so as to drive away the devil. Ibid., vol. i, p. 27. 



The Prophet forbade sleep in bath-rooms because they are the 

 abode of devils. Ibid., vol. i, p. 15. 



The Prophet forbade facing the Kibla when fulfilling a call of 

 nature for fear of Satan. Ibid., vol. i, p. 15. 



The separation of the fingers (p. 30) : the fingers of the right 

 hand should be closed tight duiing prayer and of the left hand spread 

 out, but the forefinger should remain straight. Ibid., vol. i, p. 186. 



The forefinger should be bent when giving witness. Ibid., p. 187. 



The fingers should be moved. Ibid., p. 187. 



To turn the head around during prayer is caused by the devil. 

 Ibid., vol. i, p. 177. 



