ANIMISTIC ELEMENTS IN MOSLEM PRAYER 5 1 



Moslems call it t'ong P'ai, "Tablet of brass," and in Arabic 

 lukh nahas. This tablet is also covered with Arabic 

 inscriptions. 



Forty-four flags covered with quotations from the Koran 

 are also carried in these processions, and as they march 

 prayers are chanted. Arriving at Hei-long-t'an, the source 

 of the black dragon, the procession halts near the basin 

 called Etang du dragon. There a Moslem beats the water 

 with the sword while the prayers are continued. 



This done an ahong holding the brass tablet gets into the 

 water and throws it in so as to make a fish come out (others 

 say a water snake). When this is caught they place it in 

 some water taken from the same source and carry it back 

 to the mosque and is kept there until the rain comes down. 

 When this happens it is taken back to the basin where it is 

 again thrown in.* 



In conclusion we may here give four of the short final 

 chapters of the Koran that are used at the time of the five 

 daily prayers and which contain allusions to animistic and 

 pagan practices current in Arabia before Islam. . It is true 

 that the beautiful opening chapter of the Koran with its 

 lofty theism and the chapter of the Forenoon with its pathetic 

 reference to Mohammed's childhood are frequently on 

 Moslem lips. So also is the chapter of the Unity (112). 

 But what thoughts a Moslem has when he repeats the 

 following chapters, if he understands the words, we may 

 learn from the commentaries. After reading what they tell 

 us there remains little doubt that paganism entered Islam 

 by the door of the Quran ! 



"In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. 



Verily, we sent it down on the Night of Power ! 



And what shall make thee know what the Night of 

 Power is? — the Night of Power is better than a thousand 

 months ! 



The angles and the spirits descend therein, by the per- 

 mission of their Lord with every bidding. 



Peace it is until rising of the dawn ! " f 



*"A few days ago," writes Miss H. E. Levermore of Tsinchow, 

 "the Moslems had a rain procession, — a thing rarely known with 

 them. It is said once before they had one, and the informer signi- 

 ficantly adds, 'and they revolted just after.' In this procession there 

 was no noise, great order and devotion being observed. The Moslems 

 walked the streets, carrying incense and reading their incantations. 

 Two chairs containing Moslem sacred books were carried, whilst the 

 priests had open Arabic Korans in their hands." 



fThe Qur'an — Part II. Translated by E. H. Palmer. Suras 

 97, 100, 113, 114. 



