92 



THE KEY. S. M. ZWEMEK, M.A., D.D.^ 



number of God's names increased to 1001 ! One of the most 

 popular books of common prayer, by Abdallah Mohammed 

 Gazah (died 870 a.h.), ilkistrates this magical use of God's names, 

 and often uses such expressions as "I beseech Thee by Thy 

 hidden and most Holy Name which no creature understands, 

 etc." There are many books on the magical use of the names 

 of God, especially one called DaJwa al-juljuliyeh (i.e., jalla 

 jallalahu). 



These names of God are used not only for lawful prayer, but 

 for strength and power to execute unlawful acts. This shows 

 that they have a magical rather than a holy character.* 



In addition to magical formulas there is the use of the hand, 

 especially the forefinger (sabdha) ; this is called the finger for 

 cursing. Goldziher gives many illustrations of how the fore- 

 finger was used in magical ways long before its present use in 

 testifying to God's unity. A controversy arose in Islam very 

 early about the raising of the hands in prayer.f Who can 

 doubt that this indicates also a magical use of the hands ? A 

 hand is still used as an amulet against the evil eye. It is made 

 of silver or gold in jewelry, or made of tin in natural size, and 

 is then suspended over the door of a house. The top of a Mos- 

 lem banner is generally of this shape. Moslems call it the 

 " Hand of Fatinia." The superstifcion of the hand is very com- 

 mon, especially in lower Egypt, and seems to be borrowed from 

 the Jews. The following points are to be noted : It is unlucky 

 to count five on the fingers. All Egyptians of the lower classes, 

 when they count, say : " One, two, three, four, in the eye of your 

 enemyT Children, when at play, show their displeasure with 

 each other by touching the little fingers of their two hands 

 together, which signifies separation, enmity, hatred. The same 

 sign is used by grown-up people, in discussion. In addition to 

 all this, they use the hand for the gesture of cursing, by raising 

 both hands slightly with fingers extended and making a down- 

 ward motion to call down the curses of God upon those toward 

 whom the fingers are pointed. This is called Takhriiis. 



Mr Eugene Lefeburef writes : " There never was a 

 countjy where the representation of the human hand has not 



A vast Uterature on the use of God's names and the magic of 

 numbers has grown up^ called Kutuh al-Ruhaniyat, on geomancy, 

 ornithomancy, dreams, etc. 



+ It is regarding the position of the hands that the four sects have 

 special teaching, and can be distinguished. 



X Bulleiin de la SocUte de Geographic d' Alger et de VAfrique du Nord, 

 1907, No. 4. 



