The Faith of Islam

The Faith of Islam, by Edward Sell

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Title: The Faith of Islam
Author: Edward Sell
Release Date: February 24, 2007 [EBook #20660]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE
FAITH OF ISLAM:
BY
THE REV. EDWARD SELL, FELLOW OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS.
* * * * *
TR��BNER & CO., LONDON. ADDISON & CO., MADRAS. 1880.
All rights reserved.
* * * * *
MADRAS: PRINTED BY ADDISON AND CO., MOUNT ROAD.
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PREFACE.
The following pages embody a study of Isl��m during a residence of fifteen years in India, the greater part of which time I have been in daily intercourse with Musalm��ns. I have given in the footnotes the authorities from which I quote. I was not able to procure in Madras a copy of the Arabic edition of Ibn Khaldoun's great work, but the French translation by Baron M. de Slane, to which I so frequently refer, is thoroughly reliable. The quotations from the Qur��n are made from Rodwell's translation. The original has been consulted when necessary.
A few slight and occasional errors in transliteration have occurred, such as Sul��t for Sal��t, Munkar for Munkir, &c., but in no case is the meaning affected.
In some words, such as Khal��f, Khal��fate, and Omar, I have retained the anglicised form instead of using the more correct terms, Khal��fa, Khil��fat, 'Umr. The letter Q has been used to distinguish the K��f-i-Karashat from the K��f-i-T��z��.
E. S.
MADRAS, December 1st, 1880.
{v}
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CONTENTS.
Introduction. ... PAGE ix
CHAPTER I.
THE FOUNDATIONS OF ISL��M.
The Qur��n--Its revelation--Miraculous nature--Arrangement of Qur��n--Osm��n's recension. The Sunnat--The authority of Sunnat--Tradition--Bid'at or innovation--Sh��a'h Traditions. Ijm��'--Ijtih��d--Four orthodox Im��ms, Han��fa, M��lik, Sh��fa'�� and Hanbal. Q����s--Established by the early Mujtahid��n--Sterility of Isl��m ... PAGE 1
Note to Chapter I. Ijtih��d ... PAGE 32
CHAPTER II.
EXEGESIS OF THE QUR��N AND THE TRADITIONS.
Inspiration--The seven readings--Work of a Commentator--Words and Sentences of the Qur��n--Use of the words--Deductions of arguments from the Qur��n--Divisions of the Qur��n--Abrogation--Creation of the Qur��n--Had��s or Tradition--Collections of Traditions--Classification of Traditions ... PAGE 37
CHAPTER III.
THE SECTS OF ISL��M.
The Sh��a'hs--The Im��mat--Kh��rigites--N��r-i-Muhammad��--Im��m--Ism��,��lians and Im��mites--Ghair-i-Mahd��s--D��,ir��--Mahm��d��ah--Khal��fate--S��f��ism--Persian Poetry--Darw��shes--Omar Khayy��m--Wahh��b��s--their rise--spread in India--doctrines and influence ... PAGE 73
Note to Chapter III. Wahh��b��ism ... PAGE 114
{vi}
CHAPTER IV.
THE CREED OF ISL��M
Im��n--God--Attributes of God--Discussions on the nature of God--The rise of the Mutazilites--The Sif��t��ans--Mush��bihites--Names of God--Creation of the Qur��n. Angels--Recording Angels--H��r��t and M��r��t--Munkir and Nak��r--Jinn. The Books--Abrogation--Tahr��f. The Prophets--Rank and inspiration of prophets--Nab�� and Ras��l--Sinlessness of prophets--The Anbiya-ulul-'Azm--Miracles of prophets--The Mi'r��j. The Resurrection and the last day--The Trumpets--Descent of the books--Balances--Bridge--Al-A'r��f--Al-Barzakh--Intercession of Muhammad--Heaven--Hell. The Predestination of good and evil--Jabr��ans--Qadr��ans--Ash'ar��ans--Free-will--Apostacy ... PAGE 116
Note to Chapter IV. Muslim Philosophy ... PAGE 181
CHAPTER V.
THE PRACTICAL DUTIES OF ISL��M.
Farz, w��jib, sunnat, mustahab and mub��h actions--Har��m or unlawful acts. Tashahhud. Sal��t--Waz��--Ghusl--Tayammum--Nam��z--Farz, sunnat, witr and nafl rak'ats--Appointed hours of prayer--Friday Nam��z and sermon--Nam��z on a journey and in time of war--Nam��z in Ramaz��n, during an eclipse and in time of drought--Funeral service--Its ritual and prayers. Fasting--Its time and nature. Zak��t--Nis��b--Proportion of property to be given as alms--Recipients of the Zak��t. The Hajj--Farz, sunnat, w��jib and mustahab duties connected with the Hajj--Time for the Hajj--Arrival of the H��j�� at Mecca--Taw��f--Ceremonies of the Hajj--Conclusion of the Hajj--Formal nature of Isl��m ... PAGE 187
Note to Chapter V. Fatv�� on the Nam��z ... PAGE 233
{vii}
CHAPTER VI.
THE FEASTS AND FASTS OF ISL��M.
Muharram--'��sh��r Kh��na--Marsiya--W��qi'a Kh��n--'Alams--Ceremonies of the '��sh��r��--F��tihas for 'Al��, for Hasan and Husain--Akhir-i-ch��r Shamba--B��r�� Waf��t--Jashn-i-mil��d-i-Sharif--��s��r-i-Shar��f--Shab Bar��t--Ramaz��n and '��d-ul-Fitr--'Itik��f--Sadqa--Sermon on the '��d-ul-Fitr--Baqr-'��d or '��d-uz-Zuh��--Sermon on the '��d-uz-Zuh��--The Qurb��n or Sacrifice--Festival of Mad��r--Festival of S��l��r Mas'��d Gh��z��--Festival of Kh��ja Khizr--Feast of P��r Dastg��r S��hib--Festival of Q��dir Wal�� S��hib ... PAGE 237
Index of Technical Terms ... PAGE 265
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INTRODUCTION.
It is necessary to enter into some explanation as regards the contents of this work. It does not fall in with its plan to enter into an account either of the life of Muhammad or of the wide and rapid spread of the system founded by him. The first has been done by able writers in England, France and Germany. I could add nothing new to this portion of the subject, nor throw new light upon it. The political growth of Muslim nations has also been set forth in various ways.
It seems to me that the more important study at this time is that of