'A perfect ablution driveth away the devils and assureth against the tyranny of the Sultan;and he who neglecteth the ablutionif calamity befall himlet him blame none but himself.'(Q.)'What should a man dowhen he awakes from sleep?'(A.)'He should wash his hands thricebefore putting them into the vessel.'(Q.)'What are the ordinancesKoranic and Traditionalof complete ablution?'(A.)'The Koranic ordinances are intent and covering the whole body with waterso that it shall come at every part of the hair and skin. The Traditionalprevious partial ablution [as before prayer,] rubbing the bodyseparating the hair and deferring in words the washing of the feet till the end of the ablution.'(Q.)'What are the reasons [or occasions] for ****** the ablution with other than waterand what are the ordinances thereofKoranic and Traditional?'(A.)'The reasons are seven in numberto witlack of waterfearneed thereto,going astray on a journeysicknesshaving the bones [broken and] in splints and wounds. As for its ordinancesthe Koranic are four in numberto witintentdustapplying it to the face and to the handsand the Traditional twoto wit,nomination and preferring the right before the left hand.'(Q.)'What are the conditionsthe essentials [or fundamentals] and the Traditional statutes of prayer?'(A.)'The conditions are five in numberto wit(1)purification of the members(2)covering the privy parts(3)observing the proper hourseither of certainty or to the best of one's belief(4)fronting the Kaabeh and(5)standing on a clean place. The essentials are twelve in numberto wit(1)intent(2)the magnification of prohibition(3)standing at the proper distance one from another(4)repeating the first chapter of the Koran and also(according to the Shafiyites)saying'In the name of God the Mercifulthe Compassionate!'a verse thereof(5)bowing the body and tranquillity [or gravity] therein(6)keeping the feet and legs still and in the same position[whilst the rest of the body moves]and tranquillity therein(7)prostration and tranquillity therein(8)sitting between two prostrations and tranquillity therein(9)repeating the latter profession of the Faith and sitting up therefor(10)invoking benediction on the Prophet(whom God bless and preserve)(11)the first Salutation and(12)the intent of ****** an end of prayer[expressed] in words. The Traditional statutes are the call to prayerthe repetition of the words of the latter,raising the hands to either side of the facewhilst pronouncing the magnification of prohibitionpronouncing the magnification before reciting the Fatiheh [First chapter of the Koran],seeking refuge with Godsaying 'Amen,'repeating the(obligatory)chapter [of the Koran] after the Fatiheh,repeating the magnifications during change of posturesaying,'May God hear him who praiseth Him!'and 'O our Lordto Thee be the praise!'uttering aloud the prayers in their places and in like mannerunder the breaththose so prescribed,the first testification and sitting up theretoblessing the Prophet thereinblessing his family in the latter profession[or testification] and the second Salutation.'(Q.)'On what is the poor-rate taxable?'(A.)'On gold and silver and camels and oxen and sheep and wheat and barley and millet and beans and pulse and rice and raisins and dates.'(Q.)'What is the poor-rate on gold ?'(A.)'Below twenty dinarsnothing;but,on that amount and overhalf a dinar for every score.'
(Q.)'On silver?'(A.)'Under two hundred dirhemsnothing;thenfive dirhems on every two hundred.'(Q.)'On camels?'
(A.)'For every fivean eweor for every twenty-five a pregnant camel.'(Q.)'On sheep?'(A.)'On forty and overan ewe for every forty head.'(Q.)'What are the ordinances of the Fast [of Ramazan]?'(A.)'The Koranic are intent abstinence from eatingdrinking and copulation and stoppage of vomiting. It is incumbent on all who submit to the Lawsave women in their courses and forty days after child-birth;and it becomes obligatory on sight of the new moon or on news of its appearancebrought by a trustworthy person and commending itself as truth to the hearer's heart;and among its requisites is that it be commenced by night. The Traditional ordinances of fasting arehastening to break the fast deferring the fore-dawn meal and abstaining from speechsave for good works and for calling on the name of God and reciting the Koran.'(Q.)'What things vitiate not the fast?'(A.)'The use of unguents and eye-powders and the dust of the road and the swallowing of one's spittle and the emission of seed in dreams of dalliance or at the sight of a strange woman and cupping and letting blood;none of these things vitiates the fast.'(Q.)'What are the prayers of the two great [annual] Festivals?'(A.)'Two one-bow prayersafter the traditional ordinancewithout call to prayer or the repetition thereof by the devoteewho shall say'Prayer is a collector of all folk!'and pronounce the magnification seven times in the first prayerbesides the magnification of prohibitionand in the secondfive timesbesides that of rising up(according to the canon of the Imam Es Shafion whom God have mercy)and make the profession of the Faith.'
(Q.)'What are the prayers prescribed on the occasion of an eclipse of the sun or moon?'(A.)'Two one-bow prayerswithout call to prayer or repetition thereof by the devoteewho shall make in each two standings up and two inclinations and two prostrationsthen sit up and testify and salute.'(Q.)'What is the ritual of prayer for rain?'(A.)'Two one-bow prayers,without call to prayer or repetition;then shall the devotee make the profession and salute. Moreover [the Imam] shall deliver an exhortation and(in place of the magnificationas in the two exhortations of the two great Festivals)ask pardon of God and reverse his mantle and pray and supplicate.'(Q.)