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sioners around the Temple of the Kaaba: then let him go on towards the spot where the public pray, and place his hands thereon (falling prostrate), and by no means move them onward: then let him pray what he will. It is rather preferable that he pray the Prayer of Solomon (peace be with him!), which he prayed when he completed the building of the Temple, and was offering his sacrifices. This is the prayer: "O God! if any sinner enter herein, pardon his sins; if any suffer evil, remove his sufferings" (this is a very ancient piece of traditionary scripture): then let him supplicate whatever he will, relating to the accomplishing of all good and advantageous things, both relating to this world and the next. If he earnestly desire to descend below the Rock, let him do so let him perform his designs; and he will seal his repentance by a sincere adoration and recurrence to God. Let him be diligent in prayer; and, when he descends, let him descend with the commendable ceremonies, the humiliation, and the prayer which occurs to him. For, if he will but use diligence in prayer beneath the Rock, to that prayer a favourable hearing is certainly assured; please God! However, the author of 'The Book of Social Converse,' and 'The Book of the Resurrection of Spirits,' says, That prayer which is here offered, is by no means pe

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culiarly acceptable in this place; for that, if men undertake prayer, a favourable answer is promised in his Word. Your Lord hath said, "Pray to me; I will favourably hear, and I will send my servants (to aid you): for I am near, and favour the prayer of him who prays, when he prays unto me." Also, an indispensable part of prayer consists in extracts from the glorious Sunna of the Prophet. Now, from Abdallah-Ibn-Yazíd, from his father: That the Apostle of God (the peace and blessing of God be with him!) saw a man praying thus: "O God! I beseech thee, because thou art one God; the Lord to whom we must have Thou never didst beget; thou art not begotten; there is no one thy compeer." Then said the Apostle of God, (the peace and blessing of God be with him!) That man hath prayed to God in his great name; therefore his petitions shall be granted, and his prayer favourably received. Now, from Ali-Ibn-Arút-from one who informed him—That Omaz-Ibn-Yásir was praying among the people, who however made light of his prayer. Then he said, By God! I will not depart until I have prayed to God the prayer which the Prophet (the peace and blessing of God be with him!) prayed, and asserted that every angel nearest to God's throne, and every commissioned prophet, and every true and faithful servant, prayed no other

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prayer than this:-" O God! in thy works there is mystery, and mystery in the fated power over the creation. Grant that I may live in the enjoyment of all those pleasures which are profitable for me, and die, when thou dost appoint me, a death good for me. I beseech thee, grant me thy guardian shield in doubt, and testimony and the word of truth in wrath, and content and right direction in poverty and in competency. I beseech thee, grant me the good that shall never fade away, and large domestic enjoyments which shall never be cut off, and the refreshment of a joyful life after death. I beseech thee that I may be made to behold thy face, and be urged by a vehement desire to meet thee (come before thee), without suffering any utterly ruinous sorrow, or falling into any temptation which may lead me astray. O God! adorn me with the ornament of the faith, and lead me in the straight and right road."

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Now, also, from Al-Hassan-Ibn-Al-Hassan, who says, I think it was Ibn-Masúd who narrated and said, The prophet Idrís (peace be with him!) prayed a prayer, and commanded that they should not give their minds to silly trifling; but pray it. And this was the prayer:-"O thou majestic and bounteous One! O thou Eternal One! there is no God but thee. Thou art the

helper of all who take refuge in thee; the guardian of all that seek thy aid; the assurer of all who fear. O God! if in the book of thy decrees it is laid down that I must suffer misery, and straitened circumstances, and a scanty supply of needful things; then, O God! obliterate therefrom my misery, my wants, my deficiency of necessary things; and assure to me (happily, in the right way, most adapted for the attainment of good, the way by which thou revealest the means of obtaining sufficient supply), assure to me that competence which may supply my needs: for thou hast said it. Thy true and faithful word is in thy book, which thou didst send down to thy apostolized Prophet, viz. God wipes out whatsoever he willeth, and confirms whatsoever he willeth; for with him is the source and origin of all the decrees of the book." Also, observes the same author, he will obtain in the end abundance of good, and receive an overflowing fortune; being abundantly presented with rewards and recompenses. Moreover, many good and worthy people go to the Temple, and, whilst entering the glorious Rock, use the words which a certain old Shaikh, who had been one of David's comrades, (may peace be with him!) taught to his son Solomon (peace be with him!) when he found it at difficult matter to open the gate; viz. "O God,

thou shalt lead me by thy light, in the true path, for the time to come, as we have been told thou didst in time past." It is very much to be preferred that thou shouldst pray this prayer when the Rock is entered. Let him that entereth place his hands upon it, but not kiss it, as we have enjoined; although I have seen one who saluted all the points of the Rock, and kissed more especially its lower part, near the Gate of Compassion. For this there is no authority or quoted opinion.

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Now, for the unfavourable acceptation of the praising prayer upon the surface of the Rock, we find, from the author of The Resurrection of Spirits,' and the Keys of all matters thereon dependent,' and from a part of his 'Sunna,' derived from Abu-Al-Huraira, the Kadi, that thanksgiving. prayer is unacceptable in the seven chapels on the area of the Kaaba, and upon the surface of the Rock of the Baitu-l-Mukaddas, and Mount Sinai and the Mount of Olives, and Al Safá, and Marút, and Mount Arafat. Nevertheless, he says, in his 'Keys: Our companions insist upon the necessary excellence of prayer upon the broad part of the Kaaba, where the building is kissed, upon a space of three cubits square. They are led by a tradition, that the Prophet (the peace and blessing of God be with him!) prayed within the Kaaba, whilst several of his neighbours were there. But

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