explained later on; (7) the
support of relatives. The duties numbered as (4) and (5) are _wajib_ orders
to the rich; but only _mustahab_ to the poor: that is, it is meritorious if
they perform them, but not sinful if they leave them undone.

The duties next in order as regards authority are the _sunnat_ ones. They
are three in number and are based either on the practice of the Prophet, or
are _fitrat_, that is practices of previous prophets, the continuance of
which {188} Muhammad did not forbid. They are (1) circumcision; (2) shaving
off the hair from the head and the body; (3) the paring of the nails. In
addition to these there are actions which are _mustahab_. They are those
which Muhammad sometimes did and sometimes omitted. There is a still lower
class of action which are _mubah_. These are works of supererogation. If
omitted there is no fear of punishment.

It may be mentioned in passing that unlawful actions and things are (1)
_Haram_, actions and food forbidden either in the Quran or the Traditions;
(2) _Mahruh_, actions the unlawfulness of which is not absolutely certain,
but which are generally considered wrong; (3) _Mufsid_, actions corrupting
or pernicious. It is necessary to bear these terms in mind as they will now
frequently occur.

1. TASHAHHUD.--This is the recital of a confession of faith. There are
several forms of this. A common one is: "I testify that there is no deity
but God, I testify to His unity and that He has no partner; I testify that
Muhammad is His servant and His messenger." The shorter form is: "There is
no deity but God and Muhammad is the apostle of God." The power contained
in this latter confession is extraordinary. It embodies the very spirit of
Islam. "It has led everywhere the march of its armies, it has rung for
twelve centuries in the morning air from its minarets, it has been passed
from lip to lip, as no other word has ever been passed, by thousands of
millions of the human race." The power of Islam, its proclamation of the
Unity, is here seen in the closest contact with what is to Muslim
theologians the equally fundamental truth--the apostleship of Muhammad, a
dogma which retards the healthy development, explains the narrowness, and
causes the prostration of Islam, as the world around grows luminant with
the light of science and truth, of faith and reason.

2. SULAT.[185]--All the books on Fiqh (Law) which treat of {189} these
Irkan-i-din, give in connection with Sulat the