ir substance, that thou
mayest {208} cleanse and purify them thereby, and pray for them; for thy
prayers shall assure their minds: and God heareth, knoweth." (Sura ix.
104.) The proof that it is not Farz-i-'ain (_i.e._, incumbent on all), but
Farz-i-kifaya is drawn from an account given in a Hadis, to the effect that
the Prophet one day did not recite the Namaz over one of his deceased
followers. Now, if the Namaz had been Farz-i-'ain even the Prophet could
not have omitted it. His Sunnat, or practice, has decided the nature of the
farz command contained in the verse of the Quran just quoted.

The Namaz can only be said when the corpse is present. It is recited in the
open space in front of the Mosque, or in some neighbouring spot: never in
the graveyard.

When all are assembled the Imam or leader says: "Here begins the Namaz for
the dead."

The company present then stand up in rows with faces turned in the
direction of Mecca. The Imam stands a little in front, near the head or
waist of the corpse according as it is that of a male or female. Then all
assume the Qiam, or standing position, and recite the Niyyat as follows:--

"I recite Namaz for the sake of God, and offer prayers (Du'a) for this
deceased person, and I follow the Imam (who is about to officiate.)"

Then all at the first[213] Takbir put the hands to the lobe of the ears and
say: "God is Great!"

Then they say the Sana (Ante, p. 195.):--

"Holiness to Thee O God! And to Thee be praise! Great is Thy Name! Great is
Thy greatness! Great is Thy praise! There is no God but Thee!"

Then follows the second Takbir: "God is Great!"

Then all say the Darud-i-Ibrahim:--

"O God! have mercy on Muhammad and upon his descendants, as Thou didst
bestow mercy, and peace, and blessing, and compassion, and great kindness
upon {209} Abraham and upon his descendants." "Thou art praised, and Thou
art Great!" "O God, bless Muhammad and his descendants as Thou didst bless,
and didst have compassion and great kindness upon Abraham and upon his
descendants."

Then follows the third Takbir: "God is Great!"

The Du'a is then repeated:--

"O God, forgive our living and our dead, and those oL us who are present,
and those who are absent, and our children and our full grown persons, our
men and our women. O God, those whom Thou dost keep alive amongst us, keep
alive in Islam, and those whom Thou causest to die, let them die in the
Faith."[214]

Then follows the fourth Ta