Prayers. Five times a day the Mussulmans are summoned to prayer by the muezzin.
Early in the morning, just before the sun is above the horizon, the ezan resounds through the still atmosphere, from the airy balcony of the tapering Minaré.
The Muezzin, covering his ears with his hands, as if to exclude all terrestrial sound, turns his face towards Mecca, and chants with musical cadence, the beautiful Arabic formula. "Allah, ikber! Allah ikber! &c, great God! great God! there is no God, but God! I attest that Mohammed is the apostle of God! Oh, Great Redeemer! Oh! Ruler of the universe! great God! great God! there is no God but God!" and he slowly moves round the balcony, as if addressing the inhabitants of all parts of the world.
Those who catch the echoes of the holy call, exclaim with solemn earnestness, "There is no power, no strength but in God Almighty."
Again, when the hour of noon seems to indicate a moment of repose to the work-day world, the ezan summons all thoughts and aspirations to the great God. At three o'clock in the afternoon, at sunset, and finally at nine o'clock, the call resounds ere they prepare for sleep.
How beautiful thus to note the passage of time, to look thus from earth to heaven, to forget for a moment all worldly cares, and breathe out a soul aspiration towards a better land.
Those who happen to be near a mosque, enter it for the purpose of performing their devotions; others are in their own houses; and many prostrate themselves by the wayside; or even on board the daily steamers. The mosques are always open, and there is an Imam who presides over the devotions.
The interior of a mosque, is as simple as that of any Protestant church. The only ornaments seen are the suspended lamps, interspersed here and there with ostrich eggs. There are no accommodations for sitting down, and the altar is the niche or mihrab. There is a small pulpit on one side, from which a sermon is preached every Friday noon; but the form of prayer is always the same.
As they assemble, they leave their shoes at the door, "for the ground is holy," and seat themselves upon the floor, which is either covered with carpet or matting.
At the appointed time, the Imam commences the service, by taking his position before the mihrab; and placing his thumbs behind his ears, as if with his open palms to shut out all objects of sense, proclaims to the assembly, "Allah-ikber! Allah-ikber!" The congregation rise and imitate the officiating priest. All remain standing with their hands folded on their bosoms, while the Imam repeats the first chapter of the Koran--which is the Lord's Prayer of the Mohammedans, termed Fatiha.