（A.）'By the reading of God's Holy Book and by signs and proofs and portents and miracles.'（Q.）'What are the obligatory ordinances and the immutable institutions？'（A.）'The obligatory ordinances are five in number.（1）Testification that there is no god but God alonethat He hath no partner in divinity and that Mohammed is His servant and His apostle.（2）The scrupulous performance of the enjoined prayers.（3）The payment of the poor-rate.（4）Fasting Ramazan.（5）The performance of the Pilgrimage to God's Holy House [at Mecca] for all to whom it is possible. The immutable institutions are four in number；to witnight and day and sun and moonthe which build up life and hopeneither knoweth any son of Adam if they will be destroyed on the Day of Judgment.'（Q.）'What are the obligatory rites of the Faith？'（A.）'Prayeralmsgivingfastingpilgrimage，fighting for the Faith and abstinence from what is forbidden.'
（Q.）'Why dost thou stand up to pray？'（A.）'To express the devout intent of the slave submitting himself to [or acknowledging]the Divinity.'（Q.）'What are the conditions precedent of standing up to pray？'（A.）'Purificationcovering the privy parts，the avoidance of soiled clothesstanding on a clean place，fronting [the Kaabeh，] a standing posturethe intent
and the magnification of prohibition.'（Q.）'With what shouldest thou go forth thy house to pray？（A.）'With an intent of worship.'（Q.）'With what intent shouldest thou enter the mosque？'（A.）'With an intent of service.'
（Q.）'Why do we front the Kaabeh？'（A.）'In obedience to three Divine and one Traditional ordinance.'（Q.）'What is the commencementthe consecration and the dissolution [end] of prayer？'（A.）'Purificationthe magnification of prohibition and the salutation of the angels [concluding prayer].'（Q.）'What of him who neglecteth prayer？'（A.）'It is reported，among the authentic（Traditions of the Prophetthat he said），'Hewho neglecteth prayer wilfully and without excusehath no part in Islam.'（Q.）'What is prayer？'（A.）'Prayer is communion between the slave and his Lordand in it are ten virtuesto wit（1）it illumines the heart（2）makes the face shine（3）pleases the Merciful One（4）angers Satan（5）conjures calamity（6）wards off the mischief of enemies（7）multiplies mercy（8）forfends vengeance [or punishment]（9）brings the slave nigh unto [or in favour with] his Lord and（10）restrains from lewdness and iniquity. It is one of the written obligatory ordinances and the pillar of the Faith.'
（Q.）'What is the key of prayer？'（A.）'Ablution.'（Q.）'What is the key of ablution？'（A.）'Nomination.'（Q.）'That of naming God？'（A.）'Faith.'（Q.）'That of Faith？'（A.）'Trust in God.'（Q.）'That of trust in God？'（A.）'Hope.'（Q.）'That of Hope？'（A.）'Obedience.'（Q.）'That of obedience？'（A.）'The confession of the unity and the acknowledgment of the divinity of God.'（Q.）'What are the Divine ordinances of ablution？'
（A.）'They are six in numberaccording to the canon of the Imam Es Shafi Mohammed ben Idris（of whom God accept）to wit，（1）intent to wash the face（2）washing the face（3）washing the hands and elbows（4）wiping part of the head（5）washing the feet and heels and（6）observing the prescribed order of ablutionwhose statutes are ten in numberto wit，（1）nomination（2）washing the hands before putting them into the vase（3）rinsing the mouth（4）drawing up water through the nostrils（5）wiping the whole head（6）washing the ears within and without with fresh water（7）separating a thick beard（8）separating the fingers and toes（9）washing the right foot before the left and（10）doing each of these thrice and all in unbroken succession. When the ablution is endedthe devotee should（quoth Es Shafi ）say'I testify that there is no god but God alonewho hath no partnerand that Mohammed is His servant and apostle. O my Godmake me of those who repent and are made clean！ Glory to TheeO my Godand in Thy praise I testify that there is no god but Thou！ I crave pardon of Thee and repent to Thee！'For it is reportedin the Holy Traditionsthat the Prophet（whom God bless and keep）said of this prayer'Whoso ensueth every ablution with this prayer，the eight gates of Paradise are open to him；he shall enter at which he pleases.'（Q.）'When a man purposes to make the ablutionwhat betides him from the angels and the devils？'
（A.）'When a man prepares for ablutionthe angels come and stand on his right and the devils on his left hand. If he name Godat the beginning of the ablutionthe devils flee from him and the angels hover over him with a pavilion of lighthaving four ropesto each an angel glorifying God and craving pardon for himso long as he remains silent or calls upon the name of God. But if he omit to begin with naming God（to whom belong might and majesty）neither remain silentthe angels depart from him and the devils settle upon him and whisper evil thoughts unto himtill he falls into doubt and comes short in his ablution. For（quoth he on whom be blessing and salvation）
