The Alcoran of Mahomet, translated out of Arabique into French; by the sieur Du Ryer, Lord of Malezair, and resident for the King of France, at Alexandria. And newly Englished, for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities

A Summary of the Re∣ligion of the TURKS.

THe Turks believe one sole God, in one sole Person, Creator of heaven and earth, the rewarder of the good, and punisher of the wicked; who hath crea∣ted Paradise for the recompense of the righteous, and Hell for the last punishment of crimes. They believe that Mahomet was a very great Prophet, whom God sent into the world to teach men the way of salvation, and call themselves Musulma••s, that is to say, recommended to God, or saved.

They believe the Decalogue of Moses, and are obliged to observe it; they celebrate Friday as the Christians Sunday, that day they assemble in Temples at noon to pray.

They are obliged to pray five times a day, viz. in the morning, at noon, at the evening, when the Sun setteth, and an hour within night.

They fast the month, or moon, which they call Rama∣zan; during this month, they neither drink nor eat all the day, untill the Sun be set, but in the night drink and eat, according to their appetites, flesh and fish, ex∣cept the flesh of swine, and wine, that is at all times forbidden them; after this fast they have the feast of great Bairan, as the Christians Easter after Lent. They are great founders of Temples, and Hospitals, and are obliged to give to the poore the first day of the year, the tithe of what they have gained during the preceding yeare.

They believe, that after being well washt, saying some prayer appropriate to that Ceremony; they have also the soul purified from all filthiness and sinne, which is the cause that they wash and bathe often, especially be∣fore they pray.

They have no Sacrament, but Circumcision; they cause their children to be circumcised at the age of seven or eight years; and when they can pronounce these words, La ••••••a ill•• a••ha Mehemet rasoul allha, that is, There is but one God, Mahomet is his Prophet and Apostle; this is their profession of Faith; nevertheless there is no mention of Circumcision in all the Alcoran; they say they observe it in imitation of Abraham, whose Law is recom∣mended to them by Mahomet: they believe that the Alco∣ran was brought to him at severall times by the Angel Gabriel, in the City of Mecca, and that of Medina, be∣cause the Jews and Christians had altered the holy Scrip∣tures, and the Law of God.

They are permitted to have four wives, married at the same time, and as many Concubines as they are able to maintain.

They can put away their wives when they think fit, paying them what they promised them in contract of marriage, and marry again at their pleasure; but the women are bound to tarry untill they are assured that they a•••••• ••ith childe before they marry again; and their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••re obliged to keep, and take the care of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 The children which they have by their slaves 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••••rently esteemed with those of their wives, and are a•• held as legitimate.

They have Temples, Colledges, and Hospitalls well revenued; they have covents of Religious, that live ex∣emplarily; obey their Superiours without contradiction, and dance after the sound of Flutes and other instruments when they make their prayers.

They have moreover another sort of Religious Va∣gabonds through the world, clothed like fools of that Country; they often go naked, and cut their skin in ma∣ny

places, are held to be holy persons, and live by alms, which are never refused them; both the one and the o∣ther sort of Religious are called Dervis, they are known by their habit, and can retire and marry when they please.

They deny Jesus Christ to be God, or the Son of God; neither believe they in the holy Trinity: they say that Jesus Christ was a great Prophet, born of the Virgin Mary, a Virgin both before and after her delivery; that he was conceived by divine inspiration, or by a divine breath, without a father, as Adam was created without a mother; that he was not crucified, that God took him into heaven, and that he shall come again on earth at the end of the world to confirm the Law of Mahomet; they likewise affirm that the Jews thinking to crucifie Jesus Christ, crucified a man among them that resembled him.

They pray to God for the Dead, they invoke their Saints,* 1.1 of whom they have a large Legend, neverthe∣less they believe not Purgatory; and many among them imagine that the soul and body remain together in the grave until the day of Judgment.

They have Mecca and Medina, that are two Cities of Arabia, in great veneration, because Mahomet was born at Mecca, and buried at Medina: they make thither great pilgrimages, and believe that Land to be Holy: They bear likewise singular respect to the City of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, for that it hath been the Birth-place, and ha•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••f many Prophets.

They use no Clocks; at the hour of the•••• ••••••rs their Priests ascend the highest part of the Tower, that is in a corner of the Temple, and with a loud voyce call the people to prayer, singing prayers, composed for that purpose.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A great question a∣mong Ma∣hometans.