J. F. Campbell Collection > Koran: or, Alcoran of Mohammed

^ECT. IT. PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. 79
eEEcacy in causing the latter to be heard of God : for which reason the
Khalif Omar Ebn Abd'aUiziz used to say, '' that prayer carries us half
way to God, fasting brings us to the door of his palace, and alms procure
us admissio I." ' The ^Mohammedans therefore esteem alms-deeds to be
highly meritorious, and many of them have been illustrious for the exercise
thereof. Hasan the son of All, and grandson of Mohammed, in particular,
is related to have thrice in his life divided his substance equally between
himself and the poor, and twice to have given away all he had :* and the
generality are so addicted to the doing of good, that they extend their
charity even to brutes.*
Alms, according to the prescriptions of the Mohammetlan law, are to be
given of five things; 1. Of cattle, that is to say, of camels, kine, and
sheep. 2. Of money. 3. Of corn. 4. Of fruits, viz., dates and raisins.
And 5. Of wares sold. Of each of these a certain portion is to be given in
alms, being usually one part in forty, or two and a half per cent, of the
value. But no alms are due for them, unless they amount to a certain
.quantity or number ; nor untd. a man has been in possession of them
eleven months, he not being obliged to give alms thereout before the
twelfth month is begun : nor are alms due for cattle employed in tilling
the ground, or in carrying of burdens. In some cases a much larger
portion, than the before mentioned is reckoned due for alms : thus of what
is gotten out of mines, or the sea, or by any art or profession over and
above what is sufficient for the reasonable support of a man's family, and
especially where there is a mixture or susjiicion of unjust gain, a fifth part
ought to be given in alms. Moreover, at the end of the fast of Ramadan,
eveiy Moslem is obliged to give in alms for himself and for every one of
his family, if he has any, a measure ^ of wheat, barley, dates, raisins, rice,
or other provisions commonly eaten.'
The legal alms were at first collected by Mohammed himself, who
employed them as he thought fit, in tlie relief of his poor relations and
followers, but chiefly applied them to the maintenance of those who
served in his wars, and fought, as he termed it, in the way of God. His
successors continued to do the same, till, in process of time, other taxes
and tributes being imposed for the support of the government, they seem
to have been weary of acting as almoners to their subjects, and to have
left the paying them to their consciences.
In the foregoing rules concerning alms, we may observe also footsteps of
what the Jews taught and practised in respect thereto. Alms, which they
also call Sedaka, i. e.jitstice, or righteoicsness.^ are greatly recommended by
their Rabbins, and preferred even to sacrifices;^ as a duty the frequent
exercise whereof will efiectually free a man from hell fire,^ and merit ever-
lasting life : ^ wherefore, besides the corners of the field, and the gleanings
of theii' harvest and vineyard, commanded to be left for the poor and the
stranger by the law of Moses,^ a certain portion of their corn and fruits Ls
directed to be set apart for their relief, which portion is called the tithes
of the poor.'* The Jews likewise were formerly very conspicuous for their
charity. Zaccheus gave the half of his goods to the poor; and we
' D'Herbel. Bibl. Orient, p. 5. * Idem. p. 422. « Vide Busbeq. Epist. iii. p. 178.
Smith, de Morib. Turc. Epist. i. p. 66, &c. Compare Eccles. xi. 1, and Prov. xii. 10.
6 This measure is a Saa, and contains abont six or seven pounds weight. ^ Vide Re-
land, de Rel. .Mohammed, lib. i. p. 99, &c, Chardin, Voy. de Perse, torn. ii. p. 415,
&c. 8 Hence alms are in the Kew Testament termed Aixaios-iim. Matt. vi. 1. (Eel,
Steph.) and 2 Cor. ix. 10. » Gemar. in Bava bathra. i Ibid, in Gittin. ' Ibid, in Rosh
hashana. « Lev. xix. 9, 10. Deut. xxiv. 19, &c. * Vide Gemar. Hierosol. in Peah,
and Maimon. in Halachoth matanoth Aniyyira. c. 6. Confer Pii-ke Avoth, t. 9.
* Luke xix. 8.