Brewer's: Islam

or Islamism. The true faith, according to the Mahometan notion. The Moslems say every child is born in Islam, and would continue in the true faith if not led astray into Magism, Judaism, or Christianity. The word means resignation or submission to the will of God.

Islam consists of five duties:

(1) Bearing witness that there is but one God.

(2) Reciting daily prayers.

(3) Giving the appointed and legal alms.

(4) Observing the Ramazan (a month's fast).

(5) Making a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

Moslem and Musulman are from the same root.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Related Content