self-development (falāḥ) is attained. What a noble idea! The meaningless ringing of the bell or the blowing of the trumpet is replaced by an announcement of the principles of Islām and their significance, by a declaration made five times daily, that anyone may attain to success in life through the door of the mosque. No more effective propaganda can be thought of. No one need remain in doubt as to what Islām is and what its message is. No one need read books to get at the principles of Islam; no one need listen to a philosophical dissertation as to the significance of those principles; no one need have a doubt as to the end in view in accepting these principles. To everyone’s door, nay, to his very ears, is carried the message every morning, noon, afternoon, evening and at the time of going to bed, that the Unity of God and the apostleship of Muḥammad are the fundamental principles of Islām, that man must not bow before anything but God, that anyone can attain to complete self-development, which is success in life, through the realization of the Divine in him, which is brought about by prayer to God.

SEC. 5 — TIMES OF PRAYER

Regularization of prayer

The institution of prayer in Islām is a perfectly regularized institution, and it is the first lesson which a Muslim learns in the organization of things. Without divesting the individual of his liberty to pray to God at whatsoever place and time and in whatsoever manner he likes, Islām has thoroughly organized the institution of prayer. As stated earlier, prayer brings about not only the development of the individual but also a perfect development of society, being a means for the unification of humanity. This latter object cannot be obtained without a properly organized institution of prayer with a fixed place and fixed times and a uniform method, so that through it individuals may be brought together. Hence it is that the Holy Qur’ān requires prayer to be said at appointed times: “Prayer indeed has been enjoined on the believers at fixed times” (4:103).