Alexander Ross, The Alcoran of Mahomet, translated out of Arabick into French, by the Sieur Du Ryer, Lord of Malezair, and resident for the French king, at Alexandria. And newly Englished, for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities. (1649)

Lent. They are great founders of Temples, and Hospitals, and are obliged to give to the poor the first day of the year, the tithe of what they have gained during the preceding year.

They believe, that after being well washt, saying some prayer appropriate to that Ceremony; they have also the soul purified from all filthiness and sin, which is the cause that they wash and bath often, especially before 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 ilha illa allha 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 recommended to them by Mahomet: they believe that the Alcoran was brought to him at severall times by the Angel Gabriel, in the City of Mecca, and that of Medina, because the Jews and Christians had altered the holy Scriptures, 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 until they are assured that they are not with childe before they marry again, and their husbands are obliged to keep, and take the care of

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Alexander Ross, The Alcoran of Mahomet, translated out of Arabick into French, by the Sieur Du Ryer, Lord of Malezair, and resident for the French king, at Alexandria. And newly Englished, for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities., London, Printed, Anno Dom., Consulted online at “Quran Archive - Texts and Studies on the Quran” on 29 Mar. 2024: http://quran-archive.org/explorer/alexander-ross/1649?page=9