George Sale, The Koran, commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed, translated into English immediately from the original Arabic; with Explanatory Notes, taken from the most approved Commentators. To which is prefixed A Preliminary Discource (1734)
The running between Safâ and Merwâ 1 is also performed seven times, partly with a flow pace, and partly running 2: for they walk gravely till they come to a place between two pillars; and there they run, and afterwards walk again; sometimes looking back, and sometimes stopping, like one who has lost something, to represent Hagar seeking water for her son 3: for the ceremony is said to be as ancient as her time 4.
On the ninth of Dhu’lhajja, after morning prayer, the pilgrims leave the valley of Mina, whither they come the day before, and proceed in a tumultuous and rushing manner to mount Arafat 5, where they stay to perform their devotions till sun-set: then they go to Mozdalifa, an oratory between Arafat and Mina, and there spend the night in prayer, and reading the Korân. The next morning by day-break they visit al Mashér al harâm, or the sacred monument 6, and departing thence before sun-rise, haste by Batn Mohasser to the valley of Mina, where they throw seven stones 7 at three marks or pillars, in imitation of Abraham, who meeting the devil in that place, and being by him disturbed in his devotions, or tempted to disobedience, when he was going to sacrifice his son, was commanded by God to drive him away by throwing stones at him 8; though others pretend this rite to be as old as Adam, who also put the devil to flight in the same place, and by the same means 9.
This ceremony being over, on the same day, the tenth of Dhu’lhajja, the pilgrims slay their victims in the said valley of Mina; of which they and their friends eat part, and the rest is given to the poor. These victims must be either sheep, goats, kine, or camels; males, if of either of the two former kinds, and females if of either of the latter, and of a fit age 10. The sacrifices being over, they shave their heads and cut their nails, burying them in the same place; after which the pilgrimage is looked on as compleated 11: though they again visit the Caaba, to take their leave of that sacred building.
The above-mentioned ceremonies, by the confession of the Mohammedans themselves, were almost all of them observed by the pagan Arabs many ages before their prophet’s appearance; and
1 See before, p. 20.
2 Al Ghazâli.
3 Reland. de Rel. Moh. p. 121.
4 Ebn al Athîr.
6 See ibid. Mr. Gagnier has been twice guilty of a mistake in confounding this monument with the sacred inclosure of the Caaba. V. Gagn. Not. ad Abulfed. vit. Moh. p. 131. & Vie de Mah. t. 2. p. 262.
7 Dr. Pocock, from al Ghazâli, says seventy, at different times and places. Spec. p. 315.
8 Al Ghazâli, Ahmed Ebn Yusef.
9 Ebn al Athîr.
10 V. Reland. ubi sup. p. 117.
