'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎123] (132/568)

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EELIGIONS 128
not to be incumbent on those who are travelling or on service, though
they should compensate tor such neglect by fasting at another period
ot the year. The day which follows the end of Ramadan is one of the
great feasts of the year, the other being the tenth day of the month
of pilgrimage. That month in 1919 will begin on August 28.
Other feasts are not common to the whole Moslem world, but are
merely sectarian. Alms are of two kinds, legal and determined
and voluntary (sadaqat). The pilgr {Hajj) is to be performed
once by every Moslem ' if he is ablethat is, if he can provide or
obtain the means to support himself on pilgrimage and his family
during his absence, and if he is physically capable.
Food and Drink Taboos. —The pig is as much of an abomination to
the Moslem as to the Jew, from whom this taboo seems to have been
taken over by Islam, The normal sentiment is also veiy strongly
against the use of wines, spirits, &c. ; though there is a certain
amount of laxity in this matter among Moslems accustomed to
European ways. The use of tobacco is very widespread, though it
has been condemned by certain of the more recent sects, and opinion
in religious circles has recently been setting against it.
Denominations
The two chief denominations of Islam are the Sunni and the
Shiah sects. In the southern part of our area—that is, in Irak,
Arabistan, and the neighbouring Persian highlands—the very great
majority of Moslems are Shiahs. In the north—that is, in the
Jezireh and in Turkish Kurdistan—the great majority of Moslems
are Sunnis (the Arabs of the Jezireh are practically all Sunnis ; there
are some Shiah tribes among the Kurds). In Baghdad there are
more Sunnis than Shiahs. Persia is Shiah, Arabia Sunni.
In northern Irak are the Shiah holy cities, the objects of Shiah
pilgrimage from all parts of the world, and especially from Persia
and India. (See immediately below and p. 125.)
(a) Shiah
The division between Sunni and Shiah is based primarily on
political theory. The Sunnis regard as legitimate successors of the
Prophet the first three Caliphs who ruled as heads of the Moslem
community, whereas the Shiahs hold that they and all the Caliphs
who followed them were usurpers, the rightful succession lying in
their view with Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, and
with Ali's descendants. Ali himself, who was assassinated at Kufeh.
his son Hasan, who is said to have been murdered at the instigation