During my first visit to Egypt I went to the great mosque El-Azhar, to witness the performance of the Friday-prayers by the largest congregation in Cairo. I was pleased with the preaching of the Khateeb of the mosque, Gád-El-Mowla, and afterwards procured his sermon-book (“deewán khutab”), containing sermons for every Friday in the year, and for the two “’eeds,” or grand festivals. I translate the first sermon. Footnote 145: The year begins and ends with a sacred month. The sacred months are four: the first, seventh, eleventh, and twelfth. During these, war was forbidden to be waged against such as acknowledged them to be sacred, but was afterwards allowed. The first month is also held to be excellent on account of the day of ’A’shoora (respecting which see Chap. XXIV. of this work); and the last, on account of the pilgrimage. Footnote 146: That of the month of Ramadán. Footnote 147: See an account of the customs observed in honour of the day of ’A’shoora, chap. xxiv. Footnote 148: The Khateeb always closes his exhortation with one or two traditions of the Prophet. Footnote 149: The five daily prayers ordained by the Kur-án. Footnote 150: This is always the same, or nearly so. Footnote 151: Kur-án, chap. xxvi., last verse. Footnote 152: Idem., chap. xxxiii., _v._ 56. Footnote 153: The patriarch Abraham. Footnote 154: The reigning Sultán at the time when the above was written. Footnote 155: This sentence, beginning “O God, frustrate,” was not inserted in one copy of this prayer, which I obtained from an Imám. Another Imám, at whose dictation I wrote the copy here translated, told me that this sentence and some others were often omitted. Footnote 156: Kur-án, chap. vii., _v._ 22. Footnote 157: Ibid., chap. xvi., _v._ 92. Footnote 158: Because the Prophet received the first revelation in that month. Footnote 159: Kur-án, chap. ii., _v._ 183. Footnote 160: The year being lunar, each month retrogrades through all the seasons in the course of about thirty-three years and a half. Footnote 161: A Málikee is held bound to perform the pilgrimage if strong enough to bear the journey on foot, and able to earn his food on the way. Footnote 162: On the pronunciation of this word, see a note to the second paragraph of Chapter V., p. 120. Footnote 163: More properly “Sagheer.” This is what many travellers have incorrectly called “the Great Festival.” Footnote 164: