[p.319] After which, performing Ziyarat[FN#38] for ourselves, we repeated the Fatihah or “opening” chapter of the Koran.

“In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate! 
“Praise be to Allah, who the (three) Worlds made. 
“The Merciful, the Compassionate. 
“The King of the Day of Faith. 
“Thee (alone) do we worship, and of Thee (alone) do we ask Aid. 
“Guide us to the Path that is straight-
“The Path of those for whom thy Love is great, not those on whom is
Hate, nor they that deviate. 
“Amen!  O Lord of Angels, Jinnis, and Men![FN#39]”

After reciting this mentally with upraised hands, the forefinger of the right hand being extended to its full length, we drew our palms down our faces and did alms-deeds, a vital part of the ceremony.  Thus concludes the first part of the ceremony of visitation at the Apostle’s tomb.

[p.320] Hamid then stepped about a foot and half to the right, and I followed his example, so as to place myself exactly opposite the second aperture in the grating called Abu Bakr’s window.  There, making a sign towards the mausoleum, we addressed its inmate, as follows:-

“Peace be upon Thee, O Abu Bakr, O Thou Truthful One!  Peace be upon Thee, O Caliph of Allah’s Apostle over his People!  Peace be upon Thee, O Companion of the Cave, and Friend in Travel!  Peace be upon Thee, O Thou Banner of the Fugitives and the Auxiliaries!  I testify Thou didst ever stand firm in the right Way, and wast a Smiter of the Infidel, and a Benefactor to Thine own people.  Allah grant Thee through His Apostle Weal!  We pray Almighty God to cause us to die in Thy Friendship, and to raise us up in Company with His Apostle and Thyself, even as He hath mercifully vouchsafed to us this Visitation.[FN#40]”

After which we closed one more step to the right, and standing opposite Omar’s window, the most easterly of the three, after making a sign with our hands, we addressed the just Caliph in these words:-

“Peace be upon Thee, O Omar!  O Thou Just One!  Thou Prince of True
Believers!  Peace be upon Thee, who spakest with Truth, and who madest
Thy Word agree with the Strong Book! (the Koran):  O Thou Faruk! (the
Separator).[FN#41] O Thou Faithful One! who girdedst thy Loins with the
Apostle, and the First Believers, and with them didst make up the full
Number forty,[FN#42] and thus causedst to be accomplished the Apostle’s
Prayer,[FN#43] and

[p.321] then didst return to Thy God a Martyr leaving the World with Praise!  Allah grant Thee, through his Apostle and his Caliph and his Followers, the best of Good, and may Allah feel in Thee plenary Satisfaction!”

Shaykh Hamid, after wrenching a beggar or two from my shoulders, then permitted me to draw near to the little window, called the Apostle’s, and to look in.  Here my proceedings were watched with suspicious eyes.  The Persians have sometimes managed to pollute the part near Abu Bakr’s and Omar’s graves by tossing through the aperture what is externally a handsome shawl intended as a present for the tomb.[FN#44] After straining my eyes for a time, I saw a curtain,[FN#45] or rather hangings, with