Muslim: The rites and ceremonies observed by Muslims chiefly consist of those as relating to pregnancy, birth, naming, sacrifice, initiation, betrothal, marriage, and death,

Pregnancy: In the seventh or ninth month of pregnancy a fertility rite may be performed as among the Hindus. The woman is dressed in new clothes, and her lap is filled with fruit and vegetables by her friends. In some localities a ceremony to propitiate the spirits of ancestors is performed.

Child-Birth: A woman goes to her parents home after the last pregnancy rite and stays there till her confinement is over. The rites performed by the midwife at birth resemble those of the Hindus. When the child is born the azam or summons to prayer is uttered aloud in its right ear, and the, takbir or Muslim creed in its left. The child is named on the sixth or seventh day. The proper name for the male child is often formed by combining the prefix abd or servant, ghulam or slave, or suffix baks or 'given by' to the numerous titles of God. e.g. Abd-ul-Aziz, Rahim, Razak, Ghulam-Hussain; Khuda-baks Hyder-baks, etc.

Ukika Sacrifice: After child-birth the mother must not pray or fast, touch the Kuran or enter a mosque for forty days; on the expiry of this period she is bathed and dressed in good clothes, and her relatives bring presents to the child. On the fortieth day the child is placed in a cradle for the first time. In some localities a rite called ukikais performed after the birth of a child. It consists of a sacrifice, in the name of the child, of two he-goats for a boy and one for a girl. The goats must be above a year old, and without spot or blemish. The meat must be separated from the bones so that not a bone is broken and the bone, skin, feet and head after wards afterwards buried int eh earth. When the flesh is served the father offers a prayer to the "Almighty God".

Either on the same day as the Ukika sacrifice or soon after wards the child's hair is shaved and is then tied up in a piece of cloth and either buried or thrown into a river. Rich parents weigh the hair against silver and distribute the same to beggars.

Ear-boring: It was once customary among Muslims to bore the ear-lobes of a girl when she was one or two years old. The holes were bored along the edges of the ear step by step and even in the centre, and by the time she was two or three years old, she had thirteen holes in the right ear and twelve in the left. Little silver rings and various kinds of ear-rings were inserted and worn in the holes. The practise is now on the wane among the better-class Muslims.

Sal-Girah: The child's birthday is known as sai-girah and is celebrated by a feast. When the child is four years, four months and four days old the ceremony of Bismillah or taking the name of God is held, which is obligatory on all Muslims. Friends are invited, and the child dressed in a flowered robe (sahra) repeats the first chapters of the Kuran after his or her tutor.

Circumcision: A boy is usually circumcised at the age of six or seven, but as may be the custom among some classes of Sias and Arabs the operation is performed a few days after birth. The barber operates and the child is usually given a little Bhang, or other opiate. When a girl arrives at the ageof puberty she is secluded for seven days, and for this period eats only butter, bread and sugar, fish, flesh, salt and acid food being prohibited. In the evening she is given a warm-water bath, and among lower classes an entertainment is given t o friends.

Marriage: Among Muslims no specific religions ceremony is required, nor are any rites essential for the contraction of a valid marriage, if both persons are legally competent, and contract marriage with each other in the presence of two males or one male and two female witnesses. As a rule the Kazi performs the ceremony and reads four chapters of the Kuran with the profession of belief, the bridegroom repeating them after him. The parties them express their mutual consent, and the Kazi, raising his hands recites a benediction. A dowry or meher must be paid to the wife, which under the law must not be less than ten silver dirhams or dracma; but it is customary to fix it at Rs. 17, or at Rs. 750. The wedding is, however, usually accompanied by feast and celebrations not less elaborate or costly than those or the Hindus.

Several Hindu ceremonies, at the marriages of the lower class Muslims, still persist; e.g., the anointing of the bride and bridegroom with oil and turmeric, and setting out earthen vessels which are meant to afford a dwelling place for the spirits of ancestors. Another essential rite is the rubbing of the hands and feet of the bridegroom with mehandi or red henna.

Funeral Rites: Muslims bury their dead, and the same word janazah is used for the corpse, the bier and the funeral. When a man is at the point of death a chapter of the Kuran telling of the happiness awaiting the true believer in the future life, is read, and he is given a few drops of sarbat. after death the body is carefully washed and wrapped in three or five clothes for a man or woman, respectively. Some camphor or other sweet-smelling stuff is placed on the bier. Women do not usually attend funerals, and the friends and relations of the deceased walk behind the bier. To carry a bier is considered a very meritorious act, and four to the relations, relieving each other in turn, bear it on their shoulders. Muslims allow no delay for carrying their dead to the place of interment, and necessarily attend the funeral on foot. The funeral service is recited in a mosque or in some open space close to the graveyard. Usually the family priest or the village Kazi recites the service. Coffins are only used by the rich. When the body has been lowered in the grave each person takes up a clod and pronouncing over it a verse of the Kuran places it gently over the copse. When the grave is completely filled in, two stones are kept over it on either ends and two plants or branches or trees are planted. Then the fatima, i.e., the opening chapter of the Kuran, is read. On the third day is feast is given in the morning and after that trays of flowers with a vessel containing scented oil are handed round and the guests pick flowers and dip them into the oil. They then proceed to the grave, when the oil and flowers are poured over the grave. On the morning of the tenth t his offering of flowers and scented oil is repeated. Other feasts are given on the fortieth day, and at the expiration of four, six and nine months and one year from the date of death, and the rich sometimes spend large sums on them. These observances though not prescribed by the Kuran have been retained either form pre-Islamic times or adopted in imitation of the Hindus.