The Arrival of the Prayer Mat
Philosophical Summary
A narrative illustrating the integration of foreign wisdom. It tells how Ifá welcomed the 'Messenger on the Mat' (Islam), teaching that 'The truth has many languages, but only one source.'
Summary
Ifá recognizes and welcomes foreign spiritual knowledge, affirming a singular source of all truth.
Interpretation
Teaches radical spiritual inclusion. It asserts that Ifá is not a closed system but a 'Wide Basin' that can receive and understand all genuine spiritual movements. 'The truth has many languages, but only one source.'
Sacred Verses
English
A stranger arrived from the North carrying only a woven mat and a book of prayers. The people were suspicious of this new way of kneeling to the invisible. Orunmila cast the Odu and declared that the 'Messenger on the Mat' was sent from the same source as the Orishas. He commanded the people to respect the mat, for it was a sacred vessel for the breath of Olodumare. This allowed for the early peaceful coexistence between Ifá and Islam.