As the lslamic faith spread, so did the hammam, which accounts for many still standing in lran, Asia Minor, and across North Africa from Egypt to Morocco. Before the Arabs were repelled by rebellious subjects, there were hammams in Moorish Spain and high up the Danube River. Conquered temples, churches and baths were often converted into hammams--as the Islamic religion itself accomodated Jews and Christians, the hammam was flexible. Like the Roman baths, the hammam became a place to socialize. The baths were one of the few places in Islam open to everyone from early morning to late night. Not only was the hammam pleasurable, but it also brought luck as this old adage claims:
"Whoever goes to the bath on forty consecutive Wednesdays will succeed at anything they do."

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