Mohammedanism

or Islam, the religion founded by Mohammed. The former term is that used by outsiders. The faithful use the term Islam, meaning by translation, "Submission to the will of God." Still another term is Moslem, akin to Islam, meaning "Believer." The followers of Mohammed entered upon a period of foreign conquest very soon after the death of Mohammed. They overran Asia Minor, Egypt, and Persia. Their conquests extended along the southern shore of the Mediterranean clear to the Atlantic Ocean. The Moors, as the Arabs are called in western history, crossed the Straits of Gibraltar and founded a kingdom in Spain. The Moslems extended their conquests eastward through Afghanistan, India, into southeastern Asia, and far northward into China. Though under many different governments, the Mohammedan faith now extends from Morocco on the Atlantic Ocean eastward to the Malay Peninsula and far into the isles of the Pacific. There are 25,000,000 Mohammedans in China, and over twice that many in British India. Islam is the prevailing religion not only of Arabia, Palestine, and Syria, but of Persia, Asia Minor, Turkey, and the smaller states of Central Asia. There are 2,000,000 Moslems under the American flag, chiefly in the Philip pines. There are a few Mohammedans in the larger American cities. There are in all not less than 175,000,000 adherents of the faith.

The six cardinal points of belief taught by the Koran left by Mohammed are belief in one God, and one only; faith in Mohammed as his prophet; faith in the Koran and its revelations; a belief in angels as ministering spirits; a belief in the resurrection and judgment day; belief in the doctrine of predestination, or God's personal rule in the world. the war cry of the Moslem is "There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is His Prophet." As the Arabs were related to the Israelites, so their religion has many points in common with the Hebrew faith.

While none but its adherents would claim that Islam is the peer of Christianity, it must still be regarded as a wonderful advance over the heathen religions which it supplanted throughout an enormous extent of territory. The Moslem is required to believe that all Moslems are his brothers and to keep faith with his fellows in the church. He is forbidden to use intoxicating liquors and the flesh of swine. Almsgiving and fasting are required. Five times a day, at morning, noon, afternoon, sunset, and night, he prostrates himself in prayer with his face toward Mecca. When the proper hour arrives, no matter where the true believer may be, he humbles himself in prayer. Friday is the religious day of the week. If possible, prayer should be said on this day in the nearest mosque. The voice of the muezzin calls to prayer. No bells are permitted; no images whatsoever are tolerated in a Moslem mosque, or in a Moslem home. Once in a lifetime the devout believer is enjoined to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. As he approaches the sacred city he bathes and puts on a pilgrim's robe. He walks around the Caaba, the sacred temple, seven times, offering certain prayers, kissing the sacred black stone at every turn. There are also other ceremonies to be performed. On the tenth day he is enjoined to cast seven stones at each of three pillars. His religious duties performed, he resumes his customary garb, and, if a merchant, follows this by chaffering and trading. The annual pilgrimage and feast is the occasion of a great fair at which enormous quantities of merchandise change hands.

There are many sects of Mohammedanism, possibly a hundred in all. To the candid reader the distinctions seem trivial. According to the teachings of the church, none can be saved outside of its pale. Abraham, Isaac, and Moses were great prophets. Christ was a greater prophet than these, and Jerusalem is a holy city; but the divine nature of Christ is denied. Mohammed is the greatest prophet whom the world has ever known. Many devout followers of Islam are looking for the appearance of a later prophet known as Mahdi. Many leaders have appeared in different parts of the world claiming to be the Mahdi. Mohammed Ahmed in Egypt, about 1880, claimed to be the Mahdi. He was followed by the Arabs with fanatical disregard of life. He gave the British soldiers much trouble before he and his forces were suppressed finally.

See Arabs; Mohammed; Moor; Alhambra; Tours; Alexandrian Library; Mosque; Mecca

This is to acquaint you that I intend to send the true believers into Syria, to take it out of the hands of the infidels. And I would have you know that the fighting for religion is an act of obedience to God. . .

When you meet with your enemies, acquit your selves like men, and do not turn your backs; and if you get the victory, kill no little children, nor old people, nor women. Destroy no palm-trees, nor do any mischief to cattle, only such as you kill to eat. When you make any covenant . . . be as good as your word. As you go on, you will find some religious persons that live retired in monasteries, proposing to themselves to serve God that way: let them alone, and neither kill them nor destroy their monasteries.--Abu-bekr to the Soldiers who conquered Syria.