SOCIALANDMORALEVILS

OFISLAM
Mohammedanismis held,
bymany
whohaveto
liveunderitsshadow, tobethemost
degraded
re
ligion, morally,
intheworld. We
speak
of it as
superior
totheother
religions,
becauseof itsmono
theisticfaith, but I wouldrather believeinten
pure
gods
thaninoneGodwhowouldhaveforhis
supreme
prophet
and
representative
amanwithMohammed's
moral character. Cana
religion
of
immorality,
or
moral
inferiority,
meet theneedsof
struggling
men?
-Robert E.
Speer
But if
ye
fear that
ye
cannot do
justice
between
orphans,
then
marry
whatseems
good
to
you
of women,
by
twos, orthrees, orfours; andif
ye
fearthat
ye
cannot
be
equitable,
then
only
one, or what
yourright
hands
possess.

-Palmer,
Qur'a,
I V, 'r
But thosewhose
perversenessyou
fear, admonish
themandremovethemintobedchambersandbeat
them.

-Palmer,
Qur'an,
I V,
77
Thereisan
impervious
bar toall social intercourse
betweenthesexesbefore
marriage
. . . . . Sucha
marriage
ismorethana
lottery;
therecanbenoaffec
tionto
begin
with, and,
except
onrareoccasions, it is
not
likely
thatit will turnout tobe
reallyhappy.
I f it
be
thoroughlyuncongenial,
amantrieshisluckonce
moreinthesamemiserable
lottery,
andfor hisown
happiness,
and
probably
alsoforthat of all concerned,
annulsthe
previous
bond. Hence
polygamyimplies
freedomof divorce, andboth
together
aretheinevitable
result of theseclusionof thefemalesex. Buttoabolish
by
lawthetwoformer without
dealing
withthefar
morefundamental institutionwhichisitsroot, would
beto
carry
onawarwith
symptomsonly,
andtointro
duceevilsworsethanthoseit iswishedto
prevent.
-1?. BosworthSmith
110
V
SOCIAL
ANDMORALEVILSOFISLAM
The
present
social andmoral conditionof
Mohammedanlandsandof Moslemsinall lands
isnot suchasit isin
spite
of, but becauseof
their
religion.
Thelawof causeandeffect has
operated
foroverathousand
years
under
every
possible
natural and
political
environment,
among
Semites,
Negroes, Aryan
races, andSlays.
Theresultsareso
sadly
similarthat
they
forma
terribleandunanswerableindictment of the
social andmoral weaknessof Islam. Thereisno
better
proof
of the
inadequacy
of the
religion
of
Mohammedthana
study
of the
present
intel
lectual, social, andmoral conditionsinMoslem
lands. What thoseconditions areweknow
fromthe
testimony
of travelers,
politicians,
and
diplomats,
as well as fromthemissionaries
themselves. The
purely
Mohammedan
lands
likeArabia, Persia, Morocco, and
Afghanistan
areatthe
antipodes
of civilizationafterthirteen
centuriesof Moslemrule. Thereasonforit is
foundfirst of all inthecharacterof Mohammed

TheLawof
Causeand
Effect
'Ix
112
TheMoslemWorld
himself.
Hewasthe
prophecy
aswell asthe
prophet
of his
religion.
TheLow
Astreamcannot rise
higher
thanitssource;
I dealof
Character
atower
cannotbebroaderthanitsfoundation.
inI slam
Themeasureof themoral statureof Moham-
medistheideal inI slam. Hisconductisthe
standardof character. Weneednot besur-
prised,
therefore, thattheethical standardisso
low.
Raymund
Lull, thefirst
missionary
to
Moslems, usedtoshowinhisbold
preaching
that Mohammedhadnoneof thesevencardi-
nal virtuesandwas
guilty
of theseven
deadly
sins; hedoubtlesswenttoofar. But it would
not bedifficult toshowthat
pride,
lust,
envy,
and
anger
were
prominent
traitsinthe
prophet's
character. Toreadthe
pages
of Muir, orKoelle
or
Sprenger
is
convincing.
Proof The
following
instances, takenfromKoelle's
MohammedandMohammedan'ism1, aresufficient
proof:
Mohammed's
"Thefirst tofall asvictimsof Mohammed's
Treachery
individuals
"
vengeance
weresome of the
Jewish
persuasion
whohadmadethemselvesobnoxious
aboveothers
byattacking
himinverse. Heman-
aged
to
produce
an
impressionamongst
the
peo-
ple
that hewouldliketoberidof them. The
hintwas
readily
taken
upbypersons
anxiousto
ingratiate
themselvesinthe
prophet's
favor. The
1
P
169
Social andMoral Evils
13
gifted
woman,
Asina, andthe
hoarypoet,
Abu
Afak,
werebothmurderedintheir
sleep:
the
former
while
slumbering
onherbed, withan
infant
inherarms; thelatterwhilst
lying,
for
coolness'
sake, inan
open
veranda. Noone
dared
tomolest theassassinof eitherof these
victims;forit wasnosecret that thefoul deeds
hadbeen
approvedby
the
prophet,
andthat he
hadtreatedthe
perpetrators
withmarked
favor."
Anotherinstanceisasfollows: "Oneof their
His
Vindictiveness
moreinfluential RabbiswasKabIbnAshraf,
whohadlooked
favorablyupon
Mohammed,
till he
changed
theKiblafrom
Jerusalem
to
Mecca. Thenhebecamehisdecided
opponent,
attacking
himandhis
religion
inverse, and
workingagainst
himinvarious
ways.
Hewas
first tofall asavictimtoMohammed'svindic
tiveness. The
prophet despatched
fourmen,
amongst
themKab's ownfoster-brother, to
assassinatehim,andsanctionedbeforehand
any
lie or
stratagem
which
theymight
seefit to
employ,
soastolurehimaside. It wasdark
when
they
arrivedat hishouse, andhewasal
ready
inbed;but
theycunninglyprevailedupon
himtocomeout tothem, andwhen
they
had
himaloneinthedark
theyfoully
murderedhim.
Mohammedremained
up
toawait theirreturn;
andwhen
they
showedhimKab'shead,hecorn-
114
TheMoslemWorld
mendedtheirdeed, and
praised
Allah. But on
the
followingmorning,
whentheassassination
hadbecome
generally
known, the
Jews,
asIbn
Ishakinformsus, werestruckwithterror, and
noneofthem
regarded
hislifesafe
anylonger."
t
Lying Andtotakeanother
example,
what didMo
Dignified
hammedteach
regarding
truthfulness? There
aretwoauthenticated
sayings
of his
given
in
thetraditionsonthe
subject
of
lying:
"When
aservant of Godtellsalie, his
guardianangels
move
away
tothedistanceof amilebecauseof
thebadnessof itssmell." That seemsachar
acteristicdenunciation; but theother
saying
contradictsit:
"Verily
alieisallowableinthree
cases-towomen, toreconcilefriends, andin
war." Theassassinationsalsoof his
political
and
religiousopponents, frequently
directedas
they
wereinall theircruel and
perfidious
details
by
Mohammedhimself, leavesadarkandindelible
blot
upon
hischaracter. Withsucha
prophet
it isnowonderthat
among
hisfollowersand
imitators
"truth-telling
isoneof thelost arts,"
andthat
perjury
istoocommontobenoticed.
SinceMohammed
gathered
ideasandstories
fromthe
Jews
of Medinaand
palmed
themoff
asanewrevelationfromGod, it isnowonder
that Arabianliteratureteemswithall sortsof
plagiarisms,
orthat oneof the
early
authorities
' Ibid., p. 179.
Social andMoral Evils
115
of Islam
laiddownthecanonthatitis
justifiable
to
liein
praise
of the
prophet.
In
regard
tothe
Mohammedans
of Persia, Dr. St. Clair Tisdall
says:
"Lying
hasbeenelevatedtothe
dignity
of afineart,
owing
tothedoctrineof Kitman
ud-d'in,
or
religiousdeception,
whichisheld
by
theShiah
religiouscommunity."
Mohammedwas
apparently
confusedastothe
numberandcharacter of thecommandments
given
Moses. "A
Jew
cametothe
prophet
and
askedhimabout theninewonderswhich
ap
pearedby
thehandof Moses. The
prophet
said: "Donotassociate
anything
withGod, do
not steal, donot commit
adultery,
donot kill,
donot takeaninnocent beforethe"
king
tobe
killed, donot
practise. magic,
donot takein
terest, donot accuseaninnocent womanof
adultery,
donotrun
away
inbattle, and
espe
cially
for
you,
0
Jews,
donot workonthe
Sabbath."
Thelaxandimmoral
interpretationby
Mos
lem
theologians
of theThird, Sixth, Seventh,
Eighth,
andNinthcommandmentsof thedeca
logue
are
very
evident. Butthat
interpretation
is
basedontheKoranitself, whichisfull of the
vainuseof God'snameandneedless oaths,
which
permits
murderin
jahad
or
religious
war,
whichallows
polygamy,
divorce, andthe
capture
of
slaves.

Islamandthe
Decalogue
LaxInter
pretation
of
Command.
ments
116
TheMoslemWorld
Polygamy
TherearecertainevilswhichtheMoslem
Divorce, and
Slavery religion
allowsof whichit isalso
necessary
to
write.
They
exist not in
spite
of Islam, but
becauseof Islamandbecauseof the
teaching
of itsSacredBook. Thesesocial evilsareso
closely
intertwinedwiththewhole
system
that
they
canneverbe
wholly
abandonedwithout
doing
violencetothe
teaching
of theKoranand
the
example
of Mohammed. InMoslembooks
of
theology, jurisprudence,
andethicsthereare
longchapters
oneachof these
subjects.
Nor
cantherebetheleast doubt that
polygamy
and
slavery
havehadatremendous
power
inthe
spread
and
grasp
of Islam. It isthe
testimony
of
history
that theslave-tradersof Zanzibar
werealsothemissionariesof Islam, inAfrica;
andthelast census
report
of
Bengal
statesthat
theincreaseof theMohammedan
population
thereisdue, nottoconversionsfromHinduism,
butto
polygamy
and
concubinage
as
open
doors
intoa
higher
castefor
submerged
Hinduwoman
hood. Theloosemoral codeof Islamhasever
beenanattractiontothe
pagan
tribesof Africa
andAsiaover
against
thedemandsof the
gospel
andthelawof Christ.
Morally,
Islamisan
easy-goingreligion.
Legal Status
It is
impossible
to
give
hereeveninoutline,
ofWomen
thetruecharacter, extent, andeffect of these
three
"religious
institutions" of Islam. AMosu
Social andMoral Evils
117
1cm
wholives
up
tohis
privileges
andwho
follows
the
example
of "thesaints"inhiscalen
dar
canhavefour wivesand
any
numberof
slave-concubines;
candivorceat his
pleasure;
he
can
remarry
hisdivorcedwives
by
a
special
though
abominable
arrangement;
and, inaddi.
tiontoall this, if he
belong
totheShiahsect he
cancontract
marriages
for
pleasure (Metaa'),
whichare
temporary.
"The
verychapter
in
theMohammedanBiblewhichdealswiththe
legal
status of, woman,"
says
Mr. Robert E.
Speer,
"andwhich
provides
that
every
Mo
hammedan
may
havefour
legal
wives and
as
many
concubinesorslave
girls
ashis
right
handcanhold,
goes by
the title inthe
Koranitself of 'TheCow"'; andin
Turkey
thewordcowis
actuallyapplied
towomen
by
theMoslems.
The
degrading
views heldas
regards
the
Marriage
a
Kindof
whole
marriage
relationare summed
upby
Slavery
Ghazzali whenhe
says: "Marriage
isakindof
slavery,
forthewifebecomestheslave
(rakeek)
of
herhusband, andit is her
dutyabsolutely
to
obey
himin
everything
he
requires
of her
except
inwhatis
contrary
tothelawsof Islam."
Wife-beating
is allowed
by
theKoran, andthe
methodandlimitationsare
explainedby
the
lawsof
religion.
It is
very
commoninArabia
andPersia.
118 TheMoslemWorld
TheSlave.
Arabia, thecradleof Islam, isstill a center
trade
of theslave-trade, and,
according
totheKoran,
slavery
andtheslave-tradearedivineinstitu
tions. SomeMoslem
apologists
of the
present
day
contendthat Mohammedlooked
upon
the
customas
temporary
initsnature; but
slavery
issointerwovenwiththelawsof
marriage,
of
sale, of inheritance, andwiththewholesocial
fabric, that itsabolitionstrikesat thefounda
tionsof their
legal
code. WheneverandWher
everMoslemrulershave
agreed
totheabolition
or
suppiiession
of theslave-trade
they
haveacted
contrary
tothe
privileges
of their
religion
in
consenting
to
obey
thelawsof
humanity.
From
theKoran' welearnthat all maleandfemale
slavestakenas
plunder
inwararethelawful
property
of themaster, that themasterhas
power
totaketohimself
any
femaleslave,
eithermarriedor
single,
ashischattel; that the
position
of aslaveisas
helpless
asthat of the
stoneidolsof oldArabia; andthat, whileaman
candoashe
pleases
withhis
property,
slaves
shouldbetreated
kindly
and
granted
freedom
whenableto
purchase
it. Slave-trafficisnot
only
allowed, but
legislated
for
by
Moham
medanlawandmadesacred
by
the
example
of
the
prophet.
InMoslembooksof lawthesame
rules
apply
tothesaleof animalsandslaves.
1
Suras
28:40: 23:49; 16:77; 30:27; 24:33, etc.
Social andMoral Evils
119
In
1898
thelate
J.
TheodoreBent wrote
respecting
theslave-tradeintheRedSea: "The
west coast of theRedSeais in
portions
still
much
given
to
slave-trading.
FromSuezdown
toRasBenasthecoast is
pretty
well
protected
bygovernment
boats, whichcruiseabout and
seizedhows
suspected
of trafficinhumanflesh,
but southof this, until theareaof Suakimis
reached,
slave-trading
is still
actively
carried
on. The
transport
is doneindhowsfromthe
Arabiancoast, whichcomeover tothecoral
reefs of thewesternside
ostensibly
for
pearl
fishing.
At certainseasonsof the
year
slave
tradersincaravanscomedownfromthedervish
territory
intheNile
valley,
andthe
petty
Be
douinsheiksontheRedSealittoral conniveat
andassist theminthework."
Dr.
Hurgronje,
theDutchtraveler, describes
the
public
slavemarket at Meccainfull
swing
everydayduring
hisvisit. It islocatednear
the
holymosque,
and
open
to
everybody.
Al
though
hehimself
apologizes
for thetraffic,
andcallsthe
antislavery
crusadeaswindle, he
yet
confessestoall thehorribledetails.
The
explorer,
CharlesM.
Doughty,
who
spent
years
intheinteriorof Arabia, wrote:
"Jiddah
is the
staple
townof African
slavery
for the
Turkish
empire; Jiddah,
whereareFrankish
consuls. But
you
shall findtheseworthies,

Slave-trade
inthe
RedSea
Slave-market
inMecca
Thousandsof
Slavesin
Jiddah
120 TheMoslemWorld
inthe
pallid
solitudeof their
palaces, affecting
(great
heaven!) the
simplicity
of new-born
babes;
they
will tell
youthey
arenot awareof
it!. . . But I
sayagain
in
youringenuous
ears,
Jiddah
isthe
staple
townof theTurkish
slavery,
orall theMoslemsareliars.... I toldthemwe
hada
treaty
withtheSultanto
suppress
slav
ery. "Dog,"
criesthe. fellow, "thouliar-are
therenot thousandsof slavesin
Jiddah
that
everyday
are
bought
andsold? Wherefore,
thou
dog,
be
they
not all madefreeif thou
sayest
sooth?"
ASlave
Hereisasketchof theslave-marketatMecca,
market
withinastone'sthrowof "thehouseof God,"
at thecenterof theMoslemworld: "Gothere
andseefor
yourself
theconditionof thehuman
chattels
youpurchase.
Youwill findthem,
thankstothe
vigilance
of Britishcruisers, less
numerousand
consequently
more
expensive
than
they
wereinformer
years;
butthere
they
are,
flungpell-mell
inthe
opensquare
. .. . The
dealer,
standingby,
criedout: 'Comeand
buy;
thefirst-fruitsof theseason, delicate, fresh, and
green;
comeand
buy, strong
anduseful, faith
ful andhonest. Comeand
buy.'
The
day
of
sacrificewas
past
andthericher
pilgrims
in
their
brightest
robes
gathered
around. One
among
them
singled
outthe
girl. They
entered
abooth
together.
Themotherwasleft behind.
Social andMoral Evils 121
Soon
afterthe
girl
cameback. Andthedealer,
whenthe
bargain
wasover, saidtothe
pur.
chaser:
'I sell
you
this
property
of mine, the
female
slave, Narcissus, for thesumof
forty
pounds.'
Thusthe
bargain
wasclinched.
Menslavescouldbe
bought
forsums
varying
fromfifteen
pounds
to
fortypounds.
Thechil
dreninarmsweresoldwiththeirmothers, an
act of
mercy;
but thosethat couldfeedthem
selveshadtotaketheir chance. Moreoften
thannot
they
were
separated
fromtheirmothers,
which
gave
risetosceneswhich
many
a
sym..
patheticpilgrim
would
willinglyforget
if he
could."
The
illiteracy
of the MohammedanworldIlliteracy
to-day
is as
surprising
asit is
appalling.
One
wouldthinkthat a
religion
whichalmost wor
ships
itsSacredBook, andwhichwasoncemis
tress of science andliterature, wouldinits
onward
sweep
have
enlightened
thenations.
But factsarestubborn
things.
Careful inves
tigations
showthat
seventy-five
toonehundred
per
cent. of theMoslemsinAfricaareunable
toreadorwrite. In
Tripoli ninetyper
cent. are
illiterate; in
Egypt, eighty-eight per
cent.;
in
Algeria,
over
ninetyper
cent. In
Turkey
con
ditionshave
greatlyimproved
and
illiteracy
is
1
Hadj i Khan
,
Withth
PilgrimstoMecca: TheGreat
Pilgrimage
ofA.H.
1319C1902), 306308.
122 TheMoslemWorld
not above
fortyper
cent.,
whileof womenj j
estimatedasunder
sixtyper
cent. InArabia
therehasbeenscant intellectual
progress
since
thetimeof Mohammed. TheBedouinsare
nearly
all illiterate, andin
spite
of the
attempt
of Turkishofficialsto
open
schools, thereis
littlethatdeservesthenameof education, even
inthe
large
towns. Persianowhasaconstitu
tion, butithasnonational
system
of education,
and
ninetyper
cent. of the
population
areilliter
ate. InBaluchistan,
according
totheBritish
census,
only117per
i,ooo
of theMohammedan
menand
only23per
i
,oooamong
thewomen
canread. Butthemost
surprising,
andatthe
sametimethemost accuratestatisticsof
illiteracy
arethoseof India.
According
tothe
last census, thetotal of illiterates
among
the
62,458,077
Mohammedansof Indiaistheenor
mous
figure
of
59,674,499,
orabout
96per
cent.
Such
wide-spreadilliteracy
inall lands, andes
peciallyprevalentamong
Moslemwomen, results
in
every
sortof
superstition
inthehome-lifeand
among
thelowerandmiddleclasses. Even
among
theleadersof educationmodernscience
is
despised
orfeared, and
everything
turns, on
thePtolemaic
system,
roundthelittleworldof
theKoran.
Jinn
areexorcised; witchesandthe
evil-eye
avoided
by
amuletsandtalismans;
alchemy
and
astrology
are
diligently
studied;
Social andMoral Evils
123
and
all sorts
of
quackery
and
bigotry
flourishin
the
soil of
ignorance.
The
system
of educationat Meccais
typical
of that inall Moslemlandsnot
yet
influenced
by
Westerncivilizationand
governments.
The
youth
learntoreadtheKoran, not to
under
stand
its
meaning,
but todroneit out
profes
sionally
at funeralsandfeasts, so
manychap
ters for so
many
shekels. Modernscienceor
history
is not evenmentioned, muchless
taught,
inthe
high
schoolsof Mecca. Grammar,
prosody,
Arabian
history
andthefirst elements
of arithmetic, but
chiefly
theKorancommen
tariesandtraditions, formthecurriculumof the
Mohammedan
college.
Themethodof
teaching
intheschoolsof Mecca, whichcanbetakenas
an
example
of thebest that Arabiaaffords, is
asfollows:
Thechildof intellectual
promise
isfirst
taught
the
alphabet
fromasmall woodenboardon
whichtheletters arewritten
by
theteacher;
slatesareunknown. Thenhelearnsthe
Abjad
or
numerical valueof eachletter-auseless
proceeding
at
present,
astheArabicnotation,
originally
fromIndia, is
everywhere
inuse.
Afterthishelearnstowritedownthe
ninety
ninenamesof Allahandtoreadthefirst
chap
terof theKoran; thenheattacksthelast two
chapters,
because
they
areshort. Theteacher

System
of
Education
Methodand
Contentof
Education
124
TheMoslemWorld
next
urges
him
through
thebook,
making
the
pupil
readatthe
top
of hisvoice. The
greatest
strictnessisobservedasto
pronunciation
and
pauses,
but
nothing
whateverissaidto
explain
the
meaning
of thewords.
Having
thusfin-
ishedtheKoran, that is, readit
through
once,
the
pupil
takes
up
theelementsof
grammar.
Thenfollowtheliberal sciences,
logic,
arith-
metic, some
algebra,
rhetoricandversification,
jurisprudence,
scholastic
theology, exegesis
of
theKoran, andtheMoslemtraditions.
TheSocial
A
system
forever
handicapped
in
any
effort
Bankruptcy
ofIslam
towardsocial
progressby
theincubusof such
gigantic
social evilsand
general ignorance
could
not
escape
social
bankruptcy.
Verdict of
It hasoftenbeenassertedthat Islamisthe
theBedouins
"
properreligion
forArabia. Themiserable, half-
starved,
ignorant
but
canny
Bedouinsnow
say:
"Mohammed's
religion
canneverhavebeenin-
tendedfor us; it demandsablution, but we
havenowater;
fasting,
but we
always
fast;
almsgiving,
butwehaveno
money; pilgrimage,
but Allahis
everywhere."
Failureof
Islamhashadafairtrial inother than
Islam
desert lands. For fivehundred
years
it
hasbeen
supreme
in
Turkey,
thefairest
andrichest
portion
of theOldWorld. And
whatistheresult? TheMohammedan
popu-
lationhasdecreased; the
treasury
is
bankrupt;
Social andMoral Evils
125
the
progress
is blocked; "insteadof
wealth,
universal poverty;
insteadof comeliness,
rags;
instead
of commerce,
beggary-a
failure
greater
and
moreabsolutethan
history
can
elsewhere
present."
In
regard
towhat Islamhasdone
andcandoinAfrica, therecent
testimony
of
Canon
Robinsonisconclusive.
Writing
of Mo
hammedanism
inthecentral Sudan, he
says:
"Moreover, if it betrue, asit
probably
isto
someextent, that Mohammedanismhas
helped
forwardtheHausasinthe
path
of civilization,
theassistancerenderedhere, asin
every
other
countrysubject
toMohammedanrule, is
by
no
meansanunmixed
good.
Mohammedan
prog
ressis
progressup
an
impasse;
it enablescon
vertstoadvanceacertaindistance,
only
to
checktheirfurther
progressby
an
impassable
wall of blind
prejudice
and
ignorance."
Thereisa
brighter
sidetothisdark
picture
of
the
present
social conditionsintheMoham
medanworld. The
day-dawn
of anintellectual
awakening
hascomein
Syria, Egypt,
India,
Algeria,
Persia, andother lands. Thoserela
tively
fewMoslemswhoreceivedaliberal edu
cationin
government
or missionschools, or
whobecameenamoredwithWesternciviliza
tion, haverevolted
against
theoldIslam. This
clashof modernlife and
thought
withmedic
valism
gave
birthtothenewIslam.
Though

Progressup
an
Impasse
The
Intellectual
Awakening
126 TheMoslemWorld
called
by
different namesinIndia, theLevant,
and
Egypt,
thecauseandeffect of themovement
arethesame. The
leadership
andinitiative
inIndia
belong
toSir
Saiyad
AhmedKhanof
Aligarh.
Aftera
period
of
government
service
andavisit to
England
in
1870,
he
beganby
editing
a
journal
calledThe
Reformof
Morals.
In
1878
hestartedan
Anglo-Mohammedan
College
at
Aligarh,
whichhassince,
through
gifts
of educatedMoslemsand
government
as
sistance, becometheMohammedan
University
for all India. In1886he
began
anannual
educational conferencefor theMohammedans
of India. Sir
Saiyad
Ahmedalsowroteacom
mentary
ontheBible, whichhasdoubtless
helped
to
bring
someeducatedMoslemstoa
more
intelligent
viewof thereal characterand
integrity
of theChristian
Scriptures.
But the
attempt
torationalizeIslamand
give
it new
life,
by
abroad
interpretation
of its
theology,
hasfailed.
Competent
observersinIndiastate
that "themovement has
practicallylapsed
into
asort of social and
political
reform,"andthat
"just
at
present
thereisamarkedinclination,
even
among
educatedMoslems,
mainly
todrift
backtotheoldschool of
thought."
Thein
stitutionat
Aligarh,
however, nowcontains
340
studentsinthe
collegedepartment
and
364
in
the
preparatory
school. But thetoneof the
Social andMoral Evils
127
college
is
agnostic
rather thanMoslemand
secular
rather than
religious.
This was
the
testimonygiven
me
by
thetwo
resident
pro
fessors
of Moslem
theology
whenI visitedthe
college
in
1902,
andwasalso
my
own
impression
after
meeting
thestudents.
In.
Egypt
alsothereisanintellectual awaken
ing.
Thelate liberal-mindedmufti at Cairo
attempted
toreformIslamand
deprecated
the
ignorance
and
bigotry
of his
coreligionists.
He
triedto
bring
orderoutof chaosintheAl Azhar
University,
bothinitsmaterial affairsandits
methodof instruction. A
great impetus
was
given
toeducation
through
hisefforts. Book
andtract societieswerestarted. Heevenat
tempted
toreformtheMoslemcourtsof law,
whichare
notoriouslycorrupt.
But whether
themeasuresheinitiatedwill befruitful of
per
manentresult is
very
doubtful.
Yetthe
printing-press
is
carrying
thesecalls
forreformand
preaching
anewIslamwherever
Moslem
journals
of this
type
findreaders. In
Persianewdailiesare
springing
intoexistence
and
preachingpolitical
andsocial reform. One
of themisentitledThe
Trumpet of
Gabriel and
hasonits
title-page
a
picture
of deadPersians
awakening
tothe
trumpet
blast of an
angel
withthe
superscription, "Liberty, Equality,
and
Fraternity."

Intellectual
Awakening
in
Egypt
Notable
Reforms
128 TheMoslemWorld
Contact with
WhereverMoslemscomeintotouchwiththe
Modern
Thought
non-Moslemworldof theWest andits
politics
andcommerce, or
through
Christianmissions,
therefollowstheinevitableconflict between
theoldandthenewinthemindsof thosewho
daretothinkforthemselves. Dr. WilliamA.
Shedd
points
out that Islam
to-day
must meet
anewcrisisinits
history.
"It is
coming
into
closecontact withmodern
thought
andciv
ilization. It must meet these
changed
condi
tionsif it istolive, andthe
question
arises
whetherit candothisornot."
ACthIB
That theMohammedansthemselvesarecone
sciousof thiscrisisintheir
religious
outlookis
evident fromthe
press
andthe
platform
wher
everthesetwo
blessings
of aChristianciviliza
tionobtainintheMohammedanworld. The
following
words,
spokenbyMustapha
Pasha
Kamil of
Egypt,
theleaderof the
anti-English
movement ontheNile, beforethePan-Islamic
Society,
of London,in
July, 1906,
areanillustra
tion: "Tell the
people
wholivethelifeof ani
malsandareledlikedumbdrivencattle, Awake!
andrealizethetrue
significance
of life. Fill
theearthandadornit withresultsof
your
labors. Gentlemen,
you
alonecanmakethem
understandthefull
meaning
of life;
nay, you
alonecan
give
themlife. Hasten, therefore,
with
your
medicine. 0
physicians,
the
pa
Social andMoral Evils
129
tient
is ina critical state, and
delayspells
death.
"The
malady
of theMoslemnationsistwofold.
ATwofold
One
I have
already
alludedto, theotheristhe
Malady
absurd
belief of millionsof
people
that devo
tiontoIslamis
incompatible
with
progress
and
enlightenment. Theysay
that our deathis
more
profitable
tomankindthanourlife. The
contemplation
of this fills theheart of
every
educatedMoslemand
every
culturedOriental
withsorrow. It isnouse
referring
themtothe
gloriouspages
of our
past history.
It isnouse
pointing
out tothemthat weowe
allegiance
toaliberal faith, which
enjoinsupon
usthe
searchof
knowledge
fromthe cradle tothe
grave.
Ourdeclineandfall and
present degra
dationis
livingproof contradictingyour
asser
tion. Youmust
prove
it
by
deedsandnot
by
merewords. Themarchof eventsandvicissi
tudesintheworldhas
proved
that the
strong
current of
scienceand
knowledge
alonecan
give
uslifeand
sovereignpower.
Thosewhomarch
withthecurrent arriveat theharborof salva
tion. Thosewho
goagainst
it aredoomed."
Will it he
possible
"tomarchwiththecur-
Wherewill
. . Moslemsfind
rent andcontinuetoholdthe
teaching
of the
Peace?
KoranandtheTraditions? The
present
con
ditionof theMohammedanworldanswersthat
question
emphatically
inthe
negative.
And
130
TheMoslemWorld
will
"marching
withthecurrentof scienceand
knowledge"
afterall ever
give
the
weary,
sinful,
sorrowing
millionsof Islam
spiritual peace
or
liftMohammedanwomanhoodandmanhoodout
of their
degradation
intothe
glorious
inheritance
of thesonsof God?
QUESTIONS
ONCHAPTERV
AIM: ToESTIMATETHESOCIALWEAKNESSESOFISLAM
i Givesomeof the
principal
social
teachings
of
Christ.
2. Mentionsomeof his
teachingsby
wordand
example
in
regard
towomen.
3.
Onwhatideasastotherelationof eachindi
vidual toGodwerehis
teachings
based?
4.
Namethe
principal things
that
you
thinkChris
tian
society
owestohis
example.
5. Compare
what
you
knowof thesocial
teaching
and
example
of Mohammedwiththatof Christ.
6.
Compare
his
teaching
and
example
in
regard
to
womenwiththat of Christ.
7.
Whathas
Christianitygained
fromthefreedom
it has
given
towoman?
8. Whatwouldbetheeffect
uponsociety
of exalt
ing
theideaof the
power
of Godabovethat of
hislove?
Social andMoral Evils
131
g.
What has beenthe effect
upon
the Moslem
world
of thefact that
Mohammedbecamea
political legislator
during
hislife?
xo. Whatis therelativefitness of his social teach-
ings
forthe
7thcentury
andthe20th?
ii. Whatdo
you
considertobethe
principal
evils
of
polygamy?
12. What
things
do
you
thinkwewouldmostmiss
in
being broughtup
asachildina
polygamous
Oriental household?
13.
Whatarethe
practical
evils of looselawsre
garding
divorce?
14.
What ideas as to
marriage
does
easy
divorce
encourage?
15. Why
is
slaveryopposed
tothe
spirit
of Chris
tianity?
16. Inwhat
way
does
slavery
tendtolower the
slave?
17.
Inwhat
ways,
themaster?
18. Whatis thereinthe
spirit
of
Christianity
that
has welcomededucation?
19.
Whatwouldit mean
socially
for this
country
if Islamshouldobtaincontrol?
20. Whatwouldit meanfor othernationsif Islam
becamethedominant
power
intheworld?
21.
Howfardo
you
thinkeducational reformwould
be
possible
inIslam?
22. Howfarwouldsocial reformbe
possible?
23.
Can
yousuggest anywayby
whichIslamcan
escape
fromthesocial
teachings
of Mohammed?
132
TheMoslemWorld
24.
WhathastheMoslemworldto
gainsociallyby
exchanging
Mohammedfor Christ?
25.
Inviewof thisandof theextentof theMoslem
world, howwould
you
rankit in
importance
among
theissuesthatfacetheChristianChurch
to-day?
REFERENCESFORADVANCEDSTUDY
CHAPTERV
I.
Polygamy.
AmeerAu:TheLifeand
Teachings
of Mohammed,
XIII.
Dwight: Constantinople
andIts Problems, 62,
101,
[04.
Hughes:
A
Dictionary
of Islam,
462-464.
VanSommerandZwemer: OurMoslemSisters,
79,
8o,
193.
Zwemer: TheMohammedanWorldof
To-Day,
25, 48, 57,
82.
II. Education.
Hughes:
A
Dictionary
of Islam, io6-io8
Watson:
Egypt
andtheChristianCrusade,
47, 48.
Wherry:
Islamand
Christianity
intheFarEast,
44, 98,
102,
109.
Zwemer: TheMohammedanWorldof
To-Day,
3148, 57, 87, 109, 117, 137, 284.
III.
Slavery.
AmeerAu:TheLifeand
Teachings
of Mohammed,
XIV.
Social andMoral Evils

'33
Blyden:
Christianity,
Islam,
andthe
NegroRace.
Hughes:
A
Dictionary
of Islam,
596-600.
Koelle: MohammedandMohammedanism, 82,
138,
177, 178,
o8-1o.
Zwemer:
TheMohammedanWorldof
To-Day,
57, 138, 283.
Missionary
Reviewof the World,
June, 1899,
423-429.
IV.
Reforms.
Wherry:
Islamand
Christianity
intheFar East,
174, 175,
186, 188.
Zwemer: TheMohammedanWorldof
To-Day,
33,
68,
147.