THE CONGRESS OF WOMEN.
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prise that the religion of the Arabs was a mongrel one, sadly straying from the precepts of Abraham, their great ancestor. They worshiped in their sacred city, Mecca, surrounded by scores of revolting idols, a holy black stone called the “Kaaba,” believed to be a relic of a temple built by Abraham; this was a shrine for devout pilgrims. But the hour was ripe for beneficent change. A mighty spirit appeared who could unite these warring tribes into a powerful nation; his teachings should inspire them into purer life; his daring enthusiasm should endue them with courage to overturn the nations of the earth.
In Mecca, 570 A. D., was born a posthumous child, who was reared in the desert until five years old, when the frequent occurrence of epileptic attacks (always regarded with superstitious fears among the Arabs) determined his return to his mother. I mention this fact because many have ascribed to this nervous disease the religious exaltations and so-called visions of Mohammed.
His youth and early manhood passed uneventfully. For forty years he was a faithful worshiper of the gods of his fathers, yet growing yearly more abstracted, dejected, frequently retiring to pass months in solitary fasting and prayer. Whilst in wretched suspense, meditating self-murder, the Divine call was heard. Through Gabriel, dazzling with supreme glory, the heavenly message came. “ Oh, Mohammed, of a truth thou art the prophet of God; arise, preach, and magnify the Lord.” This is the real starting-point of Islam. It was the call of the supreme God to forsake idolatry and assume the office of prophet.
I must pass over the long years of weary effort to win disciples. Four years draw but forty around him. During the yearly pilgrimage season he preached constantly; his theme—“ There is no God but God, and Mohammed is his prophet.” He exorted to prayer, almsgiving and fasting, and declared of future judgments to come. When seventy disciples had been won persecutions began with the usual results. Converts multiplied rapidly, and the “ Hegira,” or flight from Mecca, followed.
Mohammed’s penetrating mind realized well human weakness. To keep his followers firm in their purer religious faith he formulated a creed and gave positive precepts for the actions of every day. So was Moses instructed of God to train the Jews. Through minute practical details they were transformed from a rabble of superstitious slaves into brave, God-fearing, free men. So likewise the founders of great orders in the Christian church, Ignatius Loyala, Dominic, Francis of Assisi, etc., each instituted a minute code of rules for the practical life of their followers.
The principles of Islam’s faith are essentially orthodox—“ Faith and Works.” Faith is defined as “ confession with the mouth and belief in the heart.” “ There is no God but God, and Mohammed is his prophet.” Their creed was brief: “I believe in God, angels, books, prophets, the day of judgment, the predestination of evil and the resurrection of the dead.”
The devotion of the Mohammedan to the Koran is intense, its authority is absolute in science,'ethics and religion. Lest by chance they shall touch its sacred pages unwashed they inscribe upon its cover: “ Let none touch it, but they who are clean.” They guard it with care and such respect, never holding it below their girdles. They carry the precious book with them to war, inscribe its precepts upon their floating banners, on the walls of their homes and tombs of their loved ones, in gold and precious jewels.
Let me quote this little gem, fr6m the Koran, often called the “ Lord’s prayer of the Moslem.”
“ In the name of God the compassionate compassioner. Praise is to God, the Lord of the worlds, the compassionate compassioner, the Sovereign of the day of judgment. Thee we do worship, and of Thee we do beg assistance. Direct us in the right way, in the way of those to whom Thou hast been gracious, on whom there is no wrath who go not astray.”
The moral motive of Islam is a solemn sense of implicit obedience and submission to the Divine Ruler—the very name Islam expresses “ resigned to the will of
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