Themoslemsunrise1935 Iss 3

7/29/2019 Themoslemsunrise1935 Iss 3

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5 6 E . C o n g r e s s S t . , S u i t e 1 3 0 7 . C h i c a g o , I !1 ., U . S . A m e r .

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T h e A h m a d i yy a M o ve m e n tT h e A h n m d i y y a M o v e m e n t ~vas f g un d e d b y H a z r a t A h m a d , th eP r o m i s e d M e s s i ah a n d M a h d i a n d t h e e x p e c te d M e s s e n g e r o f all n a t i o n s , I r t t h e s p i r i t m i d p o w e r o f a ll th e e a r l i e r p r o p h e t s , h e c a m e

t o s e r v e a n d r e - i n t e r p r e t t h e fi na l a n d e t e r n a l t e a c h i n g l a i d d o w n b yG o d in t he H oly Q u r a n . T h e M o v e m e n t - t h e r e f o r e r e p re s e n ts t h eT r u e a n d . R e a l I s l a m - a n d g e ek s to u p l i f t h u m a n i t y a n d to e s ta bl is hp e a c e t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d . H a z r a t A h m a d d ie d '" in 1908, a n d th ep r e s e n t H e a d o f t h e . M o v e m e n t i s h i s s e co n d s u c ce s so r , H a z r a t M i rz aB a s h i r tt d -l ) in M a h m u d A h m a d U n de r w h o se d ir e c ti o n s th e M o v e -m e n t I re s e s t a b l i s h e d M i s si o n s i n m a n y p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d , t h ef o l l o w i n g h e i n g t h e a d d r e s s e s o f s o m e o f t h e m :T H E I : O N D O N " r i t e A H M A D I ~ ' Y A -M O S Q U E , M O S L E M . M I S S I O N ,6 3 M / d r0 se R o a d . - 9 28 \ V . 7 t h S t r e e t ,S o u t h f i e l d s , C i n c i n n a t i . O . ,k o n d o n . . S : \ V . ! 8 , " : U . . S , , A m e r i c a .

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M O S L E M M I S S I O N ,2 1 6 S . E u c l i d A v e . ,D a y t o n , O h i o .U . S , A m e r i c aT H E A H M A D I Y Y A :S u i te 1 3 0 7 , M O S L E M M I S S I O N .C h i c a g o , ' I l l i f l o i s , - 5 31 1 . ~ V o o ( l l a n d A v e . .U . S . , A m e r i c a .

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i - C l e v e l a n d . O h i o .U . S ., A m e r i c a: T H E A H M A D I Y Y AM O V E M E N T .G o l d C o a s t . W e s t A f r i c a .

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5 37 H e n d f i e S t r e et . P e r th . W : A u s t r a l i a .D e t r 9 it , M i ch ig an . M A L A N A A B U L - A T A- U . ' S . . . . ~ nle ric a - [ U L L U N D A R I , .: M t . K a r m a d .T H E A H M A D I Y Y A H a i f a . P a l e s t i n e .M O S L E M M I S S I O N . M A U L V I R A H M A T2 0 0 8 \ V v l l e A v e n u e , A L I , ' P i t t s b u r g h , P a . . " C a r e o f I ~e v ed K a m p o e n g .U . S .. A m e r i c a D j a w a . P a d a n g . S . V g. C .- . . . . -


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F , u r V e r s e s f r o m t h e ! H 0 i y - Q u r a n . . . . . . ~ . : ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . ; . = . . ~ . . . . ' : 3T h e S a v i n g s o f t h e M a s t e r P r o p h e t M u h a n m a a d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4C a ll t o T r u t h . . . . . . . . . : . . : . . . . . . . . . . : . ; . . . . : - - - . . . . . : i , - - . i ~ - ~ - : : " 5I I a z r a t M i r z a G h u l a m : ~ l h m d d ( T h e P ~ ' o m i s e d

M e s s i a h . a m t M a h d i ) '~ ~: K t .v s t n M , r a l E v o l u t i o n . , . . + i . . - . . . . . . . : ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . 7

" l t a z r a t M i r z a B a s h i r - u d - D e e n l M a h m u d M h m a d -(lh'ad o f l i f t " , 4 h m a d i v v a M m , e n w n t . Q a d i a l l , I n d h t ) ~T , w m ' d I M a m . . . " ~ ' : . i : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 12 "

: S u f i M . R . B e n g a h , ~ ; ' ~M , , h a m m e d . t h e : D e s i r e d o f A l l N a t i . n s . . . . . . . ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6

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- J a m e s l V i l l h t m s M u l i a m m a d _ :\ l ' , , - +. , , , ( , , l e . : . i . . . . : . . . : . . . . . . . : . : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : : . . . . 2 8: \ 3 h ' e t i n g i n t h e A h m a d i v v a M o s q u e ~ i n . C h i C a g o , : . . . . : : . : : . . , . . - 2 9

' " D r . l t a r l a n T a r b e l l : . . . . . . . :P r e s s N o t i c e s : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : . . . . : . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2


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~ - . . . . . " " T r a n s l i t e r a t i o n . . . . . .A l la hU N o 0 r u s - S a m a w a t i w a l " A rd h . ( X X I V - 3 4 . ) : : L : . - , . i n n a l l a d l i e e t i a Q a l o 0 R a b i , u n a - l l a h U t l i u i h m a s t a q a m o . i a t a f i a z - -z a l u a l a i h u m u l M a i a i k a t u a l l a . t a k h a f o o X ~ a l a T a h Z a n o ~ y : w a ' a b s i a i r6 obil J a n n a t i l l a t e e K t i i i l tu m t o o - a d o o n N a l m u . A w i i a u ~ K u m f i l h a y a t i d -d u n i y a w a f i l A k h i r a h . ( X L I - 3 0 ) i . ' " ~ . : . "

- X V a n l i n a n n a s i m a n - y a s h r i n a f s a l a u . i b t i g h a - a n m a r a d h a t i l l a l iW h l l a h u R a - u f u m - l ) i l I b a d . ( I I - 2 0 3 ) " " - . - -M a n a m i l a . ~ a l i h a n m i n Z a k a r i n a w u n t h a w a h u a m u m i n u m f a l am i h i v a y a n n a l m h a v -a ta f i . t ~ t y v e b a ta n w a l a n a j z i y a w n a - h u m a j l ~ a h u m b i .a h s a l ii n m k n o o v a m h l 0 o n . . ( X . \: .[ ~ 9 7 ) ~ " ' ~ : " -

- i : i - . ; : " T r a n s l a t i o n ' " ; - . i . : i ' : : ~ ,L , . : . 2 . .. . G o d is**.tl~ l i g h t o f t h e l ~ e a~ - e n s a n d t h e e m

-i . i T l l o s e ~ : h 6 s a~ ; " G o d - i s o t t r ; L o t ' d " a n d ade~,C end u i )b n l t h e t n ' a n d . s a v , " F c m r v e n o t , l ie i: ' b e i o f g 0 " 0 d c h e e r t l m t x : oU ~ w il l lye m a d e h e i r sh e e n p r o n r i s e d , t o y o u ; : \ V e W i l l l lye G u a r d i a n s o v e r . y o u in t h is . w o r l d . -a n d in t h e n e x t . ( X L I - 3 0 1 ) " . : " " " "

- . A i l d o f . : m a n k i n d i s h e W h o S e l lS ( S ac r i f i C e s ) l a i n i s e l f s e e k i n g . t h ep le a s u ri ~ 0 f G o d . a l i d G o d i:s m e r c i f u l u n t 0 H i s s e r V a n f s . ( I ~ - 2 0 3 ) :- . W h o S O e v e r d o e s g o o d , ' m a l e o r f en ~ a le ;- iS t h e f t r u e lJ el ie v et - . \ r e r ~i h - - f i i m s h a l l - w e g i ~ e :h ,'ip p ~; a n d p u r e l i f e . -~ ~ N n d v e r i l y w e s l i a li g i v et l i e m r e w a r d f o r t h e : b e s t 0 f w h a t - t h e ~ d i d : ( X V . I - 9 7 ) " : ~


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4 T H E MO S L J E M S U N R IS E

JThe Sayings of the MasterP ro p h et M u h a m m a d

A b d u l l a h I b n U m a r r e l a t e s . h o w o n c e t h e H o l 3 ,P r o p h e tt o l d t h i s l i t t l e s t o r y : -T h r e e p e r so n s , ~ o n g a g o , w e r e j o u r n e y i n g t h r 0 t t g h thel a n d . T h e s e t h r e e s ta v e d f o r t h e n i g h t in a n i o u n t a i n ra vin e:I n t h e r n i g h t a h u g e s t~ m e r o l l e d o v e r t h e m o u t h 0 f t h e r~tvinea n d i m p r i s o n e d t'ia e t h r e e . T h e u n f o r t u n a t e m e n co n fe r r edo n w h a t w a s t o b e d o n e, u n ti l t h e y l a g r e e d t h a t i f th e5 ' p ra ye dto G o d , r e m i n d i n g I- I im o f t h q ir p a s t g o 0 d d e e d s , H e m ig h tr e l e a s e t h e m .

T h e n th 'e f ir st m a n h e g a n t h u s : " O r " "o d , m y f a t h e r a n dn ay m o t h e r a r e v e r y a g e d , a n d I l o v e t h e m s o m u c h t h a t I feedt h e m b e f o r e I f e ed m y c h i ld r e n . O n c e , c o m i n g h o m e W ith m yf lo c k a f t e r a j o h r n e y , I .f o tm d m y f a t h e r a n d : m o t h e r asleeI).I m i l k e d n ay a n i m a l s , a n d w i t h t h e m i l k b y n ay s i d e I keptv ig il b y n ay p a r e n t s ' h e d s i d e t i l l d a w n . T h e n m y p a r e n t s w okeu p a n d d r a n k g i - at ef u ll y .. E v e n a s I w a i t e d f o r t h e i r w a k i n gnay c h i l d r e n c l a m o u r e d r 0 u n d , . c r y i n g f o r f o o d , s o h u . n gr v wereth e)- . O G o d , i f I d i d t h i s t o W in T h y p l e a s u re , s u r e l y T h o uw i l t h e lp u s i n o u r d i s t r e s s . " ~

L o ! t h e s t o n e s l i d b a c k a f r a c t io n , n o t l e a v i n g . e n o u g hs p ac e , h o w e v e r , t h r o u g h w h i c h tO p a s s .T h e n t h e s e c o n d m a n . p r a y e d - "t h u s :- O G o d , . I h a d a co u sin a n d s h e w a s v e r y d e a r t o m e . O G o d , m y p a s s io n r u l e d m e,

a n d I w a n t e d t o s le ep w i t h h e r . S h e h e c a m e m o s t i n d ig n a n ta n d d i d n o t c o n s e n t . A f a m i n e C a m e U p 6 n O u r ~ :ountr3~ . a ndm y c o u s in c a m e t o m e f o r h ell) , a s s h e s t a r v e d . I re m i n d edh e r o f m y d es i r e , a n d t o l d h e r t h a t I w o u l d g i v e h e r a s u m o fm o n e y i f s h e w o u l d a g r e e to s le e p w i t h m e . T h e ? u nf or tu n atel a d y a g r e e d , H o w e v e r ; j u s t a s y ve : m a d e ready'~ s h e s aid.'O c o us in , f e a r G o d a n d d o n o t c o m m i t t h e u n l a w f i f l a c t . '~ V i t h t h a t . I s e t h e r f r e e a n d l e f t h e r . O G o d , i f I h a v e d on e


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t i " " ... ByH a z r a t M i r z a G h u l a m A h m a d- T h e P r o m i s e d M e s s i a h a n d M a h d i , .1 8 3 6 - 1 9 0 8 . . . ." T h c o n l y r e l i g i on W h i c h c an n o w r e d e e m .m a n k i n d a n dle ad . th e n l t o s a l v a t i o n is . I s l a m , a n d t h e l a s t d i v i n e W o r d b yw h ic h m a n c a n f in d G o d i s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e H 0 1 y Q u r a n , a n dthe l a s t - D i v i n e L a w - g i v c y i s M u h a m m a d ( p e a ce : a n d t h eb l es s in g s o f G o d b e u p o n : h i m !.~." T h e . L o r d o f H e a v e n a n d E a r th . h a s s e n t m e t o b r i n g itilt: w o r l d b a ck t o G o d a n d H is -w o . r d a n d H i s P r 0 p h e t , w h o m .th ey h a d f o r s a k e n , a n d t o p r e a c h H i s w o r d to t h e n a t io n s a n dt . l ea d th e m b a c k i n t o H i s l d n g d o m a n d tO b r i n g t h o s e th a thad b e c a m e s e p a r a t e d f r o m I I i n a : a n d to g i v e f a i th t o t h e f a i t h ,less, e y e s t o t h e b l i n d a n d e a r s 1~o t h e d e a f ; a n d tO h e a l t h o s e

w h ose b 0 die s, h a d b e e n c o r r u p t e d b y - l e p r o s y ; a n d t o r a i setl{e d e a d ; a n d t o a w a k e n t h o s e t h a t s l m n b e r ; a n d t o c o n c i li a teth ose t h a t a r e d i s a f f e c te d : a n d . t o r e f o r m t h o se t h a t a r e c o r -r u p t e d ; a n d t o r ~ i s e t h o s e th a t a r e f a l l e n ;. a n d t o l o o k a f t e rtho se , t h a t a r e h e l p le s s : a n d t O o p e n t h e g a t e s o f t h e k i n g d o m. o f h e a v e n u n t o t f i o s e t h a t a r e r e j e c t e d ." Y e m e n , w h a t e v e r v o n r r e l ig io n , t h e g a t e s 0 f G o d ' sth is t o s e e k T h y p l e a s u r e , w i i t T h d u n o t h e l p u s i n O u r d i s ,t r e ss ?"L O ! t h e s to n e g a v e w a y a l i t t l e m o r e , y e t t h e r e w a s n o t. en o u g h r o o m t h r o u g h w h i c h t o p a ss t o t h e o p ef i a i r .~. T h e n t h e t h i r d m a n : p r a y e d t h u s : " O G o d , I h a d a l a -boU rer a n d I p a id h i m : O n c e , h o w e v e r , h e w e n t w a y , w i t h -OUt w a g e s . "In t h e m e a n w h i l e I i n v e s t e d h i s w a g e s i n m a n yw ays. S o o n I g o t m u c h w e a l th , a n d b e c a m e e x c e e d i n g ! y p r o s -p ero us . : T h e n t h e l a b o u r e r r e t u r n e d a n d a s k e d f o r h i s w a g e s .I g a v e h i m it , a n d w i t h i t a l l t h e w e a l t h I h a d a c c u m u l a t e dh o n i i t . I - t e t h o u g h t ! j es te d , b u t .b ec am e a s s u r e d o f m ys e r io u s n e s s a n d t o o k i t a l l ' g r a t e f u l l v i 0 G o d , i : f I h a v e d o n eth is t o s e c u r e T h v p le a su .r e, w i l t. ; I 'h o u n o t h e l p u s i n o u r.h s t r e s s . . - "L o t t h e s t o n e ru m b l e d , a n d r o l l ed b ac k , a n d t h e t h r e em e n s t e p p e d o u t a n d w e n t on th e i r w a y . ( B u k h a r i )


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6 THE MOS LEM S UNRIS E

m e r c y a r e o p e n u n t o ; ,o u " b e l i e v e in t h e o n e G o d a n d ol)ev.M u h a n u n a d (o11 w h o n a be p e a c e a n d t h e b l e s s in g s o f ~ G o d ! ia n d t h e h e a v e n s h a l l s h o w e r i ts b l e s s i n g s u p o n y o u a n d thee a r t h s h al l b r i n g f o r t h i ts a b u n d a n c e ." Y e w h o c all v o u r s e l v e s M o s l e m s , t h i n k n o t t h a t y e sh allp le as e G o d b y y o u r n am e . G o d i s n o t p l ea s e d b y w o r d s butbY t h e r i g h t e o u s n e s s o f y ou r. h e a r t s , a n d b y v o u r a c t i o n s . P urifx-y o u r t h o u g h t s m ad w a t c h o v e r . y o u r ac t ions , f o r t h e s e - a r e t h et h in g s f o r w h i c h a - m a n is h i m o u r e d b y th e -L o r : tk S a y notu n t o y o u r s e l v e s : "~Ve a r e , t h e c h o s e n o f } he L o r d , H e w i ll n otp u n i s h u s, b u t w il l d e s t rq y o u r e n e m i e s . H e w i l l d e s t r o y you

b e f o r e H e w i l l d e . s t r ) y y o u r e n e m i e s a n t i c o n d e n i n y 0 u b e f o r eH e w i ll c o n d em n " t h e m f ro " v e k n e w H i s w i ll a n d t h e v k ne w :n o t. a n d y e w e r e i n t h e L ig f i t a n d k n e w t r u t h f ro m d ark ne ssb u t the)" b e i n g i n t h e d a r k k n e w n o t ." Y e M o sle fi~ s a n d S o ns o f M o s le m S ! . r e m o v e t h e h a r d -h e s s o f y o u r h e a r t s a n d a d o p t h u m i l i ty f o r H i s s a k e a n d d ra wn o t y o u r s W o r d s f o r th e f a i t h : f o r t h u s a r e y e n o t t h e electo f tlae L o r d l in t a r e c o n d e n m e d h r . H i m , f o r -v e d i s h o n o u r God

a n d H i s P r o p h e t a n d H i s B o o k a n d H i s F a i t h : to fu lf i l y ou ro w n s e l f i s h d e s i r e s a n d tO g a i n s p oi l f o r y o u r s e l v e s ; ~ in d tof e e d y o u r s e lv e s y o u c u t t h e t h r o a t s , o f t h e i r s : a n d ~ u dis-g r a c e t h e n a m e i-ff t h e L o r d a n d s e e k h o n o u r f o r. y o u rs elv e s." Tt/T n :k -y e t h a t t h e w o r d o f G o d S t a n d s i n n e e d o ~ rob-b e r y a n d m u r d e r to b e ju S t i f ie d a n d h o n o u r e d ? D o e s n o t event h e w o r d ' o f m a n : e x to r t d e se rv i~ d p ra i se f r o m t h e m o u t h s o f

m e n ? \ V h v t h e n m u s t y e k i l l : a n d p l m a d e r t o c ora l)e l m e n top r a i s e t h e 6 "o rd ~0 f G o d ? .-" Y e m e n , y e ..c a n no t f in d h a p p i n e s s i n g o o d s a n d m o n e y ;b u t h e t h at : l o o k s a f t e r t h e p o o r a n d t h e n e e d y w i ll f in d. h a l =-p i n es s , a n d h e t h a t s u c c o u r s t h e h e l p le s s w i l l b e h e l p e d b y th eL o r d ; a n d h e t h a t p r o t e c t s t h e ; w e ak W ill b e g u a r d e d i n h e a ve n ,s o t h a t ~ vh eia h e s le e p s G o d w i l l k e e p a w a k e f o r h i m , a ndw h e n h e i s - u n g a m r d e d G o d . w i l l w a t c h o v e r h i m : ~ n d w h e n -

h e is n o t a w ; i r e o f h i s e n e m y G o d w i ll f ig h t f o r h i m , f o r o uto f h i s l i m i t e d m e a n s .h e h e l p e d G o d ' s p o o r . c r e a tu r e s an ds a v e d t h e m f r o m d e s tr u c t io n . S h a l l t h e L o r d , th e n , b e m i s e r l yw i t h .h im a n d s h a l l h e s h u t a g a i l is t h i m H i s . un l im i t edt r e a s u r e s ? . . . . . ." A n d s p ea k n o t t h a t W h ic h is n o t t r u e , f o r u n t r u t h i s ap o is o n , a n d G o d ac c e p ts t h e r ig h te o u ,s a l o n e . B e h o n e s t a n d -

s h u n d i s h o n e s t y . .

.1


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T H E M o s L E M S U N R I S E 7

K eys- to M oral. E volut ion. . . . . ByH a z r a t M i rz a B a s h i r - u d - D e e n M a h rn u d A b r o a d_ . ' ~ - ( H e a d o f t h e A h m a d i y y a M o v e m e n t , Q a d i a n , I n d i a )

T h e f u n c t i o n o f r e l ig i o n is n o t m e r e l y t o p o i n t o u t g o o dand b a d m o i -a ! q u a l l t i e s , b u t ,a ls o: t o p r 0 v i d ~ - o r : d e v i s e m e a n sby t h e a id t)f w h i c h m e n m a y b e a b l e t o r e n o u n c e e v il a n dA~lopt g 0 o d m o r a l s , f o r w i t h o u t t h i s al l o u r e f f o r t s a r e v a i nand o u r r e s e a r c h p r o f it le s s. \~ re g i v e b e l o w s o m e o f t h e m e a n sa s p r e s c r i l ~ e d - b y i - I s l a m f o r n l o r a l i m p r o v e m e n t .

T h e f i r s t m e a n s o f m o r a l n n p r o v e m e n t f u r n i s h e d b yIs lam is t h r o u g h t h e m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f D i v i n e a t tr ib u t es , w i t h -out w h i c h t h e: a t t a i n m e n t o f m o r a l p e r f e c t i o n i s i m p o s s ib l e .i n e v e r y t h i n g m a ri s t a n d s i n n e e d o f d e m o n s t r a t io n , a n d c a neasi-lv l e a r n t h r o u g h d e m o n s t r a t i o n s w h a t h e c a n n o t : a c q u i rethrc~t'l~h b o o k s. I n t h e . a b s e n c e o f d e m o n s t r a t i o n a l l s c i e n c e sand a r t s w o u l d b e l os t t o t h e w o r l d . C a n a n y o n e , f o r i n -stance,- l e a r n c h e m i s t r y o r . e n g i n e e r i n g w i t h o u t ( h e h e lp o f: e x p e r i m e n ts a n d d e m o n s t ~ r a ti o n s ? - -

T h e s a m e i s t h e c as e w i t h m o r a l t r a in i n g s M a n c a n n o ta t t a i n t o m o r a l p e r f e c t i o n w i t h o u t t h e h e l p o f p e r f e c t m o d e l sand d e m o n s t r a t i o n s . I t is n e c e s s a r y , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t p e r f e c tm ode ls s h o u l d a p p e a r a g a i n a n d a g a i n i n th e w o r l d to d e m o n -s tra te t o m a n k i n d a l i fe o f - m 0 r a l p e r f e c t i o n . I t is a ls o n e c e s -sary th a t t h e s e m o d e l s s h o u l d t h e m s e l v e s b e m e n , f o r a b e i n gth at is n o t h m n a n C a n n ot S e rv e t h e p u r p o s e o~ a m o d e l f o rm e n- T h e c o n d u c t o f su c h a b e i n g c a n n o t e n c o u r a g e m a n k i n dto i m i t a t io n . S o w e n m s t h a v e p e r f e c t m e n t o im i ta t e a n dsuch m e n m u s t a p p e a r f r e q u e n t l y t o e n a b l e . 0 t h e r m e n ~ om ou ld t h e i r co n d u c t i n i m i t a t i o n o f t h e m . I s l a m c l a im s t h a tsuch p e r f e c t m e n . a p p e a r f r e q u e n t l y . o n e a r t h a n d t h e y a r ethe P r o p h e t s a n d M e s s e n g e r s o f G od~ " . . . i

- T his i s t h e o n l y : c o m p l e t e . p e r f e c t m e , m s o f a t t a i n i n g m 0 r a lp e rf ec t i on , a n d a l l o t h e r m e a n s a r e o n l y s u b s i d i a r y tO i t, f o r ,t h e b e ne f i t s w h i c h w e c a n d e r lV e f r o th t h e f o r i n e r a r e c e r t a i n ,and t h o s e t h a t c a n b e d e r i v e d f r o m a n ) : o t h e r m e a n s c a n n o tbe e n t i r e l y f r e e f r o m t h e .p ossib ility - o f d o u b t a n d e r r o r . B u tas. t h i s l n e a n s c a n n o t .be p r o v i d e d b y m a n a t h i s o w n w i l l a n dp le astire , I s l a m h a s. p o i n t e d o u t o t h e r m e a n s , b y t h e a i d o f


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| THE MOSLE M SUNRI SE

w h i c h a m a n m i g h t d i s c a r d e vi l m o r a l s a n d . a c q u i r e g o o d on es . -T h e s e c o n d m e a n s . p r o v id e d b y i s l a m f .o r t h e m o r a l i l n -p r o v e m e n t o f m a n , i s th e l n e t h o d a d o p t e d b y i t i n c la s s i fy -i n g a l l m o r a l q u a l i t i e s i n t o d i f f e r e n t g r a d e s a nd . s t a g e s . : B yi n d i c a t i n g t h e s e d i f f e r e n t s t a g ~ / s o f v i r t u e a n d v i c e , I s l a m h a sr e n d e r e d i t e a sy . io r e v e r ) , p e r s o n t o a s c e r t a i n h i s t r u e posi-t io n i n t h e ln o r a l s ca le , a n d t o t a ke s t e p s a n d . a d o p t m e a s u r es o r h i s m o r a l i m p r o v e m e n t . : A t e v e r y s t a g e a m a n h a s a d eti-n i t e O b j ec t p u t b e f o re , h i n !, W h i c h d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o h i m tob e i m p o s s ib l e o f a t t a i n m e n t a f ld w h i q h , t h e r e f o r e , d 0 cs ilot-:d i s c o u r a g e h im . " F o r i n s t a n c e , - n o t h in g w o u l d a p p e a r s t ra n g e ro r m o r e h o p e l e s s t o a m a n .w h o is s o s t e e p e d i n v i c e t h a t h ed o es n o t r e t a i n t h e s l ig h t es t c o n c e p t io n o f v i r t u e a n d m o r a l i t y ,t h a n to b e ~ o l d t h a t h e m u s t s o r e f o r m h i m s e l f a s t o 1 h ak e v ir-t u e a p a r t o f h i s n a t u r e a n d t o s p e n d t h e r e s t o f h i s l if e in thes e r v ic e o f h u m a n i t y . T h e ~ g u l i b e t w e e n h is p r e s e n t p os it io n

. o ". . . .a n d . t h at . w h i c h h e as a s k ed , to. a t t a m t o , w o u l d . a P .t )e a r i n s u p e r 2a b le , a n d h e w o u l d p r o b a b l y d e s p a i r o f e v e r b e ii l g a b e t te rl na n . B u t if w e w e r e to te ll h i m t h a t e v e r y s t e p t a k e n t o w a r dsv i r t u e m a k e s h i m m o r e v i r t u o u s a n d t h a t iF h e c a n n o t a l t o - . :g e t h e r r e n o u n c e v i c e h e s h o u l d a t l e as t f e e l a s h a m e d oF i t , h ew o u l d e a g e H y f o l l o w o u r s u g g e s t i o n s a s b e i n g p r a c t i c a b l e a ride a s i ly a t ta i n a b le . W h e n . h e b e g i n s tO F e e l . r e m o r s e a n d isa s h a m e d O f h i s C o nd uc t, w e c a n te ll h i m t h a t h e l ia s a c hi ev e dth e: f ir st s t e p t o w a r d v i r t u e , i o r t h e r e n o u n c i n g o f t he g r a v e r 'f o r m s o f v i ce i s a l s6 a f o r m o f v i r t u e . T h e e n co u r a g e m e n tw h i c h h e d e r iv e s f r O m t h is w e c a n U se a s a n a i d t o w a r d s h is .f u r t h e r p r o g r e s s o n t h e p a t h o f V ir tu e . "\-\re c a n n e x t a s k h i mt h a t i~I h e is y e t u n a b l e t o d o g o o d , h e s h o u l d . a t l e a s t av o ide vi l, a n d s h o u t d reF u.se t o ~ ' t u p o n - t h e e v il p r o m p t i n g s a nds u g g e s t i o n s o f h i s m i n d ; - a i l d s l m u l d t r y t h a t n o e v il ac tsa r e d o n e b y h i m , s o t h a t h e s h o n h l n o t l ) y h i s e v il d e e d s ca us ep a i n o r u n p l e a s a n t n e s s t o o t h e r s . . !-Ie w i l l f in d t h is e a si ert h a n t h e f ir s t s t a g e , a n d w h e n h e h a s a c c o m l ) l i sh e d t h i s h e w illb e m o r e t h a n e v e r e a g e r t o a d v a n c e t o w a r d s V i r t tl e a n d to r e -n o u n c e h is l f o l - m e g . c a r e e r o f v i c e . - H i s m i n d s~,ill, s t il l b e f ul lo f ev i l / / " " " "h o u g h t s , - b u t c a n a n y b o d y d ou b .t t h a t h e w i ll h a v e a t-t a i n e d a c e r t a i n s t a g e o f v il 't U d . -f o r h e i s c o n s t a n t l y a d .v a n ci n gt o w a r d s i t a n d h a d r e f io u n ce d t lm g r e a t e r p o r t i o n o f h i s v ic e s ?\~ re s h a l l t h e n a s k h i m t ~ ? t a k e t h e n e x t s t e p a n d t o c le an s e .h i s m i n d o f e vi l . t h o u g h t s m a d t o s h t m a ll i m l m r i t y a n d v ice .T h i s - w i l l s u r e l y b e t o u c h , e a s i e r f o r h i m t h a n t h e f i rs t tw os t ag e s a n d w h e n / h e I{as a c c o m p l i s h e d t h i s , h i s m i n d w i l l be


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T H E M O S L E M S U N R I S E

like t h a t o f a n e w - b ol -n c h i l d a c l e a n p l a t e o n w h i c h n o im -- . r e , ' .p r c s si o n h a s ) t b e e n i n a d e . A f t e r h e i s s a v e d f r o m t h e st.fi.teo f m o r a l d e g r a d a t i o n , w e c a n n e x t p u t h i n l t o t h e f i r s t s t a g e, , f , ,n o ra l i ty a n d l e a d h i m o n a n d o n t o t h e h i g h e s t p i n n a c l e ", , f m o r a l e v o l u t i o n . .T h e t h i r d m e a n s p r o v i d e d b y I s la m f o r t h i s p u r p o s e is| h a t i t h a s e x p l a i n e d : t h e r e a s o n s w h y g o o d m o r a l q ua l it ie ssh ou ld be a d o p t e d a n d e v il o n e s e s c h e w e d , s o t h a t m e n , b e -c~m in.~ a x c a r e o f t h e r e a l i { a t u r e o f . t h e s e q u a l i t i e s s h o u l d o f lh e m s elv e s b e p r o n {p t ed t o a c q u i r e g o o d m o r a l s a n d t o e s c h e wev il o n e s . -. . . . . " . . . . . . - .

T h e f o u r t h n le a n s p r o v id e d b v I s l a m f o r . t h i s p u r p o s eis I,~ a l t e r t h e p o i n t 0 f v i e w 0 f m a n c o n c e r n i n g s 0 m e o f t h eev il m o r a l s , a n d t o s u b s t i t u t e h o p e f o r d e s p a i r in t h i s c o n -i lect ion: ManVeviiS:are c o m m i t t e d b y m e n . b e c a u s e t h e y b e -liev e t h a t t h e v c a m l 0 t p o ss ib l y a v o i d t h e m . - T h e p e o p l e w h o..p ro p a ga te s u c h i d e a s . a m o n g t h e i r c h i l d r e n , l a v t h e f o u n d a -tic,ns o f t h e n l o r a l d e p r a v i t y : O f f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s . A m a nw h~ d o e s n o t b e l i e v e t h a t a c e r t a i n o b j e c t is a t t a i n a b l e w i l lu e ve r s t r i v e a f t e r i t . A n a t i o n t h a t b e l i ev e s t h a t i ts a n -t ' t ' s l o r s h a d e x h a t l s te d a l l p o ss ib le d i s c o v e r i e s a n d i n v e n t i o n sis n o t likely;, t o m a k e a d i s c o v e r y o r i n v e n t i o n : a n d a n a t i o nt h a i : b e lie x;e s t h a t i t c a n n o t p o s s i b l y e f fe c t, a n i m p ro x T e m e n t i nits c o n d i t i o n i s n o t l ik e l. v. t o a t t e m p t i t . S i m i l a r l y , p e o p l e . w h ol ie lie ve t h a t e v il i s i n h e f 'e n t i n t h e m a n d t h a t t h e y c a n n o t p o s ~ 'siblx; r e s i s t i t , a n d t la a t i t is i m p o s s i b l e f o r. t h e m t o a c h i e v em o ra l p e r f e c t i o n , a r e t .h e m s e lv e s p r o v i d i n g t h e m e a n s o f t h e i rOwn d e s t r u c t io n . T h e H o l y p r o p h e t ( o n w h o m . b e p e a ce a n dlh e b l e s s i n f s 0 f G o d ) h a s l a id ~ r e a t s tre ss~ o n th i s p o i n t a n dh as a l t o g e t h e r f o r b i d d e n d e s p a ir : H e s a y s : " \, V h e n a m a ns a y s c o n c e r n i n g a p e o p le t h a t t h e y h a v e b e e n d e s t r o y e d , h e i sthe p e r s o n w h o d e s t r 0 y s t h e m . " T h a t i s ? to s a y , n o m a t e r i a lc a la m i t i e s a n d m i s f o r t u n e s d an b e so f a t a l t o a m a n a s t h e im p r es sio n o n h l s . m i n d t h a t t h e d o o r ! o f i m p r o v e m e n t , a n dp r o g r e s s h a s beei~ s h u t u p 0 n . h ! m . - D e s p a i r a n d d i s a p p o i n t -m e n t p r e v e n t a l~ aan f r o m m a k i n g a n e f f 0 r t f o r s u c c e s s a n dlead t o c e r ta i n f a i l u r e a n d d e s t r u c t i o n . I s l a m d o e s n o tc o t m t e n a n c e t h e i d e a t h a t m a 'n C a n e v e r b e - d e b a r r e d f r o m s e l f -i m p r o v e m e n t a n d p r o g x e s s , a n d i t . h a s th f l s o p e n e d t h e d o o rto m o r a l d e v e l o p m e n t . : . . . . . . .' T h e r e c a n bel n o d o u b t t h a t m a n i s b o r n i n to t h i s w o r l dw ith a p u r e a n d s i n l e s s n a t u r e , a n d : h O w e v e r d ee p h e m i c h tp l un g e i n t o s in , h i s n a t u r e r e t a i n s s o m e Of i ts o r i g i n a l p u r i t y ,


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10 T H E MO S L E M S U N R I S E

s o th a t i f a t a n y t i m e h e t u r n s t o w a r d s v i r tu e , h e c a n d i s c ar da ll h i s v i ce s , w h i c h a r e a ll a c q u i r e d , a n d c a n ? a t t a i n t o t h e p e r -f e c t i o n o f v i r tu e s , w h i c h is i i ih e r e n t i n m a n . I s l a m h a s , b yp u t t i n g f o r w a r d t h i s t r u t h , c o m p l e te l y a l t e r e d 1 n an 's p o in to f v i e w t o w a r d s g o o d a n d e(,il, a n d g i v e n h in i h o p e a n d c ou r-a g e . R e l i g i o n s o t h e r t h a n I s l a m a r e e i t h e r s i l en t o n th isp o in t , o r r e p r e s e n t m a n a s e n t e r i n g th i s w o r l d u n d e r s u c h b u r-d e n s t h a t t h e y a r e e n o u g h t o s u b m e r g e h i m w i t h o u t t h e a d -d i t i o n a l w e i g h t o f h i s O w n m i s d e e d s , -T h e f i f t h m e a n s p r e s c r i b e d b y I s l a m f o r m o r a l . r e f o r m a -t i o n a p p e a r s a t f ir st s i g h t t o b e i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e f o u r t h .b u t in r e a l i t y it i s , m e r e l y s l { p p l e m e n t a r y t o it . T h i s is th ee ffo 'r t , w h i c h I s l a m . n m k e s t o u p r o o t . t h e e v il in f l u e n c e s o f ,h e r e d i ty . N o d o u b t m a n i s . b o n a w i t h a p u r e n a t u r e , b u t hea l s o in ]a er i te s f r o m h i s p a r e n t s o r - r e m o t e a n c e s t o r s c e r ta i ni n c l i n a t i o n s t o w a r d s vic e . ' T h i s s t a t e m e n t is n o t i n co n s is te n t .N a t u r e a n d in c l i n a t i o n a r:e t w o d i f fe r en t t h i n g s . . N a t u r e o rc o n s c i e n c e is a h v a v s p u r e . E v e n t h e c h i ld o f a r o h h e r o r

n m r d e r e r . i s . b o r n w i t h a p u r e n a tu r e , l in t i f h i s . p a r e n t sp o s s e s s e d a n e v il m i n d , h e w i l t b e i n f lu e n c e d b y i t , a n d w i l l bee a s i ly l e d a w a y b y s u c h t h o u g h t s i f h e S u b s e q u e n t ly e n c o u n t er st h e m . j u s t a s t h e T c h il d re n o f c o n f i rm e d i n v a l id s a r e p r o n e tof a ll 'a n e a s y p r ey . t o d i s e a s e s f r o m w h i c h t h e i r p a r e n t s s u ff er ed .S u c h i n c l i n a t i o n s a n d t e n d e n c ie s i n t h e m i n d o f a : c h i l d a ret h e r e s u l t o f t h e i th o u g h t w h i c h fill t h e , u i n d s o f t h e p a r e n tsa t tl~e t i m e o f C o p u l a ti o n , T h e e f f e c t o f t h e s e t h o u g h t s o n th em i n~ l o f t h e c h i l d i s i n m o s t c a s e s v e r y s l i g h t a n~ l m a y x e ryo f t e n b e o v e r c o m e b y e n v i r o n m e n t s a n d t ra in in , o ' , l in t I s la m. h a s p r e s c r i b e d a m e a n s o f t u r n i n g e v e n s u c h i n f l u en c e s in toi n s t r u m e n t s o f g o o d . T h e h u s b a n d a n d w i fe a r e t a u g h t too f f e r a l q ra y e r w h e n: t h e y m e e t e a c h o t h e r . i n p r iv a t e , w h i c hr u n s , " S e c u r e u s , . 0 L o r d , a n d o u r c h i l d r e n ; i g a i n s t evilp r o m p t i n g s a rf d e v i l i .c oin p an io n s. '. ' A p a r t f r o m i ts . e f f e c t : a sa p r a y e r , , t h is p r a y e r s t a r t s . a c u r r e n t o f p u r e ~ h o u g h t s i n the-m i n d s o f t h e p a r e n t s , e v e n in c a se s i n w h i c h t h e y a r e n o t-o r d i n a r i l y ~ v e n to s u c h t h o u g h t s ; f o r n o t o n l y : t h e m e r e a c to f p r a y e r b u t a l so t h e w o r d s o f his p a r t i c u l a r p r a y e r a s w ella s t il e c o n c e r n w h i c h m o s t p e o p l e f e e l f o r t h e . w e l f a r e o f th e i ri ss u e , a n d t h e n a t u r a l d e s i r e o f a ll p a r e n t s t h a t t h e i r c h i ld r ens h o u ld l e a d p u r e . l i v e s , p r o d u c e t h i s - e ff ec t. \ V h e n . . t h e r e :f o re , p a r e n t s o f fe r p r a y e r f o r t h e p u r i t y o f t h e i r c h il d re n .~t h e i r o w n m i n d s a r e -b ou n d t o b e a f f e c te d b y i t a n d t o i n cl in e


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t6wards pnrity and virtue, and as the child is likely to in-herit the thoughts entertained by his .parents at the moment,he will be saved frona inclinations which his parents mighthave entertahaed prior to this prayer. The Ito ly Prophet ( onwhom be peace and the blqssings of God) says:--"Childrenwhgse parents offer this prayer a t the t ime .of thei r conjugalrelation are saved from the touch of Sat.an, ~ meaning thatthey are saved fronl t h e evil influences which they we.re, liableto iuherit~ from their parents. This would be so wh et he r theprayer is accepted or not. If it is accepted it will also securethe child against other evil influences.

The sixth means prescribed by Islam for the moral im-provement of man is tha t if ha s opened ways by which s u c httioughts enter th em in d of man as may exc it ea ndq uic ken inhim "lais natural instinct Of vir tue. Som e of these ways, e.g.,prayer, worship, fasting, remembrance of God etc. We willexplain [a-ere hree of those ways :.(a). The first of these i s .mentioned in ~the followingwords of the Holy Quran: i.e., "O, Ye Muslitns, keep com-pany with the righte ous. " (IX :119) I t cannot he denied thatm a n is influenced.byhis environment, and a man who keeps- . . . , , .- . . company with the ri gh teous is bound tO experience a rapid

1" " * " *and wonderful-chan,,,e m .hmaself. ~hl ch draws him towardsvirtue a n d helps him :to get rid of vices and evil thoughts. i ' nIslam .lays so nmch stress upon the effect.of a man s compa y.upon his. morals:, that the Moslems have ever been fond ofresorting to the company of the righteous men. They oftenundertakeilong and arduous journeys f o r this purpose andbear Separation f r o m their homes an d dear:ones, and by. thehelp of. the magnetic influence of such men they ar ri ve at theirgoat wi th ina wonderfully short period of time.-(b ) :The second way for moral improvement is Containedin the-laws relat ing to la wf ul and prohibited things, such asfo~d. \Ve are constantly surprised to find tha t the World hasncit vet realised the wonderful truth that a man's morals aredeel;ly affected by the fgod he takes. On the contrary, thelaws 0f Islam"regulating food are. critiCised as entirely pur-poseless. The fact, however, that the-fo0d .one takes affectsone's morals Can hardly be tleniedi The Holy Quran says:"0 Apostles,-eat those things that are pure;::and you will beenabled to act righteously." " . . . . .( c ) . The third way of moral development devised by-

Is lam is that a child sho ul db e subjected to .goodinfluences

j ~, /


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12 THE ]~ iO SLEM SUNRIS E

T o w a r d I s l a mByS u f i M . R . B e n g a l e e

I s l a m i s .th e m o s t m i s r e p r e s e n t e d a n d t h e l e a s t u n d e r -s t o o d O f a l l r e l ig i o n s . F o r c e nt ur ie s, , t h i s n o b l e f a i t h h a sf r o m i ts i n f a n c y . - I s l a m - p o s s e s s e s th e. u n i q u e d i s t i ' n c t i o n o fh a v i n g a p p r e c i a t e d t h i s p r i n c i p le . I n o t h e r re l ig i o ia s i t is-g e n e r a l l y u n d e r s t o o d - t h a t : re lig io n o u g h t t o r e g u l a t e t h e co n-d u c t o f a c h i ld o n l y a f t e r it h a s a t t a i n e d t o y e a r s o f d i sc r e ti o n .A c c o r d i n g t o Isl~ tm , t h e i n j u c t i o n s o f r e l ig i o n , n o d o u bt ,b e c o m e b i n d i n g o n a c h i l d O n ly a f t e r - i t h a s a t t a i n e d d i sc re -t io n bu~: i n m a t t e r o f h a b i t a n d r o u t i n e a c h i l d w i l l n o t b e a b let o c o n f o r m t o t h e c o m m a n ~ l m e n t s o f h i s f a i t h u n le s s h e ist r a i n e d f r o m h is v e r y i n f a n c y to a c t in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t he m .A c c o r d i n g l y , I s l a m e n j o i n s u p o n p a r e n t s t h e t r a i n i n g o f ac h i ld f r o m t h e m o m e n t o f. h i s b i r th . A s s o o n a s a c h i l d is ' ih o r n 'to a M o s l e m , - t h e A z a n ; ( i . e . , t h e w o r d s u se d. f o r c a ll in gt h e f a i th f u l t o p r a y e r ) . . w h i c l a c o n t a i n s a n a b s t r a c t o f th ee s s e n t i a l . d o c t r i n e s O f I s l a m , .is . r e c i t e d i n t o h i s " r i g h t a-nd l e fte a r . T h e r e c i t a t i o n : o f t h e A z a n i m o t h e e a r s O f n e w l y -b o r ni n f a n t i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e .d i .~ r et io n . o f a c h .i ld g r o w s s t e a d il ya n d g r a d u a l l ) , f r o m t h e m o n i e n t o f h i s b i r th , a n d t h a t h ed o e s n o t a t t a i n t o f u l l d i s c r e t i o n , a t a n y g i v e n m o m e n t .T h e s e v e n t h m e a n s d e v i s e d b y / s l a m or~ th e- m o r a l i in -p r o v e m e n t o f m a n is to C lose t h e a v e n u e s t t :r o u g h w h i c h s inf in d s a n . e n t r a n c e i n t o t h e h u n ) a n m i n d , . - . . -. "

E V il , a c c o r d i n g t o I s l a m , i s e x t r a n e o u s t o m a n a n d e n te r sf r o m o uts~ide. T h e , : n a t u r e o f m a n i s p u r e a n d l o v e s v i r t u ea n d a b h o r s v ic el K e e p i n g t h i s p r i n c i p le i n v ie w I s l a m h a sla id d o w n . i n s t r u c t i o n s , w h e r e b y a l l . t h o s e a v e n u es b y w h i c he v i l t h o u g h t s o r v ic e s c a n e l i te r th e h u m a n m i n d - h a v e b ee nc lo s ed . W e a r e s u r p r i s e d , h o w e v e r , t o f in d , t h a t . t h is p sy c h o -l og ic a l t r u t h :o n w h i c h I s la m h a s b a s e d t h e s e i n ju n c t i o l i sw h e r e b y i t h a s - m a d e a m a t e r i a l a d d i t i o n to t h e v o l u m e o fm o r a l a n d i n ie l l e c tu a l d e b t w h i c h t h e w o r l d o w e s i t , h a s p ro -v o k e d t h e f i er c e s t o p p o s i t i o n t o , I s l a m a n d h a s ,f ai le d t o r e -c e iv e d u e a p p r e c i a t i o n .e ve n a t t h e h a n d s o f t h o s e w h o v a l u ea l l t h i n g s b y t h e s t a n d a r d o f i n t e l l e c t .

l


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bc~n m e r c i le s s l y a s s a i le d b y t h e C h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n a r i e s a n d t h en f i ,i i if o n n e d a n d t h e p r e v e r t e d w e s t e r n w r i te i- s a s t h e m o s tm i lit an t a n d s p i r i t u a l l y a n d e t h i c a l l y . u n e d i f y i n g r e li g i o n . T h ee n e m i e s o f I s l a m h a v e p a i n t e d a n e x t r e m e l y ( l a r k a n d g l o o m yp i c t u r e o f t h e n o b l e - f a i t h w i t h t h e a v o w e d o b j e c t o f p o i s o n -ing- t h e m i n d s o t h e u n e n l i g h t e n e d : w e s t e r n p u b l i c . C o n s e -q ue ntly g r o s s e s t i g n o r a n c e a b o u t a n d a d e e p - s e a te d a n d w i d e -spread a n t i p a t h y a g a i n s t t h i s h o l y - f a i t h a n d i ts v o t a r i e s a r e t obe fou nd am o ng the : oc c ide n ta l peop le .~r " " " " % *

I t is h i g h l ) / g r a t i f y i n g to n o te t h a t a s a r e s u l t o f th e r a p i d.,ro w th o f c o n t a c t b e tw e e n t h e e a st a n d th e w e s t a n dth ro u gh -.th e n o b l e . e f f o r t s o f t h e M o s le m m i s s io n a r i e s o f t h e: \ l m m d d i v a m 6 v e m e n t , t h e l i g h t O f I s l a m - i s . : . p e n e t r a t i n g t h e.weste rn w or ld . O c c ide n t a l pe op le ha v e be gu n to : ha ve a be t-ter u n d e r s t a n d i n g . o f t h e f a i t h o f I s l a m a n d i ts l o f t y p r in c ip le s .':\s t h e v e i l o f m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d i g -n o r a n c e l s b e i n g l i f t e d , , p e o p le a r e g - r a d u a ll y b e c o m i n g at~tracted t m v a r d i t a s t h o u g h b y th e la w .o f g r a v i t a t i o n . A n dth e. w e s t i s c o n s c i o u s l y O r u n c o n s c i o u s l y a d o p t i n g , t h e p r i n ,

-cip les o f I s l a m. . M a n i f e s t s i g n s . a r e v i si b le : in . t he .ho r iz on ,W h ich p r o m i s e a m a g n i f i c e n t f u t u r e f o r . I s la m i n t h e w e s t.T he d a y is n o t f a r w h e n t h e w e s t .w ill f in d i t s s a l v a t i o n a t t h e-. fee t o f I s l a m . 'I n - t h i s a r t i c l e , w e p r o p o s e tO d is cu s s b r ie f l y c e r ta i ntre nd s o f t h e w e s t e r n w o r l d t o w a r d I s la m . "- : D iv in il /y o r - G o d - h e a d o f J e s u s, T r i n i t y , v i c a r i o u s a t o n e -m ent a n d . t h a t m a n ~s b o r n i n S i n a n d s h a p e d in i f ii q u i ty a r e!he i m p o r t a n t C h r i s t ia n ' b e l i ef s a n d d o c t ri n e s u p o n w h i e h t h eC h r i s t i a n c h u r c h i s b u i l t . - . . . .

: A c a r e f u l s t u d y - o f th e ra d ic a l c h a n g e s t h r o u g h w h ic hC h r is ti an it y, . is p a s s i n g f o r a l o n g t im e , r e v e a l s t h a t a c o n -.qderable p o r t i o n o f t h e C h r i s t ia n s . h a v e S u m m a r i l y - r e p u d i -ated t h e a b o v e m e n t io n e d : t r a d i t i o n a l a n d O r t h o d o x C h r i s t i a nb elie fs. B e g i n n i n g w i t h t h e U n i t a r i a n s ec t, i n n u m e r a b l eC h r is ti an d e n o m i n a t i o n s h a v e s p r u n g u p , w h i c h f l i n g i n g G o d -h ea d. o f J e s u s a n d . T r i n i t y t o . .t h e w i n d s , h a v e a c ce p te d t h e .p ur ely I s la m i c t r u t h o f M o n o t h e i s m - - b e l i e f i n o ne a n d t h e o n l yC,od. L i k e th e M O sle m s; t h e y b e l i e v e in J e s u s a s a m a n a n da g r e a t p r o p h e t, n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n t h a t .: ' S i m i l a r ly m a n y C h r i S t i a n s h a v e r e a l i z e d ' t h e a b s u r d i t y o fthe d o c t r i n e o f t h e . v ic a r io u s a t o n e m e n t . T h e y h a v e b ec o m e-con vin ced t h a t . s a l v a t i o n o f m a n c a n n o t d e p e n d U p o n t h e b l o o d


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1 4 T H E M O S L E M S U N R I S E

o f J e s u s . M a n h a s to w o r k o u t h i s m v n s a lv a t i o n bY s u b m i t t in gh i m s e l f t o t h e w i l l o f G o d a n d t h r o u g h h i s o w n g o o d w o r k s .T h i s is I s l a m i c b e l ie f .A s i d ~ f r o m t h e i g n o r a n t a n d t h e b l in d fo llo wers ,_ t h e up -p e r s t r a t a o f. t h e C h r i s t i a n f ii it h h a v e r e c o g l f i z e d t h e h n m o r a l -i ty o f t h e m o n s t r o u s , d o c t i 'i n e t h a t m a n i s b o r n i n S i n an ds h a p e d in i n i q u i t y . T h e ; t r u t h h a s d a w n e d u p o n t h e m th a t .m a n i s b o r n p m ' e a n d S in le ss . E v i l , i s n o t i n b o rn , i n n a t e o rn a t u r a l w i th m a n . T h e sh e e t o f h u m a n n a t u r e i s p e r f e c t ly :c le a n . T h i s m e a n s c l e a r ly a g r .e a t t r i u m p h ~ f I s l a m .M o n a st ic is m - - iS v i r t t l e , ' in C h r i s t i a n i t y - - . I n s h a r p a n d

v i v i d c o n t r a s t i t i s r i c e i n I s la m . T h e H o l y O u r a n p ro c la im s ;" T h e r e i s . n o i n on ~ s t i c i sn l i n I s l a m . " T h e H o l y p r o ph e tM u t i a m m a d s a y s , " M a r r i a g e i s m y p r e ce p t a n d e xam ple~T h o s e )v ho d o n o t f o l lo w m y p re ce p t" a n d e x a m p l e a r e n o r mYf o l lo w e r s ." T h u s I s l a m h a s e m p h a s i z e d a n d e x a l t e d t h es a n c t i t y o f t h e in s t i t u t i o n Of m a r r i a g e a s t h e m a r r i a g e l i feis t h e m o F t r i g h t e o u s l if e .W i t h t h e m a r c h o f p r o g r e s s t h e . C h ri s t ia n s h a d to s u b -m i t t o t h i s M o s l e m .p r in c i l f i e w h i c h h a s g a i n e d g r o u n d i nC h r i s t i a n d o m w i t h t h e r e su l t t h a t M o n a s t i c i s m h a s b eenp r a c t i c a l l y ~ x t i n g - u i s h e d .T h e r e is n o ~S a n c ti o n o f ' d i v o r c e i n C h r i s t i a n i t y . T h e -

, i 1 " IC h r i s t i a n B i b l e say s~ \ \ h o s o e v e r s h a ll p .l t a w a v h i s w i f e , s av ~i n g f o r t h e c a u s e o f f o r n i c a t i o n , c a u s e t h h e r t o c o m m i t a d u l t-e r y : a n d w h o s o e v e r s h a ll m a ( r y h e r t h a t is diw .~ ;ced , c o m m i t-t e t h a d u l t e r y . " ( M a t h . \ " - 3 2 ) : . . . . - .I n s t r i k i n g c o n t r a s t , I s l a m a l lo w s d i v o r c e u n d e r c e r t a i nc i r c u m s t a n c e s w h e n i t b e C o m e s a n u n a v o i d a N e n e ce s s i ty . A t -t h e s a m e t im e , I s l a m t a k e s e v e r y p r e c a u t i o n a n d l m t s s tr in g e n tr e s t r i c t io n s u p o n i t s o t h a t i t m a y n o t b e c o m e a m e n a c e t o th es a c r e d i n s t i t u t io n o f m a r r i a g e m l d t h u s b r e a k t h e h o m e l i f e .T h e s a y in g o f : M t ! h a m m a d i s d e e p l y s i g n i f i c a n t i n t h i sr e g a r d . / T h e H o l y P r o p h e t sa y s . " O f a l l hra,fM t h i n g s , d i . v o r c ei s t h e m o s t a l )o m u a a b e .S o I s l a m a l lo w s d iW w c e b u t Im tS a g r e a t c l l ec k u p o n i tw i t h i ts w i s e l a w s a n d t e a c h i n g s . T h e r e s u l t is: t h a t t h e r e :isn o m a r r i a g e a n d d i v o r c e p r o b l e m i n t h e w o r k ] o f I s l a m .F o r c e n tu r ie s ,- t h e C h r i s t i a n s hax;e b r o u g h t a c c u s a t i o n o fb la s l~ h em y a g a i n s t I s l a m o n a c c o u n t o f i ts s a n c t i o n o f d i vo r ce :I t is n o t p o s s ib le t o o p p o s e t h e l a w o f n a t u r e w h i c h i s t h el a w o f G o d f o r e v e r . T h e C h r i s t i a n s h a d to a d m i t d e f e a t a t


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th e h a n d s o f I s l a m i n t h is p a r t ic u l a r . M o s t o f th e C h r i s t i a ng m ' e r n m e n t s w e r e . f o r c e d t o a n n u l t h e i n d is o lu b i li ty o f m a r -r ia g e a n d t o a d o p t t h e I s l a m i c p r i n c i p l e o f d i v o r c e b y l a w s ,t lm u g h w i t h o u t .th e w i s e a n d e f fe c t iv e r e s t r ic t i o n s o f I s l a m ." T h e r e s u l t is th a t t h e l )e n d u h m l h a s s w u n g t o t h e o t h e r e x t r e m e. a nd d i v o r c e h a s b ee {ro le s o c o m m o n t h a t i t h a s s h a k e n t h e v e r yf o un d a ti on s o f t h e w h o l e so cia l s t r u c t u r e . . H e r e a g a in , I s la msecures a n o t h e r g r e a t v i c to r ) ,.T h e c o n t r i b u t io n o f . C h r i s t i a n i ty . t o w a r d r e m o v i n g t h eg re a t e vi l o f d r i n k i n g i s n e x t t o n o l lh i n g . O n th e c o n t ra r y , t h e .N e w . T e s t a m e n t f u r n i s h e s a b u n d a n t w a r r a n t , fo r i n d u lg e nc e .

J e s u s ' d r i n k i n g : o f w i n e g i v e s . i t t h e s t a m p . o f s a nc t i on . I s la mh as l in t a b s o l u t e v e t o o n al l in to .k ic a n ts .; T h e s u c c e ss o f I s l a min e r a d i c a t i n g th i s e v i l is u n p a ra ll el ec L S i n c e . i t s d a w n . w h e r -e ve r I s l a m h a s . g o t! e , d r i n k i n g . h a s v a n i s h e d .T h e C h r i s t i a n w o r M h a s c o m e to r eco g-n iz e t h a t d r i n k i n gis a g r e a t s t u m b l l n g b lo c k t o t h e g r o w t h o f c i v il iz a ti o n, T h e r eis a " t m i v e r s a l c o n ' d e m n a t i o n , ot: t h i s i g i a n t e v il . A m e r i c aadc ip ted t he l a w o f p r o h i b it io n , T h o u g h i t m e t w i t h c o m p l e t ean d t r a g i c f a i l u r e i t s e t a n o b l e p r e c e d e n t in i m p r e s s i n g u p o nth e w o .rld t h e s u p r e m e i m p o r t a n c e a n d u t m o s t n e c e s s i t y o fa d o p t i n g t h e I s la m i c l a w o f p r o h i h i t i o n .

T h i s i s a f la g ra n l: a d n i i ss i 0 n o f t h e m o r a l s u p e r i o r i t y o fI s la m a n d a g r e a t s t e p f o r w a r d t o w a r d t h e n o b le f a i th . T h e m a i n l~ ro blem -o f o u r g e n e r a t i o n : i s t h e e c o n o m i c" l ia ra l ), w h i c h is d ee pl,~ ; r o o t e d "in c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f w e a l t h .

T h i s is f a s t - l d r i v in g t h e s o - c al le d . ci vi li ze d w o r l d t o w a r d I s l m nw h i c h a l o n e h o ld s t h e k e y fo t h e s o l u ti on O f t h e v e x e d e c o n o m i cd i so r d er . B y i t s la w o f i n h e r i ta n c e , b y i t s . b a n o n i n t e r e s t a n db y - t h e . i n s t i t u t i o n o f Z a k a t o r p o or r a te . I s l a m r e m o v e s t h e " "ev ils o f c a p i t a l i s m a n d e f fe c ts an r a p p r o a c h m e n t b e t w e e n c a p i-t a l and l abo r .T h e r e h a s a w a k e n e d a t r e m e n d o u s c o n sc io u s n es s f o r w i d ea n d e q u it al Jl e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f : ,v ea lth a ll o v e r t h e w o r l d . T h er e c e n t : A m e r i c a n : p r o p o s i t i o n 0 f. s h a r e - t h e - ~ w e a l t h - t ax p l a n te llSt h e s a m e s to r y . T h i s s h a r e - t h e - w e a l t h p r o p o s i t io n i s t h e n e a r -est a p p r o a c h t o t h e l s l a m i c i n s t i t u t io n o f Z a E a t o r p o o r r a t e ,a c c o r d i n g t o w h i c h t w o a n cl . o n e - h a l f p e r c e n t o f a l l k i n d s o fs u r p l u s w e a l t h o f e v e r y . i n d i v i d u a l is t o b e c o l le c te d b y t h e s t a tean d. s p en t: e x c lu s iv e l y , f o r t h e w e l . f a r e o f t h e p o o r a n d n e e d y .A l l t h e a b o v e m e n t i o n e d e x a m p l e s a r e s i a r e i n d i c a t i o n s o fth e Sw i~ft d r i f t o f t h e w o r l d t o w a r d I s la m .


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1 6 T HE M OS L E M S UNR I S E

M o h a m m e d , th e. D e sir edo f A l l N a t i o n sBy

M a n l y P . H a l l

M o h a l m n e d , t h e P r o p h e t o f Ishtn'm , ." tl ie D e s i r e d o f n i l n a -t i o n s , " w a s b o r n i n M e c c a , A . 17). 5 7 0 a n d d i e d i n M e d i n a . A . D .:632, o r in t h e e le v e n t h y e a r a f t e r t h e Itef]h'a ( H i j r a h ) .I n h is y o u t h ~ I o h a m m e d : t r , 'iv ele d w i t h t h e ~ I 4 c c a n c a r atxian, o n o n e o c c a si o n , a c t e d a s a r m o u r - b e a r e r f o r: h i s u n c le , a nds p e n t a c o n s i d e r a b l e t im e a m o n f f t h e B e d o u i n s .\ V i t h th e. P a s s i n g y e a r s M c ~ h an n ue d a t t a i n e d m a r k e d suc-c e ss in b u s i n e s s a n tl w h e n a b o u t t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s o h l m a r ri ed -

o n e o f h i s e n l p l o 3 ; e r s , a w e a l t h y X~q(10w n e a r l Y ' f i f te e n y e a r sh i s s e n io r . T h e w i d o w . K h a d i j a h b y n a m e , , g r e a t l y f a s c i n at edb y M o h a m m e d , r e s o l v e d t o r e t a i n t h e y o u n g e ff ic ie nt m a n a g e rf o r li f e . K h a d i j a h w a s a w o m a n - o f e x c e p ti o n a l m e n t a l i t y ai{dt o h e r i n t e g r i t y a n d d e v o t i o n m u s t b e a s c r ib e d t h e e a r l y su c-c es s o f th e I s l am i c c au se . B y h i s m a r r i a g e . M o h a m m e d w ase l ev a t ed f r o m a p o s i t io n o f c o m p a r a t i v e p o v e r t y t o o n e o f g re a tw e a l t h a n d p o w e r , a n d s o e x e n l p l a r y w a s h i s c o n d u c t t h a t - h eb e c am e k n o w n t h r o u g h o u t M e C c a a s " t h e f a i t h f u l a n d t r ue ." :M o h a m m e d U n h e s t i ta t in g l y s a c ri fi ce d b o t h h i s w e a l t h a n ds o ci al p o s i ti o n i n t h e s e r v i c e o f th:e G o d w h o s e v o i c e h e h e a r dw h i le m e d i t a t i n g in t h e c av e r n o n M o u n t H i r a in t h e m o n tho f R a m a d a n . Y e a r a f t e r: 3 'e ar M o h a m m e k t c l i m b e d t h e ro ck ya n d - d e s o l a t e - s l g p e s o f M o u n t H i r a ( s in c e c a ll e d J e b e l -N u r ," T h e M o u n t a i n o f L i g h t " ) a n d h e r e in h i s l o ne l i n es s c r ie d -o u t

t o G o d to r e v e a l a n e w t h e p u r e r e l i g i o n . o f A d a m , t h a t s p i r itu a ld o c t r i n e lo s t t o m a n k i n d t h r o u g h t h e d i s s e n s i o n s o f r el ig ib u sf a c ti o n s . K h a d i j a h , .s o l i c i t o u s o v e r h e r h u s b a n d ' s a s c e t i c p ra c-t i c e s w h i c h w e r e i m p a i r i n g h i s p h y s i c a l h e a l t h , s o m e t i n l e s a c -c o n l p a n i e d h i m i n h i s W e a ry v .igil, a n d w i t h W o m a n l y ' i n t u i t i o ns e n s e d t h e t r a v a i l o f h i s s o ul. A t l a st o n e n i g h t i n h i s f .o rtie tti .y e a r a s h e l a y u p o n t h e flo or- o f t h e c a v e r n , . e n v e l o p e d i n h isc lo a k, a g r e a t l i g h b u r s t u p o n h im . O v e r c o m e w i t h a s en se


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TH E MO S LEM S U N RI S E lY

of perfect peace and understanding in the blessedness of thecelestial presence, he lost consciousness. \Vhen he came tohimself again the-Angel Gabriel stood before him, exhibiting asilken shawl with mysterious characters traced Upon i t . Fromthese characters Mohammed gained the basic doctrines laterembodied in the Koran: Then Gabriel spoke in a clear andw~mderful voice, declaring Mo ha mm ed to be the. Prophet ofthe. living God. "

In awe and trembling, Mohammed hastened to Khadijah.fearing the vision to have been ins pi re d- by the same evil.~liirits who Served the pagan inagicians so ,greatly despised byhim. Khadijah assured him that his own virtuous life wouldlie his protect ion and that he need fear no evil. Thus reas-sure& the Priq~het awaited further visitations from Gabriel.When these did not. . . . ome: however, such a despair filled hiss~ul that .he attempted Self-destructic;n, only to be stopped inthe very act of casting himself over a cliff by-the sudden re-apl~eai-~nce .of flabriei, who ag ain assured"the Prophe t thatthe revelations needed by his people would be given to him asnecessity arose, .Possibly as a result of his lonely pe r io ds of meditation, .M~,hammed seemingly- was subject to ecstatic trances. On theoccasions when the" xarious s t i r a2 ro ) f the Koran.were dictatedhc is said to have fallenunconscious, and; regardless of thechill:of the surrounding air, tO ha ve been covered wi th beadsof perspiration. Often these attacks came. without warn ing;

at other times he--W0uld sit wrapped in- ab la nket to prevent achill from the copious perspiration, and while apparently un-conscious would dictare the various passageslwhich a small.circleof trusted frlends would either commit-to memory or re-.duce to Writing. o n one occasion in later, life when Aim Bakrreferred to the gray hairs in his beard, Mohamnaed, li ft ing theend of his -beard:and lo ok ing at it, declared its whiteness tobe. due to the phvsicai agony at tendant upon his .Periods o in-spirati0n.If the writ ings attributed to Mohammed .bi~ considered asnierely the hallucinations of anepileptic----and for that:reas0ndiscounted his Christian detractors should beware lest withthe doctrines of the ' Pr0phet - hey also undermine the very-teachings which they themselves affirm, for many of the dis-_ciples, apostles, and saints of. the early church are known tohavebeen subject to nervous disorders.


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~ s T H E M O S L ~ : M S U N R I S E

Moha,mned's first convert was his own wife, Khadijah,.who was followed.by other nlembers of his immediate family;a circumstance which moved Sir William-Muir to note :Mohmnmed s sincerityIt is strongly corroborative of 'that the earliest :converts to Islam were not only of uprigh'tcharacter, but his own bosom friends and people ofhis house-hold i who, intimately acquainted with his private life, couldnot fail otherwise to have detected those discrepancies whiEhever more or less ex is t between the professions of the hypo-critical dgceiver abroad and his actions at' home."(See TheLife of Mohamnaed.)

Amol{g the fi r s t to ac ce pt th e faith of Islam was Abu. - , , .Bakr. who becgme ;lohammed s. closest and mos.t faithfulfriend2 Abu'Bakr , a man of brilliant attainments, contributedmateri/illv to the. success of t he Prophet's enterwises and inaccord with the exWeSs wish of the Prophet became the leaderof the faithful after Mohammed's death. A'isha, the daughterof Aim Bakr, later becaine the. wife of :Mohammed, thus stillfurther cementing the bolad of fraternity between the two men.Quietly, but industriously, Mohammed l~ronmlgated his doc-trines among a snmll Circle of. powerful, friends. When theenthusiams of his fisllowers finally forced his hand and heImblicly announcedhis mission, he Was already the leader of a-strong and v,~ell-organized faction. Fear ing Mohammed'sgrowi ng prestige; the pe0i~le,o f Mecca, waiving the-time-hon- iored tradition that blood could not be spilt within the holy.,city, decided to exterminate'Islam by assassinating.the.Proph-et. All the differefit groups combined in this undertaking SOthat the g-uilt fdr the crime might thereby h.c more evenly dis-rilmted. Discovering the danger in time, Mohammed left hisfriend Ali in his bed and fled.with Aim Bakr from the city,and after adroitly eluding the Meccans, joined the main' bodyof his foll~owers that had preceded hini t0 Yathrib (afterwardscalled Medina ). )L:'l~on this incident-,-called the Hcqira (H i j -

rah) or. "flight" is based the Islamic chronological system.Dating from the Heg i r a , (Iti j rah) th e po we r of theProphet steadily gr~ew until in the eighth 3,ear Mohammedentered Mecca after practically abloodless victor), and estab-lished it as the spiritual center Of his faith: Plant ing his stand ~ard to the north Of Mecca, he. rode into the city, and aftercircling seven times the sacred Kaaba. ordered the 360 imageswithin its precincts to be destroyed.: He then enl/ered the Kaaba


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T H E M O SL E M . SU N R I SE . 19

tself, cleansed itof its idolatrous associationsl.and rededicatedthe s t rnctureto Allah. the monotheistic God. of Islam. Mo--hammed next granted amnesty to all his enemies for their at-tempts to destroy him. Under his prote'ction Mecca increasedin power and-glory, becoming~the focal point of a great annualpil~r.image; which.even-tO this day winds.ac~)ss the desert intheTmonths of pi lg rimage-and numbers over threescore thou-sand in its train.In'the tenth year after the Hegh'a (Hijrah), Mohammedled the valedictory pilgrimage and for the last t imer0d e at the.hea.d of the fa it hful along the sacred way l ea d ing to Mecca-an[ the BlackStone. As the premonition bf death was strongupon .him, he desired this pilgrimage: t o be the perfect modelfor all-the thousands that Would follow.

~ - ..Conscmus that life was waning away within him," wroteWashington Irving, "Mahomet, during this last sojourn inihe sacred city o f his fa it h, sought to engrax~e h is doctrinesdeeolv in the,minds and hearts of hisfo llowers. For this pur-pose:' ae preached frequently in the Kaaba from the imlpit, or inthe openai r from the.back of his camel. 'Listen ton iy words,'he would say, 'for ~[ know not whether, af ter this year, we shallever m e e t h e r e a g a i n . Oh , m y hearers, I am but a man likeyourselves: the angel Of death may at. any. time appear, andI must obey his stnnmons'." Ha vi ng completed the valedictorypilgrimage; Mohalmned re turned to Medina.- " In the seventh year after the Hegii'a (Hijrah)(A-. H. 7)an attempt wa s made at Kheibar to poison the Prophet. As.XIohainmi~d took the first mouthful of the poisoned f ood, theevil design.was revealed to him by divine intercession.

It is related that dur ing his last sickness he rose one nightand visited a burial ground on the outskirts Of Medina, evi-dently believing that he , .too, would soon be numbered with)he dead; A t this 'time he told an attendant that the choicehad been offered him of continuing his physical life or goingto his Lord, and that he had chosen to. meet hi s Maker.Mohammed Suffered greatly with his head and side andalso f rom fever, but on june 8th. Seemed convalescent. Hejoined his fol lowers in prayer and, seat ing himself in the court-yard, deli~-ered a lecture to-the faithful in a-clear and power-ful voice. Apparently he-0ver taxed hi s strength, fo r it wasnecessary to assist him in to the house of A'isha, which openedinto the court of t h e mosque. Here upon a rough pallet, laid


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o n t h e b a r e t lo o r t h e P r o p l i e t o f I s l a m s p e n t lr is la s t h o u r s ~me a r th . \ \ ; h e n s h e s a w t h a t h e r a g e d h u s b a n d w a s s ufferin .~w i th i n t e n s e p a in , A ' i s h a s n l) l) o rt ed h i m i n h e r a r m s u n t i l t hee n d. F e e l i n g t h a t d e a t h w a s U l)O n h im . M o h a m m e d p r ay e d :" O L o r d , I b e s e e c h T h e e , a s s is t m e i n t h e a g o n i e s o f d e a t h . "T h e n a h n o s t i n a w h i s p e r fie r e p e a t e d t h r e e t i m e s : " G a b r ie l .c o m e C lose u n t o m e . " I n T h e H e r o a s P ro p h et '. T h o m a s C a r-ly le w r i t e s t h u s o f t h e dearth o f M o h a m m e d : : 'H i s l a s t W o rd sw e r e a p r a y e r , b r o k e n e j a c u l a t i o n s o f a heart~ s t r u g g l i n g - u 1)in t r e m b l i n g - h o p e t o w a r d s i ts M a k e r ." - -C o n c e r n in g ' t h e c h a r a c t e r O f M o l i a m m e d t h e r e h a v e b een

t h e g r o s s e s t m i s c o n c e l ) ti o n s . N o , e v i d e n c e e x i s t s t o s ui)l)o rt.t h e c h a r g e s o f e x t r e m e c r u e l t y a n d lic en tio u s! li~ ss l a i d . a t h isd o or . O n th e c o n t r a r y , t h e m o r e c lo s e ly t h e l i f e o f M o h a m -m e d is s c r u t i n i z e d b y d i s p a s s i o n a t e i n v e s t i g a t o r s , t h e m o r e al)-l ) d r e n t b e c o m e t h e f in e r q u a l i t ie s o f h i s n a t u r e . I n t h e w o r d so f C a r l y l e : "i l a h o m e t h m l se l f , a f t e r a l l t h a t c a n b e s a i d a b ot l t h im .w a s n o t a s e n s u a l m a n . \ v e s o e r r w i 'd e ly i f w e c o n s i d e r th ism a n a s a c 0 m m o n ; v o l u p u t a r y , i n t e n t m a i n l y cJn b a s e e n jo y -m e n t s ~ n a y , o n e n j o y m e n t s o f a n y ik ifid . H ? i s h o u s e h o l d _ivaso n e o f t h e f r u g a l e s t , h i s c o n a m o n ~ liet b a r e l y b r e a d a n d w a te r.S o m e t i m e s f o r m o n t h s t h e r e w a s n o t a f ir e o n c e l i g h t e d On h ish e a r t h . A p o o r , h a r d - w 0 r k i n g , i l l - p r0 v i d e d m a n " c ar e-le ss o f w h a t v u l g a r m a n t o i l e d f or -. T he ~; C alled h i m a

= . . .P r o p h e t , y o n s a y ? \ V h y ; h e s t o o d t h e r e f a c e t o f a c e w itht h e m ; t h e r e , n o t e n s h r i n e d in a n y m y s t e r y , v i s ib l y c l o u t i n g h is .o w n c lo a k , c o b b l i n g h i s o w n s h o e s; f i g h t i n g , c o u n s e l l i n g , o rd ~ :e r i n g in t h e m i d s t o f t h e m , t h e y m u s t h a v e s e e n ~ k;hat k i n d o fa m a n h e w a s, l e t h i m b e c a ll ed w h a t y o u . l i k e ! N O e m p e r o rw i t h h is t i a r a s w a s o b e y e d a s th i s m a n i n . a _ c l o a k : 0 f h i s o w nc l o u t i n g ? 'i ~ o n f u s e d b y t h e a p p a r e n t l 3 , - H o p e l e s s t a s k o f f e c o n c i l i n gt h e l i f e o f t h e P r o p h e t . w i t h t h e a b s u r d s t a t e m e n t s l o n g ac-

c e p t e d , a s - a u t h e n t i c , \ V 'a s h in g t o n I r v i n g w e i g h s h i m m th es c a l e s o f f a i r n e s s ." H i s m i l i t a r y t r i u m p h s a w a k e n e d n o p r id e n o r v a i n g lo tw .a s th ey . w o u l d h a v e d o n e h a d t h e y b e e n e f fe C t e d f o r Selfisfip u rp o se s I n th e t im e o f h i s g r e a t e s t po w e r , h e m a ] n t a i n e dt h e s a m e ' s im p lic it3 ; o f m a n n e r s a n d a p p e a ra n .c e a s i n t h e d ay s9 f h i g a d v e r s i t y . . . I t is t !l is p e r f e c t a b n e g a t i o n , o f s e J f .c o n n e c t e d w i t h th i s a p p a r e n t h e a r t - f e l t p ie ty , r u n n i n g t h r o u g h -


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T H E M O S L E M S U N R I S E 2 1 -

,ut the various phases of his fortune, which perplex one informing a just estimate of Mahomet 's character . . . . \Vhenhe hung over the death-bed of his infant son Ibrahim, resig-na-~i0n to the will of God was exhibited in h is conduct under thiskecnest of afflictions; and the hope of soon rejoining his childin Paradise ~was his Consolati6n." (See Mahomet and.His Suc-cessors.) . . _ - o -

" A' isha. questioned after the deal~h o f - the Prophet con-ceming, his habits, replied .that he mended his own. clothes,col)bled his own shoes, and helped hei--in the household. duties.[low fa r removed: from Weste rn concepts of Mohanimed's!anguinary character is A'isha'S simple admission that heloved most of all to sew! Hea l so accepted the invitations ofslaves and sat at meals with servants, declaring himsel f to be,~ servant. Of all Vices he hated lying the most. Before his -,loath he freed a l l h i s slaves. He never permitted his familyt0 tfse for personal ends any. of the alnls or the money givenILv his people. H e was fond of sweetmeats and used rain wa-ter for drinking purposes. His time he divided into three)arts, l l ~ . l i l e l y . : the first he gave to God, the second to his-fam-ily. and the t h i rd to himself. T h e la tter l;ortion however-, helater Sacrificed to the service of his people. He dressedchieftyin white but also wore. red, yellow, and green. Mohammedentered Mecca ~/earing a black turban and bearing a blackstandard. He .wo re on ly the plainest of garments, declaringthat. rich and conspicuous raiment did not become "the pious,and did not remoVe his .shoes at prayer . I-Ie was particularlyconcerned with the cleanliness of his teeth and.at the time ofhis death, when .too weak to speak, indicated his desire for atoothpick. \Vhen fearful of forget ting something, (~he Prophettied a thread t oh i s ring. He once had a very fine gold ring .t)ut, noting that his folloivers had taken. to -wearing similarrings i n emulation Of him, he removed his own. and. threw itawav les this fNlowers form an evil habit. (See The Life oflol~ammad. ).

The most 'frequent, and apparently the most damaging,accusation brought against Moha mm ed is that o f polygamy.T h o s e who sincere ly believe the. harem to be irreconcilable~tith.spirituaHty should with cons is tency move for the expur-Ntion, o f the Psalms 0f David and the Proverbs of Solomonfrom ihe list of inspired writings," for the harem of Islam's


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_ 2 2 T H E M O S L E M S U N R I S E

l ' r o p h e t w a s i n s i g n i f i c a n t CO m lm re d w i t h t h a t I n a i n t a i n e d b yI s r a e l s w l . e s t k i n g a n d t h e r e l m t e d f a v o r i t e o f t h e M o s t ~ tig h'!T h e p o l m l a r c o n c e p ti o n t h a t M o h a m n l e d t a u g h t t h a t W o nm nh a d n o so u l a n d c o u ld a t ta i n h e a v e n o n l y t h r o u g h m a r r i a g e isn o t s u b s t a n t i a t e d b y t h e w o r d s a n d a t t i t u d e o f th e P r op h e td u r i n g h is l i f e t i m e . I n a lm p e r e n t i t l e d " T h e I n f l u e n c e O f Is -l a m o n S o c i a l C o n d i t i o n s j ' r e a d a t t h e \ V o r l d ' s . p a r l i a m e n t 0 fR e l i g i o n s h e l d i n C h i c a g o . i n l g 9 3 , M o h a m m e d \ V e b b s t a t e st h e c h a r g e a n d a ns w e, r s i t . t h u s :" I t h a s b e e n s a i d t h a t M o h a m m e d a n d t h e K o r a n d en ie da s ou l t o W O lnan a n d r a n k e d h e r w i t h t h e a n im a ls ~ T h e K o r a np l a ce s h e r o n a p . e rf ec t a n d c o m l f le te e q u a l i t y w i t h m a n . a n dt h e P g o p h e t ' s t e a 6 h ! n g s o f t e l a p l a c e h e r i n a l ~ o s i t i o n s u p e r i o rt o t h e m a n in s o m e re p e c t s . M r . \ V e b h i n s t i f i e s h is s t a n d b yq u o t i n g f r o m t h e t h i r t y - th i r d s l tr t t of t h e K o r a n :

" \ ; e r i l y t h e M o s l e m s o f e i t h e r s e x : a n d t h e . t r u e b e lie v er so f e i t h e r s e x , a n d t h e d e w 'o ut m e n . a ffd t h e d e w m t w o m e n , a n dt h e m e n o f v e r a c i t y , a n d t h e w o m e n o f v e r a c i t ) ~ a n d t h e p a ti en tm e n , a n d t h e 1 ) a t i e n t w o m e n . a n d t h e h u m b l e m e n , , .a nd theh u m b l e w o m e n , a n d t h e a l m s - g i v e r s o f e i t h e r s ex , a n d t h e m enw h o f a s t , a n d t h e w o m e n w h o f a st , a n d t i l e c h a s t e m e n , a ndt h e c h a s te w o m e n , a n d t h o s e o f e i th e r s e x W h o r e m e m b e r A l-l a h f r e q u e n t l y : f o r th e m h a t h A l la h p r e p a r e d f o r g i v e n e s s a n da g re a~ r e w a r d . " H e r d t h e a t t a i n m e n t o f h e a v e n i s c l e a r l ys e t f o r t h a s a p r o b l e m iw h o s c o n l y s o l u t i o n - i s t h a t o f i nd iv id -u a l m e r i t . . -O n t h e d a y o f h is d e a t h M o h a m m e d t o ld F a t im a ~ h i s be-l o v e d d a u g h t e r , a n d S a f i y a , h i s ~ m n t : " \ V o r k ~,-e o u t t h a t w h i c hs h a l l g -a in a c c e p t a n c e f o r y o u w i t h t h e . L o r d : ~f,,or I v e r il Y h a v en o p o w e r w i t h H i m . t o s a v e v 0 u i n a n y w i s e . . ' T h e l:~ :o phetd i d n o t a d v i se e i t h e r w o m e n to r e l y u p o n - t h e w r t u e s o f h e rh u s h a n d n o r in a n y m a n n e r d i d h e . i n d i c a te w o m e n 'S S a lv a ti o nto be d e p e n d e n t u p o n t h e lm m a n , f r a i l t y . o f h e r s po u se ." T h e : u u s s u n n a n s . w r i t e s S i r V ~rflham J o n e s , " a r e a l-

r e a d y a s o r t o f h e t e r o d o x C h r i s t i a n s : t h e y a r e C h r i s t ia n s , i fL o c k e r e a s o n s j u s t l y , b e c a t l s e they f i r m l y b e l i e v e t h e i m m a c u -l a t e co n c e p t io n a n d d i v i n e c h a r a c t e r : b u t t h e v a r e h e t~ ro d 6 x ,in d e n y i n g v e h e m e n t l y h is c h a r a c t e r o f G o n. a n d .h is e qu a li ty ,a s G o d , w i t h t h e ] : a t h e r , o f - w h o s e a b s o l u t e : u n i t y t h e 3, h a v ef ir m b e l i e f : w h i l e t h e y c o n s i d e r o u r d o c t r i n e s a s p e r f e c t 1 51as-p h e m y , a~ld i n s i s t t h a t o u r c o p i e s o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s h a v e b e e nc o r r u p t e d b o th b y J e w s a n d C h r i s t i a n s . "


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T H E . M O S L E M S U N R I S E 2 3

- W h y I A m a . M o s l e m' B yO m a r C l e v e l a n d

I w a s b r o u g h t U p in th e t e a c h i n g s o C h r i s t i a n i t y f r o m m ye a rl ie s t c h i l d h o o d . I s tu d i e d t h e B i b le , r e a d c h u I :c h m a g a z i n e s ,an d a t t e n d e d t h e M e t h o d i s t E p is C op a l C h u r c h a n d S u n d a yS ch oo ls r e g u l a r l y u n t i l I a t t a i n e d n ay m a j o r i t y .I f e l t a s s u r e d t h a t - I c o u ld s u b s c r i b e t o a l l o f i ts f u n d a -m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s i t s t r a p p i n g s o f r i t u a l i sn l a n d s u p e r s t i t i o n sin i t s e n t i r e t y . ...A b o u t t h i s tim e ~, I c a m e a c r o s s a n 01d c o p y o f " T h e A bd l e m y o f Happiness,"b y . G h a z z a l i . a n e a r l y M o s l e m w r i t e r .I t w a s a . t r e a t i s e o n t h e t e a c h i n g s o f I s l a m .T h e r e is n o t h i n g t o c o m p a r e t h e b o o k iEo, f o r i n : a l l t h ew o rld t h e r e h a v e l i v e d f e w h u m a n b e in g s w h o s o f o u n d t h e i rm a n i f e s t d e s t i n y , s o c o m p l e t e ly f u l f i l le d i t, a n d w e r e s o s p i r it -u al ly e n r i c h e d a n d h u m b l e d b y t h a t f u lf il hn e n t . Y e t h e w a sable to paint i n w o r d s t h a t i )h f s i ca l , m e n t a l a h n o s t p s y c h i c u n -fo l~ Im e nt. I t s e e m s t o s t a n d a s a m a s t e r p i e c e o f l i f e t h a t t r a n s -s c er id s l i t e r a t u r e i~ -. t h o u g h t s w r a p p e d i n i n c o m p a r a b le , c l e a r -nessl t h a t h a d j o u r n e y e d d 0 w n t h e l o n g re a c h e s o f t h e c e n t u r i e sto m e . I w a s t h i r s t y a n d i t g a v e m e d r i n k ; I w a s h u n g r y a n dit g a v e m e f o o d . . .- .L a t e r I c a m e in c o n t a c t w i t h S u f i M . - R . B e n g a l e e , t h eH e a d D f t h e A h m a d i y y a M o v e m e n t i n I s l a m in A m e r i c a . H eb r o u g h t t o m e a w e a l t h o f i n f 0 r n i a t i o n a n d p l a c e d a t m y d is -p o sa l n i n n y s p l e n d id b o o k s a n d m a g a z i n e s , f o r w h i c h . I a mv e r y g r a t e f u l t o h i m . - . . . .T h e s im p ! ic i. ty o f I s l a m , . t h e p o w e r f u l a p p e a l a n d c o m -p e l li n g a t m o s p h e r e o f . i ts M o s q u e s - t h e f iv e . dailY , c a l l s t op r a y e r ~ t h e e a r n e s t n e s s o f i t s a d h e r e n t s , a n d t h e : m e l l o w c o n -c e p t o f l i f e ~ 0 u c h e d t h e a ~e sp on s!v e C h o r d o f m y h e a r t a n d .w o nm y u n c l u a l i f ie d a p p r o b a t i o n . ....~ N o o t h e r r e l i g i o n c a n b e c o ra l) ar ea l w i t h : I sl a m , d i c t a t e d a sit w a s b y t h e A n g e l G a b ri e l , t o M o h a m m e d in a c a v e i n M o u n ti H i r a , n o t fa i- f r o m . M e c c a , ' w h e n c e h e h a d . g o n e t o lo se h i m -s e l f . i n m e d i t a t i o n a n d s o l i t u d e iT h i s m e s s a g e w h i c h is c a l l e d t h e H o l y Q u r a n , c o n t a i n s .. w h a t e v e r y s o u l c r a v e s f o r i t s S p i r i t u a l e l e v a t i o n - - i t is t r u l yth e g i f t o f A l l a h , th e B o o k E t e r n a l .


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" W e s t e r n W r it e r s a n d Islam "~ ' ~ Y o n g e

I1a S p a i n m u s i c w a s g r e a tl y , c u l t i v a t e d , a u d t h e r e w a sv e r y e x t e n s i v e m u s i c a l l i te i -a t u re .P o e t r y f l o u r is h e d w i t h m u s i c . E v e r y o n e w a s :a p o et . T h6e x t r a o r d i n a r y r i c h n e s s o f t h e l an g u ag " e, w h i c h i s So f l l l l th a tt h e d i c t i o n a r y is in s i x t y v o l m n e s , a n d t h e n a t u r a l c ad en ce sl e n d t h e m s e l ( ' es , ,t o v e r s e : a n d t h e t o n e o f m i n d o f t h e n a t io nw a s p o e t ic a l, a n d t le l i , q h te d in f i g u ra t iv e i n i a g e r v a n d in de-s c r i p t iv e o r r o m a n t i c p i e c e s . P r o f e s s e d poet, s w e r e S u r e o fr e n o w n a n d w e a l t h , a n d e v e n p r i n c e s . s e n t l e tt e rs a n d chal5l e n g d s i n p o e t r y to o n e a n o t h e r . ~ t o ! i v - t e l l e r s , ,- e r e a l s o i n h i g hh o n o u r , a n d tf ie i-e w e r e a n i m m e n s e ' n m n l ~ e r o f ~ o m a n c e s , o fw h i c h w e m a y g u e s s t h e s t y l e b y l h e i r E a s t e r n . k in d r e d .H i s t o r y , ~ g en ea l0 gy , g r a m n m r , - r h e t o r i c , a n d p h ilo so p hyw e r e g r e a t l y C u l t iv a te d , a n d m a n y t r e a t i s e s o n t h e m w e rew r i t t e n . " 'M a t h e m a t i c s w e r e s t u d ie d e a r n e s t l y , a n d t h e : s u b s t i t u t i 0 no f t h e n if le A r a b i c f i g u r e s : f 0 r i h e c u n ~ b r o u s R o m a n m e t h o d .e n a b l ed t h e o p e r a t i o n s to b e c a r r i e d m u c h f a r t h e r t h a n befo r.e .G e b r , t h e A r a b t e r m f o r a ri~ ;h m e tic , is t h e s o u r c e o f o u r t e rma l g e b r a . . * " 'i " " " "h e s a g e s o f C o r d o v a c a r m e d t h e i r c a l c u l a t m n s i n t oa s t r o n o m y , a n t i ' i m p r o v e d o n t h e s y s t e m s o f- l ?t o l em y . A1; B a ta n y , w h o w a s b 0 r n . i n ~77;w a s ! t h e f i r s t t o m e a s u r e the~o b l i q u i t y O f t h e e c l i p t i c , a n d m a d e o t h e r g r e a t d i s c o v e r i e s O f

p r a c t !c a l v a lu e . T h e n a m e s o f m o s t o f th e i n d iv i d u a l , s ta rsr e m a i n a s m o n u m e n t s o f o u r d eb ts t o t h e s e A r a b s , f r o m w h o mw e l e a r n t to ta lk e d o f t h e Z e n ith a n d n a d i r , G e o g r a p h y w a sa l so s t u d ie d . T h e A r a b d e s c r i p t i o n s o f S p a i n a r e s t i l l v alu -a b le ; a n d - t r a v e l l e r s w e r e s e n t o u t t o b r i n g h o m e a c c o u n t s oft h e s c e n e ry , i n h a b i t a n t s , p r o d u c t i o n s , a n d n a t u r a i h i s t o r y o fd i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s . T r e a t i s e s o n a ll t h e . b r a n c h e s o f n a t'u ra lh i s t o r y a b o u n d e d , a n d a f e w o f t h e n i s ti l l r e m a i n , i n c l u d i n g on eo n a l l t h e m e t h o d s o t h e c h a s e w i t h d o g s , h o r s e s , f a l c o n s , etc.A g r i c u l t u r e w a s e s p e c ia l ly s t u d ie d . G r e a t : t r e a ti se s on! r . r i g a t i o n a n d c r o p s , c a t t l e , g r a f t i n g ~ a n d g a r d e n i n g s t i l l e M s t ,~. - , , ,,f o r ~ t h e m o t t o o f t h e .~ r a b | a n d o x x n e r x~ a s : . H e w h o p l a n t e t ha n d s o w e t h , a n d m a k e t h t h e e a r t h b r i n g f o r t h f r u i t f o r m a na n d b e a sL h a t h d o n e a h n s t h a t s h a ll b e r e c k o n e d t o h i m in h e a v -e n . " E v e n th e K h a l i f s w o r k e d i n t h e ir g a r d e n s w i t h t h e ir o w nh a n d s , a n d A n d a l u s i a w a s l ik e o n e v a s t h i g h l y - c u l t i v a t e d f ar m .


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M a n y p l a n t s w e r e i n t r o d u c e d b y t he t( h a.l if s, w h i c h S p a i n l o s tand n e g'le c te d a f t e r t h e d i s c o v e r y o f A m e r i c a " s a f f r o n a n d m u l -bcr~ 2w trees, g i n g e r , m y r r h , b a n a n a s , a n d d a t e s: T h e S p a n i s hnam es o f m a n y p l a n t s s h o w t h e i r o r ig i n , a n d s om e h a v e t r a v -eled e ~,e n to us . s u c h a s t he a p/-ic ot, f r o m A L B A R I C A Q U E :-the a r t ic h ok e , f r om A L C A C H O F A " c otto n, f r o m A LG ( )D O N ; M e d i c in a l p l a n t s w e r e g r e a t l y : s t U d i e d , a n d t h e: \ ta b p h y s i c i a n s ; W o r k i n g o n f r o m t h e d ! s c o v e r i e s o f C e l su sand G a l e n, d i v i d e d w i t h t h e Jews a l l t h e r e w a s o f h e a l i n g s k i l lor k n m v le d g e ; a n d t h o u g h a n a t o m i c a l s t u d i e s w e r e im p o s sib leto a d e v o u t b elie ve , t h e i r s u r g e o n s m a d e s o m e p r o g r e s s i nd isc ov erv . C h e n i i s t r y : a n d a l c h e m y a l ik e a r e d e r i v e d f r o mth eir W o]-ds A L K Y M I A , a l t e r e d f r o m t h e G r ee k . T h e t e r m sa le iu bic , a l c o h o l , an d a l k a l i m ar k t h e i r p r o g reS S i n d i s co v -er~:: a n d t h e s i g n s of a p 0 t h e c a r i e s " w e i g h t ; o n ly n o w f a l l i n gin{o d is u se , a r e a r e m n a n t o f t h e d a y s . w h e n tia e l ee c h w

Themoslemsunrise1935 Iss 3

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