Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-05-31
M0hammed anism.

The essential doctrine of Mohamme-
danism Is the absolute unity and suprema-
cy of God, as opposed to the old Arab
Polysheism on the one hand, and the
Christian Trinity on the other. 1t, how
ever, admits of angels and genii. Gabriel
and Michael are the angels of power /;
Ariel, angel of death Israfeel, angel of
the resurrection. Eblis, or Satan, also
plays an important part in this mythology.
The Koran also teaches the doctrine of
Eternal DEGREES, or absolute Predestina-
ton; of prophets before Mohammed, of
whom he is the successor-asA Adam, Noah,
Moses, and Jesus; of sacred books, OF
which all that remains are the Pentateuch,
Psalms, Gospels, and Koran: of an inter-
mediate state after death of the resurrec-
ton and judgment. All non-believers in
Islam go into eternal fire. There are sep
arate hells for Christians, Jews, Sabians,
Magians, idolatsrs, and the hypocrites Of
all religions. The Moslem is judged by
his actions. A balance is held BY Gabriel,
one scale hanging over heaven and an
other over hell, and his good deeds are
placed in one and bis bad ones in the
other. According as his scale inclines.
he goes to heaven or hell. If he goes
to heaven, he finds there seventy-two
hours, more beautiful than angels, await
ing him, with gardens, groves, marble
palaces, and music. If women are true
believers, and righteous, they will also 20
to heaven, but nothing is said about hus-
bands being provided for them. Stress is
laid on prayer, ablution, fasting, aims
giving, and the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Wine and gambling are forbidden. There
is no recognition in the Koran of human
brotherhood. 1t is prime duty to hate
infideis and make war on them. Moham-
med made it duty for .Moslems to betray
and kill their own brothers when they
were infidels, and he was obeyed In more
cases than one. The Moslem sects are as
numerous as those of Christians. The
Dabistan mentions seventy-three. The
two main divisions are into Sunnites and
Shyites. The Turks are the most Jealous
of the Moslems. On Friday, which is the
Sabbath Of Islam, all business is suspend
ed. Prayers are read and sermons
preached In the mosques. No one is al
is universally kept. Any one who breaks
1t twice Is considered worthy of death.
The fasts lasts from sunrise to sunset.
But the rich feast in the night, and sleep
during the day. The Turks have no de-
sir W hAohC PAVoCiy oScs Out uotC oil III
tolerant hatred for all outside of Islam.
The kalif is the chief pontiff. The Oule-
ma, or parliament, is composed of the
inans, or religious teachers, the muftis,
or doctors of law, and kadis, or ministers
ofjustice. The priests in Turkey are sub
ordinate to the civil magistrate, who is
their diocesan, and can remove them at
pleasure. The priests in daily life are like
the laity, engage in the same business, and
are no more austere than they.
Five times day the muezzin proclaims
the hour of prayer from the minaret in
these words: "rhere is no god but God.
Mohammed is His prophet. Come to
prayer" In the morning call he adds,
prayer is better than Sleep" Imme-
diately every Mussulman leaves his occu-
patton, amt prostrates himself on the floor
or ground. wherever he may be. 1t is very
disreputable to omit this.-Erchange.