New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-14
PAN-ISLAMISM.
MOsLEMs LOOKING FOR TIE COMING OF
TIE MEHDI.

lar attention not outstanding that the Govern
mcnt tries by prohibiting the publication OF tele-
grams from Egypt, 10 impress the people with the
idea that all is quiet. The steady progress OF the
military power to the control Of Egypt 49, however
beginning TO take hold on The IMAGINATION OF the
people, Those who sigh for revival OF the spien-
doris of Islam look for such revival by the sword.
They SEQ in any assertion of military power Dy
Moslems an omen of the dawn of the day that shall
bring confusion to the the whole infdel world and
supremacy to Islam.
While the leaders Of the Pan-Islamic movement
here are pleased to use Arab Bey and his rifles for
the furtherance of their designs in Egypt, they do
not altogether share the pleasure OF the common
people in the power which that man is develop
ing. The powers that DO remember Mehmed Ali
of Egypt, and the narrow escape OF the Ottoman
Empire from destruction at MS hands. 1t is SAID
that they already little anxious as to the re-
suit of Arab Beys sudden spring into supreme
power part of the anxiety felt In high quarters
here arises from the fact that the common people,
duick 10 romance are beginning to whisper how
this strange, energetic man who has put the Cabi-
nets OF all Europe in connection, must be fore
runner OF the Mehdl. This idea implies transfer
by TIE people of sympathy, if not of allegiance,
from the Caph of Islam to the long-foretoid re-
novaor who is to bring to Islam what no Calph
has been able to give 1.-THE power OF unity
Hence the slight minging Of anxiety with the
pleasure which is felt in high quarters at the sue
cesses Of Arab Bey OF Egypt.
The Mehdi is a messenger from on high who is
expected come the last days little before the
second coming of Christ. lie is to reform lslamlsm,
and beat down its enemies. He is thus to prepare
the way for Jesus Christ, who, according TO the
Moslem belief, will then appear and will unite
nd trua hrig in Onp va bOdV
the utter destruction of Antichrist. Any good
Moslem will say that the Mehdi is to be man who
is to bear the same name as Mahomet, and who will
appear either from the East from the West lie ia
to come from one of the two cities Iabulka or
Iabulsa. In answer to inquiries as to the locality
of these favored cities your good Moslem VIII take
down ponderOus tome from his library and Will
turn to the heading " Iabulka," to read the de-
scrIpton: Iabulka, great city in the West. III
has two thousand gates and two thousand gate
keepers" Then he will turn over a little further
to read " Iabulsa great city in the East. 1t has
two thousand gates and two thousand gatekeepers."
The Oriental mind is not given to scientific curl
osity and is thoroughly satisfied to build upon the
ponderous tones of the library faith in the existence
of a suitable birthplace for so great parsonage as
the Mehdi.
The Persian branch Of Islam, regarded as hereti-
cal by the Western Mahometans believes that
the Mehdi has already come to earth and Is some
where secreted until the funess of time shall
arrive The Persians hold that in the latter part
of the ninth century the twelfth OF the lmams OF
the line OF Ali mysteriously disappeared. This
Imam is the Mehdi and is popularity called the Ex-
nected. In the village of Samara in Mesopotamia
is sacred shrine carefully guarded by Persian
doctors of divinity In the centre is a magnificent
flo ipaH do III
mented with proiusion of precious stones. The
inclosed space is lighted only by skylight i'll the
top of this dome. Directly under the dome is a
deep well in which the lost Imam supposed to
have established himself. To this place come
thousands of Persian pilgrims. who enter awe
stricken the glowing hall of gold, and crawl on
heir knees to the edge of the well to see in the
sparkle of tho water below the dome tho glory "
of the Mehdi who waits below. To this place also
comes an occasional Moslcm of the Western rite
some Turk or Kourd in dsguise-who enters the
sacred place solely to crafty his hatred of heretcs
by surrepttlousy splitting into their well as he pre-
tends to gaze into It's depths.
Both of the great branches of Mahometans
mite in expecting the Mebdi very soon. The
Moslem year 1893 ends in November. With the
year 1900 great things are expected to occur.
Every new century is set down IN MOslem history
early years and the of opinion fixes upon
1900 as "A peculiarly important figure. Among the
many combinations which make up the portfolios
of those who divine events by means Of numerals
this one appears most fertile in portent. Thus the
popular mind is ready to seize upon any token OF
the advent of the Expected One. Some look for
the Mlehd rs Il Moujeddd or renovator, who Is to
effect his reform by peaceful exhortatlons. Others
hold that he will be Sahib Khourouj, OF one who
abandons his allegiance to the ruling powers IN
order TO initiate "a reform by the sword The vast
minority OF M0slems look for this more violent
method of reform. But each individual regards
his neighbor as more worthy than himself to be
subject for the avenging sword that is to purge the
lands of Islam from all communicating influences OF
false disciples or of contumacious intdels. There
fore each man is eager for the longexpected ap-
pearance.
Before the accession of the present Sultan GER
tain Shekh from Gumush-khane in ASIA Minor had
some considerable intimacy with his Majesty
After the accession this Sheikh made various sug
gestions rs the policy to be followed by his royal
friend. The suggestions did rot however, meet
with approval and the Shekh langushed In OBJ
security Casting about for means of advancing his
fortunes he found All opportunity in marriage with
the discarded wife OF very great Pacha. BY the
assistance of this woman the Sheikh could assure
his social POSITION and he accordingly set himself
I'D as head of a band of dervishes lie gave out an
odor of sanctity which attracted many admirers.
He let il be understood that he could cure diseases
by touch and by breathing; and he held seances
for the purpose, which soon attracted troops OF
people But he conceived the ingenious idea Of
working to its full value field of operations among
Turkish women which Is not fully open to ordinary
dervlshes lie conquered the last restrictions of the
harem system by making his wife member of his
order of dervishes and by advancing her rapidly to
AS high a rank as he claimed for himself. From
that day fortune smiled on the pair The deryish
in a room full of men, and the female dervish Ia