The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-16
THE KORAN AND MoHAMMEDANIsM.
Article 2, Trcnts of its OrfEnn, Use,
Translation and Doctrine.

There are different sects of MohammeGans.
One sect believes that the Koran Is uncrealeu
and etcrnal-Subssting in the very essence OF
God. Other sectS contradict TINS, reghrulnS
those believing thus rs guilty OF inf1dellty-
asserting in fact the belief of TWO Eternal
Kings. y prominent Mohammedan is re-
garded by some us having rcconcilcd con-
tlicting opinions; he asserted that the oilSl-
nal idea OF Koran is really in God and colSe-
quently co-essential and co-eternal with him,
but that the copies are created and the work
of man.
The cxpositors and commentators Of the
Koran are very numerous. In so great reVer-
encc do the Mohammedans hold the Koran,
that they dare not SO much as TO touch II
without being first washed or legally purified.
Lest they should thOughtlessly touch II, they
write OH the cover or label-"let none touch 1t
but those who arc clean" SO great is their re
gard for 1t. that they never hold IT below their
girdles. They are In the habit OF swearing Sy
it. On important occasions they consult 1t by
taking an omen from the words which they
first see. In war they carry 1t with them ana
inscribc some of its Sentences on their ban-
ners. They adorn II with gold and precious
stones. They will not suffer it to be in the
possession Of any persons Of q different re-
ligious persuasion, If they know 1t. Ihere is
u mistake, however. In one point, with refer
posed that they consider 1t profaned by
translation. They have had II translated In
to the Persian language and other languages.
No one disputes that Mohammed was the
u
supposed he received considerable assistance
from others. The Arabians. accused him OF 1t
and mentioned the names Of persons Whom
they considered rs his assistants. About tnls
matter there Is q difference of opinion; the
charge itself has not been proved. 1t Is sup
posed that N1ohammed took the precaution so
to conduct everything pertaining to 1t as 10
preclude the possibility OF Its being sustained.
The Mohammedans believe that the Koran
was written in heaven. on q table of huge
size; that 1t was taken by the angel Gabriel
and revealed to Mohammed By parcels, at
different times during the space OF twenty
every year the prophet had the privilege OF
seeing the whole once, and in the last year
the privilege Of seeing II twice. Very few
chapters eyer We're ae1'ered rIt,en rrts uwy tyy
from time to time by the prophets amanuen'
sis, In such or such a part Of such or such O
chapter, as the angel directed: IL Is the gen
eral opinion that Mohammed did not arrange
the chapters. &C., OF the Koran In its present
form, but that Abu Becur, his successor was
the compiler Of 1t as we now have II, except
that Abu Becur may have made some addl-
tions or corrections reported to him by some
Of MOhammed's followers who had memor-
iZcd them. Abu Bccur seems not 10 have any
regard to time, but simply to have placed the
largest chapters first.
The various readings of the Koran arc ow-
ing principally 10 the want or vowels In the
Arabic language. Some of the passages In the
Koran are contradictory, admitted 10 he so by
the Mohammcdans: but they answer the OBJ
lection to this, by what they call the doctrine
Of abrogntion- God communicated sew
cral things which were, for good reasons, az
forwards abr0gated. All PASSAGES are OF lRIee
kinds lst. those in which both the letter and
the sense are abrogated: End. those In which
the letter is abrogutcd, bht the sense remains; !;
3rd those in which the sense Is abrogatGd,
but the letter remains.
In connection with this subject we remark,
that when any thing pcrpleXed Mohammed,
hn I1H IN nxU
had been published at once, the contradictions
would have been apparent, and he could not
have solved them; but as he profcSsed TO have
received the Koran by parcels, according TO
way of answering these objections and meet
ing these emergencies. He could, with honor,
eNlricate himself from any difficulty that
might occur.
At the time that Mohammcd was born,
many superstitions were introduced into the
christian religion and christianity was very
much corrupted. These circumstances favor
cd his designs. The political state OF the
world was also in his favor Both the Roman
and Persian Monarchics were weak, anu the
GrecianS were sunk into great luxury ana de-
generacy of manners. Any success which the
ArabianS had against these nations, they at
trhuted to their new religion and the divine
assistance. Arabia waSSlrOng and f1ourlsh1ng.
It's political government favored the designs
of Mohnmmed. He was sufficiently shreWu
to take advantage OF the position oi pnblic
affairs he made the best of every incident
and attempted what to others might have ap-
pcared dangerous.
In Arabia, there were Christians, Jews, and
Id0laters. He aimed 10 unite them in one.
He did not deny the existence of God, but
profcSScd to be his prophet and ambassador:
Since God in former ages, had given'repeated
admonitions. promises and threats, he said. 1t
was his province to propagate Gods religion
by arms. and to acknowledged chief In 6oth
spiritual and temporal things.
The great doctrine of the Koran Is the uni
ty of God" Mohamined held, that there new
er was and that there never could be more
than one truc, othOdoN religion that there
were some things connected with IL subject 10
change according TO divine direction, butthat
In its essentials 1t was the same; that whel-
ever In it's essentials it became corrupted,
God would correct 1t by messengers. or whom
Moses and Jesus were the most distinguished
before him, and none were needed or 10 be ex-
pecled after him. He enforced his inStruc-
tions by setting forth by examples, II: many
parts Of the Koran, the punishment that lell
upon those that deSpiSed these messengers.
The followers of Mohammcd treated him
with great respect. AN ambassador or the
people Of Mecca. when he returned home from
the camp Of Muhamrned, reported as follows
he had been at the courts both OF the Roman
Emperor and of the King OF Persia, and new
err SAW any prince as highly respected by MS
subjects as MOhammed WAS by his cnmpan-
ions; that whenever he made the ablutinn In
order to say his prayers, they ran and cafched
the water that he had used that whenever
he spit they Immediately licked up his split
tie, and that they also gathered up every hair
which they could find, that fell from MIN.