The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-03-24
A M0HAM MEDAN DOCTOR.
LETTER FROM THE CHIEF AUTHOR.
iTY OF THE MOSlEM CHURCH.

What Ahmed Essad Writes To . German
Convertible Cardinal Principles Of
Islamism--Summary Definition Of Faith.
Religious Ceremonies.
DEAR SiR-The letter by which you ask to
be received into the heart Of the Mussulman
religion has been received, and has caused us
lively satisfaction. The reflections which
You make on this occasion appear to US worthy
OF the highest praise At the same time we
ought to call your attention to the fact that
your conversion to Islamsm Is not subordi-
mated to our consent, for lslamism does not
admit of any intermediary, like the clergy,
between God and his servants Our duty
consists only in teaching the people religious
truths. Consequently, conversion to Islam
ism demands no religious formality and de-
ponds upon the authorization of no one 1t
is sufficient to believe and to proclaim ones
belief
In fact, lslamism has for its base faith in
the unity of God and in the mission of his
dearest servant Mohammed may God cover
him with blessings and grant him saIvation) (;
/. c., to accept conscentiously this faith and
to avow it in words, as expressed by the
phrase: "There is only one God and Moham-
med is his prophet" He who makes this
profession of faith becomes Mussulman
without having need of the consent or appro-
baton Of any one IL, as you promise In
your letter, you make this profession Of faith,
that is to say, you declare that there is only
one God and Mohammed is his prophet, you
become Mussulman without having need Of
our acceptance; and We, for our part, felici.
tate you with pride and joy for having been
touched by divine grace, and We shall testify
in this world and the other that you are our
brother. Believers are all brothers.
Such is summary definition of faith. Let
us enter now upon some developments Of it.
Man, who is superior to the other animals by
his intelligence, was created out Of nothing
to adore his creator This alteration may bs
summed up in two words-to honor the COM
inands Of God and to sympathiEe with his
creatures This double alteration exists in
all religions. As to its practice-religions
differ as to their rules, forms, times, places.
the greater or less number of their rites etc.
But the human intelligence does not suffice
to assure us of the manner of praying which
is most worthy Of the divine glory; SO God in
his mercy, in according to certain human
beings tho gift of prophecy, in sending to
them, by angels, inspiration, writings and
books, and in SO revealing the true religion,
has overwhelmed his servants with blessings
The book Of God which descended last from
heaven is the sacred Koran, the unchanged
BILE teachings Of which, carefully preserved
from the first day in written volumes and in
the memory of thousands of reciters, will last
even to the day Of the last judgment
The first of the prophets was Adam. and
the last Mohammed (may God give him sal
vation) Between these two many others
have lived; their number Is known only To
God. The greatest Of all is Mohammed
After him come Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Noah
and Adam may God grant them salvation).
All the prophets have threatened their fol
lowers with the day Of the last Judgment
So it is necessary to believe that the dead
will rise again, that they will appear before
the tribunal of God to render their accounts,
and that the elect will be sent to paradise,
and those condemned to hell. All tho actions
Of every one in this world will be examined
on that day one by one; and although all the
acts Of soldiers in holy war, even their sleep,
are considered As a prayer, they also will be
obliged at the Judgment day to render an
account. The only exception is for those who
die as martyrs, who will go to paradise with
out examination.
| Also it is necessary, "a an article Of faith
TO attribute all good and all evil to the prov.
idence Of God. To say that the creator OF
good is the angel, and the creator OF evil the
demon, Is one OF those errors which it is
necessary to avoid.
Consequently the believer ought to have
faith in God, in his angels, in his books, In
his prophets, in the last judgment, and In his
will as the source Of all good and evil. He
who accepts these truths is true believer.
But TO be perfect believer it is necessary Ia
perform certain duties, to pray to God, and
to avoid falling into such sins as murder
robbery, adultery, etc.
Besides the profession of faith of which we
have spoken above, good Mussuman ought
TO pray five times day, distribute TO the
poor fortieth part Of his goods every year,
fast during the month Of Ramazan, and make
once in his life pilgrimage to Mecca.
If believer does not conform TO tho laws
of God, and does not avoid what he forbids he
does not become an infidel, but he is consid.
cred as sinner; that is, as wandering be-
lever, and he will merit temporary punish.
ment in the other world. He is in the hands
of God God pardons him or condemns him
to pass certain time in hell, proportioned u
his guilt.
Faith aDnuls all sin He who is converted
to Islanism becomes rs innocent az IL just
born, and he is responsible only for the sins
committed after his conversion.
A sinner who repents and in person asks
Gods forgiveness, obtains pardon. Only the
rights Of his neighbor are an exception To
this rule for the servant Of God who cannot
obtain justice in this world, reclaims his RICH,
at the day OF judgment; and God, who is
just, will then compel the oppressor to make
restitution to the oppressed. Even the mar.
tyrs are no exception to this rule. To avoid
this responsibility the only means is to get a
quittAnce from your neighbor whom you
have wronged In all cases, however, there
Is no need Of the intercession OF u spiritual
director.
Mussulman prays all alone in any place
which suits his convenience. and IN merit the
remission Of his sins he goes directly to God
He does not confess them 70 others, nor ough,
be TO do no At his death the Mussulman in
babitants Of the town are Obliged to put h.m