The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-04

Letter from the Chief Authority of the Mos
lem Church o q German Convert

D., President of Robert College, near Constanti-
nople.
New York Independent
Dear Sir-The letter by which you ask to be
received into the heart of the Mussulman re-
lively satisfaction. The reflections which you
make on this occasion appear worthy of
the highest praise.
At the same time we ought to call your atten-
ton to the fact that your diversion to Islamism
is not subordinated TO consent. for Islam
ism 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 lslamism
demands no religious Formally and depends upon
the authorization of no one 1t is sufficient to
believe and TO proclaim ones belief.
In fact. islamtsm has for its base faith in the
unity of God and in the mission of his dearest
servant Mohammed tnay God cover him with
blessings and grant him salvation; l. e., TO ac-
cept conscientiously this faith and to avow it in
words, as expressed by the phrase: There is
only one God and Mohammed is his prophet !"
He who makes this profession of faith becomes
a Mussulman without having need of the con-
sent or appro baton of any If, you
promise IN your letter, you make this profession
of faith, that is to say. you declare that there
only one God and that Mohamed is his pro-
phet, you become Mussulman without having
need of our acceptance; and we for our part,
felcitate you with pride and joy for having been
touchedsby divine grace, and we shall testify
in this world and in the other that you are our
brother. Believers are all brothers
Such Is a summary definition of faith Let
enter now upon some developments OF it.
Man, who is superior to the other animals be
his intelligence, was created out of nothing
adore his Creator. This alteration may by
summed up in two words-to honor the com
mands of God and to sympathize with his
creatures. This double alteration exists in all
religions. As to practice-reigions differ to
their rules, forms. times, pla ces, the greater
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
glory; 30 God in his mercy, in according to GER
tain human beings the gift of prophecy, in send
ing tothem, 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 Interchangeable
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 9lonammed (may God give him salvation1.
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)
ALI the prophets have threatened their fol-
lowers with the day of the last judgement. 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 con-
demne to hell. All the actions of every one In
this world will be examined on that day by
one; and although all the acts of soldiers in
in holy war, even their sleep. are considered
ment day to render account. The only
ception is for those who die martyrs. who will
60 to Paradise without examination.
Also, 1t is necessary, article of faith, to
attribute all good and all evil to the providence
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 1t Is necessary to avoid
Consequently the believer ought to have faith
ia God. in His angels. In His books. in His
prophets, in the last judgement. and in His will
as the source of all good and evil. He who
cepts these truths is a true believer. But to be
perfect believer it Is necessary to perform
certain duties, to pray to God and TO avoid fall
ing into such aims murder. robbery, adult
cry, etc.
Beside the profession of faith of which we
have spoken above, good Mussulman
ought to pray five times day, distribute to the
fast during the month of Ramazan, and make
once in his life pilgrimage TO Mecca.
Ii believer does not conform to the laws OF
God. and does not avoid what He forbids, he
does not become an infdel. but he is considered
sinner, that is, wandering believer,
and he will merit temporary punishment in
the other world He is in the hands of God.
God pardons him condemns him to pass
certain time in hell. proportioned to his guilt.
Faith annuls all sin. He who is converted to
lslamlsm becomes as innocent as If just born.
and he is responsible only for the sins COM
mitted after his conversion.
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 right at the
day of judgment; and God, who is just. will
then compel the oppresSor to make restitution
to the oppressed Even the martyrs
ception to this rule To avoid this responsibility
the only means is to get quittance from your
neighbor whom you have wronged In all cases,
however, there is no need of the intercession of
a spiritual director.
All this. no doubt, seems strange to people ac-
customed to a sacerdotal regime. When a
Christian child is born. to make part of society,
he must be baptized by priest; when he grows
up he needs priest to marry him; if he would
pray he must go to a church and fluid priest;
to obtain forgiveness of his sins he must
TESS them to priest, and he must have q priest
to bury him.
clergy, such obligations have place. The in
FAINT is born a Mussulman. and his father, or thu
chief of the family, gives him name When
they wish to contract marriage the man and
the woman. or their agents, make the contract
in presence of two witnesses; the contracting
parties are the only ones interested, and others
cannot intervene or take part
A Musseman prays all alone in any place
which suits his convenience, and to merit the
remission of his sins he goes directly to God.
He does not confess them to Others ought
he to do At his death the Musselman in
habitants of the town are obliged TO put him
in coffin and bury him. Any Musselman
do this; the presence of a religious chief is not
necessary.
IN a word. in all religious acts there is no in
termediary between God and His servants 1t
is necessary to learn the will of God, revealed
with it.
Only the accomplishment of certain religious
ceremonies, such as the prayers on Friday and
at Bairam is subordiDated to the will of the
Cai1ph, of the Prophet, aud the Sultan of
Mdssuimans, since the arrangement of
monies for Islamism is one of his sacred attrl
butes Obedience to his orders is one of the
most important religious duties AS TO our
mission, it consists in administering in his
name. the religious affairs which he deigns to
cohfide to
One of the things to which every Mussuman
ought to be very attentive is righteousness in
character; vices such pride, presumption,
egotism and obstinacy do not become Mussul-
man. To revere the great and to compassionate
the insignificant are precepts of Islamism.
May God give success and salvation to him
VINO is touched by divine grace
The Sheik-ul Islam,
AHMED EsAAD.
CoNsTANTINoPLE, Rebi-u1-Akhir, 1905.
WILL PEARLS BURN?
LIZ