Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-02-15
ISLAM.
An Account Of its Founder, Doc
trines and Sects.
IA paper written for the rEsERET NEWS
BY J. II. g
PROGRESS OF ISLAM.

PROGRESS OF ISLAM.
1t has already been incidental,
mentioned that Islam spread rapid
ly. The whole Of Arabia was con
verted in ten yeas. After the dealt
of Mohammed the prophetical ofiic,
went over to Abu Bekr, who agair
was followed by Omar. Both o
these carried out the work of devel
cpins and securing the success o.
the new religion and they did Il
with all the zest that religious en-
thusiasm cc:.ld inspire. Gilman,
Inc third caliph (successor), was
considered n weak leader, and at his
death the dignity of successor to the
Prophet went over TO Moawijah,
who had his residence in Damascus.
Abu Bekr was victorious in
Syria. Omar conquered Damascus
and Jerusalem. One of his generals,
Ann, subdued Egypt and northern
Africa; another general; Chalid, was
successful in Persia and the coun-
tries Of ancient Assytia. Sangui-
nary quarreis about the right order
Of succession did not bar the out
ward progress. Stella was con-
quered. Spain followed, and an at
tempt was made 70 subdue GalIia.
This was frustrated by the victories
OF Charles Martell by Tours and
Poitiers, 1872. But on the shores of
the Gauges and Indus Mohamme-
dan kingdoms erefounded. EThn
when internal quarrels seemed to
threaten TO break down the
whole structure il was seen
that it was held together
as with invisible hands. There
were at one period three caliphs at
one time, one in Bagdad, one in
Cairo, and one in COrdOva. But the
power OF Islam was not broken by
this fracture. New blood and life
were poured into the body by the
Turks joining. These continued
the work Of propagation. COnstan-
tinople was taken in 1853, and the
victorious hords carried the Cres-
cent as far as the walls Of Vienna.
The dignity Of successor now went
over to the Turkish Sultan, 1917.
5elim |. aided also 10 his titles Of
caliph and Chief Imam that Of
servant Of the two holy cities.
1t is true that the Saracens and
the Turks found on their way most |
old, dead forms OF governments,
which were an easy prey to the |
hordes burning with religious zeal
and fanaticism. But this does not,
rs has been shown, wholly account |
for their marvellous success. Ii can
be accounted for on no other ground |
than 10 suppose unseen forces work
ing through the fundamentally of
men. For prOphetical description
1f these conquests see Revelations
K.
1t is noticeable that Islam has not
Jet lost very much territory. AL
.hough Spain and Sicily and large
art OF European Turkey are now
ost, yet in the heart of Asia and
Africa it is still progressing, even
more 50, 1t is said, than Christian
ty. 1t may be that Islam will yet
rove q stepping-stone for some Of
hose nations to some higher state
f religious knowledge, to truth.
AL KORAN.
Al Koran are the holy scriptures
[ the Moslems. The word itself
means "Recitationr or Lecture"
he book is a collection Of doctrines,
ermons, aud precepts given by Mo-
Iammed as divine revelations, and
the law-bOok of Islam.
he present arrangement of the
lnerent chapters i. not the work Of |
iohammed. He seems TO have
voided any such collection Of the
hole into one volume, perhaps
18th the view ola final revision.
tut his successor, Abu Bekr, col
,cted the existing fragments anu
the volume with such
additions that were still fresh in
ne memory. This work was never
acknowledged, because
5 discrepancies with other partial
here and there existing. {
ere too apparent. The third sue {
sssor, Gilman, undertook an ex- !
'nsive revision and had "a great
lumber of copies written which Z
ere distributed among the various
cal authorities in the MOham- '
ledan world. He also commanded I
i other copies Of the Koran TO be
estrOyed. But even in the puri- {
ed form the volume is not free q
ON contradictions, which, how 0
7er, are no doubt satisfactorily ex- o
aimed by the theolOgians. ! a
Idge from analogy with Christ a
n theologians, who generally {,
explain" everything. Thedivision c
ll4 slirds or chapters Of UNEQUAL s.
myth is accidental and seems to Il
i've been done without reference q
the connection Of matter or chro- u
'logy. As consequence Of this. n
e Koran is TO occidental readers 81
very tiresOme volume, but the il
who in all their views u
III inclinatiOns seem TO be contrary q
us, cleave 10 the book with love Il
I'd reverence h1nd TO account for. ol
Koran is the basis Of the theology g
well as Of the theoretic and prac- b.
nj Jurisprudence Of Islam. IL is n
nsidered the standard Of style and CT
lguage Of the Arabic tongue. AMI IA
: MOslems are allowed to read Il al
Arabic. 1t is also the only text OF
ok of the gleneutart- cnbnnIu .nH |