The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-24


couquests. and especially in the sudden
ness of their rise from degrade tion to
enlightenment from utter insight hcance
to the pinnacle OF martial glory, the
Arabs stand pre-eminelt aud alone.
"Prior TO the seventh century Of our
era. Arabia was of little Importance ia
history, and almost unknown. Its
peninsular form, its rocky barriers on
the north, and its immense desert tracts
had secluded IL from the affairs Of the
outside world and left its civilization to
drag hopelessly behind that OF its sister
nations. While ON the one hand stood
the ancient civilization Of the East. and
on the other the younger aud more Wig
orous civilization 81 the IVES, Arabia
lying betw cen the two seems TO have
shared in the benefits OF neither. The
condition of its Inhabitants as largely
that Of society In u primitive state. The
Arai were divided into numerous petty
tribes. Attempts had been made To
unite these tribes Into one nation. Thus
far, however, every effort had failed.
"The religious condition of Arabia
were hardly in advance of the social.
Here were Sabians, disciples of Zoroaster,
Magians or fre-worshppers, Jews who
had migrated alter the destruction OF
Jerusalem by THUS, and Christians who
had been driven from Syria as heretics.
But Of the various forms of worship
which we're disseminated throughout the
land. idolatry seemed to have found the
most vigorously. Sabianism, the wor-
ship OF the sun, moon, and stars was o
common type.
Christianity and Judaism. though
not unknown. seem to have made IT
little progress. Their existence was only
ephemeral until newer faith, to the
Arabian mind more real aud vital, should
arise and overshadow them.
"Sucn were the conditions, social and
religious, OF Arabia before the time OF
Mohammed. Aud yet. though beyond
the power OF human prudence to fore
| sse, Arabia was on the eve of great
religious and political revo ution, which
was 10 overturn the kingd ms VI Asia
and menace Europe as well.
=" In this primitive state OF civilization,
rude as IL may seem, there we're elements
| of great strength. While the nations of
| powers and becoming enervated through
| luxury, here was race continuing its
| life in all mplicity aud preserving in.
tact its natural vigor and hardihood.
| "The task OF consolidating these
rowing tribes into q single people, of re-
moving their petty jealousies aad har-
| monizng their discords. was fraught
| with the greatest difficulties, requiring
| for lis achievement consummate skill
| aud sagacity. The person to accomplish
| this must be sagacious enough to evolve
| an original polity which should be ac-
L
| TO the Arabian nature and vigorous with
| the enthusiasm OF new faith, irresista-
| bly, expansive through motives of eud-
| less war and plumber, always powerful
\ with the Arab.
'In the person of Mohammed. the in
| stigator of this new religious life. we
| are confronted with one Of the most sin-
| gular characters of history; a consuln-
mate geuius. man OF rare executive
| ability, q great national leader; yet one
| whose teachings embodied strange
mixture Of high Judaic and Christian
morality with beathen sensuality;
character combining unusual clemency
with vindictive cruelty. whose earlier
| aud later career present the contrast be-
tAeen a disint crested reformer and a
selfish and INSCRIPTIONS conqueror.
'Sti angely enough, up TO ais fortieth
year Mohammed does not appear In any
respect as prophet. but simply as al
crdinary man absorbed in tle affairs of
the world. How in his fortieth year the
crisis cane; how in the cave in the wild
erness, whittier he had Withdrawn for
prayer and meditation, sudden light
beaned in upon his dark ess, and the
eternal reality burst upon his mind that
there Is but one supreme ruler OK the
universe-is familiar to every reader of
history and need not be recoun ted here.
In the strange experience Of that night,
Islam, the la est OF the great relgio:s or
the world, had its origin. Mohammed
believed himself To be the object OF a di-
vine revelation. His people are living In
idolatry; he must turn them from their
idols. Straigntaway he begins the
preaching of q new faith-Is.am, sub
mission To God.
"At first we may imagine his keen
minded tribesmeu listening to him with
"a mingled feeling Of interest and Curl
osity which gave place to contempt. con-
tempt to enmity, and enmity at length
TO opan e.secution. The prophet Is
seek refuge at Medina. There finding q
few faithful adherents he resolves as a
last resort upon u career OF warfare.
Hit er his religion had been one of
Glen cy aad mercy henceiorth IL shall
De the leligion of the sword. BY nature
predatory people, the Arabs, were at
ones attracted by a doctrine that har-
mon I'd SO well with their INCLINATION.
"Mohammed, instead OF being despised
as an imposter, comes 20 be revered as q
mighty leader aud prophet from Cd.
Ten years Of warfare and Mohammed
sees Islam established as the universal
religion OF Arabia. From prophet he has
become king. Already they were burninS
to promulgate the precepts OF the Koran
in The outsid, world. The critical period
for Islam had passed. The triumph had
begun.
with his increasing power consequent
upon the subj CATION of the entire pen
insula to his control, Mohammed mad
already bsgun to contemp plate the propa-
CATION OF his faith in foreign lanus, but
death cut him of before he had an op-
portunity to carry out his great design.
When therefors IN later years his success
sors, the Caliphs, undertook that spien-
did series OF military movements which
laid the foundation Of Moslem power
abroad, it was Dut the execution Of the
idea which the great prophet himself had
preconceived.
Victory after victory rewarded the
zeal OF the Faithful. and each succeeding
Caiph saw the dominion OF his prede-
cessor widened, until one hundred years
f.om the hiRnt OF Monamined the en-
pire OF Islam embraced IN extent of ter
ritory stretching from The mouth OF the
river Indus To the Atlantic ocean and
from the frontier of China to the Red
sea.
THE conquest of Syria occupied the
Moslem arns but six years Dama,cus,
Jerusalem, Antioch, were in turl be-
siegcd and reduced. From Syria their
victorious march was extended into
Persia, from Persia 10 Egypt, fro
EQyDt lC trayersel Che norIner,l coust NJ