Arizona republican., 1903-04-12
The Prophet of All Islam and
 His Teachings
A Talented Armenian Now in Phoenix Writes EntertainingIy of Belief Which Has Two Hundred Million Followers-The Religion of Islam One of Law-Christianity Religion of Love
(By Antranig Azhderian, the Armenian
 author.)

(By Antranig Azhderian, the Armenian
 author.)
 There is no other people in the world whose religion forms such an impor- tant element in their national life as Mohammedanism forms in the national life of the Turkish people. So closely interwoven are the religion and the state that for a Turk to deny Moham- mechanism is to renounce all claims to his nationality. and for a foreigner to become a Moslem is to become a Turk To understand. therefore, any any de- gree the Turk and his country a study of his religion is absolutely essential.
 There is much misunderstanding among Christians. and the world in general. regarding the Mohammedan II faith and worship. Especially among the Christians ideas of Mohammedan- ism are inexcusably vague, and are consequently obstacles in the way to . correct understanding of a religious force that has had no little part in the history of the world.
 If the follower of Christ will study the koran earnestly he will not fail to find many features that strikingly re semble the leading texts of his own faith. He will be surprised to find that the religion which he formerly sup posed to be the offspring of heathen- ism. abounding in superstition and folly, is pregnant with truths that have been inculcated into his own heart and life since childhood. Indeed. Moham- mechanism and Christianity have more in common than any other two reiiS- ions. Of all the religions in the world, these are really the only two that are aggressive and missionary religions from their very inception. Both pro claim the oneness of God. ''There is no god but God" declares Mohammed. Christ is considered as one of the six apostles of God, and His virgin mother, one of the four perfect women. The following passage from the religious code of the Moslem, which is chanted in the mosques. bears a striking re- semblance to our apostles creed.
 Allah is sole and eternal. He lives and is all-powerful. He knows ami sees everything, is endowed with vol!- tion and action. In him is neither form nor figure, nor bounds nor limits, nor numbers nor parts, nor multiplt- cations nor divisions; because he is neither body nor matter. He has neither beginning nor end. but exists by himself, without generation, with out an abode, independent of the en- pire of Time: as incomparable in his nature as in his attributes, which without being separated from his as- sence. do not constitute it.
 A translation from the third sura of the koran is one more illustration out of many, showing the close resemb- lance of these two religions.
 When the angel said, o Mary, verify God sendeth thee good tidings, that thou shalt bear the word proceed ing from Himself. His name shall be Christ Jesus, the Son of Mary, honor able in this world and in the world to come, and one of those who approacn near the presence of God. And lie (Jesus) shall speak unto men in His cradle and when he is grown; and He shall be one of the righteous She answered, Lord, how shall I have a son since no man hath touched me? The angel said, To, God createth that which He pleaseth.' When he decreetn a thing He only saith unto it be- and it is God shall teach Him the Scrip lures and wisdom, and the law and the gospel. and shall appoint him hia apostle to the children of Israeli
 Brethren, it is not difficult to discover a reason for the similarity. That Mo- hammedanism should resemble Chris tianity, and that the koran should compare closely with the Bible, is only a natural outcome of the training of Mohammed.
 ENrnr1 hi tli inCf -a1r h Q the Old and New Testaments. and re- garded them with a love and respect which he did not withdraw in his old age, for to the last he spoke of the Bible as the word of God. Besides the direct influence of the Holy Scriptures the surroundings of his household were essentially Christian in character. His favorite wife embraced the teachings of Christ; one of his other wives was T Jewess, and most of his highly esteemed counselors were of the Chris tian persuasion. All this could not fai to exert a powerful influence, and Mo hammed manifested it in all his writ ings. paying homage to Christ to tn last, and looking upon Him as tn greatest of prophets.
 The question naturally arises. II this is true. why did Mohammed seel to establish a new reIigion?"
 He did not claim to be more than man. Although his followers ascrib miracles to him. he did not claim | perform them, and even went so far a to denounce them. He fought no against the Bible, not against Christi anity in it's purity He did however zealously attack Christianity as cor ruptly practiced by the people Of hI time Moreover, he denied the divinit, of Jesus Christ. and violently oppose, the apothesis of the Virgin Mary whom the popular conception reali, regarded as a goddess. In opposition to this he advocated the absolute unit, of the Deity, considering these othe beliefs as inpious and unworthy Supreme Being. And, in the light ) history, it cannot be doubted that Il his position Mohamned manifested al elevated religious nature. This idle; of Gods unity was an advance upol