The Washington herald., 1909-06-04
By FREDERIC ]. HASKTN.

Cairo, Egypt May 15-The great CEN
Ter OF Mohammedan learning and cul-
ture is the University Of El-Azhar. In
caro-. More than a thousand years old
deeply incrusted with reverential tradi-
uon' holding to the ancient faith OF the
FFopnet OF Arabia, El-Azhar commands
the respect OF every true believer in
Islam. Men come here from Morocco or
the west and India on the east; from
Russia at the north and the 5ulu Islands
at the south, to drink in the faith. and
prepare themselves 10 become teachers
and molly men in the mosques Of their
distant homes. What Mecca IS to the
devotion OF Islam, El-Azhar is to its
militant spirit From this university
Islam hopes 20 accomplish the intellectual
conquest OF the world.
Ine absurdity Of these hopes, and the
ract that the religion OF Mohammed is
morlbund, IS proved beyond the question
OF doubt 70 the Occidental who visits
El-Azhar. The university was once a
really great institution Of learning. Eight
or nine hundred years ago it was the
center Of that profound Arabic culture
which gave to Europe the groundwork
OF nearly all its present-day science and
engineering skill To-day. IN the bril-
nancy Of the twentieth century, when
science has scaled 20 heights before IN
dreamed OF. El-AEhar knows nothing OF
the great advance
Its curriculum consists OF the Koran,
the Sacred Traditions, and the Sacred
Law of Islam. These three branches Of
learning are expounded TO more than ten
thousand earnest students. gathered from
the four corners Of the Moslem world.
Early this year the government, with
the active participation OF the Khedive.
attempted 10 institute some educational
reforms in the university II was pro-
posed 20 add mathematics and rudiment-
ary science 10 the course Of study. The
Ulema. the holy men who rule the uni
versity, objected 70 the innovation, but
the influence OF the Khedive caused them
TO give a reluctant consent.
But the English refOrmers OF the Mos
lem faith had reckoned without their
hosts. The l0.OOO students OF El-Azhar
promptly went out on a strike. picketed
the sacred precincts OF the mosque, and
declared a boycott on "scab" holy men
and divinity students. The government
resolved 20 compel obedience 20 its will,
and thousands OF the striking students
were arrested So far did the authori-
ties go that Moslem soldiers and police
men actually invaded the mosque without
removing their shoes, an unprecedented
and horrible PROCLAMATION OF the sacred
law
Then rose the faithful. young and DID,
educated and ignorant The government
had transgressed the law. The Khedive
had been duped by the infdel dogs of
Christian English. The students were
right Students harangued the people
from street corners. They declared that
they came 10 El-Azhar 10 learn the faith
OF Islam, that they might teach and
preach in the mosques. They we're 10 be
holy men; they did not need to know
science. They were not 20 be mere
clerks and counter jumpers: what did
they need with arithmetic? They swOre
they would not receive any OF the infidel
Christians contaminated learning And
all Of this IN sublime ignorance Of the
fact that all Europe knows OF mathmat-
ics il learned from the Arab scholars Of
that very university nearly a thousand
years ago.
The students won. The government
saw that It's efforts 10 reform the sacred
university would result IN nothing but
trouble. and that It might precipitate
a fanatical agitation against the Chris
tians. Thus ended the great students
strike. and the curriculum at the seat
Of learning and culture Of Islam again
is restricted TO the Koran, the Hadith,
or Sacred Traditions. and the Sheriat, OF
sacred Law. True, the compromise ef-
fected by the government provided for
an elective course in other branches OF
learning. but II would be worth a stu
dents life to defy the will Of his fellows
and take It