Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-09
v. THE DIMMING CRES-
CENT OF ISLAM
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

only regard for Islam is political and not
devotional. The late Moustafa KameI
Pasha, leader of the patriotic Nationalist
party in Egype, was a devout Moslem,
who earnestly desired to reform his faith
and to free 1t from the shackles OF thir-.
teen centuries of priestly tradition, which
has quite covered over the original doc
trines and teachings Of MolTammed Once
in a while man will arise in the facGl-
ty El-AEhar who strives to adjust the In
elastic code Of the seventh century to the
rapid progress and constant change OF
the twentieth. But the body of Islam il
conservative and ignorant. It win not be
moved
1t has been proved In various portions
OF the world that the Mohammedan relig-
ion cannot adopt Occidental civilization
and survive. To Europeanize q Mosiem
means to rob him Of all faith. That Is a
serious thing to do, for while one ag-
nostic may be an exemplary man, peo-
ple without a sheet anchor Of faith is
certain to sink. So few Moslems have
been converted TO Christianity that the
record is not worth repeating. In Turkey
in Syria, in Egypt, in India, in Central
Africa, wherever the missionaries Of the
cross have gone they have made many
converts, but not from Islam. The Mo-
hammedan is a monotheist and he be-
lieves in one God. The Trinitarian theory
of orthodox Christianity offends his mon
otheistic sense. II Christian civilization
shakes his faith in Islam 1t leaves him
without any belief whatever. What the
second and third generations will be or
will do remains for time to show.
Many Of the more enlightened and de-
vout Moslems lament the decay OF their
faith, but admit that they are powerless
to arrest It, They know that the infiex-
ible code Of religion, social ethics and
civil law prepared to meet conditions ex-
listing in Arabia thirteen hundred years
ago cannot be adjusted to present con-
ditions. They know that the faith is In
elastic, that the holy men have taught
for uncounted generations that the whole
law must be obeyed, that the traditions
must be obeyed, and that none but God
can change the rules in the slightest de-
gree. They know that they cannot change
the law without pulling down the whole
structure. They know that they cannot
square the circle. They realize that the
Crescent OF the True Faith is being dim
med in the armament by the still rising
sun OF an advancing civilization, nurtured
by a religion which Is elastic and which
Is ever-changing to meet new conditions.
They do not believe in the Christian
faith, but they are powerless to answer
cross when he cries I'm hoe signo
vinces."
Furthermore, the civilization Of the
twentieth century will not brook the
degradation Of women, which is con-
comitant OF the Mohammedan religion.
The prophet himself said Paradise Is
under the feet of mothers" thereby rec
ognizing the influence OF women as the
4, g. xha az .ef1g0
taught that women have future life and
a SOUL but in HIS own life he was so Inn
pure, and his picture Of heaven was so
bestially sensual, that the good parts OF
his teachings have been forgot and the
bad alone remembered. He permitted plu-
rality of wives. setting the limit at four.
but he also permitted concubinage without
limit. numerical or moral. The women of
Islam are degraded into slaves. They
must veil their faces and submit to their
masters in all things.
Fifty years ago there was but one wom-
an in Egypt who could read and write.
Now there are tens of thousands OF girls
in the schools. Even the educated wom-
en- do not desire emancipation from the
harem. They are sorry for the European
or American woman whose husband cares
so little for her that he will permit all
men 10 look upon her face. But at the
same time this conservative woman Is
not insensible to the advantages of edu-
cation, and she has found out that actual
cruelty to wives is contrary to the teach
ings and practice OF Christians. These
girls being educated now viii be the
mothers of a future generation OF Egyp-
tian moslems. 1t is hardly to be believed
that they will confirm their sons in the
ancient faith with the old-tin1e rigorous
ness and piety. Islam is being attacked
by the public school system. It viii exist
for centuries, perhaps, but it is already In
the decline and never again will its sword
cause the world to tremble with fear
Copyright, 1903, by Frederic J. Haskin.)