The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-07-20
Palace OF DoIma saahtoheh on tho sosporus.

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington, ID. CO.
The deposing of the sultan of
Turkey, not only from the position of
temporal. ruler Of the Turks but from
the far more powerful one of Caliph of
Islam, opens an interesting new chap
ter In the history of Mohammedanism
The step taken by the Turkish Nation
alists In stripping the once nominally
powerful caliph of his power, and his
retirement to Mecca under the wing
Of the king Of Hejaz, might conceivably
lead to very interesting developments ;
for politics and religion are insepa-
rable in the Near East, a fact that
Western observers, far from the many
cross-currents of the region, do not
always realize. Some prevalent mis-
conceptions about the Mohammedan
faith seem to add confusion to many
discussions about the recent develop
ments In Turkey.
The easiest way to dispel some of
these illusions is by pointing to several
striking likenesses between the worlds
two newest among the major religions.
The term "Mohammedan," like the
term christian" Is a nickname. Both
names were given, with contemptuous
intent, It is believed, by enemies of the
religions.
The term christian was quickly
adopted by followers OF the Nazarene.
The. term "Mohammedan" never has
been adopted by the followers Of the
Prophet. He sought to avoid the en-
ployment of his own name by supply
ing one-the name "Islam"-by which
he hoped Mohammedanism would be
known. He further sought to make
this word, meaning resignation. imply
the five cardinal points Of the new
faith. The first of these points was
the brief creed, There is no God but
Allah, and Mohammed Is his prophet"
The other four enjoined prayer, giving
Of aims, the fast of Ramadan and pill
grimage to Mecca.
Another significant parallel between
Christianity and Mohammedanism is
that both are the religions Of millions
Of people of races alien to that Of
their founders. Christ was a Jew +;
Mohammed was an Arab. 1t Is the
Mohammedanism modified by the
Turkish temperament and nationality
that has clashed with western civiliza-
tion In recent centuries.
Most misleading of all the illusions
about Mohammedanism, however, Is
the tacit assumption that the Moham-
medan world Is a religious unit. Seen
a long way of, the sects and groups
fade away. In reality there are two
great branches of Mohammedanism,
the Sunnites and the Shlites. Among
both these branches, and also outside
them, there are sharply drawn cleav-
ages.
Sultan Didn't Rule All.
Recent caliphs. who have been the
sultans Of Turkey, have claimed spir-
itual supremacy over the Mohamme-
dan world Of some 3OO,OO0,000 souls.
But In actual fact the sultan Of Turkey
had little more spiritual ascendancy
over the MohammedaMs outside Turkey
than the king Of England has over the
Episcopalians In the United States. In
fact there would be no urgent Near
East problem at this moment had his
leadership been recognized on the 9TH
er side of the Bosporus In Asia Minor.
A very important difference between
the western mind and the Moham-
medan viewpoint has, hitherto. pre-
cluded spiritual ascendancy in Islam
which would cut across all lines Of
temporal power and include even war
ring nations. The Mohammedan has
no priests. Islam Is one Of the most
pragmatic Of religions. Heretofore IL
a callph did not rule he wasn't a
caliph. A, spiritual ruler up to now
has been incomprehensible 70 the Mos
lem mind And It remains to be seen
whether the radical step taken by the
Turkish Nationalists In setting up a
caliph shorn of temporal power will
accomplish permanent change. Be
ing temporal rulers primarily, caliphs
naturally have sought to rule by the
sword.
The Mohammedan's religion and his
law 20 hand In hand. Mohammed was
Z law giver, not only in the Mosaic
but also in the Justinian sense. There
are as many codes Of law among
Mohammedans a. therv are sects; and
a. many kinds Of lawyers ~ there are
codes. Among the Sunnites. the ortho-
dox major division Of Islam, there are
four schools Of Law. A Hanafite would
a. soon engage q Malakite lawyer as
a Presbyterian congregation would be
likely to employ Unitarian preacher.
The very word "csliph" has an al
Iurement which dates back to child
hood days when one lived among those
fantastic Arabian nights 1t The court