The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-10-29

Sdli
tPrerared by the National Geographic 8
ciety. Washington. ID. c.
t A new world problem, or more prof.
r erly a renewed world problem, arise
/ with recent attacks by the fierce Ws
habis of Central Arabia on the NOR
settled governments that fringe tina
huge peninsula. A hundred years ag
this fighting Mohammedan sect he'll
sway over practically the whole o
Arabia, putting supposed Turkish con
troll to scorn, and even dominating tn,
holy cities of Mecca and Medina 81
that pilgrims from all parts of tn,
world had to conform to Wahabi Gus
toms. With their greatly enlarged
power since the World war, and theil
recent evidences Of aggression toward
their neighbcrs, the possibility Of 6
new Wahabi hegemony embracing
most of Arabia does not seem exceed
ingly remote.
In fanaticism the Wahabis are the
Westerners ultimate conception of
Mohammedan zealots, and In this re-
gard quite different from many of
their more urbane fellow religionists.
This is the sect whose followers, in
their fighting frenzies, actually invite
death, in the BELIEF that In dying for
the faith with their boots on" they
are assured Of an immediate entrance
into the paradise. 1t Is even said that
one of the fighting Wahabi leaders of
the past century furnished each of his
warriors with written order on the
Mohammedan counterpart Of st. Peter
forthwith to admit the bearer to the
realm of the blessed.
Vandalism seems a fanatical, blood
thirsty movement as it is exempllfied
In the destructive raids of its votaries
against their neighbors who differ
somewhat In religious views, but it has
suffered, as movements" always have,
by being taken over by narrower
minds and hotter heads than those of
its founder.
The Wahabi sect was founded early
In the Eighteenth century by Adbel
Wahab who might be termed the Cart
wright of Mohammedanism for he was
essentially a Mosem Puritan seeking
to turn his faith back to what he con-
sidered Its simple fundamentals. Feel
ing that Mohammedanism should be
uncompromisingly monotheistic, he
was particularly disturbed by the
tendency to worship Mohammed, who
claimed to be only mortal, as we'll |
as Allah.
Before his death Wahab converted |
to his simplified faith powerful sheik
Of central Arabia, Mohammed Ibn
Saoud. He became both the religious
and political head of Vandalism; and
he, too, took a leaf from the funda-
mental teachings Of Mohammed and
began spreading his faith by the
sword.
Puritanism by Force.
Another Saoud, a descendant, found
himself at the beginning of the Nine
Ill Arabia, with a powerful force of
Wahabi fighters at his command He
ook the sacred city, Mecca, and his
enemies who had been taught to look
lpon the Wahabis as infldels, expect
d the worst. What Saoud did, how
ver, was to put his Puritanism into
fleet. He put an end to vicious prac-
ices which had been Accomplishments ,
o the pilgrimages; had his servants
rive the populace with sticks to the
Mosques at prayer time; and careful I
= policed the town. One Of his spec
acular activities was to have every
obacco pipe he could find seized and 7
urnt IN huge bonfire.
The powerful Wahabi state center G
lg in the interior of Arabia was Z
rushed by combined Egyptian and
url1ish forces between 1911 and 1918. '
ince 1924. however, the sect has been c
rowing quietly, though Its power was 4
alanced by a non-Wahabi state. shar-
IL the interior of the peninsula. v
Ince the World war the Wahabis fl
ave crushed this rival power and now
ominate all of central Arabia. Only S
lie outer shell Is held by non-Wahabis, b
I'd 1t Is becoming a serious question a
neither these states, without Euro "
,an assistance. can hold their own o