BRO. FORNEY.--I will give the readers of THE ADVOCATE some account of the origin and nature of the above religion, which I trust will be read with interest my many, as well as furnish the means of confronting skeptics, whose usual practice is to make all religions alike, and then discard all as human inventions. Mohammed was born at Mecca, a chief city of Arabia. He began his mission in the beginning of the seventh century.

      I. Religions of Arabia prior to Mohammed.

      Idolatry was prevalent in its grossest forms. Everything, from the sun down to a lump of dough, was worshiped. There were not less than 360 idols in and about Mecca.

      The Jewish religion had been known by the Arabians for all of one century before Mohammed; and several strong tribes have been made proselytes to that religion by the Jews, who fled in great numbers to Arabia from the destruction of their country by the Romans.

      Christianity had likewise made great progress in that country before Mohammed, as the persecution in the East at the beginning of the third century drove many Christians to seek shelter in Arabia, through whom a number of tribes were converted, and parts of others. Abu Kabus, king of Hira, who was slain a few months before the birth of Mohammed, was a Christian.

      II. Circumstances favoring Mohammed.

      Though illiterate he seems to have been endowed by nature with a flowing and attractive eloquence, a vast and penetrating genius, to which we may add an insatiable ambition, which led him boldly to declare that he was commissioned of God to destroy idolatry, supplant Judaism and Christianity, and [2] and institute the worship of the one true God. The gross ignorance of the Arabians, Syrians and Persians at that time rendered them an easy prey to the bold adventurer. It must also be remembered that though professed Christians were numerous, yet the pure light of the gospel was entirely extinguished.

      Mosheim, alluding to the Church in the seventh century, says: "Nothing can equal the ignorance and darkness of this century, the most impartial and accurate account of which would appear incredible to those who are unacquainted with the productions of this barbarous period." The substance of the Christian religion was entirely lost. Bitter dissensions and cruel animosities among the various sects wrought in the Church carnage, assassination, and every species of corruption and enormities that made the very name of Christianity odious. Having ceased to be the Church of God and become the Church of Rome, they also ceased to worship God, and invoked angels, the cross, and the images and bones of saints. Thus, while the pure religion lay concealed and expiring under a mothy and corrupt heap of superstitious inventions, Mohammed found little trouble in propagating his new religion. He met with some persecution, principally from the Korish tribe, who were bitter enemies of the prophet, and attempted to kill him. But he resorted to arms, at first in defense, and afterward in aggressive movements as the principal means of establishing his religion. He achieved some brilliant victories over his enemies, fighting often against great odds. To these he appealed as the seal of his mission, and they won for him many converts and great fame.

      In the twelfth year of his mission, Mohammed announced his famous night journey, in which he claimed to have been conducted by the angel Gabriel from Mecca to Jerusalem, and thence through the seven heavens into the presence of God, with whom he conversed, and then returned to Mecca the same night. This at first staggered many of his followers, some of whom even renounced him. But Abu Beer vouched for the veracity of the prophet, which saved his credit and increased it to such a degree that he could in the future impose upon them what he chose. Such was the fanatical homage paid to him, that water used by him for ablution, and hairs that fell from his head, were preserved by his followers, who even licked up his spittle. This seems incredible, but is declared to be true by G. Sale, who translated the Koran. Mohammed denominated his religion Islam, meaning entire devotion to God. They who embrace it are called Moslems and Mussulmen, which signifies resigned. Since the death of the prophet the Moslems have become divided into many rival sects, four of which are called orthodox.

      The Koran (the book, or that which is to be read) claims to have been revealed at different times at Mecca and Medina. Upon the whole it is the most dry and monotonous book I ever read. Remarkable skill is manifested in its adaptation to the carnal nature of man. The duties it enjoins are few and simple, and none of them incompatible with the free reign of appetite and passion. Even its paradise offers nothing but sensuality and lewdness. This is the description of paradise: "Those who believe and do that which is right shall dwell in a garden of delight. Therein shall be fruits and palm trees and pomegranates, and the shades thereof shall be near, spreading above them, and the fruits thereof shall hang low, so as to be easily gathered." "Therein are rivers of incorruptible waters, and rivers of milk, the last whereof changeth not; and rivers of wine, pleasant unto those who drink; and rivers of clarified honey." "They shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls, and upon them shall be garments of fine green silk, and of brocades." "They shall repose on couches, the lining whereof shall be of thick silk interwoven with gold." "And it shall be said unto them, Eat and drink with easy digestion." "And they shall eat fruit of the sorts which they shall choose, and flesh of birds of the kinds they shall desire." "Youths, who shall continue in their bloom forever, shall go about to attend them with vessels of silver, and goblets; the bottles shall be of silver, shining like glass, filled with flowing wine." "They shall determine the measure thereof by their wish." And the Lord shall give them to drink of a most pure liquor. Their heads shall not ache by drinking the same, neither shall their reason be disturbed." "Therein shall receive them beautiful damsels, refraining their eyes from beholding any besides their spouses; having complexions like rubies and pearls; having fine black eyes and kept in pavilion from public view." Chastity forbids the full description. The Koran says, "The mountains were to hold the earth steady." "And he hath thrown upon the earth mountains lest it move with you." "Man was made out of black mud dried." "Devil was made out of fire." "The Israelites who transgressed against the Sabbath were transformed into apes and driven away from the society of man." Again he has it "apes and swine." Solomon had an army of "genii" (similar to angels), "men and birds." He conversed with birds and ants. He sent a letter to the queen of Sheba by "lakwing" (a bird), and received an answer by the same. Solomon had devils employed in building and diving for pearls. Mohammed disclaimed all power of working miracles. "Thou art commissioned to be a preacher only and not a worker of miracles." He acknowledged the miracles of Moses and Christ, and states that the reason why God did not empower him to do the same was because many believed not on them notwithstanding their miracles. So then, because certain persons would not believe in Christ when they had clear evidence to found their faith upon, this impostor would have all men believe in him with no evidence at all. He identifies his religion with that of Abraham. "Verily my Lord hath directed me into a right way, a true religion, the sect of Abraham the orthodox." "Follow ye therefore the religion of Abraham."

      III. Mohammed acknowledged the divine origin of Christianity.

      1. The miraculous conception of Christ. "O Mary, verily God sendeth thee good tidings, that thou shalt bear the word proceeding from himself. His name shall be Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the honorable, who shall speak to man in his cradle." She answered, "Lord, how shall I have a son since a man hath not touched me?" The angel said, "So God createth that which he pleaseth." "Verily, Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, is the Apostle of God and his Word which he conveyed into Mary, and a spirit proceeding from him."

      2. Christ, Moses and the apostles all taught the will of God. "We" (the Koran has God in the plural form we) "also caused Jesus the Son of Mary to follow the footsteps of the prophets, confirming also the law which was sent down before him, and we gave him the gospel containing directions and light, confirming the law which was before it."

      Again, "Verily, we have revealed our will unto thee, as we have revealed it unto Moses and the prophets who succeeded him; and as we revealed it unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the tribes, and unto Jesus and Job, and gave the Psalms unto David. Some apostles have we sent, whom we have previously mentioned unto thee, and others have we not previously mentioned. And God spake unto Moses discoursing with him; apostles declaring good tidings and denouncing threats, lest man should have an argument of excuse against God." Declarations like the above frequently occur in the Koran; hence, it is a historical proof of the divine origin of the Bible. It being then settled, even by Mohammed's confession, that the Bible is the word of God, it follows that any assumed revelation conflicting therewith is a forgery. Let us test the Koran by this rule. I will give a few extracts, and let the reader compare them with the New Testament:

      1. Jesus was not crucified. "They (the Jews) have said, Verily, we have slain Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the apostle of God. Yet they slew him not, neither crucified him, but he was represented by one in his likeness," whom they crucified in a mistake, thinking him Christ, and Christ escaped their malice and was taken up into heaven.

      2. Denies the sonship of Christ and the new birth. "God is but one God; far be it from him, that he should have a son." "They say God hath begotten children. Now have ye uttered an impious thing. Whereas it becometh not God to beget children, verily, there are none in heaven or earth, but shall approach the merciful as his servants."

      3. Christ says, "swear not at all." Koran says, "The testimony which shall be required of one (there being no other witness), shall be, that he swear four times by God that he speaketh the truth; and the fifth that he imprecate the curse of God on him if he lie."

      4. Mohammed legalized slavery.

      5. Polygamy. "Take in marriage of such other women as shall please you, two, or three, or four." Mohammed peculiarly favored. "O prophet, we have allowed thee thy wives, and also thy slaves, which thy right hand possesseth, and the daughters of thy uncles and the daughters of thy aunts, and any believing woman. This is a peculiar favor granted unto thee above other believers, and thou shalt take unto thee whom thou shalt please, even of such as thou hast rejected before, and it shall be no crime in thee."

      6. Predestination. "And one of you is predestinated to be a believer, and another of you is predestinated to be an unbeliever?"

      7. Retaliation. "If they attack you, do you also attack them in retaliation; and whoever transgresseth against you, do ye transgress against him in like manner as he hath transgressed against you."

      8. Apostates to be killed. "And if they turn back from the faith, take them and kill them wherever ye find them." Also unbelievers. "O prophet, stir up the faithful to war" *   *   *   * "It hath not been granted to any prophet to possess captives until he hath made a great slaughter of the infidels on the earth." "I will cast a dread into the hearts of the unbelievers; therefore, strike off their heads, and strike off all the ends of their fingers." "When ye encounter the unbelievers, kill them wherever ye find them, and turn them out of that whereof they have dispossessed you; for temptation to idolatry is more grievous than slaughter. Ye fight not against them in the holy temple, until they attack you therein; but if they attack, slay them there. Fight therefore against them until there be no temptation to idolatry, and the religion be God's."

      Passages similar to the above, occur all through the Koran: which were well calculated to stimulate the Moslems to desperate bravery. Even paradise was to be procured by fighting. "Verily, God hath purchased of the true believers their souls and their substance, promising them the enjoyment of paradise, on condition that they fight for the cause of God." There is not an experience or text of any kind in the whole Koran by which its truth could be demonstrated in this life. They have but Mohammed's word, and that sustained by no evidence, and must wait for a demonstration of its truth or falsehood in the next world.

[The Church Advocate 38 (May 21, 1873): 2, 3.]

      Daniel S. Warner's "Islamism" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 38, No. 4 (May 21, 1873), pp. 2, 3. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article provided by Jean Leathers, Archivist of the Churches of God Historical Society.

      Pagination has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. I have let stand variations and inconsistencies in the author's (or editor's) use of italics, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. Emendations of accidental errors are as follows:

                  Printed Text [ Electronic Text
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 p. 3, col. 2:    Mohammed disclaim [ Mohammed disclaimed
 p. 3. col. 3:    crime in thee. [ crime in thee."
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 5 February 1998.
Updated 15 July 2003.