PROGRESS AMONG THE ARABS. 45 



I. A comparison between the CREED of the Arabs 

 and that of Europe cannot be drawn here for many 

 reasons, but we may at least point out that with all its 

 inferiority, Mohammedanism has been the only creed, 

 with Protestantism, which has been wholly EXEMPT 



FROM IDOLATRY ; 



Whereas the Greek and Roman Christianity has been 

 polluted by Mariolatry, the WORSHfp OF SAINTS 

 and relics : certainly was this the case during the 

 Middle Ages. 



II. The political system of Islam admitted and 

 practised a liberal religious TOLERATION. Provided the 

 subject races paid a trifling tribute to the Khalifs and 

 Emirs, they were allowed to live unmolested in the 

 worship of their fathers ; 



Whereas INTOLERANCE of other creeds was one of 

 the principles of government throughout Christendom, 

 and that principle was enforced by extermination. 



III. The Saracens and Jews originated the doctrine 

 of the SUPREMACY OF REASON over authority, and 

 this doctrine overthrew among them Supernaturalism 

 and its logic ; 



Whereas AUTHORITY stifled reason and its supporters 

 until Luther in the North, and until the XVIIIth 

 century in the South of Europe. It was this difference 

 between the two systems which brought the Arabs' 

 influence into conflict with Christian Europe, and led 

 to the Xlllth century Crusade in South France. 



IV. Luxury, the daughter of INDUSTRY and its 

 wealth, and the sign of a high civilisation, existed 

 throughout Islam. Its effects benefited all. Even- 

 small people, to speak of a significant detail only, 

 wore linen or cotton chemises, gay-coloured garments 

 of silk. Cleanliness was commanded by religion and 

 custom ; 



Whereas industry and luxury were absent from one 

 end of Christian Europe to the other until after the 

 Crusades, and the GENERAL POVERTY was such that 

 people wore their skin-garments until they fell to 



