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PEOF. D. S. MARGOLIOUTH, D.LITT., ON 



hindrance to the Moslem who approaches the subject of Christianity. 

 The strictness of the marriage laws of the Christian Church is 

 regarded by him as a stumbling block opposed to the impulses and 

 requirements of nature, and leading indirectly to unhappiness and 

 sin. He shrinks from it therefore as, in his opinion, antagonistic to 

 the best interests of humanity, and not necessarily because of his 

 own greater tendency to sensual indulgence. According to my own 

 observations, very few Moslems avail themselves to the full of the 

 liberal laws of Mohammed. 



These four things form a stupendous barrier to the progress of 

 Christianity amongst Mohammedans, and have to be fully reckoned 

 with in considering the question of the future of Islam. 



Of course other circumstances also have great influence. The 

 unattractive character (to the Moslem) of much of the Christianity 

 which he has opportunities of observing, especially the use, not 

 to say worship, of pictures and images in churches, which he cannot 

 distinguish from idolatry ; the traditions of the Crusades and their 

 final failure ; the fact that Christian Powers are constantly en- 

 croaching upon Moslem domains ; these all tend to foster in him 

 opposition to and hatred of the doctrines and claims of Christ. It 

 should be remembered that to the Mohammedan his religion stands 

 in the place of patriotism. Few care for their country in the way 

 that Christians care for their country, desiring its material 

 prosperity and intellectual and social advancement. The Moslem 

 only wants to be let alone, and live his own simple, but too often 

 immoral and cruel life, to inhabit a region which he can defend 

 against the hated Christian, with his civilization, and science, and 

 intellectual activity. Nothing is so distasteful to a pious Moslem 

 as any attempt at free inquiry into the grounds of his religious 

 belief."^ 



Yet there is another side to the picture. Many educated young 

 Mohammedans are questioning with themselves whether this 

 religious system is not in process of decay ; whether it is not too 



* A well-known writer has observed that Mohammed accustomed the 

 newly converted Moslems to reflect, and accustomed their descendants to 

 surrender their reason. The latter had to regard the doctrine and laws 

 of their religion as for ever fixed. Sismondi, Chute de V Empire Romain, 

 3rd ed., Bruxelies, 1837, p. 308. 



