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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (May 18, 1923)
ISLAM Bfrc/fl/e CALIPHATE tt I—s 1 Palace of Dolma Baghtcheh on the Bosporus. t Prepared by th« Natlanal Geographic So ciety, Washington. D. C.) 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 Hejnz. might conceivably lead to very Interesting developments; for politics and religion are insepa rable in the Near East, a fact that Western observers, far front the many cross-currents of the region, do not ulways 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 world's 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 em ployment of his own name by supply ing one—the name “Islam"—by which he hoped Mohammedanism would he known. He further sought to make this word, meaning resignation, imply j 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 alms, the fast of Ramadan and pil- j 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. It 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 off, the sects and groups fade away. In reality there are two great branches of Mohammedanism, the Sunnites and the Shiites. Among both these brunches, ami 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 sftlr ltual supremacy over the Mohamme dan world of some 300,000,000 souls. But In actual fact the sultan of Turkey had little more spiritual ascendant;/ over the Mohammedans 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 h(s leadership been recognized on the oth 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 a 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 If a caliph did not rule he wasn’t a caliph. A spiritual niler up to now has been Incomprehensible to the Mos lem mind. And It remains to be seen whether the radical step taken by the Turkish Nationalists in sotting up a caliph shorn of temporal power will accomplish a permanent change. Be ing temporal rulers primarily, caliphs naturally have sought to rule by the sword. The Mohammedan's religion and his law go hand In hand. Mohammed was law giver, not only In the Mosaic but also In the Justinian sense. There are as many codes of law among Mohammedans as then? are sects; and as many kinds of lawyers as there are codes. Among the Sunnites, the ortho dox major division of Islam, there are four schools of law. A Hanaflte would as soon engage a Malaklte lawyer aa a Presbyterian congregation would be likely to employ a Unitarian preacher. ■fhe very word “caliph” has an al lurement which dates back to child hood days when one lived among those fantastic Arabian nights at the court of Caliph Hanin-al-Uashld. Rashid was a bona fide caliph, and In later years a reading of the historical facts about the caliphate furnishes no fewer thrills than the Immortal tales. The Early Caliphs. When Mohammed died his counselor, Abu Bekr, the companion of his flight, or Hegira, became caliph, meaning, lit erally, successor. Abu Be,.r means “father of the virgin." He was Mo hammed’s father-in-law. The second caliph, or successor, was Omar, anoth er father-in-law of the prophet, who started organizing armies and begun spreading Islam over the map in a very literal sense. Omar was the first to bear the title Emir al Moumenin, “Prince of the Faithful.” From the first. All, husband of Mo hammed's daughter, Fatima, consid ered himself the logical successor to j the caliphate. Xot until Abu Bekr and Omar had ruled, and another caliph. Othman, had his day and had been 1 murdered as was Omar before him, did All become caliph. Certainly Mohammedanism can be termed emphatically a “man’s re ligion.” Yet at this early date two women were the moving spirits in 1 splitting it into the Sunnite and Shiite divisions which have prevailed ever since. Ayesha, favorite wife of the proptiet, always had been Jealous of his daughter, Fatlmu, and on the suc cession of Fatima’s husband directed all her efforts upon an antl-Ali party. I Meantime the group which, all along, had regarded Ali us the legitimate suc cessor, gained strength during his rule but were kept busy fighting to hold the sway Omar had established. When All's son and successor, Hat sun, was murdered, probably by the hand of his wife at the behest of Moawlyah, this Moawlyah assumed the caliphate, removed Its seat to Damas cus, and began the series of rulers known as Ommlades. Henceforth the Shiites were alienated from the Sun nites, or orthodox Mohammedans, be cause of their reverence for All und Hassan, and their belief that the first of the Ommlades and his successors were usurpers and pretenders. Arabian and Persian Mohammedans inclined toward the Shiite faction. Iraq’s First Rebellion. Away back in the days of the suc cessor to Moawlyah the Inhabitants of Iraq rebelled—the same Iraq which only a year or so ago launched out sgnln on Its national course after electing Emir Feisal as king. Feisal Is tbe third son of tne Grand Sheriff of Mecca. It was during another series of cali phates, that of the Ahbaald tnooarchs, that Harun-al-Rashld ruled. And It was after his reign that the division of the caliphate among hts three sons made the caliphate into a sort of com mission form of government. One so* was to hold sway over Arabia aad Syria; another In Persia and Turke stan; and a third In Asia Minor and the Black sea region. At another time, toward the end of the tenth century, Bagdad, Cairo and Cordova. Spain, all were the seat* of separate ruling caliphs; though this was no amiable division. Each caliph declared the other a heretic and held himself the lone head of all Islam. How Abul Abbas, first of the Ahba sid monarchs, had every living mala of the Ommlades thrown Into prison, killed them all,' and then gave a ban quet on a gTeat cloth thrown over their bones. Is but one example of the fan tastic cruelty of the centariee-lonft struggle to be cal'ph. The story of the caliphate would fill —has filled—volumes. The assumption of the title by the aultans of Turkey la a modern and perhaps a minor chapter In the struggle to he "The Succeesor” and thus to hold sway over this mighty force of Islam. Points of special Interest are that force often haa played a major part tn assump tion of the role, that there have bee* several caliphs both by mutual agree ment and also by rivalry, and that ac quiring the title of caliph by no mean* guarantees Its recognition by the Moe lem world. Had Mother In Mind. Dottle had been excitedly looking forward to spending a day and night with me. Finally the great day came. All went well until 10 o'clock at night, when I noticed Dottle, Instead of sleep ing, was quietly crying, “Why, child,” I said, “are you home tick r “No-o.” she hesitatingly sobbed, "but Tie afraid my mother Is.”—Exchange. aftlETING CALLED FOB COMMUTATION OF PENALTY Dear Friends: A meeting to be composed of repre sentatives of all organisations of our group is hereby called by the under signed committee of the Colored Min isterial Alliance and the N. A. A. C. P„ to meet at Zion Baptist Church at 8:00 P. M., May 24th, 1928, for the purpose of fatlring some action in KyK.if of the two colored boys who have but recently ben sentenced to death in our- District Court. The boys are "amed Wesley and Maul dron. We think the death penalty in this case is too severe and should be re duced to life imprisonment. Please send a representative to this meeting. Sincerely, Rev. W. F. Botts, Rev. E. L. Hollis. Rev. Russel Taylor, Mr. Henry W. Black, LINCOLN NEWS Mrs. Pearl Rockwell died at the family home, 5th and G streets, on Thursday, following child birth. The funeral was held in Alba Brown’s undertaking parlors Friday after noon, Rev. H. W. Botts officiating. The body was taken to her old home in Ore City, Texas, Friday night for burial and was accompanied by her husband, Garland Rockwell. Rev. O. F. Adair went to Hastings last Friday to visit and preach for the Baptist people there Deacon Robert Granger evinced himself very much when he enter tained the Utopian Art Club on last Thursday night at the home of Mr. and Mrs W. W. Mosley, 1335 Rose street. About thirty members and two friends of the club were out. A profitable meeting was held. A con vincing paper w’as read by Mrs. Rosa Adair, which was discussed by sev eral. Later all enjoyed the delicious refreshments for which the Deacon was responsible. Dr. George A. Flippin of Stroms burg, was a Lincoln visitor this week. Mr. E. P. Graves will leave this week for an extended trip in the east, going via Chicago where his son, Dr. E. E. Graves, will join him, going from there to Louisville, Ky., and to points in Ohio. Rev. G. W. Carter arrived in the city Friday. Rev. Mr. Carter, whose home is in New Orleans, has just completed a college course at Atlanta, Go. He will be the new pastor at the Newman M. E. church. Daughters of Bethel will hold their annual sermon in the Newman M. E. church next Sunday njght, May 20. Rev. G. W. Carter will be the speaker. Mrs. Lulu B. Alexander is con fined to her bed with illness at this time. Daughters of Isis will hold their annual Thanksgiving sermon at the A. M. E. church Sunday, May 20, t 8:00 P. M. The Shriners have been asked to escort them. Rev. M. C. Knight will be the speaker. Mrs. L. J Gordon ■of Beatrice, was the guest of Mrs 0. J. Burckhardt, this week. Mrs. Viola Vicks entertained about twelve persons at the De Luxe Cafe Sunday evening. Rev. H. W. Botts entertained Mrs. L. J. Gordon, of Beatrice, and Mrs. 0. J. Burckhardt to ten o’clock break fast Monday at the De Luxe. Remit for your paper past due. Remember the big box social to be given by the Utopian Art Club at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Mosley, 1335 Rose St., next Thursday, May 24th. Mary Magdaline Mission Circle will meet at the home of Mrs. Flo Forbes, 2410 Holdrege St., Tuesday evening, May 22nd, entertained by Mrs. Alma Wiley. Mrs. M. H. W’il kinson, state president, will be guest of honor. At the Mt. Zion Baptist church last Sunday the Sunday school and B. Y. P. U. were well attended. Rev. 1. B. Smith preached for Rev. Mr. Botts in the morning. The Buds of Promise held their first candle light program, which consisted of songs and quotations, after which Rev. H. W. Botts preached a most excellent sermon in honor of mother and chil dren. At a given time all the lights were dimmed, excepting the candles in the hands of all persons present, making a very pretty scene. The church is striving hard to return to the new building by June 1st. The Mission Circle will give their mock national convention next Sunday af ternoon, at which time a program will be rendered and a rally held for the building fund. Rev. M. C. Knight, of the A. M. E. church, will preach at 3:00 P. M. All churches are in vited. Services at the A. M. E. church were w’ell carried out last Sunday. The Sunday school and A. C. E. so cieties had services at the usual hour Regal Lodge G. U. O. O. F., and Household of Ruth asembled at the church at 3:00 P. M., where, after preliminaries by the lodge, Rev. M. C. Knight preached a most excellent sermon to them, from the text found in Jer. 18:6. After the services many congratulations were extended him for his noble words of instruction The annual sermon of Lebanon Ijodge No. 3 A. F. & A. M„ will be held in the A. M. E. church Sunday June 24 at 8:00 P. M. Brethren take notice. Annual election of officers will take place in Lebanon Lodge No. 3, A. F. % A. M., the first meeting in June. Eat at DE LUXE CAFE Burke & Wiley, Proprietors. Short Orders at AU Hours Quality and Service. Phone L-4434 No. 9th St Lincoln, Nebraska 'AAWMMWWWWMflWW Hours 2:30 to 7:30 P. M. or by Ap pointment.—7 Years Experience. FRED W. SARGENT, D. C. CHIROPRACTOR Consultation Free-All Diseases Phone HArney 8042 Room 10 F. D. Wead Building 290* Leavenworth St. Omaha, Neb. Mr. Harry L Anderson, Mr. H. J. Pinkett, Joint Committee from Ministerial Alliance and the National Associ ation for the Advancement of Colored People. PKOCLAMATIOH The Hons and Daughters of Mercy Anniversary Day, Sunday, May 20th. By the power invested in me, I do hereby set aside Sunday, May 20th, as the Anniversary Day of our Order. All members must abide by Section 2, Article 10. For further information, write to the Supreme Secretary-Treasurer, or see your subordinate President, or call Webster 0632. (Signed) R. C. RIDDLE, Supreme Sec’y-Treasurer. —Adv. 1 SEEDS j £ OF KNOWN QUALITY f I •j* Flower, Grass and Garden £ '4 Seeds | £ Iiulbs, Hardy Perennials X X Poultry Supplies -See Us for Your- 4 | SEED POTATOES | ;!• Fresh Cut Flowers ;i; Always on Hand | Stewart’s Seed Store l | 119 No. 16th St,—Opposite Postoffice — JA ckson 0977 ^ £~x-x~x~x~x~x“x~x~:~x~x~x“:~£ A A A A A A A A AAAA < Hes. Phone WE. 204 § iCOMPANY i iL PARLOR t St WEbster 1100 1 PTE Jf PAST —^—i i i n it itiiiiit* «-■« , , , . i New Central Cafe 1916 Cuming St. Special Chicken Dinners on Sunday 35c Meals and Lunches at all Hours Open 5:30 a. m. to Midnight F. M. 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