Islam’s Confession

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1909

Islam’s Confession

As illustrating the marked change which has taken place in Turkey, we note the more liberal attitude of Mohammedans toward Christians. In view of the intense feeling recently aroused in Constantinople by the perpetration of a crime in one of its suburbs, the religious head of Islam issued the following declaration, for the translation of which we are indebted to the Independent:—

I confess that our people can not yet be called civilized, and that our officials are not yet able to perform well their duties. This lawlessness is explained by some as an effervescence of religious feeling, in which they find an extenuating circumstance. In fact, however, this crime and its results show the ignorance of our people. There is no verse in the Koran which calls Christians infidels. The Koran gives this name to fire-worshipers, but toward the Christians, whom the Koran calls Nazarenes, it commands that Mohammedans should act as friends.

For the application of the term “infidel” to Christians, the government has given occasion for political reasons. In times when war was to be proclaimed against certain Christian governments, such ideas were made use of. The Koran, however, had commanded the cherishing of friendly relations with the Christians, whom it calls Nazarenes, and therefore the people were to refrain from making war against them.

Thus the Mohammedans many times, instead of defending their religion, have in ignorance undertaken what was indirectly contrary to it. Unfortunately, the conduct of the Christians also has not been different from that of the Mohammedans, and they have met Mohammedan bigotry with bigotry on their own part.