Islam’s Last Word to Europe
SHEIK ABDUL HAQ, of Bagdad, who is the head of a “Holy Islamic League,” an organization embracing all Moslem nations in its scope, and designed to guard and foster Mohammedan interests in general, has issued a document addressed to the Christian people of the world, which is in the nature of a Mohammedan declaration of war on Christianity. It bears the title, “Islam’s Last Word to Europe.” We quote a few characteristic statements from an English translation made for the Literary Digest:— ‘Christian Peoples! it is time that we should be heard. The hatred entertained by the people of Islam for Christianity is irreconcilable. After centuries of hard work spent in the attempt to make us friendly toward you, the only result has been that we now despise you more than was ever the case in the annals of history. . . . The whole structure of Mohammedan faith is based on the doctrine of the unity of the one God, who is absolute, without limitations or restrictions, eternal, who has never been begotten, and who has begotten none other. This article of our faith is in direct opposition to Christian teaching. Through this article the Christian dogma of a trinity becomes the sworn enemy of the god of Islam. The absolute hostility of these two fundamental doctrines is a cruel trial to the patience of every Mohammedan, . . . To this we must add a second indisputable point: Between our faith and yours there is an impassable and eternal gulf fixed, on account of your concept of the divinity of Christ. . . . Then, too, we have not forgotten the Crusades. These are being continued in a hundred accursed forms even now. You have contended against us and humiliated us with all your power. You have forced back the boundaries of Islam in all the corners of the globe; but what is left of the Mohammedan nations you are seeking to disintegrate through your diplomats and your missionaries. Your scheme has been systematically devised. You make no concealment of your intention to annihilate Islam. Instead of excusing yourselves for your aggressive and hostile policy, you boldly declare that we are rebels against your civilization. Yes, we are rebels, and we will remain rebels until death. . . . Ye Christian conquerors, know well that no skill or science, no money or treasure, no miracle, will ever reconcile us to such a godless supremacy. Know ye that the very sight of your flags flying in our lands is a torment for the soul of a Moslem. . . . We now know that we are three hundred million strong. We have needed organization and concentration, and you have forced us to take these steps. Islamic unity is now becoming a reality from one end of the earth to the other, and a holy zeal is uniting us, and driving us to our inevitable destiny. We do not fear your threats or arms. What do we care for the things of this world? Victory or defeat are in the hands of God alone. It is our duty to die rightly, and the world has learned during the past thirteen centuries that the Moslem knows how to die.