A VISIT TO THE MALAY SECRETARY by Stephen Nelson Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 27, 1890

A VISIT TO THE MALAY SECRETARY.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

THE Malays are very numerous in some portions of Africa, especially in the north. It is estimated that in Cape Town and vicinity there are from seven to eight thousand of them, besides considerable numbers in the East Province, and higher up that coast. There are among them, as among all other people who claim civilization, many of refinement and intelligence. These are men of influence in the community where they live. They believe much in their set seasons for prayer, and the most conscientious are strict in observing them. In those places where they have a mosque, they frequently repair there, instead of worshiping at home. Those of them upon whom the influence of the gospel has had the least effect, often, like the heathen, sink into the lowest depths of degradation; but to judge the body by this class would be to misrepresent them as a people.

They are the cab-drivers of Cape Town, and their horses generally indicate hard usage, but there are some who are noble exceptions. While the law regulates the price of carrying a passenger in the city, if the passenger be ignorant of this, he may find that the only limit to the price charged is the amount that can be obtained by the ruthless driver.

They put forth no missionary effort to convert others to their faith; this is not their mission; but at the same time there are many professed Christians who turn Mohammedans. Missionaries have less success among the Mohammedans than they do among the lowest classes of the heathen. They have no more of a desire to assimilate than have the Chinese. They are, and always will remain, a distinct race of people.

There was an enactment passed in 1642, found in an old law book, relating to their religion, as follows: "No one shall trouble the Amboinecese about their religion, or annoy them, so long as they do not practice it in public, or venture to propagate it among Christians or heathens. Offenders to be punished with death. But should there be among them those who have been drawn out by God to become Christians, they are not to be prevented or hindered from joining the Christian church."

At the present time they have a number of places of worship both at Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The religious services are, on the whole, fairly attended by the male portion of the community, but the females usually are excluded from the mosques. The reason offered is because the sight of them inspires in them unholy thoughts, when they come to worship before God. A considerable number have of late years made pilgrimages to Mecca, and they still continue to do this, which step no doubt tends to strengthen them in their faith; and they are particularly proud of being designated as "Hadjes" on their return from such pilgrimages.

The language of the Cape Malays is the Dutch, mixed with a number of Malay words. Some of them speak English quite well, and are continually making progress in this respect. Since this connection with Mecca has been going on, they are becoming more versed in the Arabic. Many of them when they return from their pilgrimage speak that language quite fluently.

The first necessary qualification in order to become a priest is to be able to read the Koran, which is written in Arabic, with fluency. They have at Cape Town schools where the Arabic is taught. For the sciences the children go to the Christian schools.

The Mohammedans are the most exclusive people in South Africa. The difficulty seems to lie in the fact that they are intelligent, and have a system of faith in direct opposition to any that bears the name of Christ. The first and the chief cornerstone of their faith is a denial that Christ is the Son of God. They believe that Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Christ, and Mohammed were prophets. Mohammed, they hold, is the greatest of them all. They believe that Daniel was a prophet, and also some others, but that they are inferior to the first-named.

We formed an acquaintance with the chief secretary of this people, for the cape, Mr. Abdol Burns. He was a Christian until twenty-nine years of age, and then he turned Mohammedan. It was with some difficulty that we made his acquaintance, so as to be invited to his house, although recommended to him by one of their priests. But when he once took me into his house, in true Arabian style he said, "Now you are my friend, my room, my library, and myself are all at your disposal." We have called on him a number of times since, and have ever received a hearty welcome. He manifests the greatest freedom in relating any information desired, concerning them and their customs, habits, modes of living, and so forth. He is firm in the belief that all their wars in the past were the battles of the Lord. I asked him, providing there were a majority of their people, what would become of the Christians. To this he replied, "Unless they would turn Mohammedan we would be obliged to kill them." To this I replied, "What, then, would become of our friendship?" "Unless you break the friendship by shooting my people, I would be obliged to befriend you," said he. They accept the Koran instead of the New Testament. The church service is conducted in the Arabic. When the name of Daniel is mentioned, the congregation respond, "Nabic, Alley, Salaam," i. e., "Prophet Daniel, great blessing be upon him." The same response is made when the names of the other prophets whom they acknowledge as such, are mentioned. They observe Friday, the sixth day of the week, because Adam was created thereon, and because he had to thank the Lord for his creation.

Mr. Burns has one wife and three children, although the laws allow for this people a plurality of wives. But in case of litigation after the death of the husband, where there is property, the law does not recognize that the marriage is legal. If there be no will, then the master of the Supreme Court calls an assembly, investigates the matter, and declares who the nearest heir is. Mr. Burns has two boys and one girl. They are educated in the

English, Dutch, and Arabian languages. The following is their confession of faith: "Lah illah ha il Allah Mahomet Rasoul Allah," i. e., "No other God, and Mohammed, prophet of God." This must be publicly affirmed.

We gave Mr. Burns a brief synopsis of our faith, stating that we observed the seventh day as the Sabbath, believed in the coming of the Lord, the resurrection of the dead, judgment, reigning with Christ a thousand years, the restoration of the earth, etc. He looked at us in perfect astonishment and exclaimed, "You are a class of Christians we are not to kill, or in any way to injure." Then, to prove it, he went to his library and took down a book, even "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation," and read these words of Abubaker, in his circular letter to the tribes of Arabs in Arabia:

“When you fight the battles of the Lord, quit yourselves like men, without turning your backs, but let not your victory be stained with the blood of women and children. Destroy no fruit-trees, nor burn any fields of corn, nor do any mischief to cattle, unless you kill to eat. When you make any covenant or article stand to it, and be as good as your word. As you go on you will find some religious persons, who live in retired monasteries, and propose themselves to serve God that way. Let them alone; neither kill them, nor destroy their monasteries. And you will find another class of people, that belong to the synagogue of Satan, who have shaven crowns; be sure you cleave their skulls; give them no quarter, till they either turn or pay tribute.”

He claimed that these were the Romanists, which were Christians only in name, but in reality were idolaters. These they were to kill, because they had changed the Bible, and the Sabbath. Because we keep the seventh day their religion forbids them to kill us, or do us any harm. It was so with those that the historian referred to. They claim to believe in the coming of Christ, and the resurrection of the dead. He seemed to regret that their people were so unprincipled. They have united with the English in putting down the natives, in the rebellion in the past. He himself had received some weapons that were used by the Bushmen, as trophies of victory. Some of these relics he gave me. We had previously presented him with "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation." There is a faint hope in our mind that he may yet embrace Christianity, and become a source of light to his people. Some of that people we believe will be saved in the kingdom of God. One thing is certain, that the truth will find its way to all classes and all peoples. There are those among the Malays that appear to be conscientious in their faith.

Africa has a large number of inhabitants, of almost every kindred and tongue, especially those who are the least enlightened by the truth of God. It will be a desirable thing to see gathered from these some souls in the last generation, as the final triumph of the grace of Christ. It will be the most remarkable company ever gathered from any one generation. It will be the final triumph of the grace of Christ, and as a special crown of jewels they will shine with Christ forever, even ever and ever.

S. N. H.