Produced by Fritz Ohrenschall, Anne Grieve and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) ISLAM HER MORAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUE ISLAM HER MORAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUE A Rational and Psychological Study By MAJOR ARTHUR GLYN LEONARD LATE 2ND BATT. EAST LANCASHIRE REGIMENT _Author of “The Camel, Its Uses and Management,” “How we made Rhodesia,” “The Lower Niger and its Tribes”_ With a Foreword by SYED AMEER ALI, M.A., C.I.E. _Author of “The Spirit of Islam,” “Life and Teachings of Mohammed,” “Mohammedan Law,” “Personal Law of the Mohammedans,” etc._ LONDON LUZAC & CO 46, GREAT RUSSELL STREET 1909 FOREWORD I am glad to introduce this book with an expression of the pleasure and interest with which I have read Major Leonard’s admirable psychological study of a subject, the importance of which it is hardly possible to overrate. Unfortunately it has been too common hitherto to regard Islam as an antagonistic force to Christendom; to depreciate its Founder and to discount its Ideals. As the author justly observes, it is hardly possible for a student really anxious to acquaint himself with the inner spirit of another Faith, to gain an insight into its true character until he has divested himself of ancient prejudices that narrow his perspective and prevent his taking a broad view of the aims and aspirations of the great men who from time to time have tried to uplift humanity. Major Leonard has dealt with his subject in this broad spirit; he has approached it with sympathy born of intimate acquaintance with races and peoples who profess the Faith of Islam. His is eminently a philosophical study of its Founder, of its true moral and spiritual utility, and of the great impetus it gave to the progress of the world. In the eight chapters that constitute this book he has discussed the entire range of questions affecting the personality of Mohammed and the tendency of his religion. In his treatment he shows himself a philosophical rationalist animated with a reverence for the Arabian Teacher--the evident outcome of a true appreciation of the mainspring of his actions.