[Frontispiece: EVENING PRAYER. '_Islam was born in the desert._'] THE STORY OF ISLAM BY THEODORE R. W. LUNT GENERAL SECRETARY, NATIONAL LAYMEN'S MISSIONARY MOVEMENT (FORMERLY EDUCATIONAL SECRETARY, CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY) THIRD EDITION (REVISED) LONDON UNITED COUNCIL FOR MISSIONARY EDUCATION CATHEDRAL HOUSE, 8 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. 1909. _First Edition._ 1911. _Second Edition._ 1916. _Third Edition_ (_Revised_). Dedicated to the Public Schoolboys of Great Britain, who have a Big Part yet to play in shaping the Future Story of Islam _In the Same Series_ THE SECRET OF THE RAJ BY BASIL MATHEWS, M.A. Price 1/6, post free _From all Missionary Societies_ {v} AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION It has been strange indeed to revise this book in barracks, amid efforts to learn to fire big guns--possibly against the Turks. And yet this necessity which lies upon us Englishmen to-day only emphasizes afresh the importance of our trying to understand the real problem of Islam. When the war is over, Islam will remain. Whatever state of disorganization it may be in and whatever its centre, it will still tower up before us gaunt and shadowed as one of the most difficult problems of civilization and as the great reproach of the Christian Church. We can do nothing to help Moslems, or to solve their problem, unless we know something of their story and have tried to understand the power and fascination of their rugged simple creed. Those of us who are called to fight--for honourable necessity--have the lesser task {vi} though it be costly. The real opportunity will lie with those who come after--with those, in fact, who are at school to-day. Their task will be not to destroy but to build, to dream holy dreams of a great World Kingdom of Love and Gentleness and Truth and Purity and Honour, and to consecrate their lives to the One from Whom and through Whom alone these things can come. THEO. R. W. LUNT. R.F.A. MESS, BEDFORD BARRACKS, EDINBURGH, _January_ 1916. {vii} CONTENTS CHAP. Author's Preface I. 'Youth and its Schooling' II. Early Manhood III. The Prophet of Arabia IV. Life in Mecca V. The Unsheathing of the Sword VI. The Sword of Islam VII. Islam's Success VIII. Islam's Failure IX. 'The Challenge of Islam' X. The World of Islam XI. Islam and the Church of Christ XII. Islam and the Christian Appendices Index {viii} LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Evening Prayer ... Frontispiece '_Islam was born in the desert._' The Kaaba at Mecca '_Recognized as the religious centre of all Arabia._' A Camel Merchant '_Mohammed's fame spread along every caravan route of Arabia._' The Observance of Prayer '_Typical of Mohammedanism in every century and in every clime._' The Extent of Islam, 800 A.D. (map) '_An example in missionary enthusiasm._' Moslems in the Great Mosque, Delhi '_It is a problem which concerns us, ... we have a duty to them._'