The Sultan and His PeopleOscanyan, C. (Christopher)
History
The Sultan and His People
Oscanyan, C. (Christopher)
Turkey -- Description and travel; Turkey -- Social life and customs
They deny the doctrine of the Trinity, although they acknowledge the
attributes of God, his greatness, goodness, justice, omnipresence,
omniscience, and incomprehensibility. Christ is acknowledged to have
been a prophet greater than Moses, but inferior to Mohammed. He is
styled the Word of God, Kelam-Ullah, in their writings, supposed
to have been miraculously conceived by the Virgin Mary, but not of
divine origin. The crucifixion they regard as inconsistent with the
justice of God; to yield up so mighty a prophet, endowed with power to
work miracles, and raise the dead, a victim to the unbelieving Jews,
they deem incompatible with divine supremacy, and even say, that when
Christ was led out to die, he was, invisibly to his persecutors,
transported into heaven, Judas the betrayer being substituted
in his stead. No terrors of eternal punishment in a future state
distract the unfaithful Moslems, all of whom will, in due time,
expiate their offences and be admitted to happiness. Two angels
are supposed to attend them through life and in death. One white,
glorious and commiserate; the other black, severe, and cruel.
There will also be a last judgment, when a tremendous trumpet will
shake the earth to atoms. God will judge all men. Moses, Christ,
and Mohammed, will appear at the head of their respective followers,
as intercessors. And Cain will lead the immense multitude of the
damned, who are doomed to suffer till their sins are cancelled,
when they will take their seats in Paradise; while Hell, the Devil,
and his wicked angels, will be suddenly annihilated.
A narrow bridge, fine as a hair, called Surat, lies over the region
of the damned. The righteous, upheld by their guardian angels, pass
over safely; while the guilty fall down into awful flames and torture,
doomed to quaff nothing but "boiling water, until their bowels burst."
Paradise is above the seventh heaven, near the throne of God. A vast
and beautiful region, with palaces of gold and gardens of perpetual
delight, in the midst of which is the tree of happiness, Tuba,
whose roots are in the palace of the Prophet, but whose branches,
loaded with luscious fruits and all kinds of meats prepared for food,
silken robes and caparisoned steeds, will extend to the dwelling of
every true believer. Softly murmuring fountains, cooling shades and
grottoes, mountains of sparkling diamonds, and golden trees, will
adorn the gardens of delight, while the ravishing houris of these
enchanting regions, will be blessed with perpetual youth and virginity.
The most insignificant of the Faithful will have a retinue of
80,000 servants and 72 wives, of the sweetly odoriferous damsels,
created of pure musk, in addition to the companions of his earthly
sojourn. Delicious streams of wine, milk, and honey, will flow on
perpetually; balmy zephyrs will pervade the atmosphere; the very
physical excretions of the true believers will be but odoriferous
exhalations.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account