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
The nature of the Mohammedan religion is not essentially in opposition
to reform. Modern times have proved the Koran of a more elastic nature
than was once supposed, as was exemplified in the establishment of
quarantine regulations; when it was pretended, that it was blasphemous
to interfere with the decrees of Allah to protect human life; but as
it was proved that the Koran allowed self-protection, the measure
was sanctioned by the expounders of that sacred book, and accepted
by the Mussulmans.
Apostasy from Islamism was formerly punished with death; but when
Lord Stratford de Redcliffe interfered in behalf of humanity in the
case of poor Ovagim, who was beheaded in 1843, the Koran was found to
be on his side. The same lenity was manifested by the Mohammedans of
Hindoostan, only a few months ago, towards an apostate, on the plea
that the country was now under British jurisdiction. The reason is,
that the principles of Islamism are so very simple that they can be
adapted to any degree of modification and reform, especially under
the pressure of circumstances--besides, necessity knows no law,
not even the Koran itself.
But it may be said that the government thus remodelled will no longer
be Turkish or Mohammedan.
Surely the aim of the friends of this falling empire is not to
re-instate a decaying faith, but to enable the Turks and all the
inhabitants of the land, to gird up their strength and stand before
the world a united and powerful people, freed from bigotry and
superstition, a great Ottoman nation.
Turkey has been admitted into the fraternity of Europe; not as a
Mohammedan power, but as one of the powers that rule the earth's
domains.
The sultan has a voice among the potentates of his times--not the
voice of Mohammed the Prophet, but of the civilized and regenerated
friend of his own people and the world in general.
A new era has dawned upon Mohammedanism; for, if the Christian
world has for the first time received into its confederation
an anti-Christian empire, the Mohammedans, by entering such a
confederation, have also for the first time placed themselves on an
equality with the former Giavours, whom the precepts of the Koran have
proscribed, and doomed to the sword of the Faithful. Here then is a
bold stride beyond the confines of a faith only suited to barbaric
days, and well calculated to sway the minds of a superstitious
multitude on to conquest. As consanguinity with civilization is
strengthened, who can trace the pathway of the Mussulman nation
through the world's history!
The genius of the country and the condition of the people are not in
opposition to the progress of reform.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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