The population of Egypt today is 12,000,000, of which 90 per cent are
followers of Mohammed. Mohammedanism entered Egypt in 638 A.D., and
from that time it has continued to be the prevailing religion. I will
now mention briefly the ethics of Mohammedanism in order to give the
reader some idea about the pollution, corruption, brutality, and
wickedness that exist among the adherents of this false religion.
"Islam," says Adolph Wuttke, "finds its place in the history of the
religious and moral spirit, not as a vital organic member, but as
violently interrupting the course of this history, and which is to be
regarded as an attempt of heathenism to maintain itself erect under
an outward monotheistic form against Christianity."
The ethics of Islam bear the character of an outwardly and crudely
conceived doctrine of righteousness. Conscientiousness in the sphere of
the social relations, faithfulness to conviction and to one's word, and
the bringing of an action into relation to God are its bright points;
but there is a lack of heart-depth of a basing of the moral in love. The
highest good is the outwardly and very sensuously conceived happiness of
the individual.
Among Islamites the potency of sin is not recognized; evil is only
an individual, not a historical, power; hence there is no need of
redemption, but only of personal works on the basis of prophetic
instruction. Mohammed is only a teacher, not an atoner. God and man
remain strictly external to and separate from each other. God, no less
individually conceived of than man, comes into no real communion with
man; and as moral, acts not as influenced by such a communion, but only
as an isolated individual. The ideal basis of the moral is faith in God
and in his Prophet; the moral life, conceived as mainly consisting in
external works, is not a fruit of received salvation, but a means for
the attainment of the same. Pious works, particularly prayer, fasting,
and almsgiving, and pilgrimage to Mecca, work salvation directly of
themselves. Man has nothing to receive from God but the Word, and
nothing to do for God but good works; of inner sanctification there
is no thought. Thus, among Islamites today we find, instead of true
humility, only proud work-righteousness. Nothing but the enjoyment of
wine, of swine-flesh, of the blood of strangled animals, and games of
chance are forbidden.
After this summary of the real character of Mohammedan ethics, an
account of its practical teaching and effect will make the picture
more vivid to the reader, although still darker.