CHRISTENDOM & ISLAM

Dunstan Times, 20 November 1944, Page 3

CHRISTENDOM & ISLAM

Continued (Contributor) Some methods of Islamic conversion is open to grave criticism. But it must be remembered that Islam was only copying Christendom when it exercised every form of pressure to increase its followers. The marvel still remains that these converts remained Moslem down through their generations. The mere acceptance of the creed of Mahommed would never have made the faith permanent in the lives of these people Definite teaching of the Koran (Moslem BihJe) was heeded. The method ultimately adopted, and with conspicuous success, waste found a University in Cairn and to train a large body of men as Koramic teachers They might be ignorant in other subjects (but they must) but ihey must be masters of the Koran. r J bese men rapidly scattered over the length and breadth of all conquered countries and settled down as village schoolmasters, living on a mere pittance —their one text book—the Koran. Boys at an early age were ini liated into the art of (praying and of memorising large portions of the Koran. This protess has gone on for hundreds of years. And in spite of the fact that they fail to comply with canon of Western standards of education, they have accomplished what Christian teachers failed to do, They have kept the village folk loyal to their faith >nd have won converts from Christianity in every generation since the Arab invasion. It has not been necessary for Islam to found Missionary Societies because every Moslem, wherever he is, is expected *to bear witness of his faith. There is a lesson to be learned to-day from this Moslem method of holding converts, training them and making them witnesses. A contributory cause of the failure of Christianity was the absence of any adequate lay expression in the religious life of the people - combined with the unpopularity of the priesthood. Islam found a growing strength as it expanded its lay character. It was a lay service from beginning to end —and it worked. Whereever a group of Moslems settled their first duty was to erect a place of worship. The strength of Islam has not been "nearly so much the sword, or the army, as the Mosque and the school. (To be swPmsty