File:The universal geography - the earth and its inhabitants (1876) (14763171784).jpg

Identifier: cu31924095158964 (find matches)
Title: The universal geography : the earth and its inhabitants
Year: 1876 (1870s)
Authors: Reclus, Elisée, 1830-1905 Ravenstein, Ernest George, 1834-1913 Keane, A. H. (Augustus Henry), 1833-1912
Subjects: Geography
Publisher: London : J.S. Virtue & Co., Ltd.
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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e Deibir, orWolves, who claim descent from the old stock. The Sabsean speech, inter-mediate between the Arab and Abyssinian, also survives ia a dialect stUl currentin the Mahra district, where the natives are described as of an almost whitecomplexion. All Arabs alike now call themselves Mohammedans, the last tribes who hadmaintained their old pagan rites having been reduced by the Wahabites at thebeginning of the present century. This old polytheism consisted chiefly in theworship of the stars represented by idols, three hundred and sixty of which wereset up round the black stone of Mecca. This simple cult is reflected in that of theMussulmans themselves, whose Koran, or sacred book, admits in a modified form theJewish and early Christian records, saints, and miracles, but is otherwise mainlycomposed of more or less contradictory precepts. The essence of the system is a 470 SOUTH-WESTEEN ASIA. strict monotlieism, represented by the old local deity, Allat or Allah, victorious over H to
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the neighbouring gods, just as the Jewish Yahveh had triumphed over Baal,Kamosh, and the other divinities of the Canaanitish tribes. The worship of the THE WAHABITES. 471 one Grod, the right granted to the faithful of enslaving or exterminating theirenemies, an absolute claim to the wealth of this world, and the comfortable assur-ance of inheriting that of the future life, make up the sum and substance of Islam.The sudden triumph of Mohammeds followers, the vast plunder acquired in theirfirst campaigns, seemed to confirm these promises, and naturally attracted convertsfrom every qnarter. Thanks to its simple teaching, Mohammedanism was readilyaccepted, even by independent peoples, and still continues to spread in Africa, India,and China. The Wahabites. But the fervour of the early times is now met only amongst a few fanaticalcommunities, such as that which takes its name from its founder, Mohammed Ibn Fig. 206.—Derbeyeh.Scale 1 : 100,000. ^^

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