ISLAM
HER MORAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUE
ISLAM
HER MORAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUE
A Rational and Psychological Study
By
MAJOR ARTHUR GLYN LEONARD
LATE 2ND BATT. EAST LANCASHIRE REGIMENT
Author of “The Camel, Its Uses and Management,” “How we made
Rhodesia,” “The Lower Niger and its Tribes”
With a Foreword by
SYED AMEER ALI, M.A., C.I.E.
Author of “The Spirit of Islam,” “Life and Teachings of Mohammed,”
“Mohammedan Law,” “Personal Law of the
Mohammedans,” etc.
LONDON
LUZAC & CO
46, GREAT RUSSELL STREET
1909
FOREWORD
I am glad to introduce this book with an expression of the pleasure andinterest with which I have read Major Leonard’s admirable psychologicalstudy of a subject, the importance of which it is hardly possible tooverrate.
Unfortunately it has been too common hitherto to regard Islam as anantagonistic force to Christendom; to depreciate its Founder and todiscount its Ideals. As the author justly observes, it is hardlypossible for a student really anxious to acquaint himself with the innerspirit of another Faith, to gain an insight into its true characteruntil he has divested himself of ancient prejudices that narrow hisperspective and prevent his taking a broad view of the aims andaspirations of the great men who from time to time have tried to uplifthumanity.
Major Leonard has dealt with his subject in this broad spirit; he hasapproached it with sympathy born of intimate acquaintance with racesand peoples who profess the Faith of Islam. His is eminently aphilosophical study of its Founder, of its true moral and spiritualutility, and of the great impetus it gave to the progress of the world.
In the eight chapters that constitute this book he has discussed theentire range of questions affecting the personality of Mohammed and thetendency of his religion. In his treatment he shows himself aphilosophical rationalist animated with a reverence for the ArabianTeacher—the evident outcome of a true appreciation of the mainspring ofhis actions.
In the first chapter the author has applied himself to expose theabsurdity and hollowness of the Pan-Islamic “bogey.” That the growingrapprochement between Moslem communities, hitherto divided bysectarian feuds, should be viewed with disfavour by Europe as indicatinga danger to its predominance and selfish ambitions is intelligible. Butthat it should be regarded as a deliberate challenge to, or intended asa hostile demonstration against Christendom, is a mere chimera. MajorLeonard proves conclusively that the Pan-Islamic movement is no modernpolitical movement; but that morally and spiritually Islam, in its veryessence, is Pan-Islamic; in other words, a creed that recognizes inpractice the brotherhood of man to a degree unknown in any otherreligion, and admits in its commonwealth no difference of race, colouror rank.
Moslems, laymen and scholars, will probably not agree with some of MajorLeonard’s remarks in his outline of the Prophet’s character andtemperament; but they must all acknowledge his sincerity. He describesMohammed as a great and true man—great not only as a teache