Topsy-Turvy Land - Arabia Pictured for Children by Samuel M. Zwemer;Amy E. Zwemer
page 43 of 87 (49%)
page 43 of 87 (49%)
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words and full of pictures. Here is a picture made out of the Arabic
alphabet, and every curve and dot belongs to the words so curiously written. I copied them out of an Arabic treatise on penmanship, for you. The face is not at all pretty, and yet Moslem lads think it is very clever to bring this likeness of man out of the four names, _Allah, Mohammed, Ali_ and _Hassan_. These words you notice are written twice, both to the left and to the right. What a disgrace to the holy name of God to put that of three Arabs with it in a monograph! It is very sad to hear some Moslems say that they trust in _these_ people to intercede for them with God. If you have read what sinful lives these people led when they were the chief rulers in Arabia, you will almost agree with me in calling this first picture a Moslem idol. [Illustration: DESIGNS MADE OUT OF ARABIC WRITING.] There are many Moslems in Bahrein who have hanging up in their rooms these monograms or designs. One favourite I have often seen contains only five names: _Allah, Mohammed, Ali, Hassan and Hussein_. The people who make so much of these descendants of Mohammed are called _Shiahs_; the other Moslems who think they are more orthodox are called _Sunnites_. What do you think of our second picture? Is not the design very pretty for an embroidery pattern? The motto is written twice; once from the right and once _backward_ from the left, the same as in the other picture. The words are taken from the Koran and are as true as they are beautiful. _Man yattawakil ala Allah fa hooa hasbahoo_; which means, "Whoever trusts in God will find Him sufficient." That surely contradicts the other picture, does it not? And yet they are both from the same copy-book. There are many contradictions in the religion of Mohammed. I only hope that when Christ's gospel has conquered Arabia, the name of Jesus will be written on every |
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