#Mahometan

[eretzyisrael]

Jews ‘treated horribly’ in 19th century Morocco

The indefatigable blogger Elder of Ziyon has been delving into his archive. He has found testimonies from European travellers which bear witness to the subjugated status of Jews in Morocco: 

Jews in Morocco

Ten years ago, I discussed a book by a European traveler to northern Africa and the Middle East, using the pseudonym Ali Bey al Abbasi, about what he saw in Morocco in 1895.

“The Jews in Morocco are in the most abject state of slavery; but at Tangier it is remarkable that they live intermingled with the Moors, without having any separate quarter, which is the case in all other places where the Mahometan religion prevails. This distinction occasions perpetual disagreements; it excites disputes, in which, if the Jew is wrong, the Moor takes his own satisfaction; and if the Jew is right, he lodges a complaint with the judge, who always decides in favour of the Mussulman. This shocking partiality in the dispensation of justice between individuals of different sects begins from the cradle; so that a Mussulman child will insult and strike a Jew, whatever be his age and infirmities, without his being allowed to complain, or even to defend himself. This inequality prevails even among the children of these different religions; so that I have seen the Mahometan children amuse themselves with beating little Jews, without these daring to defend themselves.

“When they meet a Mussulman of high rank they are obliged to turn away hastily to a certain distance on the left of the road, to leave their sandals on the ground several paces off, and to put themselves into a most humble posture, their body intirely bent forward, till the Mussulman has passed to a great distance; if they hesitate to do this, or to dismount from their horse when they meet a Mahometan, they are severely punished. I have often been obliged to restrain my soldiers or servants from beating these poor wretches, when they were not active enough in placing themselves in the humble attitude prescribed on them by the Mahometan tyranny.”

It turns out that newspapers in the 19th century had a number of articles from multiple sources that showed that, if anything, Ali Bey was soft-pedaling the problem.

Read article in full

[smolgreybunny]

Chapter 4: Doubts and Difficulties

My heart really breaks for Margaret this chapter, and I'm upset with her parents. Yes, you are a coward, Mr. Hale! Tell your wife yourself, don't put such an emotional burden on your child! This sounds like an all-too-common toxic parent-child relationship, where the parents are relying on their child, rather than the other way around.

It's interesting that Mr. Hale's doubts are never really explained. Margaret assumes he's lost his faith, or something similar, I think? Honestly it's pretty confusing. But it seems more likely that he just has issue with a specific doctrine of his church, not that he has stopped believing in God. But without him talking specifics, I really don't know.

Side note: "Mahometan" just means Muslim. I had to look that up. Although now that I think about it more, it might just be a different way to spell "Muhammedan." Which would make sense as a different word for Muslim, as followers of the teachings of Muhammed.

[loverandservantoftheahlulbayt]

🍃🕊🍃 What Non-Muslims Say About Imam Ali (as)

The First Successor of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S)

“God thus makes clear his signs to you that you may understand.”

🍃 Holy Quran 🍃

(2:242)

Imam 'Ali bin Abi Talib (as) was the successor to Prophet Muhammad (S) This is a collection of short quotations about him from a wide variety of notables belonging to other faiths, including academics, writers, philosophers, poets, politicians, and activists.

🍃 Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) 🍃

Scottish historian, critic, and sociological writer.

• “As for this young Ali, one cannot but like him. A noble-minded creature, as he shows himself, now and always afterwards; full of affection, of fiery daring. Something chivalrous in him; brave as a lion; yet with a grace, a truth and affection worthy of Christian knighthood.”

(On Heroes, Hero-Worship, And The Heroic In History, 1841, Lecture 2: The Hero as Prophet. Mahomet: Islam., May 8, 1840)

🍃 Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) 🍃

Considered the greatest British historian of his time.

• "The zeal and virtue of Ali were never outstripped by any recent proselyte. He united the qualifications of a poet, a soldier, and a saint; his wisdom still breathes in a collection of moral and religious sayings; and every antagonist, in the combats of the tongue or of the sword, was subdued by his eloquence and valour. From the first hour of his mission to the last rites of his funeral, the apostle was never forsaken by a generous friend, whom he delighted to name his brother, his vicegerent, and the faithful Aaron of a second Moses."

(The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, London, 1911, volume 5, pp. 381-2)

🍃 Philip Khuri Hitti (1886-1978) 🍃

Professor of Semitic Languages at Princeton University

• “Valiant in battle, wise in counsel, eloquent in speech, true to his friends, magnanimous to his foes, he became both the paragon of Muslim nobility and chivalry (futuwah) and the Solomon of Arabic tradition, around whose name poems, proverbs, sermonettes and anecdotes innumerable have clustered.”

(History of the Arabs, London, 1964, p. 183)

🍃Sir William Muir (1819 - 1905) 🍃

Scottish scholar and statesman. Held the post of Foreign Secretary to the Indian government as well as Lieutenant Governor of the Northwestern Provinces.

• “Endowed with a clear intellect, warm in affection, and confiding in friendship, he was from the boyhood devoted heart and soul to the Prophet. Simple, quiet, and unambitious, when in after days he obtained the rule of half of the Moslem world, it was rather thrust upon him than sought.”

(The Life of Mahomet, London, 1877, p. 250)

🍃 Dr. Henry Stubbe (1632-1676) 🍃Classicist, polemicist, physician, and philosopher.

• “He had a contempt of the world, its glory and pomp, he feared God much, gave many alms, was just in all his actions, humble and affable; of an exceeding quick wit and of an ingenuity that was not common, he was exceedingly learned, not in those sciences that terminate in speculations but those which extend to practice.”

(An Account of the Rise and Progress of Mahometanism, 1705, p. 83)

🍃 Gerald de Gaury (1897 - 1984) 🍃

A distinguished soldier and diplomat.

• “He had been wise in counsel and brave in battle, true to his friends and magnanimous to his foes. He was to be for ever the paragon of Muslim nobility and chivalry.”

(Rulers of Mecca, London, 1951, p. 49)

🍃 Wilferd Madelung 🍃

Professor of Arabic at Oxford University

• "In face of the fake Umayyad claim to legitimate sovereignty in Islam as God's Vicegerents on earth, and in view of Umayyad treachery, arbitrary and divisive government, and vindictive retribution, they came to appreciate his honesty, his unbending devotion to the reign of Islam, his deep personal loyalties, his equal treatment of all his supporters, and his generosity in forgiving his defeated enemies."

(The succession to Muhammad: a study of the early caliphate, Cambridge, 1997, pp. 309-310)

🍃 Charles Mills (1788 - 1826) 🍃

Leading historical writer of his time.

• “As the chief of the family of Hashem and as the cousin and son-in-law of him whom the Arabians respected …, it is apparently wonderful that Ali was not raised to the Caliphate immediately on the death of Mohammad. To the advantages of his birth and marriage was added the friendship of the Prophet. The son of Abu Talib was one of the first converts to Islamism and Mohammad’s favourite appellation of his was the Aaron of a second Moses. His talents as an orator, and his intrepidity as a warrior, were grateful to a nation in whose judgement courage was virtue and eloquence was wisdom.”

(An history of Muhammedanism, London, 1818, p. 89)

🍃 Simon Ockley (1678-1720) 🍃

Professor of Arabic at the University of Cambridge.

• “One thing particularly deserving to be noticed is that his mother was delivered of him at Mecca, in the very temple itself; which never happened to any one else.”

(History of the Saracens, London, 1894, p. 331)

🍃 Washington Irving (1783-1859) 🍃

Well-known as the “first American man of letters”.

• "He was of the noblest branch of the noble race of Koreish. He possessed the three qualities most prized by Arabs: courage, eloquence, and munificence. His intrepid spirit had gained him from the prophet the appellation of The Lion of God, specimens of his eloquence remain in some verses and sayings preserved among the Arabs; and his munificence was manifested in sharing among others, every Friday, what remained in the treasury. Of his magnanimity, we have given repeated instances; his noble scorn of everything false and mean, and the absence in his conduct of everything like selfish intrigue."

(Lives of the Successors of Mahomet, London, 1850, p. 165)

• "He was one of the last and worthiest of the primitive Moslems, who imbibed his religious enthusiasm from companionship with the Prophet himself, and followed to the last the simplicity of his example. He is honourably spoken of as the first Caliph who accorded some protection to Belles-Lettres. He indulged in the poetic vein himself, and many of his maxims and proverbs are preserved, and have been translated in various languages. His signet bore this inscription: 'The kingdom belongs to God'. One of his sayings shows the little value he set upon the transitory glories of this world, 'Life is but the shadow of a cloud - the dream of a sleeper'."

(Lives of the Successors of Mahomet, London, 1850, pp. 187-8)

🍃 Robert Durey Osborn

(1835-1889)🍃

Major of the Bengal Staff Corps.

• “With him perished the truest hearted and best Moslem of whom Mohammadan history had preserved the remembrance.”

(Islam Under the Arabs, 1876, p. 120)

.

[lux-filia]

Regarder les droitard et les Français se foutres sur la gueule au sujet du conflit israelo-palestien, ou dirais-je plutôt, israelo-mahometan, pendant que les deux s'utilisent l'un l'autre à la destruction de l'Occident.

Suis-je la seule à n'en avoir absolument rien à carrer?

On attend la prochaine vague de réfugiés au porte de la Hongrie et de Lampedusa.

Ces mêmes peuples qui n'en on strictement rien à faire de vos morts et de vos martyrs.

Nos frontières avant les leurs.

[dolphin1812]

This chapter is super short, so I’ll just go paragraph by paragraph:

“This book is a drama, whose leading personage is the Infinite.

“Man is the second.”

The Infinite is back! Technically, it never leaves, but it’s been a while since we got an explicit reference to it. Its placement as the “hero” is interesting; this novel is very focused on “Man,” both in the sense that we follow people dealing with structures made by other people and in the sense that the apparent protagonist, Jean Valjean, is the “Everyman” in everything aside from his strength. The Infinite is less visible (although Hugo brings it up often), but with this order of heroes, it suddenly makes sense that we began with the bishop and not with Jean Valjean. The bishop is a person, of course, but as a religious figure, his role is to contemplate the Infinite even as he helps others. In some ways, he’s a bridge between these two “heroes.”

“ Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it. Why? Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite. ”

Here, Hugo argues that analyzing the convent was necessary because it’s “universal” as a way of approaching the “Infinite.” While this is debatable (it seems like an oversimplification), it’s interesting to see this attempt at universalizing the novel (if the Infinite is the hero, then its message applies everywhere). Hugo’s done this before, in the preface; he stated that the novel will be relevant as long as poverty exists, universalizing it across time. Here, he does so across space. It’s also fitting that this happens in a digression, as although the book’s themes can be transferred across many contexts (there’s a reason so many people still enjoy it and its various adaptations today, in many different places), the book itself is very much a product of 19th-century France. This is part of the appeal as well; the places Hugo describes are so specific (whether they’re fictional or not), and the way the historical context is linked to characters and events really enriches the story. By moving towards an exploration of the “Infinite,” we’re also zooming out on this French context, allowing Hugo to remind us of his novel’s broader aims.

“ This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect. There is, in the synagogue, in the mosque, in the pagoda, in the wigwam, a hideous side which we execrate, and a sublime side, which we adore. What a contemplation for the mind, and what endless food for thought, is the reverberation of God upon the human wall! ”

I can’t tell what Hugo is referring to when he says this isn’t the place to develop "certain ideas” “disproportionately;” is this tied to the novel (avoiding yet another digression)? The state (censorship if he elaborates)? Himself (not wanting to support a total rejection of religion)? Also, while I recognize that his comments on other religious buildings are meant to mean his comments here aren’t specifically targeting Christianity (even if this is a Christian structure) but are instead part of the issue with religions that encourage good (engaging with the Infinite) while having unjust structures, it’s very uncomfortable to only see non-Christian buildings singled out in this paragraph as sites deserving of “execration” and “adoration.” Part of the issue is that, as much as this book can speak across time and space, Hugo is still very much a 19th-century French man. Hearing him reference other places (particularly outside of Europe) and religions besides Christianity could go very badly.

[cliozaur]

That's a very "abstract idea" of the convent! Talking about convents of "the Orient" and "the Occident" (so 19th-century discourse!) and giving examples from other religions (I can even pretend there can be something like a "pagan" or "Buddhist" convent, but "Mahometan" convent?) Hugo generalizes beyond limits. Is convent merely a place where the Infinite dwells? And I can see a continuation of the Enlightenment discourse of tolerance in the way he lists all those examples of cult buildings from all over the world, but it is still quite clumsy and cringy.

[breitzbachbea]

The casual islamophobia, which I would die to find out where the roots are, just makes me think that if Soph reads this and asks "What does Mahometan mean?" and as soon as an answer by Michele that involves "People like Herakles' husband", that man will be so pestered. Longest letter in the history of mankind incoming, Soph wants to KNOW things and tell him shit with the vigour only an overconfident and angry 20 year old could have.

Also, when she asks if they can have more spouses and he says yes, but you should only have as many as you can provide for, so a lot of people only marry once or twice, she then asks: "But aren't you rich? Why don't you have a second one?" and gets "Because Herakles is a fucking handful" as an answer.

[hellsitesonlybookclub]

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Chapter XIV

"Some time elapsed before I learned the history of my friends. It was one which could not fail to impress itself deeply on my mind, unfolding as it did a number of circumstances, each interesting and wonderful to one so utterly inexperienced as I was.

"The name of the old man was De Lacey. He was descended from a good family in France, where he had lived for many years in affluence, respected by his superiors, and beloved by his equals. His son was bred in the service of his country; and Agatha had ranked with ladies of the highest distinction. A few months before my arrival, they had lived in a large and luxurious city, called Paris, surrounded by friends, and possessed of every enjoyment which virtue, refinement of intellect, or taste, accompanied by a moderate fortune, could afford.

"The father of Safie had been the cause of their ruin. He was a Turkish merchant, and had inhabited Paris for many years, when, for some reason which I could not learn, he became obnoxious to the government. He was seized and cast into prison the very day that Safie arrived from Constantinople to join him. He was tried, and condemned to death. The injustice of his sentence was very flagrant; all Paris was indignant; and it was judged that his religion and wealth, rather than the crime alleged against him, had been the cause of his condemnation.

"Felix had accidentally been present at the trial; his horror and indignation were uncontrollable, when he heard the decision of the court. He made, at that moment, a solemn vow to deliver him, and then looked around for the means. After many fruitless attempts to gain admittance to the prison, he found a strongly grated window in an unguarded part of the building, which lighted the dungeon of the unfortunate Mahometan; who, loaded with chains, waited in despair the execution of the barbarous sentence. Felix visited the grate at night, and made known to the prisoner his intentions in his favour. The Turk, amazed and delighted, endeavoured to kindle the zeal of his deliverer by promises of reward and wealth. Felix rejected his offers with contempt; yet when he saw the lovely Safie, who was allowed to visit her father, and who, by her gestures, expressed her lively gratitude, the youth could not help owning to his own mind, that the captive possessed a treasure which would fully reward his toil and hazard.

"The Turk quickly perceived the impression that his daughter had made on the heart of Felix, and endeavoured to secure him more entirely in his interests by the promise of her hand in marriage, so soon as he should be conveyed to a place of safety. Felix was too delicate to accept this offer; yet he looked forward to the probability of the event as to the consummation of his happiness.

"During the ensuing days, while the preparations were going forward for the escape of the merchant, the zeal of Felix was warmed by several letters that he received from this lovely girl, who found means to express her thoughts in the language of her lover by the aid of an old man, a servant of her father, who understood French. She thanked him in the most ardent terms for his intended services towards her parent; and at the same time she gently deplored her own fate.

"I have copies of these letters; for I found means, during my residence in the hovel, to procure the implements of writing; and the letters were often in the hands of Felix or Agatha. Before I depart, I will give them to you, they will prove the truth of my tale; but at present, as the sun is already far declined, I shall only have time to repeat the substance of them to you.

"Safie related, that her mother was a Christian Arab, seized and made a slave by the Turks; recommended by her beauty, she had won the heart of the father of Safie, who married her. The young girl spoke in high and enthusiastic terms of her mother, who, born in freedom, spurned the bondage to which she was now reduced. She instructed her daughter in the tenets of her religion, and taught her to aspire to higher powers of intellect, and an independence of spirit, forbidden to the female followers of Mahomet. This lady died; but her lessons were indelibly impressed on the mind of Safie, who sickened at the prospect of again returning to Asia, and being immured within the walls of a haram, allowed only to occupy herself with infantile amusements, ill suited to the temper of her soul, now accustomed to grand ideas and a noble emulation for virtue. The prospect of marrying a Christian, and remaining in a country where women were allowed to take a rank in society, was enchanting to her.

"The day for the execution of the Turk was fixed; but, on the night previous to it, he quitted his prison, and before morning was distant many leagues from Paris. Felix had procured passports in the name of his father, sister, and himself. He had previously communicated his plan to the former, who aided the deceit by quitting his house, under the pretence of a journey, and concealed himself, with his daughter, in an obscure part of Paris.

"Felix conducted the fugitives through France to Lyons, and across Mont Cenis to Leghorn, where the merchant had decided to wait a favourable opportunity of passing into some part of the Turkish dominions.

"Safie resolved to remain with her father until the moment of his departure, before which time the Turk renewed his promise that she should be united to his deliverer; and Felix remained with them in expectation of that event; and in the mean time he enjoyed the society of the Arabian, who exhibited towards him the simplest and tenderest affection. They conversed with one another through the means of an interpreter, and sometimes with the interpretation of looks; and Safie sang to him the divine airs of her native country.

"The Turk allowed this intimacy to take place, and encouraged the hopes of the youthful lovers, while in his heart he had formed far other plans. He loathed the idea that his daughter should be united to a Christian; but he feared the resentment of Felix, if he should appear lukewarm; for he knew that he was still in the power of his deliverer, if he should choose to betray him to the Italian state which they inhabited. He revolved a thousand plans by which he should be enabled to prolong the deceit until it might be no longer necessary, and secretly to take his daughter with him when he departed. His plans were facilitated by the news which arrived from Paris.

"The government of France were greatly enraged at the escape of their victim, and spared no pains to detect and punish his deliverer. The plot of Felix was quickly discovered, and De Lacey and Agatha were thrown into prison. The news reached Felix, and roused him from his dream of pleasure. His blind and aged father, and his gentle sister, lay in a noisome dungeon, while he enjoyed the free air, and the society of her whom he loved. This idea was torture to him. He quickly arranged with the Turks, that if the latter should find a favourable opportunity for escape before Felix could return to Italy, Safie should remain as a boarder at a convent at Leghorn; and then, quitting the lovely Arabian, he hastened to Paris, and delivered himself up to the vengeance of the law, hoping to free De Lacey and Agatha by this proceeding.

"He did not succeed. They remained confined for five months before the trial took place; the result of which deprived them of their fortune, and condemned them to a perpetual exile from their native country.

"They found a miserable asylum in the cottage in Germany, where I discovered them. Felix soon learned that the treacherous Turk, for whom he and his family endured such unheard-of oppression, on discovering that his deliverer was thus reduced to poverty and ruin, became a traitor to good feeling and honour, and had quitted Italy with his daughter, insultingly sending Felix a pittance of money, to aid him, as he said, in some plan of future maintenance.

"Such were the events that preyed on the heart of Felix, and rendered him, when I first saw him, the most miserable of his family. He could have endured poverty; and while this distress had been the meed of his virtue, he gloried in it: but the ingratitude of the Turk, and the loss of his beloved Safie, were misfortunes more bitter and irreparable. The arrival of the Arabian now infused new life into his soul.

"When the news reached Leghorn, that Felix was deprived of his wealth and rank, the merchant commanded his daughter to think no more of her lover, but to prepare to return to her native country. The generous nature of Safie was outraged by this command; she attempted to expostulate with her father, but he left her angrily, reiterating his tyrannical mandate.

"A few days after, the Turk entered his daughter's apartment, and told her hastily, that he had reason to believe that his residence at Leghorn had been divulged, and that he should speedily be delivered up to the French government; he had, consequently hired a vessel to convey him to Constantinople, for which city he should sail in a few hours. He intended to leave his daughter under the care of a confidential servant, to follow at her leisure with the greater part of his property, which had not yet arrived at Leghorn.

"When alone, Safie resolved in her own mind the plan of conduct that it would become her to pursue in this emergency. A residence in Turkey was abhorrent to her; her religion and her feelings were alike adverse to it. By some papers of her father, which fell into her hands, she heard of the exile of her lover, and learnt the name of the spot where he then resided. She hesitated some time, but at length she formed her determination. Taking with her some jewels that belonged to her, and a sum of money, she quitted Italy with an attendant, a native of Leghorn, but who understood the common language of Turkey, and departed for Germany.

"She arrived in safety at a town about twenty leagues from the cottage of De Lacey, when her attendant fell dangerously ill. Safie nursed her with the most devoted affection; but the poor girl died, and the Arabian was left alone, unacquainted with the language of the country, and utterly ignorant of the customs of the world. She fell, however, into good hands. The Italian had mentioned the name of the spot for which they were bound; and, after her death, the woman of the house in which they had lived took care that Safie should arrive in safety at the cottage of her lover."

[lord-byrons-ghost]

Pasha this and Pasha that... will you spare a thought for Ali Pasha of Ioannina?

Now, that is a name that brings back sweet memories indeed! - Ali Pasha was one of the most charming despots I have ever laid eyes upon; flashing blue eyes and a great white beard, clad in silks. My visitation to him in Albania was an honour and a joy - they call him the Mahometan Buonaparte for his excellence at war - Buonaparte himself sent a snuff box, and courts him eternally - as do our own rotten breed of diplomat - and he refuses the both of them.

Now, if I can retrieve that deuced letter to my mother, I shall find you my first meeting with the fellow, dear anonymous!

“The next day I was introduced to Ali Pacha. I was dressed in a full suit of staff uniform, with a very magnificent sabre, &c. The vizier received me in a large room paved, with marble; a fountain was playing in the centre; the apartment was surrounded by scarlet ottomans. He received me standing, a wonderful compliment from a Mussulman, and made me sit down on his right hard. I have a Greek interpreter for general use, but a physician of Ali’s, named Femlario, who understands Latin, acted for me on this occasion. His first question was, why, at so early an age, I left my country?—(the Turks have no idea of travelling for amusement). He then said, the English minister, Captain Leake, had told him I was of a great family, and desired his respects to my mother; which I now, in the name of All Pacha, present to you. He said he was certain I was a man of birth, because I had small ears, curling hair, and little white hands, and expressed himself pleased with my appearance and garb. He told me to consider him as a father whilst I was in Turkey, and said he looked on me as his son. Indeed, he treated me like a child, sending me almonds and sugared sherbet, fruit and sweetmeats, twenty times a day. He begged me to visit him often, and at night, when he was at leisure. I then, after coffee and pipes, retired for the first time. I saw him thrice afterwards. It is singular, that the Turks, who have no hereditary dignities, and few great families, except the Sultans, pay so much respect to birth; for I found my pedigree more regarded them my title."

Make of the gifts - especially the sherbet - and the nightly visits what you will. I deny and confirm nothing, saving Ali Pasha's civility to a wand'ring poetiser. If I could have returned to that country of noble savages with flashing eyes, I should have been glad to reacquaint myself with such a fellow as he.

[rhianna]

Supramanya, second son of Lord Siva"

Handcoloured engravings by Frederic Shoberl from his work 'The World in Miniature: Hindoostan'. London: R. Ackerman, 1820's. More images from the same source:

"A Basketmaker and his Wife"*

"Beater of Cotton and his Wife"*

"Brahma"*

"A Brahmin who Teaches the Day and his Wife"*

"Brazier"*; *"Brazier's Wife"*

"The Bridegroom Conducted in State to the House of the Bride"*

"Carpenter and Mason"*

"Catamaran, Chelingh"*

"Ceremony of Throwing the Colossal Statue of the Goddess Cali into the Water"*

"Cloth Beater"*; *"Cloth Painter"*

"Conjuror and Juggler with Painted Balls"*

"Cotton Spinning"*

"Dealer in Betel, Areca, etc."*

"Dealer in Pearls"*

"Devedassis or Bayaderes"*

"Dress and Ornaments, Hindoo Ladies"*

"Dourga Killing Maissassour"*

"Dyer"*

"The Fakir Perkasanund"*; *"The Fakir Praoun Pouri"*

"The Father of the Bride Going with the Nuptial Presents to the Bridegroom"*

"Funeral of a Hindoo"*

"Ganesha, God of Wisdom"*

"Gilder"*; *"Gold Beater"*; *"Goldsmith"*

"A Hindoo Cradle"*

"A Hindoo Dancer called Baloks"*

"Hindoo Jugglers, Swallowing a Sword and Balancing a Buffalo"*

"Hindoo Ladies Paying a Visit to a Persee Lady"*

"Hindoo Ploughman and Herdsman"*

Hindoos Throwing Themselves on Mattresses Covered with Sharp Instruments"*

"A Hindoo Widow Burning Herself with the Corpse of her Husband"*

"Horse Breaker, Smith"*

"The Husband Swearing in the Presence of a Brahmin to take Care of his Wife"*

"Ironer"*

"A Mahometan Beating the Nagabotte"*

"A Mahometan Officer"*

"Mahometan Woman Travelling"*

"A Mahratta"*

"Mahratta Shoemaker, Shoemaker"*

"Malabar Tailor"*

"Malabar Writer"*

"Manmadin, the Indian Cupid"*

"Mariatta Codam, or Manner of Dancing in Honour of the Goddess Mariatta"*

"Musical Instruments, plate 1"*; *"Musical Instruments, plate 2"*; *"Musical Instruments, plate 3"*

"Nemessura Cavadi, or Woman Carrying the Water of the Ganges"*

"Pandarons, Penitents of the Sect of Sheeva"*

"A Pandidappan Brahmin and his Wife"*

"A Papan Vaichenvan Brahmin and a Tatoidipapan Brahmin"*

"A Pecali or Water Carrier Attending the Army"*

"Perfumer"*

"A Poojari, Singing the History of Mariatta"*

"Potter"*; *"Potter's Wife"*

"Preparation of the Warp for Weaving"*

"A Rajah and his Wife Celebrating the Festival of Kishna"*

"A Rajah Giving Audience"*

"A Rajpoot"*

"A Religious Procession"*

"A Seik and a Seapoy in the French Service"*

"(1) A Seapoy in the Native Attire; (2) A Hindoo Soldier; (3) A Brigbasi"*

"Schoolmaster"*

"Shell Cutter"*

"Silk Dyer"*

"Snake Charmer"*

"A Sourer and his Wife"*

"A Species of Penance Practiced at the Festival of Goddess Bhavani"*

A Sugar Mill*

"Suja Dowlah, Vizir of the Mogul Empire, Nawab of Oude, and his Ten Sons"*

"Supramanya, second son of Lord Siva"* (shown above)

"Tadin: playing with fire; Ariganda apndaron; Tadin: with a padlock to his mouth"*

"Telinga Barber, Malabar Barber"*

"Ter, or Sacred Chariot"*

"Trimurti--the Indian Trinity"*

"Tumblers"*

Hindoos Throwing Themselves on Mattresses Covered with Sharp Instruments"*

"A Hindoo Widow Burning Herself with the Corpse of her Husband"*

"Horse Breaker, Smith"*

"The Husband Swearing in the Presence of a Brahmin to take Care of his Wife"*

"Ironer"*

"A Mahometan Beating the Nagabotte"*

"A Mahometan Officer"*

"Mahometan Woman Travelling"*

"A Mahratta"*

"Mahratta Shoemaker, Shoemaker"*

"Malabar Tailor"*

"Malabar Writer"*

"Manmadin, the Indian Cupid"*

"Mariatta Codam, or Manner of Dancing in Honour of the Goddess Mariatta"*

"Musical Instruments, plate 1"*; *"Musical Instruments, plate 2"*; *"Musical Instruments, plate 3"*

"Nemessura Cavadi, or Woman Carrying the Water of the Ganges"*

"Pandarons, Penitents of the Sect of Sheeva"*

"A Pandidappan Brahmin and his Wife"*

"A Papan Vaichenvan Brahmin and a Tatoidipapan Brahmin"*

"A Pecali or Water Carrier Attending the Army"*

"Perfumer"*

"A Poojari, Singing the History of Mariatta"*

"Potter"*; *"Potter's Wife"*

"Preparation of the Warp for Weaving"*

"A Rajah and his Wife Celebrating the Festival of Kishna"*

"A Rajah Giving Audience"*

"A Rajpoot"*

"A Religious Procession"*

"A Seik and a Seapoy in the French Service"*

"(1) A Seapoy in the Native Attire; (2) A Hindoo Soldier; (3) A Brigbasi"*

"Schoolmaster"*

"Shell Cutter"*

"Silk Dyer"*

"Snake Charmer"*

"A Sourer and his Wife"*

"A Species of Penance Practiced at the Festival of Goddess Bhavani"*

A Sugar Mill*

"Suja Dowlah, Vizir of the Mogul Empire, Nawab of Oude, and his Ten Sons"*

"Supramanya, second son of Lord Siva"* (shown above)

"Tadin: playing with fire; Ariganda apndaron; Tadin: with a padlock to his mouth"*

"Telinga Barber, Malabar Barber"*

"Ter, or Sacred Chariot"*

"Trimurti--the Indian Trinity"*

"Tumblers"*

[ebelal56-blog]

The Quran's PROFOUND Influence On America's Founders

In the tapestry of American history, one often overlooked thread is the profound influence of Islamic thought and culture on the nation’s founders, particularly Thomas Jefferson. His engagement with the Quran, specifically George Sale's English translation, is a striking testament to his intellectual curiosity and commitment to understanding diverse belief systems. Jefferson’s ownership of this text wasn’t merely a symbolic gesture; it was a part of his earnest quest to grasp the complexities of various religions and legal frameworks. This pursuit culminated in the drafting of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, a groundbreaking document that championed the separation of church and state. It enshrined the principle that individuals of all faiths—including those practicing Islam, then referred to as "Mahometans"—could worship freely, free from persecution. This commitment to religious liberty can be traced back to the philosophical underpinnings laid by thinkers like John Locke. Locke’s advocacy for religious tolerance extended to Muslims, among others, and his writings profoundly influenced Jefferson and his contemporaries. The founders envisioned a nation where diverse faiths could coexist peacefully, a vision that was radical for its time. This philosophical backdrop helped shape the principles that would guide the fledgling nation, fostering an environment of acceptance and coexistence. The narrative continues during Jefferson’s presidency, particularly amidst the Barbary Wars. This conflict with Muslim-majority states in North Africa was not merely a military engagement; it was a moment that compelled Jefferson to delve deeper into Islamic culture and politics. He recognized that effective diplomacy required an understanding of these societies' complexities, reflecting his broader belief in engaging with diverse cultures. This approach was not simply a political strategy; it was an embodiment of his commitment to knowledge and intercultural dialogue. Interestingly, discussions during the Constitutional Convention also hinted at the founders’ progressive views on inclusivity. Debates emerged about the possibility of a Muslim serving as president. This hypothetical scenario illustrates the founders' openness to a pluralistic society, one where individuals from various backgrounds could aspire to the highest office in the land. The mere consideration of such an idea speaks volumes about their vision for an inclusive America, a nation that celebrated diversity rather than shied away from it. Moreover, the influence of Islamic thought on the Enlightenment cannot be overstated. The intellectual advancements during the Islamic Golden Age had a significant impact on European thought, shaping the very ideas that inspired the American Revolution. Enlightenment thinkers drew from this rich tradition, embracing the contributions of various cultures and philosophies. This cultural exchange laid the groundwork for a society that valued knowledge, progress, and the myriad contributions of diverse peoples. Today, as we reflect on this intricate history, it is essential to recognize the legacy of pluralism that Jefferson and the founders bequeathed to us. Their embrace of religious tolerance and their willingness to engage with a variety of intellectual traditions crafted a revolutionary vision for America—one that remains relevant in our contemporary discourse. They understood that the ideals of liberty and equality were not born in a vacuum; they were shaped by a rich tapestry of cultures and beliefs. In celebrating this history, we are reminded of the complexities that underpin our nation’s origins. Jefferson’s engagement with Islamic thought serves as a poignant reminder that the principles of freedom and equality are interconnected with a broader narrative of cultural exchange. This story invites us to continue exploring the diverse influences that shape our society today, urging us to embrace the richness of our collective heritage as we strive for a more inclusive future.

[the-2-swords]

"It is the peculiar Advantage, the Excellence, and (as I may say) the incommunicable Attribute of Christ's Doctrine, that it discovers a Man to himself, that it opens, and searches and heals those Wounds, which all other Religions either imperfectly cure, as the Old Law; or labour to conceal, as the Moral of Philosophy or widen and inflame as the Pagan and Mahometan Worship. None but Christianity proposes an End worthy an intellectual Being, and prescribes Means to obtain it proportioned to a reasonable Agent."

Sermon Preached before King James II in St James's Palace Chapel on the Feast of All Saints

(via Alan Fimister | Facebook)

[ahlulbaytnetworks]

🍃🕊🍃 What Non-Muslims Say About Imam Ali (as)

The First Successor of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S)

“God thus makes clear his signs to you that you may understand.”

🍃 Holy Quran 🍃

(2:242)

Imam 'Ali bin Abi Talib (as) was the successor to Prophet Muhammad (S) This is a collection of short quotations about him from a wide variety of notables belonging to other faiths, including academics, writers, philosophers, poets, politicians, and activists.

🍃 Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) 🍃

Scottish historian, critic, and sociological writer.

• “As for this young Ali, one cannot but like him. A noble-minded creature, as he shows himself, now and always afterwards; full of affection, of fiery daring. Something chivalrous in him; brave as a lion; yet with a grace, a truth and affection worthy of Christian knighthood.”

(On Heroes, Hero-Worship, And The Heroic In History, 1841, Lecture 2: The Hero as Prophet. Mahomet: Islam., May 8, 1840)

🍃 Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) 🍃

Considered the greatest British historian of his time.

• "The zeal and virtue of Ali were never outstripped by any recent proselyte. He united the qualifications of a poet, a soldier, and a saint; his wisdom still breathes in a collection of moral and religious sayings; and every antagonist, in the combats of the tongue or of the sword, was subdued by his eloquence and valour. From the first hour of his mission to the last rites of his funeral, the apostle was never forsaken by a generous friend, whom he delighted to name his brother, his vicegerent, and the faithful Aaron of a second Moses."

(The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, London, 1911, volume 5, pp. 381-2)

🍃 Philip Khuri Hitti (1886-1978) 🍃

Professor of Semitic Languages at Princeton University

• “Valiant in battle, wise in counsel, eloquent in speech, true to his friends, magnanimous to his foes, he became both the paragon of Muslim nobility and chivalry (futuwah) and the Solomon of Arabic tradition, around whose name poems, proverbs, sermonettes and anecdotes innumerable have clustered.”

(History of the Arabs, London, 1964, p. 183)

🍃 Sir William Muir (1819 - 1905) 🍃

Scottish scholar and statesman. Held the post of Foreign Secretary to the Indian government as well as Lieutenant Governor of the Northwestern Provinces.

• “Endowed with a clear intellect, warm in affection, and confiding in friendship, he was from the boyhood devoted heart and soul to the Prophet. Simple, quiet, and unambitious, when in after days he obtained the rule of half of the Moslem world, it was rather thrust upon him than sought.”

(The Life of Mahomet, London, 1877, p. 250)

🍃 Dr. Henry Stubbe (1632-1676) 🍃Classicist, polemicist, physician, and philosopher.

• “He had a contempt of the world, its glory and pomp, he feared God much, gave many alms, was just in all his actions, humble and affable; of an exceeding quick wit and of an ingenuity that was not common, he was exceedingly learned, not in those sciences that terminate in speculations but those which extend to practice.”

(An Account of the Rise and Progress of Mahometanism, 1705, p. 83)

🍃 Gerald de Gaury (1897 - 1984) 🍃

A distinguished soldier and diplomat.

• “He had been wise in counsel and brave in battle, true to his friends and magnanimous to his foes. He was to be for ever the paragon of Muslim nobility and chivalry.”

(Rulers of Mecca, London, 1951, p. 49)

🍃 Wilferd Madelung 🍃

Professor of Arabic at Oxford University

• "In face of the fake Umayyad claim to legitimate sovereignty in Islam as God's Vicegerents on earth, and in view of Umayyad treachery, arbitrary and divisive government, and vindictive retribution, they came to appreciate his honesty, his unbending devotion to the reign of Islam, his deep personal loyalties, his equal treatment of all his supporters, and his generosity in forgiving his defeated enemies."

(The succession to Muhammad: a study of the early caliphate, Cambridge, 1997, pp. 309-310)

🍃 Charles Mills (1788 - 1826) 🍃

Leading historical writer of his time.

• “As the chief of the family of Hashem and as the cousin and son-in-law of him whom the Arabians respected …, it is apparently wonderful that Ali was not raised to the Caliphate immediately on the death of Mohammad. To the advantages of his birth and marriage was added the friendship of the Prophet. The son of Abu Talib was one of the first converts to Islamism and Mohammad’s favourite appellation of his was the Aaron of a second Moses. His talents as an orator, and his intrepidity as a warrior, were grateful to a nation in whose judgement courage was virtue and eloquence was wisdom.”

(An history of Muhammedanism, London, 1818, p. 89)

🍃 Simon Ockley (1678-1720) 🍃

Professor of Arabic at the University of Cambridge.

• “One thing particularly deserving to be noticed is that his mother was delivered of him at Mecca, in the very temple itself; which never happened to any one else.”

(History of the Saracens, London, 1894, p. 331)

🍃 Washington Irving (1783-1859) 🍃

Well-known as the “first American man of letters”.

• "He was of the noblest branch of the noble race of Koreish. He possessed the three qualities most prized by Arabs: courage, eloquence, and munificence. His intrepid spirit had gained him from the prophet the appellation of The Lion of God, specimens of his eloquence remain in some verses and sayings preserved among the Arabs; and his munificence was manifested in sharing among others, every Friday, what remained in the treasury. Of his magnanimity, we have given repeated instances; his noble scorn of everything false and mean, and the absence in his conduct of everything like selfish intrigue."

(Lives of the Successors of Mahomet, London, 1850, p. 165)

• "He was one of the last and worthiest of the primitive Moslems, who imbibed his religious enthusiasm from companionship with the Prophet himself, and followed to the last the simplicity of his example. He is honourably spoken of as the first Caliph who accorded some protection to Belles-Lettres. He indulged in the poetic vein himself, and many of his maxims and proverbs are preserved, and have been translated in various languages. His signet bore this inscription: 'The kingdom belongs to God'. One of his sayings shows the little value he set upon the transitory glories of this world, 'Life is but the shadow of a cloud - the dream of a sleeper'."

(Lives of the Successors of Mahomet, London, 1850, pp. 187-8)

🍃 Robert Durey Osborn (1835-1889)🍃

Major of the Bengal Staff Corps.

• “With him perished the truest hearted and best Moslem of whom Mohammadan history had preserved the remembrance.”

(Islam Under the Arabs, 1876, p. 120)

.

[libidomechanica]

Each cell has set

And a flake that beat neath our sails;     hoarse murmuring melodious burdened honey of mourners,     weep night thy song thou

could revoke the black stage-lion     of the doom, the radiant girl! Of flowers. Or gluttoning     a Titan’s bridegroom at

then all thought wind the unpleasing,     but, after all, or liker bene false, is a dying     smile, amid all times call

its wires ouergrast, the truth; if people’s     ancestors are far shore; they punishment. Like a butten     the rest! Is placed, and

her silken robe, and with weather     may see sweeter the patching him is not well beseech you     canst not loues a lasse forlorn,

till not the land beautie but kind,     but all the fields are fire outlines on the sense, for constrative     earth was not to bed.

’Er form legs. You under pale light!     The features ensures floating up repent, and inly know,     but work required, his frozen

tears! As subject to no such     and stile and full of change and grief with Damaske roses fed,     Leave me never spoke too

much plenty of world, and barbarian     shore! With joyous tone; whose baseball flying hair, The     nigh the yellow-haired your

was her name, and grew. I dream hath     bred it sinks, the worst of her rather raise best to-night, nay     day, the goddess of

Mahometans forbeare his worth in     vain on wit’s despair in every hail and me, if ye gie     a woman a’ her wheeling?

Toward bold; the public trusting     from still told of day their steering-wheel or touch of weather     a life was not like strapped

in his hand o’er meikle to     receivest by wilful taste, for they are gone before anxious     for thys, not lift his love

and wine disperse, touch sorrow-clouded     eye; the priest, to reach— and now at earth’s shadow of the     sun strife, and self. And thriftless

praises are borne a slave to     second my heart, are you, beautifully into those whom he     taught, there’s naked love

and feel it inside its care     unclosed and she with thee moste leefe, hobbin, I cursed the sky     and thro’ the lady’s cheek.

[the-devils-dictionary]

ASS, n.

A public singer with a good voice but no ear. In Virginia City, Nevada, he is called the Washoe Canary, in Dakota, the Senator, and everywhere the Donkey. The animal is widely and variously celebrated in the literature, art and religion of every age and country; no other so engages and fires the human imagination as this noble vertebrate. Indeed, it is doubted by some (Ramasilus, lib. II., De Clem., and C. Stantatus, De Temperamente) if it is not a god; and as such we know it was worshiped by the Etruscans, and, if we may believe Macrobious, by the Cupasians also. Of the only two animals admitted into the Mahometan Paradise along with the souls of men, the ass that carried Balaam is one, the dog of the Seven Sleepers the other. This is no small distinction. From what has been written about this beast might be compiled a library of great splendor and magnitude, rivalling that of the Shakespearean cult, and that which clusters about the Bible. It may be said, generally, that all literature is more or less Asinine.

"Hail, holy Ass!" the quiring angels sing; "Priest of Unreason, and of Discords King!" Great co-Creator, let Thy glory shine: God made all else, the Mule, the Mule is thine!"

G.J.

[jamesgraybooksellerworld]

Sandys travels : containing an history of the original and present state of...Turkish Empire, Constantinople, Greece, Ægypt, Armenia, Grand Cairo... Italy, and the islands adjoining, as Cyprus, Crete, Malta, Sicilia, the Æolian Islands, of Rome, Venice, Naples, Syracusa, Mesena, Aetna, Scylla, and Charybdis, and other places of note

631J Sandys, George, 1578-1644.,  Sandys travels : containing an history of the original and present state of the Turkish Empire, their laws, government, policy, military force, courts of justice, and commerce, the Mahometan religion and ceremonies, a description of Constantinople, the Grand Signior’s seraglio, and his manner of living : also, of Greece, with the religion and customs of the…