Page 115 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (3)_Neat

XECLECTEU A KAMA

learning and scatter to their homes to become, in turn, teachers of other*
and a power in their own communities, a bigoted priesthood standing
jways tor the status quo. But that is only one side of Najaf life. All
about the town there are underground retreats in which the Najafis take
refuge from the extreme heat of summer. What transpires in these
retreats is truly the life of the underworld in more senses than one. .•I
Paul might have written the first chapter of Romans with this feature )
0f Najaf life as a model. Nor is this condition of affairs due to the . i
pilgrim traffic of the city. Those same teachers, whose words are so • 4
(uglily respected and sought after, sponsor, patronize and reap the
pecuniary benefits of Najaf’s shame. Such is the Najaf upon which my
friend looked as the repository of real wisdom.
Recently one of our book-sellers was approached in the bazaar by a
man who had just returned from Najaf. He said he would like to meet
one uf ihc missionaries to talk over with him some questions uf religion.
He wus assured that the missionaries would be delighted to meet him
for >uch a conversation. "But," he went on to say, "You must under­ A
hand that I have just returned from studying in Najaf. I am a learned
man. Have you among the missionaries anyone who is my equal in •i.
learning, for, of course, I cannot lower myself by talking with anyone
lo* learned.'’ That man would assure you in all sincerity that this *
murid of ours is perfectly fiat and the center of the universe. Were i
you to tell him of the wonders of the radio, for example, he would look J
al you in blank amazement and perhaps with pity. He has no mental x
concepts to take in such an idea. Dry, cold dialectics he can spin out ii
m casuistries and pride himself on his ability. That, to him, is learning . M
and all else is ignorance.
Such is the learning that is respected and admired by the rank and » i
ole of Islam. However, even that learning is not widespread. To the • <;
• •«
bulk of the tribesmen the vocabulary of the mullah is as unintelligible r.
u it would be to a child. He respects the big white turban rather than I
the knowledge that turban is supposed to represent. One winter there .J
bad been no rain for a long time and the crops were suffering. A *
muman from the marshes said, "Please God, Ali will make it rain soon."
Her more enlightened city sister replied in shocked surprise, "Who is I
Ali that he should make it rain? Does anyone but Allah cause the
nun?" "Well," replied the first lady, "Ali is Allah's brother or his ii
unde’s son, isn’t he?" It is difficult to say which type of mind is the !
harder to reach, the ignorant ones or those so satisfied with their own i*
learning, so called. i.
Since the war another element has entered into the situation. The
fuveniment has introduced a program of education which is most com­
mendable. However, the reaction on the student is not always pre­
dictable. So the hoys who have gone as far as the high school have had
ihnr first taste of natural science. In many cases it has shattered their
• hole world and from the wreckage there have arisen strange gods,
"fiod?" said one of the boys in our Bible-shop one day, "We have no
Oud. Darwin is our God!" They are at present in that state of knowl­ i
edge which is a dangerous thing. The next few years will tell whether
they are to be the most hopeful or the most dangerous element in the
future of this land.
In the same connection must he mentioned the influence of the impact