Page 15 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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the aggressions of foreign rule* But Islam had no such olmrms for the people
of Nojd. Morcovor, tho subsequent transfer of the Caliphat from Hejaz to
Syria, and finally to Baghdad, loosened the ties which bound tho people of
Arabia to the creed of Islam. Ultimately all tho provinces on tho Porsian
Gulf, and Nejd in its largest senso, were dissevered from tho Caliphat of
Baghdad. Prom that date tho pooplo of Arabia havo been left to work out their
own destiny; and until tho reign of the late Mahomed Ali over Egypt no
attempt was made to march a military force into the interior. 'Western Asia
has been convulsed by Crusaders from tho west and Tartars from tho oast, but
Arabia has been effectually shut out from foreign invasion. Meantimo, each
district in Arabia grouped itself around its own Chiefs and nobles, and passed
through centuries of feud and rivalry in all tho liberty of misrule. But still
the great demarcation which prevailed before the advent of Mahomot continues
down to the present day, and the old antagonism is still at work between the
peoples of Nojd, Hejaz, and Oman.
8. Under such circumstances it is not surprising that when Abdul Wahab
Religious condition ef Xtjd at the advent of appeared, every trace of Islam had passed
JLldul Wahab, away from Nejd. At the beginning of
the eighteenth century the people of Nejd followed their old ancestral faith,
and worshipped the Jinn iu cavernous recesses, or beneath the shade of large
trees, and invoked tho dead and sacrificed at their tombs. Traces of the
doctrines of Moseilcmali still remained, together with remnants of old Sa-
baean institutions; but tho Koran was unread, the five daily prayers were
forgotten, no one cared whore Mecca lay, and tithes, ablutions, and pilgrimages
were unknown. Tho religious dogma which was taught by Abdul Wahab that
there was but one God, and that he was tho God above all tho Jinn or local
gods, was received by the people of Nejd with alternate persecution and
approval, much in the same manner that it had been originally received eleven
centuries previously by the people of Hejaz. Still, however, tho doctrines of
Abdul Wahab must havo had a peculiar charm for fhe people of Nejd,
inasmuch as they were not only opposed to the practices of the men of Ilejaz,
but were in accordance with the special character of the people of tho central
highlands. This Abdul Wahab taught that the Prophet, who was invoked by
the men of Hojaz, was only a man ; and perhaps, he may liavo added that as
such be was no better than the Prophet who bad been originally followed by
the men of Nejd. He also taught that wearing silk clothes and smoking
tobacco were great sins; and both were foreign to the national character, al­
though both were practised by the men of Hejaz. Moreover, the contempt for
ornaments, decorations, and ceremonies of evory kind, even to the absence of
mats from the mosques, and tho neglect to take off the shoe before saying
prayers, all of which are peculiar to the Wahabis, are at the same time
expressions of an austerity which is in perfect accordance with the rude simpli­
city of tho people of Nejd, and an expression of antagonism against the luxury
and magnificence of tho people of Hejaz.
9. Abdul Wahab died about 1760, but it is difficult to say whether he,
Separation of the Political and Spiritual power or his son Mahomed, should he regarded
about 1765. as the founder of tho sect of Wahabis.
It is certain, however, that about this time
some opposition was excited against the new doctrines, not because of their
austero and puritanical character, but because of tho national opposition of the
people of Nejd to the doctrines of Islam, which, in their original purity, were
involved in tho now tenets. Under these circumstances, Mahomed biu Abdul
Wahab took refuge with tlie Arab Chief of Doriali, named Saud. He so­
lemnly promised that, if Saud would espouse the cause of God and make
his sword the sword of Islam, ho should beeomo boforo his death the sole
monarch of Nejd and tho first potentate in Arabia. Saud accepted the offer,
and professod Islam in all its purity under tho direction of tho Wahabi;
and ho gavo himsolf out as tho apostle of tho new doctrino and sword of
faith. Saud reigned for many years, and loft to his sons tho undisputed sove-
reignty of Inner Arabia, and a namo which was respected throughout the
Arabian Peninsula. Moantimo, Mahomed bin Abdul Wahab supported the
sword of Saud by hi9 words and writings, but nevor interfered with the affairs
of State, and died in 1787 at the advanced ago of ninety-five.