登陆注册
4619900000029

第29章

We will not praise Mahomet's moral precepts as always of the superfinest sort; yet it can be said that there is always a tendency to good in them;that they are the true dictates of a heart aiming towards what is just and true. The sublime forgiveness of Christianity, turning of the other cheek when the one has been smitten, is not here: you _are_ to revenge yourself, but it is to be in measure, not overmuch, or beyond justice. On the other hand, Islam, like any great Faith, and insight into the essence of man, is a perfect equalizer of men: the soul of one believer outweighs all earthly kingships; all men, according to Islam too, are equal. Mahomet insists not on the propriety of giving alms, but on the necessity of it: he marks down by law how much you are to give, and it is at your peril if you neglect.

The tenth part of a man's annual income, whatever that may be, is the _property_ of the poor, of those that are afflicted and need help. Good all this: the natural voice of humanity, of pity and equity dwelling in the heart of this wild Son of Nature speaks _so_.

Mahomet's Paradise is sensual, his Hell sensual: true; in the one and the other there is enough that shocks all spiritual feeling in us. But we are to recollect that the Arabs already had it so; that Mahomet, in whatever he changed of it, softened and diminished all this. The worst sensualities, too, are the work of doctors, followers of his, not his work. In the Koran there is really very little said about the joys of Paradise; they are intimated rather than insisted on. Nor is it forgotten that the highest joys even there shall be spiritual; the pure Presence of the Highest, this shall infinitely transcend all other joys. He says, "Your salutation shall be, Peace." _Salam_, Have Peace!--the thing that all rational souls long for, and seek, vainly here below, as the one blessing. "Ye shall sit on seats, facing one another: all grudges shall be taken away out of your hearts." All grudges! Ye shall love one another freely; for each of you, in the eyes of his brothers, there will be Heaven enough!

In reference to this of the sensual Paradise and Mahomet's sensuality, the sorest chapter of all for us, there were many things to be said; which it is not convenient to enter upon here. Two remarks only I shall make, and therewith leave it to your candor. The first is furnished me by Goethe; it is a casual hint of his which seems well worth taking note of. In one of his Delineations, in _Meister's Travels_ it is, the hero comes upon a Society of men with very strange ways, one of which was this: "We require," says the Master, "that each of our people shall restrict himself in one direction," shall go right against his desire in one matter, and _make_ himself do the thing he does not wish, "should we allow him the greater latitude on all other sides." There seems to me a great justness in this. Enjoying things which are pleasant; that is not the evil: it is the reducing of our moral self to slavery by them that is. Let a man assert withal that he is king over his habitudes; that he could and would shake them off, on cause shown: this is an excellent law. The Month Ramadhan for the Moslem, much in Mahomet's Religion, much in his own Life, bears in that direction; if not by forethought, or clear purpose of moral improvement on his part, then by a certain healthy manful instinct, which is as good.

But there is another thing to be said about the Mahometan Heaven and Hell.

This namely, that, however gross and material they may be, they are an emblem of an everlasting truth, not always so well remembered elsewhere.

同类推荐
  • ON ANCIENT MEDICINE

    ON ANCIENT MEDICINE

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金阙帝君三元真一经

    金阙帝君三元真一经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 灵枢经脉翼

    灵枢经脉翼

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • All'  s Well That Ends Well

    All' s Well That Ends Well

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Paul Kelver

    Paul Kelver

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 关于我穿越成为萝莉这件事

    关于我穿越成为萝莉这件事

    我,落小夏,不知道怎么回事,竟然在不同世界穿越!还有个超级萌的妹妹和傲娇的系统!这是怎么回事?!
  • 神的新视界

    神的新视界

    地狱空荡荡,恶鬼在人间,一夕之间,天地巨变,祁采蘩的人生以她15岁的那一年为转折点,从甜蜜温馨一路奔向残忍。殷维白:请问,身为仇人案板上的一块合格死肉,你是如何做到华丽逆袭,绝地反击的?祁采蘩:示之以弱...可以利用的事物就尽量利用?
  • 莽荒第一神

    莽荒第一神

    本文结合修真、洪荒、山海经、西游记等四大元素进行创作,有修真的绚,有洪荒的强,山海经的怪,西游记的回忆。胸中之书酝多年,此朝方才写成文。不求富贵功名,只为做完一梦。
  • 死囚分析师

    死囚分析师

    为死囚而开发的软件。突破所有坚墙厚盾的程序。只为寻找谎言的技术。人之将死,其言真的必善?呼救的头颅、流血的公厕、双头怪、白斩人肉……一桩桩血案背后,不为人知的隐情,一件件隐藏于心,黑暗至极的秘密。死囚,究竟隐瞒了什么?将带入地狱的秘密,又有多可怕?
  • 绝世尸皇

    绝世尸皇

    九州风云再起,龙腾奇异脱出。六界浮出台面,试与苍穹比高。原来如此,却不该如此。尸王的重生,寻找永恒的爱情。能寻到么?来自地球的掌控者么?是回去?是留下?选择?很难选择。
  • 龙腾记(全三册)

    龙腾记(全三册)

    他出身市井,有着无人能比的机缘,却仍沦落为畜牲。他像野狗一样地生活,又像魔鬼一样地杀戳……当他第一步踏进江湖,便卷入了一场关系天下命运的阴谋,从此,他不由自主地顺着别人设计好的道路杀戳,逃亡……但他终以不屈的意志使自己不断地强大,更以无与伦比的武功征服江湖,而龙行天下,成为天下间的至强者。
  • 让死者闭眼

    让死者闭眼

    一桩桩耸人听闻的离奇血案,一具具冰冷沉默的尸体,究竟隐藏着怎样的罪恶与秘密?一个冷静睿智的女法医,一位经验丰富的刑侦队长,面对一纸法医鉴定,一件件一层层剖开尸体背后的血腥、暴力与恐怖,一切看似毫无蛛丝马迹,却又在离奇中注定了对凶手的诅咒。冰冷的尸体,血腥的现场,扭曲的罪恶,他们抽丝剥茧,追根溯源,案件真相逐渐显露,却浑然不知即将面临的是更大的迷局……
  • 甜宠33次:恶魔少爷求收养

    甜宠33次:恶魔少爷求收养

    “你偷亲了我,就该对我负责。”一次见义勇为,她被某恶魔诬赖偷亲了他,从此恶魔无处不在。玩心跳→玩暧昧→玩各种咚在某天早晨打开门看见迟大恶魔那张雌雄莫辩的脸上写着“求收养”这三个大字后,宁檬再也忍不下去了,“迟风泉你是不是男人!不就是亲了你一下吗?”迟大恶魔高贵冷艳地跻身而入,勾起她的小下巴,邪笑道:“我是不是男人你难道不知道?”“我……唔唔……唔……”宁檬的内心是崩溃的,她只不过是想寻找一下竹马顺便完成学业啊!怎么就想不开救了他这只大恶魔?
  • 班主任男生教育100个千字妙招

    班主任男生教育100个千字妙招

    《班主任男生教育100个千字妙招》是“班主任千字妙招”系列中的男生教育篇。德育专家张万祥从激发阳刚之气、培养责任意识、挖掘潜在能力、抵制种种诱惑、疏导叛逆毛躁、叩开封闭心扉、点亮一盏心灯等七个方面,精选了100个男生教育的实用小妙招,帮助广大一线班主任,尤其是新班主任,巧破男生教育困局,在让男生成为真正的男子汉,学业、人格双丰收的同时,自己也过上幸福完整的教育生活。
  • 我见默少多有病

    我见默少多有病

    陈芊墨是心理学家,善用微表情洞察人心,快意恩仇智商情商双高。他是神秘强大的默少,高不可攀。对内亦霸气侧漏:陈芊墨,纯爷们能跪搓衣板吗?换个榴莲过来,为夫跪着跟你探讨下夫为妻纲。芊墨:你有病吧...一句话简介:宠妻暖男vs读心女神的虐狗日常。书友群:346251814