In Tripoli there is
indeed a saint of very high pretensions, one known as the Sheykh Es
Snusi, who has a large religious following, and who has promised to come
forward shortly as the Mohdy or guide expected by a large section of
the Sunite as well as the Shiite Mussulmans. Next year he will attain
the age of forty (the legal age of a prophet), and he may be expected to
take a prominent part in any general movement that may then be on foot.
But as yet we know nothing of him but his name and the fact of his
sanctity, which is of Wahhabite type. Moreover, even supposing all that
may be supposed of a possible success, there yet lies Egypt and the Suez
Canal between the Barbary State and Mecca, so that I think we may be
justified in these days of steam fleets and electric cables and European
concerts, if we treat North Western Africa as out of probable
calculations in considering the future of the Caliphate. It is
remarkable that the Sultan of Morocco has taken as yet no apparent part
in the religious movement of modern Barbary.
The Mussulman princes of India hold a very similar position. Opposed as
they soon may be, indeed must be if the unintelligent English policy of
the last twenty years be persevered in, to an European Government in
arms, they will have the chance of making themselves a leading position
in the eyes of Islam; and should a Mohammedan empire arise once more at
Delhi or Hyderabad, India would certainly become _par excellence_ the
Dar el Islam.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124