File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎184r] (365/450)

outcome of deep-rooted faith and piety—in their attacks against this book and the
infidel teachings contained therein. In publishing these facts I feel I am doing my
duty, otherwise I should be sinning against truth and religion, as in keeping these
dark lies tne possibility of danger to Islam, and I should be guilty before God in the
hereafter.
I desire to put before my Moslem brethren the cause which made me take this
view of the Committee, so that they may be in a position to understand the various
points at issue; because I believe that the difference 'of opinion between those who
have despaired of them and those who still hope to reform them is due to their being
thoroughly understood by the former and not by the latter.
The energetic and wily Germans have been parading for some years the idea of
“ Berlin to Baghdad,” and convincing Anwar (Enver) and his clique that they intend
to introduce nirkey into the Germanic Union. But, realising that Moslems would find
this idea highly repugnant, as it means the placing of Islam under the power of a non-
Mahommedan Government with absolute control over the resources of the Empire,
they prevailed upon the Committee leaders (whose religion was benumbed by German
education) to get rid of Islam, which they believed to. be a hindrance. They thought
of attacking the tenets of Islam, beginning with the abolishing of mosques and the
seizure of the revenue of their Wakfs, utilising it in their novel enterprises such as
“ Bar Badaai ” (Hall of Fine Arts), which was built in Constantinople to be a dancing
and music school, and such as “ Turan Bera Khana si” (Turan’s Brasserie) and
“ Ashiai Askaria Tigaretkhana si ” (Army and Navy Stores).
The reader may think I am exaggerating when I state that the Committee have
actually abolished the mosques utilising their Wakfs to the benefit of dancing halls,
coffee houses, &c. To such a reader I say that the idea of abolishing the mosques was
made public. I quote hereunder some passages of the sermon delivered by Sheikh
Obeid Alla in Itamadan, 1331, and which was inserted by the Government in the book
entitled “ Kum Gedid ” :—
“ The prophet used to prevent the people building mosques in proximity to
each other. He used to think that one mosque would be enough for several
villages, with the idea of preserving unity amongst the Moslem community. It
would be better therefore to abolish all the “ takias ” and all mosques not built by
the Sultans, and to utilise their funds for military expenditure.”
The theory of abolishing mosques and takias was translated into action by
Government, who demolished the takia at “ Baghdji Kabusi ” and built in its place a
hotel called “ Bir Nomrolo Awkaf Khani ” (Wakfs Hotel No. l).
I now wish to explain to the reader why the book in question was entitled “ Kum
Gedid.”
The Committee call the libraries which contain Islamic books, and which are
requested, the books of “ Kum Ateik,” because they contain the tenets of Islam and
Arabic literature, &c. These, in their opinion, are old and unworthy conceptions
which should be substituted by the new thoughts and conceptions of the “ Kum
Gedid ”; and if we enquire what are their beliefs and new conceptions, and in what
they differ from our beliefs and conceptions, which are stigmatised as “ old,” we shall
find the reply in a passage in “Kum Gedid,” pp. 51 and 52, quoting Sheikh Obeid
Alla’s sermon in the Aya Sophia Mosque :—
“ The ‘ Kum Gedid ’ do not repudiate the rites of fasting, prayer, pilgrimage,
almsgiving, and the confession of faith, they adhere to them, but they do not
consider them to be essential. The essential points, according to ‘ Kum Gedid,’
are : I. Beason ; II. The confession of faith; III. Good character; IV. Jehad
and waging of war, by giving life and substance; V. Unity and concord under
the banner of the great Turkish Sultanate to obtain the necessities of war.”
The Committee’s hatred of the Arabs made them hate Islam, which they designate
as Arabic. It made them further hate the four pious Khalifs—Abu Bekr, Omar,
Osman, Ali (who are the glory of Islam), because they were Arabs.
In p. 89 of “Kum Gedid” we find the following passage quoted from Sheikh
Obeid Alla’s sermon in Aya Sophia Mosque : —
“ What folly ! What stupidity ! You write the names of the Arab Khalifs
in your mosques, and do not mention with due respect a name of one of your
Turkish Khalifs who were made sacred in the Hadiths of the Prophet. When the
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