Mohammed, Islam and Mohammedanism
Adapted from the Catholic Encyclopaedia
By Father Gerard Rusak and Father Dominique De Vriendt

Islam is an Arabic word which, since Mohammed's time, has acquired a religious and technical significance denoting the religion of Mohammed and of the Koran, just as Christianity denotes that of Jesus and of the Gospels, or Judaism that of Moses, the Prophets, and of the Old Testament.

I. THE FOUNDER

Mohammed, "the Praised One", the prophet of Islam and the founder of Mohammedanism, was born at Mecca  A.D. 570.  He spent his early life as a shepherd and an attendant of caravans, and at the age of twenty-five married a rich widow, fifteen years his senior. She bore him six children, all of whom died very young except Fatima, his beloved daughter.

On his commercial journeys to Syria and Palestine he became acquainted with Jews and Christians, and acquired an imperfect knowledge of their religion and traditions. He was a man of retiring disposition, given to prayer and fasting, and was subject to epileptic fits. In his fortieth year (A.D. 612), he claimed to have received a call from the Angel Gabriel, and thus began his active career as the prophet of Allah and the apostle of Arabia. By his preaching and his attack on heathenism, Mohammed provoked persecution which drove him from Mecca to Medina in 622, the beginning of the Mohammedan Era. At Medina he was recognized as the prophet of God, and his followers increased. He took the field against his enemies, conquered several Arabian, Jewish, and Christian tribes, entered Mecca in triumph in 630, demolished the idols of the Kaaba, became master of Arabia, and finally united all the tribes under one emblem and one religion. In 632 he made his last pilgrimage to Mecca at the head of forty thousand followers, and soon after his return died of a violent fever in the 63rd year of his age, and the year 633 of the Christian era. 

It seems, Mohammed was at first sincere, but later, carried away by success, he practised deception wherever it would gain his end. After the death of his first wife, he became a prey to his evil passions. Some attribute his alleged revelations to epileptic fits, or to "a paroxysm of cataleptic insanity".  It is likely the prophet was false even to the ethical traditions of the idolatrous brigands among whom he lived, and grossly violated the easy sexual morality of his own system. After this, it is hardly necessary to say that, Mohammed fell very far short of the most elementary requirements of Scriptural morality.  This judgment, however harsh, rests on evidence which comes all from the lips and the pens of his own devoted adherents. 

II. THE SYSTEM

A. History of growth, Location, Organisation and Divisions

History of growth: After Mohammed's death, Mohammedanism aspired to become a world power and a universal religion. The weakness of the Byzantine Empire, the unfortunate rivalry between the Greek and Latin Churches, the schisms of Nestorius and Eutyches, the failing power of the Sassanian dynasty of Persia, the lax moral code of the new religion, the power of the sword and of fanaticism, the hope of plunder and the love of conquest - all these factors, combined with the genius of the caliphs, the successors of Mohammed, to effect the conquest, in considerably less than a century, of Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, Egypt, North Africa, and the South of Spain. The Moslems even crossed the Pyrenees, threatening to stable their horses in St. Peter's at Rome, but were at last defeated by Charles Martel at Tours (France), in 732, just one hundred years from the death of Mohammed. This defeat arrested their western conquests and saved Europe. In the eighth and ninth centuries they conquered Persia, Afghanistan, and a large part of India, and in the twelfth century they had already become the absolute masters of all Western Asia, Spain and North Africa, Sicily, etc. They were finally conquered by the Mongols and Turks, in the thirteenth century, but the new conquerors adopted Mohammed's religion and, in the fifteenth century, overthrew the tottering Christian Byzantine Empire (1453). At the naval battle of Lepanto, on Oct. 7, 1571, later on commemorated by the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, between the Christians and the Turks, the fleet of the Holy League, commanded by John of Austria, virtually destroyed the fleet of the Ottoman Empire, ending the threat of Turkish naval supremacy in the Mediterranean. But from Constantinople they still threatened the German Empire. They were successfully defeated at the gates of Vienna in 1683. Ottoman troops under the grand vizier Kara Mustapha lay siege to Vienna in July. A German-Polish army led by John III Sobieski of Poland lifts the siege September 12 on the feast of the Holy Name of Mary, after 58 days. Is it by chance that the great victories over the Muslims are attributed to Our Lady? Sobieski had told his soldiers to have no other words on their lips but the names of Jesus and Mary. Coming upon the Muslim camp, the Polish leader saw silken tents, and Moslem women slaughtered, lest they be taken by the Christians. Sobieski returned home to his wife Maria whom he loved dearly. He wrote to Pope Innocent XI: “Veni, Vidi, Deus Vicit.” “I came, I saw, God conquered.”

Location: Today, Islam counts at least 950 million faithful and stretches from the west coast of Africa to the South of Philippines across a broad band including Tanzania, Central Asia and western China, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It numbers several million in North America.

Organisation: Theoretically, the state and religious community are one, administered by a caliph. In practice, Islam is a loose collection of congregations united by a very conservative tradition.

Divisions: The 2 major sects of Islam are the Sunni (orthodox) and the Shiah. The Shiah regard Ali, the son-in-law of Mohammed, as the legitimate successor of Mohammed, disregarding the three caliphs who actually did succeed him. The Shiah, who number about 10% of all Muslims, believe in 12 imams, perfect teachers, who still guide the faithful from Paradise. The Shiah affirm human free will; the Sunni are deterministic. The Shiah observe the ceremonies of the month of fasting; they permit temporary marriages, contracted for a certain sum of money, whilst the Sunni maintain that Mohammed forbade them. The Shiah include the Fire-Worshippers among the "People of the Book", whilst the Sunni acknowledge only Jews, Christians, and Moslems as such. The Shiah admit a principle of religious compromise in order to escape persecution and death, whilst the Sunni regard this as apostasy.

There are many subdivisions, various theological schools and political factions, but in spite of these divisions, however, the principal articles of faith and morality, and the ritual, are substantially uniform.

B. Tenets

The principal tenets of Mohammedanism are laid down in the Koran. As aids in interpreting the religious system of the Koran we have: first, the so-called "Traditions", which are supposed to contain supplementary teachings and doctrine of Mohammed, a very considerable part of which, however, is decidedly spurious; second, the consensus of the doctors of Islam represented by the most celebrated imams, the founders of the various Islamic sects, the Koranic commentators and the masters of Mohammedans jurisprudence; third, the analogy, or deduction form recognized principles admitted in the Koran and in the Traditions. Mohammed's religion, known among its adherents as Islam, contains practically nothing original; it is a confused combination of native Arabian heathenism, Judaism, Christianity, Sabiism (Mandoeanism), Hanifism, and Zoroastrianism.

The system may be divided into two parts: dogma, or theory; and morals, or practice. All Mohammedan dogma is supposed to be expressed in the one formula: "there is no God but the true God; and Mohammed is His prophet." But this one confession implies for Mohammedans six distinct articles concerning: (a) God; (b) His angels; (c) His Scripture; (d) His prophets ; (e) the Resurrection and Day of Judgment; and (f) God's absolute and irrevocable decree and predetermination both of good and of evil.

(1) Dogma

a) The doctrines of Islam concerning God - His unity and Divine attributes - are essentially those of the Bible; but to the doctrines of the Trinity and of the Divine Sonship of Christ, Mohammed had the strongest antipathy.

b) Mohammedan angelology and demonology are almost wholly based on later Jewish and early Christian traditions. Besides angels and devils, there are also other creatures of fire, able to eat, drink, propagate, and die; some good, others bad, but all capable of future salvation and damnation.

c) Scripture: The Koran, the words of God; Hadith, collections of the sayings of the Prophet.

d) The number of prophets sent by God is said to have been about 124,000, and of apostles, 315. Of the former, 22 are mentioned by name in the Koran - such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus. According to the Sunni, the Prophets and Apostles were sinless and superior to the angels, and they had the power of performing miracles.

e) God rewards good and punishes evil deeds. He is merciful and is easily propitiated by repentance. The punishment of the impenitent wicked will be fearful, and the reward of the faithful great. All men will have to rise from the dead and submit to the universal judgment. The Day of Resurrection and of Judgment will be preceded and accompanied by signs some of which are identical with those mentioned in the New Testament. The Resurrection will be general and will extend to all creatures (contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Faith). The torments of hell and the pleasures of Paradise, but especially the latter, are proverbially crass and sensual. Hell is divided into seven regions: of which one is reserved for the Christians. While the damnation of all infidels (non-Moslems) will be hopeless and eternal, the Moslems guilty of heinous sins, will be delivered from hell after expiating their crimes (needless to say, this is absolutely against Catholic dogma).

The joys and glories of Paradise are as fantastic and sensual as the lascivious Arabian mind could possibly imagine. Rivers flowing with water, with wine and with honey; Springs containing rubies and emeralds, ravishing girls of pure musk and free from all natural impurities, defects, and inconveniences, modest and secluded in pavilions of hollow pearls.  Each individual will also possess a large mansion of at least 80,000 servants, 72 wives, 300 waiter, the food being served in dishes of gold, of 300 kinds at once, containing each a different kind of food, and an inexhaustible supply of wine and liquors, magnificent garments and gems conformable to the delicacy of their diet, clothing of the richest silks and brocades, bracelets of gold and silver, crowns set with pearls, silken carpets, couches, pillows, etc. And in order that they may enjoy all these pleasures, God will grant them perpetual youth, beauty, and vigour. Music and singing will also be ravishing and everlasting. Needless to say, this materialistic paradise is not the Heaven of the Catholic Faith.  We believe there will be pleasures proper to a glorified body, but we place the essential of happiness of heaven in that of the spirit.

f) The Mohammedan doctrine of predestination is equivalent to the false doctrine of fatalism. They believe in God's absolute decree and predetermination both of good and of evil; viz., whatever has been or shall be in the world, whether good or bad, proceeds entirely from the Divine will, and is irrevocably fixed and recorded from all eternity. The possession and the exercise of our own free will is, accordingly, futile and useless. This again is contrary to Catholic dogma.

(2) Practice

The four points relating to morals, or practice, are: (a) prayer, ablutions, and purifications; (b) alms; (c) fasting; and (d) pilgrimage to Mecca.

The daily prayers are five in number: before sunrise, at midday, at four in the afternoon, at sunset, and shortly before midnight.  All prayers must be made looking towards Mecca, and must be preceded by washing, neglect of which renders the prayers of no effect. Public prayer is made on Friday in the mosque, and is led by an imam. Only men attend the public prayers, as women seldom pray even at home. Prayers for the dead are meritorious and commended. Fasting is commended at all seasons, but prescribed only in the month of Ramadan. It begins at sunrise and ends at sunset, and is very rigorous, especially when the fasting season falls in summer.   Pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime is a duty incumbent on every free Moslem of sufficient means and bodily strength, and the ceremonies are strictly similar to those performed by the Prophet himself.

(3) Morals

It is hardly necessary here to emphasize the fact that the ethics of Islam are far inferior to those of Judaism and even more inferior to those of the New Testament.  Without doubt, there is a great deal to admire and to approve; but of originality or superiority, there is none. What is really good in Mohammedan ethics is either commonplace or borrowed from some other religions, whereas what is characteristic is nearly always imperfect or wicked.

The principal sins forbidden by Mohammed are idolatry and apostasy, adultery, false witness against a brother Moslem, games of chance, the drinking of wine or other intoxicants, usury, and divination by arrows. Brotherly love is confined in Islam to Mohammedans. Any form of idolatry or apostasy is severely punished in Islam, but the violation of any of the other ordinances is generally allowed to go unpunished, unless it seriously conflicts with the social welfare or the political order of the State.  Infanticide is strictly forbidden by Mohammed.

Religion and the State are not separated in Islam. Hence Mohammedan jurisprudence, civil and criminal, is mainly based on the Koran and on the "Traditions".  Slander and backbiting are strongly denounced, although false evidence is allowed to hide a Moslem's crime and to save his reputation or life. As regards marriage, polygamy, and divorce, the Koran explicitly allows four lawful wives at a time, whom the husband may divorce whenever he pleases. Slave-mistresses and concubines are permitted in any number.  Both husband and wife are explicitly forbidden by Mohammed to seek divorce on any slight occasion or the prompting of a whim, but this warning was not heeded either by Mohammed himself or by his followers. Immorality in general is severely condemned and punished by the Koran, but the moral laxity and depraved sensualism of the Mohammedans at large have practically nullified its effects.

Slavery is looked upon as a practical necessity.  Generally speaking males are entitled to twice as much as females. Murder, manslaughter, and suicide are explicitly forbidden, although blood revenge is allowed. In case of personal injury, the law of retaliation is approved.

 Mohammed selected Friday as the sacred day of the week.  The most probable motive was the desire to have a holy day different from that of the Jews and that of the Christians. It was, however, also a day of solemn gatherings and public festivities among the pre-Islamic Arabs. Abstinence from work is not enjoined on Friday, but it is commanded that public prayers and worship must be performed on that day.

In matters political, Islam is a system of despotism at home and aggression abroad. The Prophet commanded absolute submission to the imam. In no case was the sword to be raised against him. In a Muslim state, the rights of non-Moslem subjects (called “dhimmis”), are of the vaguest and most limited kind, and a religious war (Jihad) is a sacred duty whenever there is a chance of success against the "Infidel". Medieval and modern Mohammedan persecutions of both Jews and Christians are perhaps the best illustration of this fanatical religious and political spirit. For example, in Sudan, since 1956, according to what the Vatican announced recently, over 3 million Christians have lost their lives in a war waged against them by the Muslims. Terrorists also remain faithful to such principles of Islam.

If we consider Catholic prophecy, it seems, Islam will not be vanquished until Our Lady establishes the period of peace promised at Fatima.