240 A Short History of The World standards unedifying. He seems to have been a man compounded of very considerable vanity, greed, cunning, self-deception and quite sincere religious passion. He dictated a book of injunctions and expositions, the Koran, which he declared was communicated to him from God. Regarded as literature or philosophy the Koran is cer- tainly unworthy of its alleged Divine authorship. Yet when the manifest defects of Muhammad's life and writings have been allowed for, there remains in Islam, this faith he imposed upon the Arabs, much power and inspiration. One is its uncom- promising monotheism ; its simple enthusiastic faith in the rule and fatherhood of God and its freedom from theological complications. LOOKING ACROSS THE SEA OF SAND Phcto : Lehn^i't Sr Landrock, Another is its complete detachment from the sacrificial priest and the temple. It is an entirely prophetic religion, proof against any possi- bihty of relapse towards blood sacrifices. In the Koran the limited and ceremonial nature of the pilgrimage to Mecca is stated beyond the possibility of dispute, and every precaution was taken by Mu- hammad to prevent the deification of himself after his death. And a third element of strength lay in the insistence of Islam upon the perfect brotherhood and equality before God of all believers, whatever their colour, origin or status. These are the things that made Islam a power in human affairs. It has been said that the true founder of the Empire of Islam was not so much Muhammad as his friend and helper Abu Bekr. If
