Identifier: arabiacradleofis00zwem (find matches)
Title: Arabia: the cradle of Islam : studies in the geography, people and politics of the peninsula, with an account of Islam and mission work
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Zwemer, Samuel Marinus, 1867-1952
Subjects: Missions -- Arabian Peninsula Islam Islam Arabian Peninsula Arabian Peninsula -- Description and travel Arabian Peninsula -- Missions
Publisher: New York Toronto : F. H. Revell
Contributing Library: Princeton Theological Seminary Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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laces and verses from Koran. Needless to relate these certificates cost money, as doeseverything at Mecca save the air you breathe. No honestMoslem ever spoke with praise of the citizens of Mecca; manyare their proverbs to prove why wickedness flourishes in thecourts of Allah. And European travellers agree that of allOrientals the Meccans take the palm for thoroughgoing rascal-ity. Ali Bey dilates on the lewdness of the men and the loose-ness of the women of Mecca. Hurgronje unblushingly lifts theveil that hides the corruption of the sacred temple service withits army of eunuch police, and pictures the slave-market in fullswing within a stones throw of the Kaaba. Burton thus char-acterizes the men who live on their religion and grow fat(figuratively) by unveiling its m3steries to others : The Meccan is a covetous spendthrift. His wealth, lightlywon, is lightly prized. Pay, pensions, stipends, presents, andthe Ikram here, as at Medina, supply the citizen with the XJI *Ibid,, pp. 61-64.
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THE HOLY LAND OF ARABIA—MECCA 41 means of idleness. With him everything is on the most expen-sive scale, his marriage, his religious ceremonies, and his house-hold expenses. His house is luxuriously furnished, entertain-ments are frequent, and the junketings of the women make upa heavy bill at the end of the year. It is a common practicefor the citizen to anticipate the pilgrimage season by fallinginto the hands of the usurer. The most unpleasant peculiari-ties of the Meccans are their pride and coarseness of language.They look upon themselves as the cream of earths sons, andresent with extreme asperity the least slighting word concern-ing the Holy City and its denizens. They plume themselvesupon their holy descent, their exclusion of infidels, their strictfastings, their learned men, and their purity of language. Infact, their pride shows itself at every moment; but it is not thepride which makes a man too proud to do a dirty action. TheMeccans appeared to me distinguished, even in

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