Bibliography 2: #BIB00714

Key	BIB00714
Reference type	Book
Title	In the Desert
Author	Phillipps, L. March
Year	1905
Date	1905
Publisher	Edward Arnold
Place published	London
Issue	10.
Notes	"Babis:" pp. 271-2 and 287 in appendix. p. 271: 'The second impulse, the impulse on the liberal side, springs, as it is also needless to say, from Persia. The pretension of Seyed Mohammed Ali to be the Bab, or Gate, or "intermediary," was in effect an attempt to supply the thing needed in Mohammedanism, both socially and religiously. It was an attempt to humanise and vitalise the faith and to endow it with an authoritative, recognised presence and voice, such as it must possess if it is to form a rallying point for social organisation. Consequently when the Bab declared himself, social and religious reformers alike saw in him their opportunity, and he was backed up not only by the spiritually-minded, by mystics, enthusiasts, and visionaries, but also by men of affairs, men of intellect, sagacity, and learning. A liberalism of ideas became the characteristic of the new sect. It was distinguished by its cheerfulness, hospitality, and charity. In nothing was its enlightenment more shown than in its treatment of women. The old Eastern degradations and disabilities were abolished. Polygamy, concubinage, the use of the veil, were disallowed or discouraged. The equality of the sexes was recognised. And all this reform, all this liberalism, all this spirit of progress gathers round the person of an individual who aspires to play much the same part towards Mohammedanism that Christ played towards Judaism....' The main body of text ends (p. 274) with an informed analysis of orthodox Islam as both a civilizing force and an obstacle to progress, and with an evaluation of its future prospects.
Language	English
Keywords	ARAB COUNTRIES; ARABS; ALGERIA; IRAN; ISLAM
Number of pages	xvi, 288, 16

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