The Progress and Arrest of Islam in Sumatra

'J la %QmH ÔFCAIIFO § gi ômmw Ik <ril30NVS0' >- ^ -^^•UBRARY mmrmi g <: ^ <C?133NVS01 ^-jmeuniver^ >- oe:1^ i 6|r » I ffl v/ ^^ ^lOSANCElfx^ %iaAi! ^lUBRARYQ^ so firs ^ÔJITVDJO^ ÔFCAUFO^. ^0S&^ fig ^ ^/â3AiNn-3ftV^ ÎDSANCElfj)^. 0-^ (' c^ ^5 / ^""libraRx •* » o.3..y.^ r" o mp c\,^?^' EL IN m THE PROGRESS AND ARREST OF ISLAM IN SUMATRA VVyMUN OF Sl'matka. THE PROGRESS AND ARREST OF ISLAM IN SUMATRA By GOTTFRIED SIMON With an Intruductorv Note by SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D., F.R.G.S MARSHALL BROTHERS, LTD PUBLISHERS LONDON, EDINBLRCII & NEW VORL INTRODUCTORY NOTE THIS book marks a new epoch in the scientific study of- missions to Moslems. Following so closely on Johann Warneck's The Living Christ and Dying Heathen- ism, it is in one sense a complementary study to that important work, yet in no wise subsidiary. For while Warneck has given us the philosophy and psychology of Animistic paganism in its conflict with the forces of Christianity, this volume deals with the far more important religion of Islam from a similar standpoint. Lowell, in his Study Windows, tells us that transla- tions are often " only an imitation of natural flowers in " cambric or wax ; but this is not the case in the book before us. Miss E. I. M. Boyd has done her work well. By careful interpretation, rather than by slavish literal- ism, in all difficult passages she has put the German work before English readers in usable and attractive form. The author has had eleven years' experience as a missionary on the Island of Sumatra, where the Moslem propaganda has indeed accomplished its masterpiece. Among a population of four million, over three and a half million profess the faith of Islam, although this religion entered Sumatra at the beginning of the four- teenth century ; and it is in this very island world of Malaysia that Christian Missions to Moslems have had the largest direct results. Not only has his life and environment fitted the author for his task, but he has made a thorough study of all important authorities, especially the masterly works of such scholars as Snouck Hurgronje, Niemann and Poensen. Islam shows its — vi INTRODUCTORY NOTE real strength to-day not so much in the ancient seats of its power in Western Asia, as in the border marches of Central Africa and the island world of Malaysia. It was not without reason that the needs of the Animistic tribes and depressed classes were emphasized at the Lucknow Missionary Conference by the following resolu- tion, which in itself might well be considered a call for a prayerful perusal of the volume before us : " This Conference is persuaded that, in order to stem the tide of Moslem advance, it is important to strengthen the work among Animistic tribes, pagan communities and depressed classes affected by this advance ; for we are clearly of opinion that adoption of the faith of Islam by the pagan people is in no sense whatever a stepping stone towards, or a preparation for Christianity, but exactly the reverse." It was with reason, therefore, that the Conference expressed the hope of a complete investigation regarding the conditions of the Moslem advance not only in Africa but in Malaysia " between now and the next Conference to be held in 1915." The fact that in Malaysia there are now well-nigh forty thousand converts to Christianity from Islam shows that here, if anywhere, we may look for a scientific presentation of right methods of successful evangelization. The book consists of three parts, dealing first with the co-operative factors and the religious motives that have led so many pagans to accept Islam. Among the former the author mentions active Mohammedan propagan- dism, the neutrality of Colonial Governments—often baneful to Christian missions—and the general influence of European culture. Among the latter, the Moslem conception of God, Moslem magic and saint worship, together with the Koran, its eschatology and its doc- trine of absolute surrender to God are specially important. The second part of the book deals with the social and religious conditions of pagans who have become Moham- INTRODUCTORY NOTE vii medan, and the author raises the question whether there has been social and rehgious progress and to what extent, leaving no doubt that, for example, the position of womanhood in Malaysia and Africa is not elevated by the advent of Islam. The third part deals with the conversion of these Mohammedans to Christianity. Islam is not a school- master to lead the pagan races to Christ. The pagan who becomes a Moslem also becomes a fanatic in his opposition to Christianity, and shows at once the strength and weakness of Islam over against the Gospel when Christian missions begin their work. The author leaves no doubt as regards his attitude toward Islam. It is one of uncompromising adherence to the vital truths of Christianity which make the impact of these two religions necessarily a death struggle. He shows the urgency and the possibility of winning over the pagan races in Malaysia and Africa before the advent of Islam, but makes clear no less that the struggle against Islam itself is not hopeless, but if carried on in the spirit of the Gospel is sure to bring results. But the spirit of the Gospel, according to Gottfried Simon, is not the spirit of compromise, or that of dealing in superficialities. The impact of Christianity on Islam, especially in the Animistic world, means a death struggle. If any feel disposed to let the idea of a strenu- ous fight drop out of our Christian life and vocabulary, let them read this volume. There seems to be a unanimity in the testimony of all missionaries in Java and Sumatra that " Islam can never be a bridge over the gulf that separates the heathen from Christianity, nor bring them nearer to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." This was the statement of two Dutch missionaries at the Cairo Conference, and they went on to say, " On the contrary, it is an organized power under the direct influence of Satan, to enable him to destroy the souls of men, turning them away from the Light of the World, Jesus viii INTRODUCTORY NOTE Christ, the Son of God." This, I believe, will also be the conclusion concerning the character of Islam and its propaganda on the part of every candid reader of the arguments here presented. The book does not minimize the baffling problem, but points out the way to its solution. It is optimistic without being superficial and the more interesting because it is scholarly. S. M. ZWEMER. Bahrein, Arabia, March 2, 1912. i PREFACE " /ÛR chief enemy, says Dr. Mirbt, as can be proved V^ from the present state of the world-religions, is Islam. We must therefore meet it with altogether new strategy, we must hurl ourselves against it and take up the battle all along the line." No non-Christian religion is carrying on propaganda to-day to equal that of Islam. Moreover, does not the measure of a religion's propaganda indicate its living force ? How absurd it is, therefore, to regard Islam as already one of the dead religions of the world, and how important it is to study Moslem propaganda. In many respects the Islam of the Near East may come nearer to the Moslem ideal than that of Eastern Asia, of which we shall chiefly speak in the following pages. The Koran is more widely known there, the knowledge of God is clearer, Mohammedan law and Mohammedan custom are perhaps better established there, but one thing is certain : Islam is displaying its real living power to-day not in the old Mohammedan lands, but among those peoples which have but recently fallen its prey. This has a natural explanation. The strength of Islam lies in propaganda. This has been the case in every age. Islam has aggressive energy ; but it lacks the power to maintain and build up. The same Islam which carries on such propaganda at its outskirts, fails in the Near East, where much is rotten. We should not under-estimate Islam's irresistible power ; but neither should we over-estimate it. Its strength, and also its weakness, lies in one-sided propaganda, as is proved by a survey of Islam in the Dutch East Indies, ix b X PREFACE We are, fortunately, well able to make such a study. In the first place from the researches of Dr. Snouck Hurgronje. In his two great works. The Achehnese and Mekka, he has established the fact that this Islam of the Far East has a significance of its own, from the closeness of its contact with the spiritual centre of the Moslem world, and I have naturally taken this famous scholar as my first authority for the description of the pilgrimage to Mecca. In my copious use of his observations, I would have the reader find a token of gratitude on my own behalf as also on behalf of Christian Missions in general, for he has rendered them also very great service. But missionary literature on the Dutch East Indies also contains a mass of individual observations. Among many others at a later period we may here mention G. R. K. Niemann and Poensen, a missionary who after- wards became Professor. So that it was not without hesitation that I undertook the compilation of this work. My eleven years' service as a missionary in Sumatra from 1896 to 1907 left me no time for scientific work. I laboured at four Mission stations, to some extent under very difficult conditions ; extended itinerary tours obliged me to spend many a day in the saddle, or my narrow rowing boat, and many a night in Batak villages ; and long tramps through swampy virgin forests and across burning, grassy steppes do not brace the intellect.

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