Page:Outlines of European History.djvu/422

 36o Outlines of European History compassionate." Mohammed believed that there had been great prophets before him, — Abraham, Moses, and Jesus among others, — but that he himself was the last and greatest of God's messengers, who brought the final and highest form of religion to mankind. He de- stroyed all the idols in the Kaaba at Mecca and forbade his follow- ers to make any images whatsoever — but he left the black stone. Besides serving the one God, the Moham- medan was to honor his parents, aid the poor, protect the orphan, keep his contracts, give full measure, and weigh with a just balance. He was not to walk proudly on the earth, or to be wasteful, " for the waste- ful were ever the devil's brothers." He was to avoid, moreover, all strong drink, and this command has saved Mohammed's faithful followers from the terrible degradation which alcohol has made so common in our Western world. Besides obeying these and other commands the Mohammedan who would be saved must do five things : First, he must recite daily the simple creed, " There is no god but God, and Fig. 142. Arabic Writing This is a page from the Koran, with an elaborate decorated border. It gives an idea of the appearance of Arabic writing. The Arabic letters are, next to the Roman alphabet, which we use, the most widely employed in the world