Studies in a Mosque - The Search For Mecca

32 STUDIES IN A MOSQUE.
Ad and Thamood to convert them, there was, immedi-
ately before the preaching of Mohammad, a general
feeling that a change was at hand ; a prophet was
expected, and women were anxiously hoping for male
children if so be they might mother the Apostle of
Grod; and the more thoughtful minds, tinged with
traditions of Judaism, were seeking for what they
called *' the religion of Abraham." These men were
called " Eamfs" or skeptics, and their religion
seems to have consisted chiefly in a negative position,
—in denying the superstition of the Arabs, and only
asserting the existence of one sole-ruling Grod whose
absolute slaves are all mankind, without being able
to decide on any minor doctrines, or to determine in
what manner this one Grod was to be worshipped. So
long as the Hanifs could give their countrymen no
more definite creed than this, their influence was
limited to a few inquiring and doubting minds. It
was reserved for Mohammad to formulate the faith
of the Hanifs in the dogmas of Islam. For the
leader of these few " skeptics " was Zeyd ibn 'Amr,
to whom Mohammad often resorted, and another was
the cousin of the Prophet and his near neighbour.
Thus the Hanifs were the forerunners of the man
who was to change the destinies of the Arabs.
We can no longer see the true Arab as he was in
" the Time of Ignorance," and we cannot but regret
our loss ; for the Pagan Arab is a noble type of man,
thoug-h there be nobler. There is much that is
admirable in his high mettle, his fine sense of honour,
his knightlinesSj his " open-handed, both-handed
"