"There is a right and legitimate Pan-Islamism to which every sincere and believing Mahomedan belongs — that is, the theory of the spiritual brotherhood and unity of the children of the Prophet. It is a deep, perennial element in that Perso-Arabian culture, that great family of civilisation to which we gave the name Islamic in the first chapter. It connotes charity and goodwill towards fellow-believers everywhere from China to Morocco, from the Volga to Singapore. It means an abiding interest in the literature of Islam, in her beautiful arts, in her lovely architecture, in her entrancing poetry. It also means a true reformation — a return to the early and pure simplicity of the faith, to its preaching by persuasion and argument, to the manifestation of a spiritual power in individual lives, to beneficent activity for mankind. This natural and worthy spiritual movement makes not only the Master and His teaching but also His children of all climes an object of affection to the Turk or the Afghan, to the Indian or the Egyptian. A famine or a desolating fire in the Moslem quarters of Kashgar or Sarajevo would immediately draw the sympathy and material assistance of the Mahomedan of Delhi or Cairo. The real spiritual and cultural unity of Islam must ever grow, for to the follower of the Prophet it is the foundation of the life of the soul."
React to this quote
More by Aga Khan III
See allResonant Thoughts
"The first was the classical line, which could be traced back to my early childhood and the Beethoven sonatas I heard my mother play. This line takes sometimes a neo-classical form , sometimes imitates…"
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"The Lucy Parsons Center"
— Lucy Parsons"I didn't realize it was October until I saw the Chicago Cubs choking."
— Jay Leno"Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children and no theories."
— John Wilmot"The Weimar system appeared to me like a father who locks his little boys in a room and stirs them up agains…"
— Robert Ley"Had I not had the childhood I did, would these traits not be so at the forefront of my personality? Who kno…"
— Alan Cumming"I often start with a question as big and unwieldy as why do we have children – or what are we investing in …"
— Gregory Pardlo