美国学生人类历史 第125期:穆罕默德(4)

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where the faithful could gather (if they felt so inclined) to read and discuss chapters from the Koran, the Holy Book. 信徒们可以在此聚集（如果他们自己愿意），阅读和讨论圣书《古兰经》里的某个章节。

But the average Mohammedan carried his religion with him and never felt himself hemmed² in by the restrictions³ and regulations of an established church. 不过对一般的穆斯林来说，他们的信仰与生俱来，从不觉得伊斯兰教的戒条和规矩对他们是一种身心的束缚。

Five times a day he turned his face towards Mecca, the Holy City, and said a simple prayer. 每天五次，他们面朝圣城麦加的方向，念诵简单的祷词。

For the rest of the time he let Allah rule the world as he saw fit and accepted whatever fate brought him with patient resignation. 其余时间里，他们把世界交 给安拉去管理，以极大的耐心和顺从，接受命运安排给自己的一切。

Of course such an attitude towards life did not encourage the Faithful to go forth⁴ and invent electrical machinery⁵ or bother about railroads and steamship⁶ lines. 这样一种对待生活的态度，当然不会鼓励信徒们去发明电动机、修筑铁路或开发新的汽船航线。

But it gave every Mohammedan a certain amount of contentment. 但它确实给予了每个穆斯林相当程度的内心满足。

It bade him be at peace with himself and with the world in which he lived and that was a very good thing. 它使人们心平气和地对待自身、对待自己栖身的这个世界，这当然是件很好的事情。

The second reason which explains the success of the Moslems in their warfare⁷ upon the Christians⁸, had to do with the conduct of those Mohammedan soldiers who went forth to do battle for the true faith. 穆斯林与基督徒作战取得胜利的第二个原因在于：走上前线与敌人作战的穆斯林士兵为的是信仰的实现。

The Prophet promised that those who fell, facing the enemy, would go directly to Heaven. 先知穆罕默德曾经许诺，凡是勇敢面对敌人，死于战场的穆斯林，他们可以直接升人天堂。

This made sudden death in the field preferable to a long but dreary⁹ existence upon this earth. 这就使得战场上的猝然死去，比起在这个可悲的世界上漫长而乏味的苦苦生存，让人更情愿接受前者。

It gave the Mohammedans an enormous advantage over the Crusaders who were in constant dread¹⁰ of a dark hereafter, 这种信念使穆斯林与十字军对垒时，占据了极大的心理优势。十字军们长期恐惧于黑暗的地狱，

and who stuck to the good things of this world as long as they possibly could. 因此宁愿尽可能抓住今生的美好事物，留恋现世的享受。

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