the form of a Mawlid [^164] and was held at the later date of 3 April, to coincide with the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) birthday (12 Rebiülevvel 1327). Bediuzzaman played a prominent role in the Mawlid, which was held in Aya Sophia, giving a sermon that lasted two hours. But before describing it, let us learn from his address to the Court Martial his reasons for joining the Society, and how he viewed it.

[^164]:A Mawlid is a recitation by special singers of the long poem depicting the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) written by Süleyman Çelebi, who died in Bursa 780/1378.

"I heard," said Bediuzzaman, "that a society had been formed called the Muhammadan Union. I was frightened to the utmost degree that certain people would act in error under this blessed name. Then I heard that some sound people like Süheyl Pasha and Shaykh Sadık had joined so as to make their actions more purely worship and follow the Exalted Sunna of the Prophet (PBUH). They had transferred from that political society [CUP] and cut their relations with it, and they were not going to interfere in politics. But again I was afraid, I said: 'This name is the right of everyone, it cannot be appropriated or restricted.' As for me, just as I belonged in some respect to seven societies because I saw that their aims were the same, so too I joined this blessed name. However, I define the Muhammadan Union I belong to as follows:

It is a circle bound with a luminous chain stretching from east to west, and from north to south. Those within it number more than three hundred million at this time. The point of unity of this Society and what binds it is Divine Unity. It oath and its promise is belief in God. Its members are all believers, belonging from the time of God's covenant with man. Its register is the Preserved Tablet. The Society's means of communication are all Islamic books, Its daily newspapers are all religious newspapers that aim to 'uphold the Word of God'. Its clubs and councils are the mosques, religious schools, and Sufi tekkes. Its centre is the two sacred cities [Mecca and Medina]. Its head is the Glory of the World [the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)]. Its way is the struggle of the each person with his own soul; that is, to assume the morality of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), to give new vigour to his practices, and to cultivate love for others and, if it is not harmful, offer them advice. The regulations of this Society are the Practices of the Prophet, and its code of laws, the injunctions and prohibitions of the Shari'a. Its swords are clear proofs, for the civilized are to be conquered through persuasion, not compulsion. Investigating the truth is with love, while enmity is for savagery and bigotry. Its aim and purpose is 'Upholding the Word of God'. And ninety-nine per cent of the Shari'a is concerned