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Noting this and similar movements in the Moslem world, some observers thought that Islam was ready to go down beneath the tides of Western secularism. On the contrary, there is a new religious energy in Islam. In Turkey, the fez, banished by Atatürk, appears again as the badge of the Moslem. Men let their beards grow because the Prophet said, "Trim your mustaches and grow your beards." Both Turkey's political parties play up to religious sentiment, a process known in Istanbul as "stroking the beards." Without rejecting Islam, the Turks are making rapid strides toward progressive, democratic nationalism. To the east, one of the newest Moslem states, Pakistan, tries hard to apply the teachings of the Prophet to life in the 20th Century. Pakistan's Premier, Liaquat Ali Khan, is probably the ablest Moslem political leader in office today.
Except for Pakistan and Turkey, there are few hopeful signs in Islam. Caught in the tragedy of its history, Islam is strong enough to hold its millions, perhaps not strong enough to adapt itself to the changes that must come.
* There are many exceptions: more than half of Lebanon and 20% of Syria is Christian.