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226 THE RELIGION OF THE CRESCENT.

laboured among Muhammadans know better than faithless critics that the Word of GOD is strong to pierce into the heart and conscience of the most bigoted Muslim and to lead even such men as 'Irnadu'ddin and Safdar 'Ali to bow to the dominion of the Truth which maketh free.

§ 9. It may be interesting to know something of the method generally adopted of bringing the

Method
of Work.

Gospel to bear on Muhammadans. We endeavour to convince them of their sinfulness and weakness, their need of an atonement for sin, a Redeemer who can and will deliver them not only from its punishment, but also from its power. We invite them to search the Qur'an and their Traditions and tell us what provision they find therein to satisfy their deep need. Needless to say, Islam knows of no Atonement and no Saviour. Or again we point out the Qur'an's testimony to the Bible, and induce them to study

A Muslim
enquirer's
testimony
to Gospel.

the Holy Books thus commended to all true Believers. A Muhammadan1 with whom I was thus reading St. John's Gospel, said to me, 'If a Muslim has read the Gospel for even three days,—although after that he may still fear to become a Christian, yet he will never again believe in Muhammad.' We endeavour


1 This man was a native of Tabriz, a Turk by birth. Feeling deeply his need of a Saviour, he made a pilgrimage to Mecca, and there studied his own religion, but found it unable to give him peace. Almost in despair, he wandered on to Aden, and thence to Bombay, where, after many months' teaching, I was at last privileged to baptise him.
THE INFLUENCE OF ISLAM. 227

once again to get down to the grand truths of Islam, to show how true these are,—how very much more true than Muhammad ever suspected. We show how they were recognized by Jews and Christians ages before Muhammad, and that Islam has forgotten many similar truths and defaced those which it has retained. We induce them to get to know Christ's character and work and contrast it with those of the 'Prophet of Arabia.' Such a method never fails, if pursued in a loving and prayerful spirit, to produce an effect upon the heart and conscience of any thoughtful Muslim. All such do not embrace Christianity, but it is impossible for them entirely to reject the attraction which Christ Jesus exercises or to make Muhammad their ideal and their hope. "Some men know GOD," said a

"Pray to
GOD
for me."

Muslim friend of mine, who had knelt weeping with me to pray to GOD for light and peace,—"some men know GOD in a way that I do not, though I have long sought for Him. Pray to GOD for me that, if it be His will, I too some day may know Him."

§ 10 The reforming and other movements which have in the past at various times taken place, and

Reforming
Movements
among
Muslims.

are at the present also occurring, in the Muhammadan world, are an evidence of the unsatisfying nature of Islam as a religion. Of Muhammadan mysticism we have already briefly spoken. Sufiism in its many forms, mostly Pantheistic in essence, rules in Persia to-day as well as in the hearts of not a few in India. The Wahhabi

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