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37

THE MOHAMMEDAN CONTROVERSY

The most popular work against Christianity in the North-West Provinces is at present the Saulat uz Zaigham, or "Lion's Onset," a rambling, desultory attack, full of spite and animosity, and careless as to the correctness of its premises, but written in a vigorous and attractive style. An abridgment of it in Urdoo has gained great currency among the Mohammedans, and as a reply to it has just issued from the press, our readers will probably be interested to know the character and merits of both books. The Khulâsa i Saulat uz Zaigham was written thirteen years ago, but was only printed within the last three years. The object, as described in the concluding paragraph, is as follows:—

In former times when Christians were not in power, and the noisy violence of their abrogated religion was therefore concealed, our Professors seldom turned their thoughts towards its refutation; but upon the learned of this age it is incumbent as a sacred duty, to use every endeavour for overturning their faith, otherwise these people by insidious efforts will gradually mislead whole multitudes. And be not discouraged by the knowledge that such attempts will be thrown away upon the infidels themselves; for when it became generally known that I had written the Saulat uz Zaigham, people began to dispute with the Padres, White and Williams, and with me, and in the end, by God's assistance, I overcame them; and the effect was that, of their friends, who had turned Christians, two came to me and resumed the Mohammedan faith. Then praise be to God, the Lord of both worlds!

The chief peculiarities of this treatise are the. audacity with which lengthened extracts from the Bible are, by the facile use of perverse application, turned into predictions of Mohammed. It is difficult, perhaps, to say how far many of these may not be the bonâ fide convictions of a sincere mind searching after the confirmation of what it deems the true faith; but some of the fancies are so conceited and puerile, some so extravagantly absurd, that the most extensive charity will hardly admit their sincerity. Thus, not only is every mention of armies, fear, terror, conquest, goodness or dominion, intended for Mohammed and nobody else, but the Prophet's very horses, swords and arrows were prefigured,—nay, his love of perfumes and hatred of garlick and onions were not overlooked. The "White stone" of the Revelations must mean the famous stone given by Gabriel to Mohammed,

           

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