Way of Salvation in all ages is the same, and in the last day all men will be judged according to the teachings of Christ, whose day Abraham rejoiced¹ to see with the eye of faith, and through belief in whom alone was it possible even for Abraham and all the prophets themselves to obtain salvation.

CHAPTER III

THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT WHICH ARE NOW IN CIRCULATION ARE THOSE WHICH EXISTED IN THE HANDS OF JEWS AND CHRISTIANS IN MUHAMMAD'S TIME, AND TO WHICH THE QUR'AN BEARS WITNESS

IN this and the next chapter our object is to consider the question whether the books of the Old Testament, now in circulation among both Jews and Christians, and those of the New Testament, now in the hands of Christians, are those which existed in Muhammad's time, and, if so, whether they have in any degree become corrupted (محرّقة) or changed. Before we examine the evidence, let us for the moment suppose that the assertion so common among ignorant people in Muslim lands is correct, and (1) that the existent Scriptures are not those current in Muhammad's day, or (2) are at least so corrupted as to be unreliable. If so, then the condition of all men is most miserable. For it is clear to our reason that God's Word (كلام الله) is as unchangeable as His Will. That Word was spoken by the Prophets, as even the Qur'an teaches, and Muslims are commanded to express their belief in it (Surahs ii. 130; iii. 78). If then this Word of God has utterly vanished from among men, or has been so corrupted as to be no longer trustworthy, how miserable must all the race of men be, and how completely has the Qur'an failed to be a¹ مُهَيْمِن (Protector) to it! What then is