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THE RELIGION OF THE CRESCENT. |
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Arab mind between Παρακλητος
1 and περικλυτος
, which latter word might perhaps be rendered
by Ahmad, the same name as Muhammad. We must not, however, permit ourselves to imagine
that the "Prophet" claimed to be the Holy Ghostwhom Muhammadans identify with
the Angel Gabriel,or in fact anything more than a man chosen and sent on a Divine
commission. Yet he did claim for himself superiority to all other Prophets, and it is
fully in accordance with the spirit of his teaching that Muslims believe, as they do, that
the Qur'an has practically annulled all the Holy Books that preceded it. There is
therefore, they hold, no necessity for studying the Holy Scriptures of either Jews or
Christians. It is very difficult indeed to induce most Muhammadans to study them at all,
and any copies which fall into the hands of Muslim authorities are ruthlessly committed to
the flames. Muhammadanism claims to stand, in other respects, in the same position with
regard to Christianity that the latter holds in reference to Judaism. This will show how
absurd it is to regard Islam as preparing the way for Christianity. It is not too much to
say that, except indeed the evil lives of professing Christians, and perhaps the
corruptions that have
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THE INFLUENCE OF ISLAM. |
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crept into the Churches of Greece 1 and RomeChristianity has no greater
No greater obstacle to Christianity than Islam.
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obstacle to encounter in Eastern lands than Islam. The lands where the latter holds sway
are in fact the only portions of the world closed at present to the Gospel, and in
which the profession of Christianity means death at the executioner's hands.2
The Muslims profess, in accordance with the teaching of the Qur'an, to believe in and
to reverence all the Prophets.3 An attentive perusal of what Muhammad taught
Professed
reverence for all the
Prophets.
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with regard to the latter, however, will show how vague and inaccurate their notions
regarding them really are. To supplement the very fragmentary information given by the
Qur'an on this subject, various works which profess to give a history of these
messengers
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