20 THE RELIGION OF THE CRESCENT.

creed.  The Muslim believes, as no heathen does, that the distinction between the Creator and His creation is absolute. No system of cosmogony, strictly so called, commends itself to him in the very slightest degree, but he holds as firmly as a Christian can do the great truth "He that built all things is GOD." 1 The Qur'an represents

God the 
Creator.

GOD as saying, "And 2 We created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six days, nor did any weariness touch Us." The Traditions represent Muhammad as saying, "GOD3 Most High made the seven days of the week. On Sunday He created the Porters of the highest heaven, on Monday4 the seven storeys of heaven, on Tuesday He constructed the seven storeys of the earth, on Wednesday He made darkness, on Thursday He created the produce of

 

1 Heb. iii. 4.
1 Surah 1. 37[38]

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبٍ

3"Qisasu'l Anbiya," p. 6., Persian edition. But in the Arabic edition of the book, 'Araisu't Tijan, ch. iii., we have it thus:—"Muhammad said, 'On Saturday God created the earth, the mountains on Sunday, the trees on Monday, darkness on Tuesday, light on Wednesday, animals on Thursday, Adam on Friday."' With this agrees Mishkat, Bk. XXIV., ch. i., § 3, adding that all unpleasant things also were made on Tuesday, and Adam was created after the hour of afternoon prayer on Friday.
4 Hamalatu'l 'Arsh. Al Baghawi, says that these are eight angels of the highest rank.
THE STRENGTH OF ISLAM. 21

the earth and all that is in it, and on Friday He made the sun and the moon and the stars, and caused the seven celestial spheres to revolve. And in six days He created the whole world." One day, however, of that upper-world is said to be equal to one thousand years of this, for the Qur'an says, "And1 indeed one day with thy Lord is as a thousand years as ye reckon." And as He is the Creator

The
Judge.

and Ruler of the universe, so must the spirits of all men return2 to give an account to Him of the works done in the body and to be judged by Him at the last day.

§ 5. There is a great deal of truth in what the Muhammadan Religion teaches

Man's
relation
to GOD.

with reference to Man's relations to GOD. Man as a creature is absolutely dependent upon his Creator in everything. His first duty is to believe in, worship and confess his Lord and Maker, and that too precisely in the way which GOD has laid down for his guidance. He must submit himself to His will and pleasure and be perfectly resigned to

Submission.

Him in everything, submitting himself humbly as a slave to his master.

The celebrated Muhammadan theologian

1 Surah xxii. 46[47]:

وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالْعَذَابِ وَلَن يُخْلِفَ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ وَإِنَّ يَوْمًا عِندَ رَبِّكَ كَأَلْفِ سَنَةٍ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ

2 Surah lxxxviii. 25-26:

إِنَّ إِلَيْنَا إِيَابَهُمْ
ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا حِسَابَهُمْ