66 THE RELIGION OF THE CRESCENT.

unalterably fixed. The proper and in fact the only possible attitude for the Muslim with reference to his GOD is therefore that expressed by Prometheus in his hopeless—or all but hopeless—agony,

..."την πεπρωμενην δε χρη
 αισαν φερειν ως ραστα, γεγνωσκονθ ότι
 το της Αναγκης εστ αδηριτον σθενος."1

A Muhammadan tradition states that when GOD showed Adam the spirits of his descendants as yet unborn,2 He divided them into two bands, ranking one company on Adam's right hand and one

Reprobation.

on his left. Of those on the right GOD said, "These are for Paradise, and I care not;" while of the unfortunate shades on the left-hand side the Deity, who is so often in the Qur'an termed "the Merciful, the Gracious," uttered these fearful words, "These are for hell-fire, and I care3 not."

[Footnote continued from previous page]
29, 30; lxxxi. 28, 29; xcv. 4, 5. The most usual way of expressing the matter is the phrase:
يُضِلُّ الله مَنْ يَشَاَءُ وَيَهْدِى مَنْ يَشاءُ
Certain sects, however, believe in man's freewill, and the subject has given rise to much discussion among Muslims. Almost all orthodox Muhammadans hold the belief in Fate very strongly, and history shows the same feeling in all Muhammadan countries from the beginning of Islam.
1 "Prometheus Desmotes," vv. 103-105. 
2 "Qisasu'l Anbiya," Pers. ed., p. 21. 3
هَؤلاء في الجنة ولا اُبالى وهَؤلاء في النار ولا اُبالى
, ibid.
THE WEAKNESS OF ISLAM. 67

Adam, tradition says, weeps1 even now in Paradise when he beholds so many of his children doomed, whole ages before their birth, to everlasting torture; but no feeling of pity touches the heart of the Author of their doom. The Qur'an itself represents GOD Almighty as saying, "Verily I will fill Hell with genii and men all2 together" (Surah xi., 120[119], and Surah xxxii., 13), and makes Him declare that He had3 created them for this very purpose. "God," we are told,4 "misleadeth whom He willeth, and guideth aright whom He willeth";

1 In relating the tale of the Mi'raj of Muhammad, Ibn Shahab writes, on Muhammad's authority:
فلما جئت إلى السماء الدنيا .... اذا رجل قاعد ـ على يمينه اسورة وعلى يساره اسورة ـ اذا نظر قبل يمينه ضحك واذا نظر قبل شماله بكى قفال مرحبا بالنبى الصالح والأبن الصالح ـ قلت لجبرئيل من هذا ـ قال هذا آدم وهذه الاسورة عن يمينه وعن شماله نسم بنيه فاهل اليمين منهم اهل الجنة والاسورة التى عن شماله اهل النار فاذا نظر عن يمينه ضحك واذا نظر قبل شماله بكى
(Mishkat.) 
2
لأَمْلأنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ
3 وَلِذَلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ  Surah xi. 120[119]; also Surah vii. 178[179]:
وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الْجِنِّ وَالإِنسِ
4 E.g. Surah lxxiv. 34[31]:
يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَن يَشَاء وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء
2 Verily I shall fill hell with the jinn and mankind together. 11:119 
3a for that He did create them. 11:119 
3b Already have We urged unto hell many of the jinn and humankind, 7:179
4 Thus Allah sendeth astray whom He will, and whom He will He guideth. 74:31 
[Pickthal's translation]