92 THE RELIGION OF THE CRESCENT.

holy man—which he was not—it would be strange indeed for GOD to show so much favoritism to one of His creatures as to leave the eternal doom of so many in his hands. And Muhammad never claimed—nor do any of his orthodox followers claim for him—that he was anything but a creature. Others say, "The remedy1 for the disease of Sin is repentance (taubah) and regret. Whoever turns to GOD Most High with self-abasement and contrition, the Most High God pardons his sin." But when, in answer to this, it is urged that no earthly judge or magistrate would be thought just who let off a thief or a murderer from punishment merely because of the man's profession of penitence, the Muslim replies that no conclusion can be drawn from these premises regarding GOD'S dealing with sinners. "For," he urges, "the magistrate is not his own master, but has to obey the orders of his superiors; but GOD—Praised be He and exalted!—has no one to whom He must render2 account." Such an argument appears to many a Muhammadan to be most conclusive!

There are some, however, in whose hearts the yearning rises for something better than this, something that will enable them to escape the terrors of conscience. Yet Islam is unable to give them any comfort if they are not

1 "Rusum-i Hind," part ii., chap. ii., p. 263.
2 This argument has actually been adduced by Muslims when arguing the point with myself.
THE WEAKNESS OF ISLAM. 93

satisfied with what has been said above. And many are not able to rest content therewith. History relates instances of the terrible mental agonies endured by some of the most learned and devout

Tortures of
conscience.

Muslims because their consciences could not find any balm in the faith to which they held most tenaciously in life and in death. "Concerning1 ‘Ammar ibn 'Abdu'llah, one of the ‘Companions,' we are told that he was wont to fast the entire day and spend whole nights in prayer. On such occasions he would be heard by his neighbours shrieking out in the stillness of the night hours, ‘O my GOD, the fire of hell robs me of sleep! Oh, pardon me my sins! The lot of Man in this world is care and sorrow,2 and in the next judgment and the fire. Oh, where shall the soul find rest and happiness'"?

"Abu 'Imran was a celebrated Imam and doctor, and one of the Tabi's.3 When his

1 Osborn, op. cit., pp. 88, 89, et seqq.
2 Abu Bekr soll einmal ausgerufen haben, "O ware ich doch als ein Vogel und nicht als ein Mensch erschaffen worden!" Von Omar wird das Wort uberliefert, "O ware ich doch dieser Strohhalm, o ware ich doch vergessen und fur immer vergessen!" (A. von Kremer, "Geschichte der herrschenden Ideen des Islams," page 24.) Einer der altesten Theologen des Islam, Hasan von Basra, pflegte zu sagen, "Der Mensch, welcher den Koran liest und daran glaubt, wird in der Regel mit Schrecken erfullt werden in dieser Welt und viel weinen." (Dozy, " Essai sur 1'Histoire de 1'Islamisme," page 201.)—Hauri, "Der Islam," p. 67.
3 Companions of Muhammad.