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are afraid of death, yet their religion says a great
deal to make them desire the next world, and that there
have been instances of some who, especially under the
excitement of battle, could be heard to exclaim, in
the near prospect of death, 'I think I already see the
black-eyed Huris of paradise beckoning me to come.'
But in this very joy which some may have felt in the
prospect of death, there is something which marks their
religion as less heavenly and less spiritual than Christianity.
The Muslim's joy, where it is found, is based on the
expectation of sensual pleasures in the next world;
such as splendid clothing, luxurious eating and drinking,
and dalliance with a host of tempting Huris, etc.; but
the Christian's joy in prospect of death rests on the
assurance of coming to his Lord, and enjoying God's
presence in a new body, purified from all taint of sin,
and made perfect in holiness (see 2 Cor. v. 1-9; Phil.
i. 20-3; Rom. viii. 10-25 ; Rev. xxi. 1-7). In the Qur'an
we read, 'Theirs shall be Huris, with large dark eyes,
like pearls hidden in their shells, in recompense of
their past labours . . . . Of a rare creation have we
created the Huris, and we have made them ever virgins
dear to their spouses, of equal age with them, for the
people of the right hand, a crowd for the former and
a crowd for the latter generations' [Suratu'l-Wagi'a
(lvi) 22-3, 34-9] . But in direct contradiction of such
carnal views of the kingdom of God in the next |
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world, we read in the gospel the following declaration
of Jesus Christ: 'For in the resurrection they neither
marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels
in heaven' i.e. not living together as man and wife,
as in this present world (see Matt. xxii. 23-33). It
is therefore evident to all, that in this particular
the Qur'an has declined from the exalted spiritual views
expressed in the gospel, and stunk down to views thoroughly
material and earthly.
A similar retrogression may be seen in the retention
of circumcision, which, amongst the Jews, was the sign
of their belonging to God's people; for its performance
is not demanded in the Qur'an yet every one knows that
the Muslims still practise it as a religious duty. But,
from the Scriptures above quoted (see p. 22), it is
abundantly clear that the Christian religion no longer
requires the circumcision of the flesh, but in its stead
purity of heart and life; and therefore the Muhammadan
Sunna, by still insisting upon it, enforces a law of
which God has already declared in the gospel that He
no longer requires the observance.
But a most striking difference between Christianity
and Islam concerns the very nature of the kingdom of
God itself. We understand by that term, as already indicated,
the peculiar economy God has graciously introduced in
this world, and which He himself carries on by His chosen
instruments, in order to reclaim mankind from sin, and
all the other |
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