CHAPTER IX. Some Observations on the Mohathmedan Religion. I s h a l l not attempt to giv e a philosophical dissertation on the tenets o f the religion o f Mohammed, a subject that has been often ably discussed b y various authors ; hut a few desultory observations may, perhaps, he not improper in this place. Many writers have endeavoured to v ilify the Mohammedan religion, b y exposing the dark side o f it, and their representations ha ve been transmitted to posterity by enthusiasts who, prob ab ly, have been anxious to acquire ecclesiastical fam e ; but we shall, on a minute examination o f the doctrines contained in the Koran, find that it approaches nearer to the Christian religion, in its moral precepts, than any other with which we are acquainted. Indeed, were there as many absurdities in this religion as some persons have attributed to it, it is probable that it -would not ha ve extended itself ove r so great a portion o f the habitable globe ; for we find it embraced, with little exception, from the shores o f West Barbary, to the most eastern part o f Chinese T artary, an extent o f upwards o f 8000 m ile s ; and from the Mediterranean to the Cape o f Good Hope, with the exception o f some nations o f Pagans ; neither is there any language spoken and understood b y so great a proportion o f the population o f the world as that in which it is promulgated. Koran, chap. v i i .— “ Forgive eas ily : command nothing but what is ju s t : dispute not with the ignorant ” Koran, chap. xi.— O earth, swallow up thy w a te r s : O h eaven, “ withhold thy ra in ; immediately the waters subsided, the ark ‘.‘ rested on Mount A 1 Judi, and these words were heard: W o 9 to the wicked nation !” Chap. xiii.-—“ T h e y who do good for e v il shall obtain para- SJS dise for th eir rew ard.” From these extracts we see that the Mohammedans have some o f the same moral precepts laid down for their guidance which are inculcated by the Gospel of Christ. T h e y believe in the flood ; they teach forgiveness o f injuries, justice, and rendering good for e vil. T h e nations which followed paganism were taught b y Mohammed the unity o f G od. He exhorted them to believe with the heart, that there is only one God, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, and that he is spiritual. That the angels are subtle, pure bodies, formed o f ligh t; neither eating, drinking, or sleeping ; not o f different sexes ; having no carnal desires, nor degrees o f relationship, and are o f various forms. ■ Mohammed maintained that Jesus Christ was a prophet, and that those who believed it not were infidels. He says, the sacred books are 104, o f w hich the A lm igh ty gave T o Adam 10 T o Seth - - SO T o Idris, or Enoch 30 T o Abraham 10 T o Moses - - 1, which is the Law T o David 1 . T o J esus 1, which is the Gospel •To Mohammed 1, the Koran ;
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