, 1877-08-19

WHAT THE MOHAMMEDAN BIBLE TEACHES.
The revelations which we're made to Nolaam
med are contained iu the Koran. which has eve,
been, and still is, the Bible OF his followers Il
is divided into ia chapters, which were deliver
ed at different times, tn rough course ofyears
as circumstances required, the later portion:
often reyoking AMI contr adicting the earlier
As the different portions were given by the
angel, they were proclaimed, and then written
down by q scribe on palm leaves. skins. or other
fit materials, and these loose scripts were thrown
promiscuously into an ark or chest After the
PROPHETS death, they we're taken out aud pub
lished without the slightest regard to order,
method, dates, or subjects. SO that the student
has no means Of finding The proper place Of any
chapter, but by comparing it with the Prophets
history, and seeing where it will best fit the oc-
caslon. This makes the Koran very difficult
book to read or STUDY to any ao'anIasc. =.
many points, with those OF the OLD Testament
particularly in regard to the creation of the
world, the fall OF Adam, the general delusc,
the deliyerauce Of Noah and his family in the
ark. the call OF Abraham, the stories Of Isaac
aud lshmael, OF Jacob and the patriarchs; the
selection OF the Jews as Gods chosen peor1e:
the prophetic Office, miracles, and administra-
tion OF Moses; The inspiration aud authority OF
the Hebrew historians. prophets, aud psalmSts,
especially OF David and solomon; ANIL lastly,
the promise OF the Messiah. with many Of the
accompanying predictions respecting it. They
agree also with the New Testament in the re-
cornitfon Of Jesus Christ as tho Messiah OF the
Jews, In His miraculous conception. His immac1-
late nativitr, His numerous miracles. Ills re]ec-
ton by His own countrymen. His condemnation
TO the death Of the cross dis bodily
ascension into heaven, his officiating there as
Mediator between God and man. and His coming
to fudge the world at the last day lhe ac-
quaintance Of Mohammed with these leaains
facts Of our sacred history may be accounted for
by lis carly and lou1-contiuued acquaintance
with Jews and Christians.
The principal doctrine Of the Koran IS that SO
oft repeated: There is no God cut God, and
Nonamtued is His :,rophct.'' The Trinity Is re-
iecred and also tbe Divinity Of Christ. Afoham-
med taught the universal providence o! GOD.
and kind OF predestination-not that Of the
Scriptures, but more nearly resembling neathen
fate. He believed IN all iununerab!e company
of angels, future -etributlon, general resur-
rection and Judgment paradise for the faithful.
aud terrible he'll for all his enemies. ne be-
Icye1an pu-ca1ory for those whose moral DIS
orders are susceptible Of cure; but tor the mis-
cradle remnant there Is no hope.
OF the moral and religious duties inculcated
in the Koran. some are commendable aud use
full. In the former part OF MS ministry NO
BANNED often en,oiced upon his followers the
duties of patience and submission: but IN thc
latter part they were meas1any n tha
duty Is more frequently en9olneu III lug ho.nu -
than prayer. He speaks of prayer as "the pll-
Lar Of religion and the key Of paradise" To
bis followers be prescribed i've stated seasons Of
prayer every day. The first is in the morning
between day and sunrise: the second Immediate
IL after noon; the third at the middle hour, be-
tween noon and sunset; the fourth between
sunset and dark; the dfth an hour aud half
after u1gbt has fully set in. These seasons Of
prayer are still scrupulously Observed in all
countries. The muezzein, or
crie1, from the top Of the mosque. proclaims the
hour Of prayer. when eyeE1 good Aussulman'