286 THE KORAN. 



the dog of the Seven Sleepers, which, by special 

 favour, will be permitted to rank among the true 

 believers. The length of time consumed in the day 

 of judgment, the Koran, in one place, makes 1000, 

 and ill another 50,000 years. 



Another perilous trial, Avhich awaits every soul 

 without distinction, is the passage of the famous 

 bridge, Al Sirat (or the strait), which spans the 

 dreadful abyss of hell, and is represented to be finer 

 than a hair, and sharper than the edge of a sword. 

 This frightful path is beset with briers and thorns ; 

 but the good will find no impediment ; they will 

 cross with ease and safety, — Mohammed and Fati- 

 ma leading the way ; all the faithful being com- 

 manded to hold down their heads till she pass. To 

 the Avicked these obstacles will prove fatal ; involved 

 in darkness and dismaj-, they miss the narrow foot- 

 ing, and plunge into the fathomless gulf that yawns 

 beneath them. 



The regions of happiness and miserj?^ have been 

 already partially described. It was the policy of 

 Mohammed to terrify his followers by pictures of 

 the most appalling torments ; and regular degrees 

 of suffering are ordained for every modification of 

 guilt. The dark mansions of the Christians, Jews, 

 Sabaeans, Magians, and idolaters are sunk below each 

 other with increasing horrors, in the order of their 

 names ; while the seventh or lowest hell is, with 

 laudable justice, reserved for the faithless hypocrites 

 and nominal professors of everj- religious system. 

 This dismal receptacle, full of smoke and darkness, 

 tradition asserts, will be dragged forward with roar- 

 ing noise and fury by 70,000 halters, each hauled by 

 70^000 angels. The unhappy wretches will suffer 

 from the extremes of heat and cold, — from the hiss- 

 ing of numerous reptiles, and the scourges of hideous 

 demons, whose pastime is cruelty and pain. De- 

 spair will increase their misery ; for the Koran has 

 condemned them to these everlasting abodes with- 



