164 THE REV. W. ST. CLAIR TISDALL, M.A., ON ISLAM: 
Gov; Muhammad is the Apostle of Gop.”* The grand and 
simple monotheism of the first part of this formula commends 
itself to all minds, while the concluding portion, if accepted 
on the authority of the first, suffices to quench every linger- 
ing doubt about the minor doctrines of Islam, resting as they 
do wholly and entirely upon the assertions of Muhammad. 
1. The chief truths} retained in Muhammadanism are :—(1) 
The Unity of Gop and His distinctness in Nature and 
Attributes from the Creation which is the work of His hands. 
(2), Man’s dependence upon his Creator, his need of a Divine 
Revelation, the fact that GoD has revealed Himself through 
certain great Prophets in inspired books, and that He hears 
and answers prayer. (3), The certainty of an after-life of 
rewards and punishments according to our deeds done in the 
body. Regarding these great doctrines Islam gives no 
uncertain sound, and we may thank Gop that. they are so 
powerfully urged and so frequently insisted on both in the 
Qur'an itself and in the Traditions of the “ Prophet,” the two 
ott sources whence the doctrines of the religion are drawn. 
et 1t would be an utter mistake to suppose that these points 
which we have mentioned are recognised by Muslims as 
forming in themselves the fundamentals of their faith. They 
may be all classed under the first clause of their creed, but. 
the kalimah contains two clauses, and it is the second that, in 
the opinion of the Muslims, distinguishes it from the creeds of 
less perfect religions. ‘The first clause formed, they tell us, 
an integral part of the creed of both Jews and Christians ; 
but while the former{ were Divinely authorised to add to this 
* In the Qur’An both clauses virtually occur; the first in Sfrah III, 
om ~a oe \ c 2 
55:—al) | WW all ure L.—and the latter in Sirah XXXIII, 40 :— 
Eee ei 
ee Oe PaO MN coe eee i= Se 5 5 See As 
all | Je) Wy rile, wr =| LI Mave AS Le 
+ If is unnecessary to adduce quotations from the Qur’4n and the 
traditions to prove that these truths are taught in the Muhammadan 
faith. They are found in almost every page. 
{ This is the account given in such works as the ‘Ardiswt Tijdn, and is 
current among Muslims in different lands. Other traditions, however, 
state that the Muhammadan Aalimah or Creed was written by Gop 
before the creation of the world on the base of the Celestial Throne 
Pur 
( S.ei\). It is also inscribed on the Seal of Gop. Cf Mishkatu’l 
m 
