ITS ORIGIN, ITS STRENGTH, AND ITS WEAKNESS. 187 
kind. Moreover, Christianity is represented there by so many 
opposing sects. ; 
The Crarrman.—I will now call upon the author to reply. 
Some of those who have criticised the paper certainly seem to be 
agreed upon one point, namely, the wish that we had more of the 
paper. 
The AvurHor.—I must in the first place avail myself of the 
opportunity of thanking those who have so kindly criticised my 
paper, and still more those who have criticised it adversely. 
With regard to what Dr. Lansdell has said as to the legality or 
otherwise of temporary or ‘ak marriages among the Sunnis, 
I am aware that the law is broken in certain places, even at 
Mecca itself during the pilgrimage. But the Sunni doctors 
certainly regard these marriages as illegal (vide traditions collected 
in the Mishkdtu ’lMasdbih), though the Shi‘ahs sanction them. 
Dr. Keelle has very justly referred to many omissions in my 
paper. No one can be more conscious of its numerous short- 
comings thanI myself am. But I may fairly plead that it was im- 
possible for me ina single paper to deal at all fully with the whole 
field covered by the word Islam. That subject is such a wide one 
that I thought it best to confine myself strictly to the consideration 
of orthodox or Sunni Muhammadanism. This entailed the omission 
of all detailed references to particular sects and to the vast and 
deeply interesting field of Muslim Mysticism, which is a study apart 
and of itself. For this cause I have not attempted to deal with 
Muhammad’s life and character, nor have I spoken of the reason 
for the spread of Islam. My subject was “‘ Islam; its Origin, its 
Strength, and its Weakness,” and to this I have endeavoured to 
confine, myself. Those who desire to see the subject fully dealt 
with cannot do better than to consult Dr. Keelle’s own admirable 
work, ‘“‘Mohammed and Mohammedanism.” Among my other 
omissions Dr. Kcelle has pointed out the fact that I have not dwelt 
upon the psychological phenomena presented by the development 
of the faith in Muhammad’s own mind. I confess to the impeach- 
ment, for I felt that matter to be beyond.my depth, and have 
therefore acted on the principle, ‘‘ Ne sutor ultra crepidam.” But 
Imay add that Dr. Kcelle has admirably treated the question in 
the book to which I have referred. 
I designedly omitted all reference to the sword and to the spread 
0 2 
