72 J. O’Kinealy— History and Doctrines of the Wahhabis. [No. 1, 
towards Him, shall not be pardoned; but except these the Lord will pardon 
whomsoever He wishes ! These also are as it were the Mushriks of Arabia, 
against whom the prophet (may he, &c. !) stood up in battle and commanded 
to worship with a pure heart. This is evident for four reasons given by 
God in the Qoran : 
1st. It is known that the infidels against whom the prophet (may he 
&c. !) made war, had admitted that the Lord was the Supporter, the Creator, 
the Giver of life and death, the ltuler over all things. The proofs of this 
are the words of the Lord: “ Say, who gives you food from the heavens 
and the earth P who is the Master of hearing and seeing P who calls forth 
life from death, and death from life ? who rules events ?” They will quickly 
say, £ God’. Then answer, “ but you do not fear him.” 
And the Lord has said, “ Say, if you know, whose is the earth and 
what is in it ?” They will answer, 1 it belongs to Godthen say, “ is it not 
that you do not remember Him ?” Again, “ say, who is the Lord of the seven 
heavens, and Lord- of the great ’ Arsh ? They will answer, ‘ God.’ Then say, 
“ is it not that you do not fear Him ?” Say, “ if you know, who is he in whose 
hands is dominion over everything ? who can compel, yet not be compelled ?” 
They will quickly answer, ‘ God.’ Then answer, “ is it not that you do not 
fear Him ?” After you have known this, and found it difficult to understand, 
how people who accept the scriptures, can supplicate others than God, 
turn to the second reason which is as follows : 
They say, “ we only turn towards and supplicate those departed, that 
they may intercede with God for us. We ask not from them, but from God, 
through their intercession.” The proofs against this opinion are the words 
of God, “ They worship other than God, that can neither harm nor profit 
them, and say, “ these have interceded for us with the Lord.” Answer, “ can 
you inform God of anything either in the heavens or the earth of which 
He has not knowledge. He is more holy and high than those whom you 
give Him as companions.” 
Those who have adopted not God, but others as a patron say, “ we 
only worship them, that they may propitiate us with the Lord; for of a 
certainty He will decide favourably in matters with which they are con¬ 
cerned.” They also hold as opposed to us that God will not point out 
the way of salvation to infidels or liars.” Having understood this, turn 
towards the third reason, viz., that he who calls on an idol to intercede for 
him, and he who though abandoning idols yet depends on holy persons, 
such as Christ, or His mother, or the angels, is in the same position. The 
proof of this is in the words of the Lord, “ Those who seek a means to 
God, are they nearer Him ? They hope for His mercy and fear His punish¬ 
ment, and certainly the punishment of your Lord is severe.” And the 
prophet (may he be &c. !) has said, “ There is no difference between those who 
