And thus they continue unto this present day, inciting
men to these evil deeds, even as it is told of Omar the Caliph. "If
one among you," said he, "hath a heathen neighbor and is in need,
let him seize and sell him." And many such things they say and
teach. Look now at the lives of Simon and Paul, who went about
healing the sick and raising the dead, by the name of Christ our
Lord; and mark the contrast.[58]
[Sidenote: Such are the conclusions of a native of Chaldea.]
Such are the reflections of one who lived at a Mohammedan court, and
who, moreover, flourishing as he did a thousand years ago, was
sufficiently near the early spread of Islam to be able to contrast what
he saw and heard and read of the causes of its success with those of the
Gospel, and had the courage to confess the same.
[Sidenote: Hinderances or inducements inherent in the faith itself.]
Apart, now, from the outward and extraneous aids given to Islam by the
sword and by the civil arm I will inquire for a moment what natural
effect the teaching of Islam itself had in attracting or repelling
mankind. I do not now speak of any power contained in the truths it
inculcated to convert to Islam by the rousing and quickening of
spiritual impulses; for that lies beyond my present purpose, which is to
inquire whether there is not in material causes and secular motives
enough in themselves to account for success.
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