learn what it teaches, lest in rejecting it they should be throwing away light and
guidance and salvation. When both Christians and Muslims have studied the book with
earnestness, they will be the better able to help one another to find the truth and to
walk in the right way, the way of those with whom God Most High is pleased, not that of
those with whom He is angry, or who go astray.
The most important of the contents of the Qur'an is its teaching about the Nature and
Attributes of God Most High. It describes Him as One, Eternal, Everlasting, Almighty,
All-wise, All-knowing. It tells us that He hears, sees, speaks; that He is the Creator of
Heaven and Earth; that He is Merciful, Just, Gracious, Patient, Holy, the Causer of life
and of death; that He possesses all perfect Attributes and is devoid of all imperfection,
and that He is therefore far removed from weakness, ignorance, injustice, and change. The
Qur'an also invites men to belief in the Divine Unity: it absolutely forbids Polytheism
and Idolatry. It inculcates belief in the Resurrection, in future rewards and punishments
for deeds done here on earth. It speaks of Paradise and of Hell-fire. It-bears witness to
the Old Testament and to the New, as has been shown in the First Part of this treatise. It
bids Muslims profess belief in all the Prophets, making no distinction between them. It
condemns hypocrisy, and declares that certain things are lawful
(حلال) and others unlawful
(حرام). It forbids murder, adultery, theft, and false swearing. It enjoins that justice
should be done to orphans, and that alms be given to the poor.
Everyone, be he Christian or Muslim, will readily admit that much of the teaching which
the Qur'an gives on such points is good. All good teaching comes ultimately from the Most
Merciful God (who is alone the source of all good), whether we receive such teaching from
Him through Prophets, through inspired books, through Conscience, Reason, or in some other
manner. But before we admit Muhammad's claim to
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