A MISSIONARY labouring among Muslims will almost of necessity find himself, to a greater or less
degree, compelled to engage in (written or oral) controversy with them at some time or other,
possibly very frequently. As the women in Muhammadan lands are, for the most part, little instructed
even in their own creed, lady missionaries are perhaps, in some places, not so frequently called
upon as men are to argue with those to whom they are sent. Yet at any time questions involving a
knowledge of the Muhammadan controversy may be asked, and it is absolutely necessary to be ready
with a suitable reply to each and every one of these. A missionary will never seek
controversy merely for its own sake, but he must never shun it, lest he convey the impression
that no answer can be given to Muhammadan objections. The model of Christian controversy is given in
Acts xvii. 23, sqq. When controversy arises it may be well to observe the following rules, which I
venture to suggest to the young missionary:
1. Remember that our aim is not to silence our