Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 340
340 these religions are striving to restate their position with respect to such matters as the taking and giving of interest, the social separation of the sexes, polygamy, etc. They are revising the teachings of their respective religions so as to make them conform to the established social customs of the age. Unlike all these, however, the Promised Messiah as based his teachings purely on religion and not on any modern current of thought. This distinction marks him out as the true reformer of the age, for he was not like the horn of time trumpeting out the notes blown into it by the latter. He opposed both the tendencies of the present day, i. e. , (1) freedom from the bonds of religion, and (2) social slavery. He neither abolished worship nor made any reduction in it. On the other hand, he revealed to the world the spirit and reality underlying acts of worship, and by creating in the minds of the people a sincere fervour for worship, strengthened the relationship between man and his Maker. He not only called the attention of the people to the necessity of obligatory prayers but also exhorted them to cultivate the habit of performing optional ones. For, as he explained, worship is not a penalty imposed upon man, but is a certain means of spiritual progress. Fasting, which had not only been discarded by the followers of other religions but also by the educated section of the Muslims of these times, he explained the philosophy of and proved that fasting was indispensable for spiritual advancement. Similarly, he discovered to the world the spirit underlying the Divine command- ments regarding pilgrimage, and sacrifice, and exhorted people to act faithfully on these commandments of God.