Life of Ahmad — Page 286
PREACHES UNTO EAST AND WEST as 286 started writing appologies on behalf of Islam, and tried to explain that certain Islamic doctrines to which Europe took exception were really no part of Islam; that Islam taught exactly what Europe approved of; that Islam was revealed in an age of darkness when the Arabs were in a very degraded condition; that many of the doctrines and commandments of Islam were meant only to improve the condition of the Arabs and were not of universal application; that they would now be repealed by a conference of Muslim doctors and ulema; and that the Holy Prophet sa used to preach to the Arabs with due regard to their national and religious prejudices and that his meaning was really different from that which his words would ordinarily bear. In short, the Muslims had begun to admit by their conduct that the days of Islam were numbered; they had lost not merely the power to take the offensive but even the heart to defend Islam; they were ready to surrender, and awaited only the offer by Christianity of terms under which they would not be treated as mere savages. On the other hand, the man who published this vision had practically no following. He had just proclaimed his claim to Messiahship, which had aroused universal resentment and opposition. The Government looked upon him with suspicion and the people were hostile to him; Christians, Hindus and the very Muslims whose faith he championed were opposed to him, the last most bitterly of all. His claim was novel and unexpected. The Muslims were