A Rejoinder to Pope's Allegations Against Islam — Page 54
idly spent in domestic quarrels was vigorously directed against a foreign " enemy. (Edward Gibbon 'The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'. Vol. V. Page 231. Penguins Classics (1st published 1788, this edition 1996) John Devonport Wrote: "It would be a huge mistake to assume that the creed taught by the Qur'an was propagated by the use of the force. He says that those who are unbiased would freely acknowledge that through the religion of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) sacrifice of human was replaced with worship of God and charity and it infused a spirit of generosity and social harmony instead of enmity and chronic hostilities. He wrote that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Al1lahbe on him) was a true blessing for the Eastern world and it was particularly for this reason that he did not need to employ the bloody strategiies which were used without exception and indiscriminately by Moses (on whom be peace) in order to obliterate idolatry. He concludes that it is idle to be insulting in ignorant condemnation of such an excellent source that nature provided to influence beliefs and propositions of human beings for a long period in time. " (John Devonport 'An Apologyfor Muhammad and the Quran'. (1st published 1869) 54