THERE is a general impression amongst
European students of Islam, that it is a
simple system of Deism unfettered by numerous
dogmas and creeds, which are supposed to be
such an insuperable hindrance to an acceptance
of Christianity. Such was the opinion of the
historian, Gibbon, and it is also the view taken
by some who seek to weaken the authority of
the Christian system by extolling the merit of
its great rival creed. But even amongst the
advocates of Christianity there is altogether an
erroneous impression as to what Muham-
madanism really is. Dean Stanley has an ad
mirable chapter on the subject of Islam in his
VI PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
u Eastern Church" ; but he tells his readers that
the Quran contains the whole of the religion of
Muhammad " ; and Mr. Zincke, in his exceed
ingly interesting book, " Egypt of the Pharaohs
and the Khedive," appears to be under the
same impression ; for he says, " the Quran is an
all embracing and sufficient code, regulating
everything" Whereas the true state of the
case is, that whilst the Quran is the highest
authority for Muslim doctrine, still, the " faith
ful/ whether Sunni, Shia h, or Wahhabi, must receive the sayings and practices of their Prophet as of divine obligation ; for, in Islam, the teachings of the " Sacred Traditions " must be received side by side with that of the Quran itself; and the Muslim who would escape the suspicion of heresy must not dare to question the teaching^ of the learned doctors, whose opinions have been handed down in numerous commentaries and ponderous volumes of divinity.
In publishing these " Notes on Muham-
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. Vll
madanism," the author is fully conscious of
their imperfections, but he ventures to hope
that they will contain information which may
be suggestive to Missionaries and others in
terested in the study of Islam.
Upon a thoughtful study of the present work, the reader cannot fail to observe what an important place dogmatic teaching occupies in the system under consideration. There are those amongst English and Continental writers who regard all dogmatic teaching as antiquated, and who would recommend the Christian Missionary to keep dogma in the back-ground, when dealing with such a religious system as Muhammadanism. But Muslim divines would spurn such teaching as unworthy of theologians, whether of Islam or of Christianity. The trumpet must give no uncertain sound. It is a solemn thing for a Christian Missionary to be engaged day by day in unsettling the religious opinions of immortal beings, unless he feels that he has something good and true
viii PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
to offer in the place of opinions renounced. If
we call upon the millions of Islam to loose from
their moorings amidst the reefs and shoals of a
false system, and to steer forth into the wide
ocean of religious inquiry, we must surely
direct them to some fair haven of refuge where
they will find rest and peace. It has been
well said by Dr. Martensen* that e; a mind
starved by doubt has never been able to produce
a dogmatic system " ; and we are quite sure
that all who have had practical experience of
Muhammadanism, will agree that none could
be so helpless in dealing with Muslim doctors, as those who are wandering about in the un certainty of doubt, and cannot stand firm in the certainty of faith.
On the other hand, Muhammadanism may
be used as a schoolmaster to bring men to
Christ, for much which is contained in its
elaborate system is expressive of man s great
" Christian Dogmatics," by Dr. H. Martensen, Bishop
of Zeeland, Denmark.