Islam must not be confounded with what is called "Muhammadanism" which is but an ossified form of Islam, clothed in Mediæval beliefs and disfigured by pagan practices. See Mr. J.C. Molony's admirable report of the Census of the Madras Presidency for 1911, where, quoting from the poet Hali's famous Musaddas, he describes how far Muhammadanism in Southern India has been influenced by Hinduism. Read also Hali's excellent pamphlet called الدين يسر "the Simplest Religion" which describes how Islam has been "ossified," i.e., rendered rigid and unprogressive.
I know of no religion which does not say, "Do good and avoid evil" and I consider it no religion which does not say, "Live well and happily."
| Ghalib: | |
| * | همكومعلوم هےجنت كىحقيقتليكن |
| * | دلكےخوش ر كهنےكو غالب ۑخنال اچهاهے |
See p. 24 above.
It supplies the best motive for overcoming the perversity of human nature to which St. Paul directs our attention in these beautiful words: "The good that I would, I do not: and the evil which I would not, I do."—Rom. vii. 19.