Not those on whom is hate,
Nor they that deviate. Amen.
And now let me say a word to the Infidel, and show him how much he gains or loses by not being a Moslem.
The first article of faith is: “There is no God but God.”
In chapter 112 of the Koran, his unity is set forth thus: “Say he is God, one God, God is the Eternal. He begetteth not, nor is he begotten; and there is none equal unto him.” The Moslems believe that Christ was the Messiah, and brought the gospel upon the earth; they do not call him the Son of God—but simply a prophet or apostle. They believe he was taken up to Heaven after having accomplished his mission, and that he will come again on earth to establish the Moslem religion.
The second article of faith is: “Mohammed is the Prophet of God.”
The Moslems acknowledge six prophets—Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Christ, and Mohammed—and that each brought a system of revealed religion. They claim that each system was a true one, but was abrogated by that which followed it.
Consequently, Christianity was the true faith from the beginning of our era down to the time of Mohammed, except when it was corrupted by the belief that Christ was the Son of God.
They believe in the existence of angels and good and evil genii, in the immortality of the soul, in resurrection and judgment, in future rewards and punishments, in the balance of good and evil works, and in a bridge formed of the edge of a sword over the centre of hell. All must cross this bridge; the good pass safely over and enter Paradise, but the wicked fall from its centre.
The Moslem faith is much weakened in those parts of the Orient that have had familiar intercourse with the Occident.