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CONFLUENCE OF OPPOSITES 349 It is also said in the same work (chap. x. 34; SBE, vol. v. p. 332). "The rule is this, that meat, when there is etench or decom
position not oven originating with it is not to be prayed
over." To turn to Islam, there is no doubt that Mahomed understood the real significance of the doctrine of sacri. fice, but he feared to kindle the ire of his countrymen, Accordingly, he merely contented himself by pointing out the symbolic nature of sacrifice, but did not forbid it openly, as Jesus had done before him. It is said in Al Qur'an chapter xxii:* " The camels slain for sacrifice have we appointed for you as
eyinbols of your obedience goto God. Their Aesh is not accepted of God, veither their blood, but your piety is
accepted of bim." * It is impossible for language to be more clear or emphatic! But, alas! it fell dead on the Arab ears, as the earlier prophetic speech had fallen on the Jewish ears, Wonderful is man even in his stupidity! He imagines even the Holiest of the Holy bending low to eat the fesh and drink the blood of red beasts! We shall deal with the cow sacrifice of Islam later on.
Turning to Hinduism, we find the same allegorical explanation of the sacrificial text as in the other creeds examined by us.
1, "The sacrificer is bimself the victim. It: (the
sacrifice) takes the very sacrificer himselt to beaven" (Tait. Br. ii. 12. 4. 3.)
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