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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE. (2) The above observations also apply to the fables of the Qur'an. As a matter of fact, fables form no part of any religion ; they are either statements of facts which occurred at some time, in the past, or mythologies intended to train the minds of the people in religious doctrines. When missionary writers object* to such accounts as show that the wind fran' gently at the command of Solomon, they forget that the wind also obeyed Jesus Christ (Luke, VIII. 23 & 24).
(3) The geography of the Qur'an is, if anything, incomplete, as we had occasion to point out ere this. In its most complete form, the geography of the universe exists only in Jainism. European writers go wrong when they think it is the geography of our little planet, the Earth. As a matter of fact, it embraces the whole of the universe, visible and invisible both. Knowing this, one can only smile at the following statement in the 'Selections from the Qur'an':
“With regard to geography, Muhammadan writers acted like the Hindus. They sat in their houses and framed seas and continents out of their heads."
(4) In respect of the fourth category also, the Qur'an cannot be found fault with any more than any other mystic Scripture. Mr. Murdoch objects to the following passages, on the ground that they are incompatible with the dignity of God, who cannot be said to lead men astray :
(i) “Whomsoever God shall direct, he will be rightly directed ; and whomsoever he shall lead astra y, they shall perish."
(ii) “He whom God shall cause to err shall have no direction." (iii) “Verily, I will fill hell with jinns and men altogether." But Mr. Murdoch forgets that these passages are
*See Murdoch's 'Selections from the Qur'an,' p. 134.
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