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1034
THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
words.--' that which heareth and seeth.'* There are no qualifying words, or phrases, and their sense is plain to anyone who cares to think for himself. This is sufficient to show that Mahomed held the soul to be divine in its real Essence. The current Muslim interpretation to the contrary cannot be arrived at without the addition of certain words to the text; but this is opposed to the rules of interpretation, according to which the plain sense must be ascribed to the words in all cases, so far as possible. Besides, there is no reason why the author of these passages should not have used the correct expression himself, if his sense was different. Their true interpretation not only removes the repugnance in the theologian's view, but also renders the text in accord with sound philosophy, and reconciles it with other texts in the Qur'an itself.
(5) So far as the fifth objection is concerned, we have already pointed out that the principle of resignation to one's destiny implies an active attitude of the soul which is not compatible with fatalism. Even here the objection is futile. But in saying this we wish to guard against being misunderstood by our brethren of Islam. There is such a thing as destiny, * Cf. the following from the Bhagavad Gita (Disc. XV. 15):
सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सनिविष्टो मत्त:स्मृतिनिमोहनञ्च वेदैश्च सर्वैरहमेववेदो
वेदान्तकृदविदेव चाहम् ॥ १५ ॥ Tr...“ And I am seated in the hearts of all;
From me are memory, knowledge (perception) as well as their loss;
It is I who am to be known by all the Scriptures (Vedas). I am indeed the author of Vedanta and the knower of Vedas."
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