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1067
The case with meat is not a whit different; it does not make one unconscious, but all the same renders the finer matter of the nerves impure, and, thus, stands in the way of the full development of spiritual power. Prophetic vision, thus, cannot be perfect till the impurities deposited by animal flesh and intoxicating liquor are not removed from the system.
RECONCILIATION.
In order, therefore, to understand all the discrepant writings of the different prophets one must first of all find out the degree of purity of life attained by them. Thus warned, the reader is not likely to become confused by the bewildering mixture of truth and falsehood which he will come across in the records of prophetic inspirations, and will not lose his balance of mind in the presence of such utterances as:
"My words are not contrary to the word of God, but the word of God can contradict mine and some of the words of God abrogate others (Jabir). Muhammad said, 'some of my words rescind others, like the Kur'an' (Ibn Omar)*."
It is not the word of God which is ever abrogated, but the word of man erroneously ascribed to God.
So far as mythology is concerned, there being no question of revelation concerning it, it is clear that when the myths and legends of two creeds are found to be the same, in principle and form, the younger of the two must be deemed to have borrowed its stock, directly or indirectly, from its elder sister.
It is for this reason that we find it impossible to agree with Mr. Mahomed Ali† when he denies that
*Sayings of Muhammad,'
p. 10.
† See, 'The Divine Origin of the Holy Qur'an,'
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