Religious Problem in India

Author(s): Annie Besant
Publisher: Theosophist Office Adyar

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THE RELIGIOUS PROBLEM IN INDIA
easy to gain disciples in a crowd, a crowd who do not know you, a crowd who see you only on the platforın, a crowd who hear you only in the set speech, or in answering spoken questions. But to be a Prophet to the wife, and to the daughter, and to the sonin-law, and to the close relatives-Ah! that is to be a Prophet indeed, a triumphi that not even the Christ Himself was able to win. These his first disciples. Abū Tālib, his life-long protector, however, would not accept as Prophet the man who as a baby boy had clung to his knees: “Son of my brother," he answered, “I cannot abjure the religion of my fathers; but by the Supreme God, whilst I am alive none shall dare to injure thee.” Then turuing towards Ali, his son, the venerable patriarch inquired what religion was his. “O Father," answered Ali, “I believe in God and His Prophet, and go with him.” “Well, my son," said Abū Talib, “he will not call thee to anght save what is good, wherefore thou art free to cleave unto him."* For three quiet years he labors, and at the end of the three years, thirty disciples call him the Prophet of the Lord. Then comes his first public sermon, preaching of the unity of God, preaching against human sacrifice, preaching against lust, and drunkenness, and foulness of life. Then some more gather round him, tonched by the fire which is breathed from his inspired lips. But with the gathering of others round him, fierce perseention breaks out, and tortures horrible, unbearable almost by human flesh and blood.
* Syed Ameer Ali, M.A., C.I.E. The Spirit of Islām, pp. 87, 88.