Religious Problem in India

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

Page 29

ISLAM
21
seck to take a niddle way in this matter; these are really unbelievers, and we have prepared for the mbelievers an ignominions punishment. But they who believe in God and His Apostles, and make no distinction between any of them, unto those will we surely give their reward; and God is gracions and merciful."*
In perfect aceord with this liberality, is the Prophiet's use of the word Islām; often he says that there is but one religion, Islām; but what does Islām mean, and how does he use it? Islām means bowing to, surrender, and, religionsly, surrender to the will of God. That is the one religion, says the Prophet, and truly it is so; perfect submission to the divine will. But did it begin with the Prophet of Arabia? No, he said the very opposite : “Verily the true religion in the sight of God is Islām; and they who had received the Scriptures dissented not therefrom, until after the knowledge of God's unity had come mto them, ont of envy among themselves.”+ "Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian ; but he was of the true religion, one resigned unto God, and was not of the number of the idolators. Verily the men who are nearest of kin unto Abraham are ther who follow him, and this Prophet and they who believe on him ; God is the Patron of the faithful.” I “Who is better in point .of religion than lie who resigneth himself into God, and is a worker of righteousness, and followeth the
* Ibid, Chap. iv. According to this it would seem that Theosophists are the only true believers to-day.
+ Ibid, Chap. iii.
Ibid, Chap. iv.