Tariqu'l Hyat

the wickedness and pollution of his own sinful heart, and thus longs and strives for forgiveness and cleansing. Reflection does not of itself produce pardon and salvation, as some of the heathen think. Instead of this, it convicts man of sin, and thus makes it possible for him to realize his lost state and need of a Saviour.

In short, it is perfectly evident that the pardon of sin and salvation of the soul (روح) are not to be obtained by the means of which we have spoken. How, indeed, is it possible that idolaters, who know not the true God, should discover means of pleasing Him and of gaining salvation by any efforts of their own? How can God be pleased with what they do in the name of their false gods? On the contrary, such deeds are sinful and displeasing to God Most Holy, not a means of salvation. It is evident that salvation is not the gift of idols but only that of the true God. The idols are themselves false; how can anything good result from that which is false and evil?

It should be known that in the religions of other heathen peoples besides those we have mentioned the same methods of pardon and salvation are taught, in some more and in others fewer. Moreover, their doctrines and religious rites and ceremonies are either in the main similar to those we have dealt with or even worse. Some people have gone astray so far that they actually worship evil spirits. From the miserable state of idolaters,

and from their evil habits also, it is certain that their religions are not guiding them to salvation from sin; but are plunging them into wickedness of many kinds, are degrading them, leading them far astray from God, and engulfing them in the abyss of error.

Having seen the vanity of the religions of the heathen, we must now turn to the consideration of the religion of Islam and inquire what methods of salvation are taught therein.

SECTION III

AN INQUIRY INTO THE TEACHING WHICH THE RELIGION OF ISLAM GIVES REGARDING THE MEANS OF PARDON AND SALVATION

All true Muslims admit that man is a sinner in the sight of God Most High, and that because of sin he deserves God's wrath and due punishment, so that he cannot hope to escape from hell unless in some way he obtains forgiveness of his sins. Hence in Islam as well as in other religions it is taught that man should seek remission of sin and God's approval and eternal bliss. That this is necessary is clear not only from the Qur'an but also from the Traditions (احاديث). The latter represent even Muhammad himself as seeking pardon from God, although he is considered the best of men and the greatest of the prophets. A few