Of the three principal Roots of the Mussulmauns’ faith, little need be further said in explanation.  I have had various opportunities of learning their undisguised thoughts, and wish only to impart what the people are, who are so little known to the world in general.  All persons having had the opportunity of studying the peculiarities of their particular faith, will, I think, give them due credit, that reverence for, and belief in God, forms a prominent trait in their character and faith:  ’The English translation of the Khoraun by Sale, (imperfect as all works must be, where the two languages are inadequate to speak each other’s meaning,) will tell without a commentary, that the worship of God was the foundation on which Mahumud built his code of laws; and that the prophets were all acknowledged by him as messengers sent from God to His people, in every age of the world; and, lastly, that Mahumud was the Prophet, who came when the people of the earth, vicious and profane, had fallen into the most dissolute habits, worshipping idols instead of God.’  This passage is the sentiment expressed to me by a worthy man, and a true Mussulmaun; I have traced it out for the sake of explaining what is in the hearts of the Mussulmauns of the present day.

When I have conversed with some of them on the improbability of Mahumud’s prophetic mission, I have been silenced by a few words, ’How many prophets were sent to the Israelites?’—­’Many.’—­’You cannot enumerate them? then, is it too much to be probable that God’s mercy should have been graciously extended to the children of Ishmael? they also are Abraham’s seed.  The Israelites had many prophets, in all of whom we believe; the Ishmaelites have one Prophet only, whose mission was to draw men from idolatry to the true God.  All men, they add will be judged according to their fidelity in the faith they have professed.  It is not the outward sign which makes a man the true Mussulmaun; neither is it the mere profession of Christianity which will clear the man at the last day.  Religion and faith are of the heart.’

In their collection of writings, I have had access to a voluminous work, entitled ’Hyaatool Kaaloob’[26] (Enlightener of the Heart).  My husband has translated for me, occasionally, portions of this valuable work, which bears a striking similarity to our Holy Scriptures, though collected after a different manner; I have acquired, by this means, a more intimate acquaintance with the general character of the Mussulmaun’s belief.  This book contains all the prophets’ lives, at every age of the world.  It was compiled by Mahumud Baakur, first in Arabic, and afterwards translated by him into the Persian language, for the benefit of the public; and is of great antiquity—­I cannot now ascertain the exact date.

The Mussulmaun belief on the subject of the resurrection is, ’When the fulness of time cometh, of which no man knoweth, then shall the earth be destroyed by fire—­and after this will be the resurrection of the dead’.