instead of humbling thyself before the Lord, and seeking pardon for the crime, thou sayest of such a one slain in the war that “he hath earned paradise,” and thou namest him “a martyr in the ways of the Lord!"[55]

And again, contrasting the spread of Islam, “its rattling quiver and its glittering sword,” with the silent progress of Christianity, our apologist, after dwelling on the teaching and the miracles of the apostles, writes: 

They published their message by means of these miracles; and thus great and powerful kings and philosophers and learned men and judges of the earth hearkened unto them, without lash or rod, with neither sword nor spear, nor the advantages of birth or “Helpers;"[56] with no wisdom of this world, or eloquence or power of language, or subtlety of reason; with no worldly inducement, nor yet again with any relaxation of the moral law, but simply at the voice of truth enforced by miracles beyond the power of man to show.  And so there came over to them the kings and great ones of the earth.  And the philosophers abandoned their systems, with all their wisdom and learning, and betook them to a saintly life, giving up the delights of this world together with their old-established usages, and became followers of a company of poor men, fishers and publicans, who had neither name nor rank nor any claim other than that they were obedient to the command of the Messiah—­he that gave them power to do such wonderful works.[57]

[Sidenote:  The apostles compared with the chiefs of Islam.] And yet once more, comparing the apostles with the military chiefs of Islam, Al Kindy proceeds: 

After the descent of the Holy Ghost and the gift of tongues the apostles separated each to the country to which he was called.  They wrote out in every tongue the holy Gospel, and the story and teaching of Christ, at the dictation of the Holy Ghost.  So the nations drew near unto them, believing their testimony; and, giving up the world and their false beliefs, they embraced the Christian faith as soon as ever the dawn of truth and the light of the good tidings broke in upon them.  Distinguishing the true from the false, and error from the right direction, they embraced the Gospel and held it fast without doubt or wavering, when they saw the wonderful works and signs of the apostles, and their lives and conversation set after the holy and beautiful example of our Saviour, the traces whereof remain even unto the present day....  How different this from the life of thy Master (Mohammed) and his companions, who ceased not to go forth in battle and rapine, to smite with the sword, to seize the little ones, and ravish the wives and maidens, plundering and laying waste, and carrying the people into captivity.  And thus they continue unto this present day, inciting men to these evil deeds, even as it is told of Omar the Caliph.  “If one among you,” said he, “hath a heathen neighbor and is in need,