ABSTRACT
Islam under the first caliphs witnessed a marvellous expansion, such as its founder had never dreamt of. Religion was no longer the object of scorn and laughter; it had become the possession of myriads. The little flock was not, however, merged into these myriads; it formed the conscience of Islam, guiding and watching lest the pure gold should become defiled. One of its first achievements was to establish a distinction between religion as a matter of ritual only and religion as an inner experience.
