ABSTRACT
NOWHERE is the sway of faith more powerful or more complete than with us, Muslims. Our politics and religion are one. Our law and religion are one. Our whole life, in fact, from cradle to grave, is closely intertwined with faith. This has its uses, and the most striking of these uses is our unquenchable religious ardour, which ever shines in undimmed splendour. The otherwise lethargic Muslim of to-day is always ready to take up arms in defence of his faith. And it is always gratifying to me to watch his fiery fervour—his scornful impatience—when matters connected with faith stand in real or imaginary peril. These qualities are noticeable, not only in lonely individuals, but in the masses of my brethren-in-faith. But if this fierce passion in the domain of religion has its advantages, it has serious drawbacks too. It shuts us out from influences which might stimulate thought and widen our intellectual horizon. It makes us indifferent to the growing needs of the times, and flings us hopelessly into too narrow a channel of thought.
