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212 THE RELIGION OF THE CRESCENT.

of GOD have been drawn up by Muslims. Among these are the 'Araishu't Tijan in the Arabic language and the Qisasu'l Anbiya in Persian,1 but


1 As a specimen, I give in a very concise form the story of the prophet Idris (supposed to be Enoch), taken from the Qisasu'l Anbiya. Idris, we are told, was a learned and very pious man, versed in astrology and other sciences. One night the Angel of Death, 'Azrail, visited him in disguise, and remained three days as his guest. When discovered, the angel asked permission to establish the most friendly relations with the prophet, whom he had meanwhile in vain attempted to lead into sin. Idris refused his friendship unless the angel enabled him to taste the bitterness of death and yet to live. Receiving GOD'S command to do so, 'Azrail slew Idris, and then succeeded, through prayer, in bringing him back to life. The closest intimacy was thereupon established between them. 'Azrail showed the prophet the wicked suffering all the tortures of hell, at his request to see the terrible sight; and then, at another request, brought him near to the gates of Paradise, that he might thence view the bliss of the redeemed. Idris said, "O brother, I have tasted the bitterness of death, and I have seen hell. My liver is on fire! Permit me to enter Paradise and drink a draught of water." 'Azrail gave him permission to do so, but only on receiving a solemn pledge from the prophet that he would come back to him. On entering the sacred pre- cincts, Idris advanced to the tree Tuba' and left his sandals under it. He then viewed the whole region, and, faithful to his promise, returned to the angel, who was waiting his return outside the celestial gate. But when his vow was thus complied with, Idris decided to carry out a plan he had formed, by which he hoped to be enabled to remain forever in Paradise, instead of returning to the earth. He therefore begged of the angel permission to enter the garden once more, in order to reclaim his sandals, which he had omitted to put on when coming out. On receiving permission
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THE INFLUENCE OF ISLAM. 213
Tabari and other historians relate many similar tales, as do many of the most learned commentators on the Qur'an. The fact is that Muslims know practically nothing whatever

Ignorance
of their
Writings
and
History.

about the Prophets except their names, and even about these their information is not always very reliable. Nor can we say that all such absurd legends about the Prophets as those popular among modern Muhammadans at the present time are the inventions of ignorant men and form no part of the Religion of Islam. Hardly any of them are more absurd than the legend of King Solomon and Queen Balqis, and in fact the whole of their

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Idris re-entered Paradise; but when within he refused to come out, alleging that GOD had promised that those who entered Paradise should never go out again. Then "from the Glorious Throne came the words, 'O Angel of Death, leave Idris alone, for so have I fated it. Idris having tasted the bitterness of death, and having seen hell, shall now remain in Paradise.' 'Azrail said, 'Verily this Paradise is forbidden to the prophets until the Seal of the Prophets' (i.e. Muhammad) 'shall have entered it.' The Voice replied, 'O Angel of Death, I do not grudge Paradise to My friends, but Muhammad is the chief of Paradise."' Thus the learned and pious Idris managed to circumvent the Angel of Death, and by his fraud he succeeded in remaining in the enjoyment of eternal bliss. This is a fair specimen of the ideas which the generality of Muslims entertain about the prophets. What is very remarkable is that, rightly or wrongly, all these tales and legends are declared to rest upon the authority of Muhammad himself, who is said to have related them to his friends. Some similarly veracious accounts of our Lord's death and ascension are detailed in Appendix A.

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