Page:The Faith as Unfolded by Many Prophets.djvu/15

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7

Prophet declared that there is much evil in friendship with unbelievers. Listen to what is said in the Book; 'O true believers, have no intimate friendship with any besides yourselves; they will not fail to corrupt you.' 'Behold, ye love them, and they do not love you; ye believe in the Scriptures, and when they meet you, they say, 'We believe;' but when they assemble privately together, they are full of wrath against you.'[1] If I had loved a Christian of whom these things were to be believed, I had disobeyed the Prophet; but Mohammed himself, would have loved one whose heart is open as the heart of Eber.

Is it not elsewhere told in the Book,Havilah, who are the infidels whose friendship is dangerous? Is it not those 'who make a laughing-stock and a jest of your religion[2];' who 'when ye call to prayer, make a laughing-stock and a jest of it, because they are people who do not understand?' I have never thus jested, nor sought to turn Havilah from his faith.

Never, said Havilah. Yet is Eber among those who do not understand: else, as surely as the thirsty fields drink in the rain, would

  1. Koran, chap. 3.
  2. Ibid. chap. 5.