60
THE TRADITIONS.
are implicitly believed, and ought to be religiously observed.
But although the traditions of Muhammad are shrouded with a degree of uncertainty which is perplexing, not to say vexatious, to the student of history, still there can be no doubt as to the place they were intended to, and still do occupy in the theological structure of Islám. The example of Muhammad is just as binding upon the Muslim as that of our Divine Lord and Saviour is upon the Christian. And everything Muhammad said with reference to religious dogmas and morals is believed to have been inspired by God; by a "wahí ghair-i-mutluʾ," or an inspiration similar in kind to that which we believe to have been given to the inspired writers of our Christian Scriptures.