Islam Rediscovered
24. A Case of Discovery*
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sincere. While others work in formulas and
hearsays, contented enough to dwell therein, this
man could not screen himself in formulas: he was
alone with his whole soul and the reality of things.
The great mystery of existence glared upon him
with its terrors, with its splendours; no hearsays
could hide that unspeakable fact, ‘Here am I.’ Such
sincerity as we named it has, in truth, something of
the divine. The word of such a man is a voice direct
from nature’s own heart. Men must listen to that, or
to nothing else; all else is wind in comparison. From
of old, a thousand thoughts in his pilgrimages and
wanderings had been in this man ‘What am I?’
‘What is Life?’ ‘What is Death?’ ‘What am I to
believe?’ ‘What am I to do?’ The grim rocks of
Mount Hira, or Mount Sinai, the stern, sandy
solitude answered not. The great Heaven rolling
silently overhead with its blue glancing stars,
answered not. There was no answer. The man’s
own soul and what of God’s inspirations dwelt
there, had to answer!”
These two fundamental principles, whose
profession makes a man a Muslim, are thus based
on the highest dictates of our intuitive reason. This
