Page:The Mohammedan system of theology (IA mohammedansyste00neal).pdf/225

 ment, with a total disregard to any thing like veracity. Largely as he has borrowed from the Scriptures, yet hardly any thing is introduced without a great admixture of puerility: the matter is debased, and grossest errors prevail as to persons, facts, and dates, and numerous inconsistencies, The references to the Old Testament include particulars of Adam, Cain, Enoch, Heber, Noah, Abraham, Lot, the destruction of Sodom, Isaac, Ishmael, Joseph, Moses, Pharaoh, Jethro, the red heifer, Joshua, David, Saul, and Goliath, Solomon, Elias, Jonah and the Ninevites; in all which the narrative is difigured and facts frequently altered. For instance, what is so pathetically related of Abraham's offering up his son Isaac, which has been viewed as typical of the death of Christ on Calvary, is transferred over to Ishmael, their favourite prophet, from whom they boast their descent. Ha-