“For many centuries the acquaintance which the majority
of Europeans possessed of Mohammedanism was
based almost entirely on the distorted reports of fanatical
Christians which led to the discrimination of a multitude
of gross calumnies. What was good in Mohammedanism
was entirely ignored and what was not good
in the eyes of Europe was exaggerated or misinterpreted.
The unity of God and the simplicity of his creed was
probably a more potent factor in the spread of Islam
than the sword of the ghaziz.” (G. Sale’s translation of
the Koran – Introduction)
This statement of the great Christian scholar of international
repute, created in me the thirst to know the original
teachings of Islam especially about the Islamic concept
of God.
About four years passed away and by this time I knew
the contents of the Quran. Many things had aroused my
attention. I had discussed many doubtful points with the
senior lecturer whom I found to have read the Quran
several times with a better and more critical view. I was
now longing to meet some Muslim scholar to cross examine
him about certain doubts about the Islamic Faith.
Once I thought of Hinduism but what I saw daily with
my own eyes, curses of untouchability and the reservations
of the caste system prevalent before us and besides
everything else, the idol worship and the observance of
innumerable rituals did not prompt me to take up any