Muslims hold that their Faith came direct
from heaven. The Qur'an and all their tenets were sent down by Gabriel from
God himself to Muhammad. Much of their faith is also built upon Tradition
handed down by the Prophet's followers. But the Shi'ite differ from the
Sunni as to much that is told us by Tradition; and the Author, therefore,
has based his arguments mainly on the Qur'an which is accepted as divine by
every Muslim, and on such tradition as is comfortable thereto. As for the Qur'an,
it is held to be of eternal origin, recorded in heaven, and lying as
it does there upon the "Preserved Table" (Surah Ixxxv. 21).1
Thus God alone is held to be the "Source" of Islam; and if
so, then all effort to find a human origin for any part of it must be in
vain. Now, if we can trace the teaching of any part of it, to an earthly
Source, or to human systems existing previous to the Prophet's age, then
Islam at once falls to the ground.