nsider: Could any barbarism
be lower than this? The nation consisted of warring, hostile tribal
peoples inhabiting the vast Arabian peninsula, and their business
consisted in fighting and pillaging each other, making captive women and
children, killing each other. Muhammad appeared among such a people. He
educated and unified these barbarous tribes, put an end to their shedding
of blood. Through His education they reached such a degree of civilization
that they subdued and governed continents and nations. What a great
civilization was established in Spain by the Muslims! What a marvelous
civilization was founded in Morocco by the Moors! What a powerful
caliphate or successorship was set up in Ba_gh_dad! How much Islam served
and furthered the cause of science! Why then should we deny Muhammad? If
we deny Him, we awaken enmity and hatred. By our prejudice we become the
cause of war and bloodshed, for prejudice was the cause of the tremendous
storm which swept through human history for thirteen hundred years and
still continues. Even now in the Balkans a commotion is apparent,
reflecting it.

The Christian people number nearly three hundred millions and the Muslims
about the same. It is no small task to do away with such numbers. And
furthermore, why should they be obliterated? For these are all servants of
the one God. Let us strive to establish peace between Christians and
Muslims. Is it not better? What is the benefit of war? What is its
fruitage? For thirteen hundred years there has been warfare and hostility.
What good result has been forthcoming? Is it not folly? Is God pleased
with it? Is Christ pleased? Is Muhammad? It is evident that They are not.
The Prophets have extolled each other to the utmost. Muhammad declared
Christ to be the Spirit of God. This is an explicit text of the Qur'an. He
declared Christ to be the Word of God. He eulogized the disciples of
Christ to the utmost. He bestowed upon Mary, the mother of Christ, the
highest praise. Likewise, Christ extolled Moses. He spread broadcast the
Old Testament, the Torah, and caused the name of Moses to reach unto the
East and the West. The purpose is this: that the Prophets Themselves have
manifested the utmost love toward each other, but the nations who believe
and follow Them are hostile and antagonistic among themselves.

The world was in this condition of darkness when Baha'u'llah appeared upon
the Persian horizon. He hoisted the banner of the oneness of