'
'But a pot has no soul, Mufti Sahib, to be roasted to all eternity in
hell!'
'True, sir; these are questions beyond the reach of human
understanding.'
'How often do you read over the Koran?'
'I read the whole over about three times a month,' replied the
Mufti.[63]
I mentioned this conversation one day to the Nawab Ali-ud-din,[64] a
most estimable old gentleman of seventy years of age, who resides at
Muradabad, and asked him whether he did not think it a singular
omission on the part of Muhammad, after his journey to heaven, not to
tell mankind some of the truths that have since been discovered
regarding the nature of the bodies that fill these heavens, and the
laws that govern their motions. Mankind could not, either from the
Koran, or from the traditions, perceive that he was at all aware of
the errors of the System of astronomy that prevailed in his day, and
among his people.'
'Not at all', replied the Nawab; 'the prophets had, no doubt,
abundant opportunities of becoming acquainted with the heavenly
bodies, and the laws which govern them, particularly those who, like
Muhammad, had been up through the seven heavens; but their thoughts
were so entirely taken up with the Deity that they probably never
noticed the objects by which he was surrounded; and if they had
noticed them, they would not, perhaps, have thought it necessary to
say anything about them.
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