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for "Islam in India." The fourth chapter, entitled "The Free-thinkers," and the whole of the second part, "The Supremacy of the Persians," tells the story of the curious struggle in the bosom of Islam, between the Rationalizing spirit and the spirit of Orthodoxy, terminating in the complete triumph of the latter.

The third part, as the title shows, traces "The Decline of the Khalifate," from its loss of temporal power under the tyranny of its fierce Turkish mercenaries, down to the destruction of Baghdad by Houlagou and his Mongols. Here, again, a few words of explanation are due to the student of Oriental history, to explain the meagreness of historical detail which marks certain portions of this section. I have passed over with only a cursory reference, all that period of Moslem history which extends from the murder of the khalif al Mutawakhil, to the founding of the Seljuk Empire-a space of nearly two hundred years. Why is this so? As originally written, this portion of my book contained twice as much matter as it now does. I had devoted two long chapters to a history of the acts of the Turkish mercenaries, and the reigns of the Bouide princes. But, on consideration, I thought it best not to print them. The purpose of my book is to write a history of "Islam," not a history of the "khalifs of Baghdad." A right understanding of Islam is in no way assisted or enhanced by compelling the weary reader to wade through a dreary series of wars and revolutions which have no more significance for us than the quarrels of wild beasts in

an antediluvian forest. Rather, it seems to me, its difficulty is greatly increased. The reader faints by the way, and gives up the attempt in despair. He prefers to remain in ignorance of "Islam" (which, after all, has, at no time, greatly inconvenienced him), if knowledge cannot be purchased except at so great a cost. The Crusades, also, are beyond the purpose of book. These were fraught with consequences of immense importance to Europe; but on "Islam," as a religion, they had no appreciable influence. The Crusaders came and went without modifying in the smallest particular, either the doctrine or the practice of the Moslem world.

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For the full understanding of the chapter on "The Sect of the Assassins" I must refer my readers to the second part of "Islam under the Arabs." In that part, entitled, "The Fatimides," I have given a full account of the growth and development of the Shia doctrines, till they reached their culminating point in producing the sect of the "Assassins." Without some knowledge of this past history, the doctrine and practice of the "Assassins" are unintelligible.

As in my first volume, I have given my authorities at the end of the volume. But I take advantage of this opportunity to record how largely I am indebted to the learned and interesting works of Herr Von Kremer-his " Culturgeschichte des Orients unter den Chalifen," and his "Geschichte der Herrschenden Ideen des Islams." I have also derived much valuable information from a smaller work by Heinrich Steiner, entitled, "Die Mutaziliten." This work is remarkable.

for a very able and exhaustive dissertation on the doctrine of "Predestination," Predestination," as set forth in the Koran; and this dissertation has been my chief guide in what I have said on the same subject.

The first two chapters of this book appeared some time ago in the Contemporary Review, under the title of "Muhammadan Law: its growth and character." In rewriting them for the present volume, I have added many historical details and other matter which I thought inappropriate in a magazine article.

R. D. OSBORN.

11, MARLBORO' ROAD, ST. JOHN'S WOOD,

5th November, 1877.

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