I have already explained, in some of my letters[9] to you, why I believe that Islam is but a continuation and consummation of Christianity as taught by Jesus himself in _his own speeches_ which are reported in the Synoptic Gospels of the New Testament. We have nothing to do with the interpretation of his words by his Apostles and others after them. If we take the plain words and the plain meaning of those words reported to have proceeded from his own blessed mouth,[10] we clearly see that they teach the same sublime truths as our Prophet himself inculcated. Jesus did not live long to complete his mission, Muhammad completed it. Both were God's holy messengers [Arabic: Rusul-u-llah]. Says the Qur'an: "This day I have completed your religion for you." [Arabic: l-yawma ʾakmaltu lakum dīnakum] I need not now go into details, or refer to other religions, to shew that the spirit of Islam is not inconsistent with their true spirit, if rightly conceived and interpreted in the light of modern science. I hope I shall be able some day to write down the result of my own thought and investigation in the matter. I content myself at present with drawing your attention to the first characteristic of Islam, and I propose to write a few Notes to draw your special attention to its second characteristic which is the more remarkable--the characteristic that it is quite consistent with modern ideas of science. No scientific idea influenced the thought of the last century more profoundly than the idea of progress or development embodied in what is called the Law of Evolution. It is now widely accepted. You will be surprised to know that many an Islamic tenet is entirely in accord with it. Indeed Maulana Rumi outlined it poetically in his famous _Masnavi_ in the thirteenth century, in the same manner as Lord Tennyson did in his _Princess_ in the nineteenth. I desire that you should try to understand it in its modern form. I strongly recommend that you should read an admirable book by Edward Clodd called _The Story of Creation_[11]. When I first read it, some years ago, I felt it was as pleasant and interesting as a novel. Its introduction and Part II are quite easy to read. They will give you a very good idea of the great revolution which Darwin and Wallace, Huxley and Spencer have wrought in the thought of our own times. +Note 2.+ _The First Chapter of the Qur'an._ The following is a translation of the "Opening Chapter" of our Holy Qur'an. I have analysed it by placing Roman and Arabic numerals, the first indicating verses [Arabic: ayyat] and the second indicating sub-divisions of verses. _Opening Chapter._ +[Arabic: Sura al-fātiḥa]+ In the Name of God the [Arabic: bi-smi llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm] Compassionate, the Merciful. I. Praise be to God, [Arabic: al-ḥamdu li-llāhi] .I (1) Lord (Nourisher) [Arabic: rabbi l-ʿālamīn (1)] of the Worlds,