ll help you in the work which the clear voice
counsels."

"This is strange," Michael said. "O my father, I am already greatly
disturbed; I come to you for help."

"Do not fear, my son. God responds to and supplies the demands of
human nature. He has willed that you should devote your life to His
teachings."

"You forget, my father. I am not of your faith. I have not embraced
Islam."

"I have my message to deliver. I have seen what I have seen. Every
religion which gives a true knowledge of God and directs in the most
excellent way of His worship, is Islam."

"You have seen me giving my life to all that I feel to be most urgent
in the life of all who know the truth?"

"I have seen you, by Allah's aid and by His bountiful mercy,
accomplishing work which will bestow great blessing and peace upon your
soul."

"I have thought much of all this," Michael said, "since we last met.
The idea has never left me, yet I am puzzled. Why should I feel like
this, when better men do not?"

"God, in His almighty word, has declared a higher aim of man's
existence, O my son."

"Then why do I not better understand? I feel nothing but
dissatisfaction, unfruitfulness."

"A man may not always understand. A hundred different motives may hold
him back. But the truth remains, my son, that the grand aim of man's
life consists in knowing and worshipping God and living for His sake."

"I wish I could decide! Some people see the road so plainly before
them. Mine is broken, and often it is totally lost in the desert
sands."

"A man has no choice, my son, in fixing the aim of his life."

"That is your faith, my father."

"Man does not enter the world or leave it as he desires. He is a
creature, and the Creator Who has brought him into existence has
assigned an object for his existence."

There was silence for a little time, while the old man meditated and
recited a _sura_ from the Koran.

"Already, my son, even though you do not know it, you are in the faith.
You have seen the perfect Light. Remember that no one can fight with
God, or frustrate His designs. Not once, but many times, I have seen
you, my son, travelling on this journey. God has sent many prophets to
lead mankind into the knowledge of truth. Moses and Christ, they had
their divine tasks, but the last and the best of the messengers of God
was Mohammed, praised be His holy name. Some day, O my son, He will
perfect your religion, and complete His favo