[1] It was intended as a prayer for salvation of Muslims and reflected the prevalent negative view of Islam promoted by Humphrey Prideaux in Great Britain at the time.

[6] The hymn also engaged in polemics with regard to theological controversies of its day, namely the conflict between John Taylor's Unitarianism and Christians who held a trinitarian universalism perspective.

"[2] The original lyrics as written by Wesley:[8] Sun of unclouded righteousness, With healing in thy wings arise A sad, benighted world to bless, Which now in sin and error lies, Wrapped in Egyptian night profound, With chains of hellish darkness bound.

The smoke of the infernal cave, Which half the Christian world o'erspread, Disperse, thou heavenly Light, and save The souls by that impostor led, That Arab-thief, as Satan bold, Who quite destroyed thine Asian fold.

Assert thy glorious Deity, Stretch out thine arm, thou triune God, The Unitarian fiend expel, And chase his doctrine back to hell!