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UFA

•^ i^-

Tfir,

TilFE OFJttAHOxlOIEin

FOUNDER

TliE llELK^ION OF ISLAM, AxND OF THE
EMPIRE OF THE SARACENS.

THE RET. GEOSCiE BVSH, A. M.

FIRST CANADA E»ITIOi\.

-0

• NIAGARA:

[ENRY CHAPMAN, PubHaher-^^ArnVBh HERON, Printer.

183 J.

,^,';|-f

>«'':|,.

:€

pi(x:FA€Ji!:

The present work lays claim to im liigluiv character than that of a compilalionw
Tliis indeed must riccossarily ho the ehaiaolcr of anv work altcmi)tod, at this day,
upon the aanie subject. All the accessible facts in the life and fortunea of th* Ara-
bian ])roi)het have lonj hince been given to the world. New theories and specula-
lions, moral and philosophical, founded upon thos« facts, and many of them richly du-
servmj; attenfion, aro frcjuently propounded to the reflecting, hut they add littlo or
nothing to the amount of our positive inlbrniaiion. All therefore that can now be
(xpcctrd is such a selection and arrun/fcinenl and investment of the Uading particulars
of the Impostor's history, as shall convey to the Eni^lish reader, in a corrcat and con-
centrated form, those details which aro otln rwise ditl'used through a great number of
rare hooks, and couched in several diir-rent languages. Such a work, discreetly pre-
pared, would supply, if wo mistake not, a very considoruble deiideratum in our Ian-
gunge — one which it hegmning to be more sensibly felt than ever, and whicli tho
spirit of the age loudly requires to havu supplied, llow far the present sketch may
j,'o towards meetnigthe demand, it becomes others than the writtr to judge. Ho
lias aimed to mako tho most judicious use of the materials before him, and from tha
whole mass to elicit a candid" moral estimate of the character of tho founder of Islam,
hi one respect he may venture to assure the reader ho will find tho plan of the ensu-
ing pages an improv(!ineiit upon preceding :Miiiioirs ; and tlint is, iii ilie careful colla-
tion ol' chapter., of tue Koran wiih the events of th<: narralive, il« will probably
find the history iilusiratcd to an unexpected extent from this source — a ciroumittancc,
which, while it serves greatly to authenticate the facts related, imparts a zest also to
the tenor of tho narrative scarcely to be expected from the nature of the theme.

In order to preserve the continuity of the story from being broken by inccsiant
reference to authorities, the following catalogue is siubmittcd, which will present at
one view the principal works consulted and irnployed in preparing tho prcient Life :
—Sale's Koran, 2 vols. ; Universal History, Mod. Series, vol. i. ; Gibbon's Decline
.and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. iii. ; Prideaux's Life of iMahornet ; Boulainvillier's
do.; do. in Library of useful Knowledge, Wo. 45; IJayltt's Historical Dictionary,
Art. Mahomet; Hottinger's Historia O.-icnlalis : Abul-Fvragii Ilistoria Dynastarum,
Pocock'sTransl. ; Morgan's M.ahometanism explained, 2 vol-!. ; Forater's Mahome-
tiinism Unveiled, 2 vol^. ; D'Horbelo 's Bibliotlieque Oricutale; Rycant's Present
State of the Ottoman Empire ; Ockley's History of the Saraceni-i, 2 vols. ; White's
Bampton Lectures; Iii.'o's Translation of tho Rov. H. Marly n's Controversial Tracts ;
Whitaker's Origin of Arianism; Faher's Sacred Calendar of Prophecy. 3 vols. ; Buck-
iogh.im's, Iveppel's, IJurokhurdt's and Madden'* Travels in tho East.

On flio subject i)f tho Arabic jnoper names so frcijueiitly occurring in this work,
it may be useful to tho English reader to be informed, that Ai,. is a (juivalent to our
definite article Thu. Thus, Af.coran is composed of two distinct words signifying
The Koran, of which the last only ought to bo retained in English. Again, Ebn
is the Arabic word for Son, as is liiuT or BiMxo, for Daughtih, and with the parti-
cle Ai, after it, according to the Arabic usage, Ebko'l is, Thk S»m, So Abu, Fa-
THEii, with the article after it, Abu'i,, thk Fatheh. Thus, Said Ebn Obediam
Abd Omri, is, Saii), the son ok Obediah fathkr of Omri ; it being usual with tho
Arabs to take their names of distinction from their sons as well as their fathers. In
like nvrinner, jEbno'l Atir, i^ thk son ok Aihir; Abo'l Abbas the father of
Abbas: and as Abd signifies skrvant, and Ai lah, G^a) ; Abdo'lah or Abdalab
is, Servant of God; Abdo'i. Siu.ms, Servant of the Sun, «!tc.

The deciding between the different niodc:, in which the prophets's name is, or
ought to be, written and the adoption of the most eligible, has been a matter of per-
plexing deliberation. Upon consulting the Greek Byzantine historians, it appears

I'ilLl'ACK.

'I I

that iTio same di\'i'i'<<itv i.f appnll.itioii wliicli now pr.uaiU, Iiai ol t liut-'il fur seven
ccnIuricH, In soinu iit"tli> in \vt; iijiji't with .Maomi.ti^ ('loiu wliicli coiiuiMnur .Maih.
MKT, tho most i)(j|iul,ii- ami I'atuili.ir title, to tlio Kii^^lisli '•in ; and in olIiorH Maiuhmkii
Otiier varip-tii;s ainoiii; ancujiit nnllmrs inii^lit (loijl)ll<'sji lie s|iuc'i('u'(l. I'm ii will in.
ubsuivud, I'or thi; most |):irt, lliU writiis ai (luamtod with llio Arabic tonf^uo nii(i win*
Ji.ivo drawn thoir iiiiileii.il;; diiunlly trim tlu! original luunlaiiiH, as well uh tho ;5rt;;n
body (.if ie<'«nt Oiiciitril Irav^llfir.-i, af! vi ry ii'ianirrious in adopting; tlic; ortlioi'rapliy
of tlio narni.' wliicli apjicars in onr title |i;ij»('. If tin; i\r;tliic iinni^o bo in Pict tlio pro
r Btandiird, na will probably bu adtiHlteil, iMaln nicd, inatnad oT «itlit;r Maliome*,
alioinvd, or iMulioniiimd, is tbo yciniinf lurni of tliu name, and tho mode inwliicliit
ehoald bsunifonuiy written and proiionrnu'd. Tbc fact, that the cxanipio of rnn.i
Oriental tifhnlars of llio present day lias <;iM,'n iMirreiiey to this f(«;n, and the proli.t-
liility that it will finally supplant all oiliorsi, has induced u«, on tho wholo, to adopt it,
ihou^jh with conniderablu hesitation.

"Ihe following list of natncd and title:) froijuontlv oconrring In couiifxion with
tho affuirtf of thti East, together with their etymological inipoit. will not be ikjcinnl
inappropriut« to th« object of the piesout work.

Mohamnitd, Ahmed. — t'roiu Hamad ; jirai^J highly culebra^ad, iUuolrioiis,
glorion?.

31oijk»i, Muittilzuan, I^^lam, Inlamisiu. — Ail from the sann; root, Aslain ; ^igiii.
fyiH'T to )ield np, dedicate, consecrate entirely to the -ervice «»f religion.

Koran.— From Kara, to read ; tiie reading, leyend, or that which onght to bo reuil.

Caliph. — A successor ; from the IJebrew Cliylapli, to be riianj^ejl, \o sncceod, to
pass round a revolution.

ffultun. — Originally from tlio Cliuldaic. 8o!tan; ?ignil"yln<: anthiiii'.v, dominiuii
principality.

V tzitr. — An assistant.

IIuilj. — Pibjjiiniajto ; IJadji : f>no who makc! tin; pi'ariina'^e to Mecca.

Sarucei:. — Ltyinolojty doubful; hiippo.<ed to be from .■:.'aiak, to .-ifeal ; a [ilniulcr
cr, a robber.

iitijira, or llejra.— Tl'.c Flight; applied emphatically to "Miihammed'a flight fnj;ii
Mecca to Mfidina.

IWurti. — The principal liead of the Aloliamnitidan religion, and iho rcsoUer of a!!
donbll'ul painfH of the law. — An ollice of great di<;iiily in the 'rinkish empire.

Imam. — A kind of priest attached to tiie nuxipies, who.,u duly n in oecasiuii.illv
to cvpoimd a passa,'.^o of tho Koran, 'i'hey, ul the Knnie time, n-.ually follnw JioiM
Hioro lucrative cnjple.ytnent.

Moolluhs form what is called the Ulema, nr body of doctors in thi,'i)lo;iy and inii.--
prudeiiBt", who a.'C intrusted with tjie gnaidl.insl.ip of tho law.s of the eai-
pirc, and from whose uumber thti IVhifti is chosen.

Fmir. — l/mcal dcccndaiitri of the Prophet liini-H;!f, distinguislicil by wonriu"
turbans of deep sea-green, the colour peculiar to all the race id' .'\lohainnied. 'I'liev
have ypocial immunities on the score of tlieii- descent, and one of llicin carries ll.r
green standard of the Frupliet wlnii the vir.nul rieignior apjiears in any piibi.c
solemnity.

Paiiiia. — The title eivon to the prosincial jrovrnors. A Pasha is to a province
or paslialic, what the Kultan is to tin; enipir(.', except that tlio judicial power h- u\
liands of the cadis, .^ic provincial niagistraii.s. Tlu' iaii.s of a i'ahha are the siaiu!
tlaidi which he is ailowed to carry; one of throe tails is one ot" three standani:'.
%vhiih laniiber gives the power of life and death,

itcis J:ilfendi. — 'I his oflker may be tcurnoi the iligh ('haudilor uf tli:! (itic-
man eniptre. lie la ui the head of a chu-s of attoiney whieh at ilii-; tinio .■(nilaii'L.
jhe lic'it mfoiiiied men of till; nati.di.

«: ■',■

..■■fij ; :l

INTRO una' ION.

>LlilniiiI lor scvu'd

I (;ulll<"* t'ur .Maiki
olliorH Macuomkh
,.,l. Hut it will 1)1)
|)ic ton^uu aiid who
•I wall us tho j^riuii
rig lilt; ortho'Tiipiiy
) h(! ill Tict tilt) pro
>r nithnr Mnhoiiif!'.
llio modi' in wliicii it
lie nxaiiii)!*) <>i' "lo-v
KJ^^, auil tho prol),.-
10 wholo, toailoplit,

' in connexion with
[ will not hu ckitiiinl

jli'liruyjJ, iKusliioiiii,

II root, Asluiu ; bisjui-
f ruligioM.

hiclumglit to bt! ri-iil.
liirigwl, \''> succeeil, to

nMt.hoiilv. (loiiiiHiuii

;f to M'^ccii.

ii.la Hteiil; a {.liiiula-

i.liainiiieil';* flight tVo;)i

andthi; resolvi'-i' ofai!
'uikisli (jnij)iri.'.
[ciiily il is Doi-asiutnlly
|, it'-ually Inlkiw ^oii.i-

in thu'olo^iy ;iiiil jmir-
iii! laws III' IIk! «iii-

nnulsliud l>y woniiu;;
It" ;\luliatiiii)0<l, Tlii^v
|u of Ihuin carries lb'
|ij)jK;ars ia any piibi.'-:

a^ha is tu a pravinci;

judicial powor i^' ifi
|l'i^l^ha arc lluj stain!
L ol" tlu>;o standard;-;

[iiK I'lioi- of tli:! <>tk-
av ilii-; tiiiio "uiiiau':;

tiio lit(! and lortimos of Jliia leiiKirkiihIo iiuui. Il will not, of course, bo
ox|»o('t<J(l tli.it, at tluM (JistitiKc of tiiiio and rouiotcness of place, u inadH
ofliiLts cntirt'l) new sliould bo coiHiuunicatc<l to the world. The dis-
creet UbC of flic materials alrtutiy extant is all that can now bo reasona-
iilv rc(iiiiri!(l or attempted. Yet w» are not without hope, that in one as-
iiL'ct, at least, our iticnio may present itf^elf arrayed in n character of
novelty and of uaworited inUrcat ; we mean, in its connexions with
Uliristianity. An cnliglilcncu (christian estimate of the prohpot of Ara-
bia and his rcligirin is, we believe, seldom formed, simply because the
siihjccl has seldom been ho [irt'senlud ay to aflbrd the means of such an
estimate. A brief sketch, therefore, of the state of Christianity at the
tunc of Mohanimcd's a[)peurance, cKpccialiy in tlvat region of the wor/d
unvhich his impoatnre took ils rise, will properly invite the reader's at-
tention at the o.itsctof the work. This will show more clearly the in-
triiticd providential bearings of the entire fabric ofMohammedan delu-
sioii upon the church of Christ ; and, apart Irom this particular view of
it, wo arc pcrsiiaded that an entirely correct or adequate judgment of
Mariiism cannot be fornied.

fitulc (if Cliristianity ii the Sixth Centura/, particularly in the East-

era Chin-chcs.
The diitinction of Eastern and Western churches, in ecclesiastical
histary, i.j ibunded up( n a similar geographical division of the Roman
iipiro under the enip(;ror», into two gretit departments; the one inchi-
ng the countries of A'.jia or the East, which had been subjected to the
Koinan arms, and the other those of Europe, more properly denomina-
ted the West. Thia dii«tii)(:tl.>n becaina ytill more common from tho
[<lays of Constantino, who removed the seat of the empire iVonillome to
onstantiuople, tho.i^h the linal and comi)lcte, rupture between tho
reck and Ijatin churches did not occur till the seventh century.
Over tlie largcijt portion of tho IJonian empire tho Christian religion
,v;is early propagated, and for two or three centuries subsisted in a
icat degree of its original tsimplieity and purity. Flourishing ehurch-
H v.'cie planted by the Apowtlos themselves in the diflerent provinces of
ia Minor, and along tho eastern limits of Europe ; from which *• the
ivord sounded out" to the adjacent territories with a multiplying power,
that the cause and king loin of the Redeemer continued to spread
long after its fir.st propagators had entered into t!«oir rest. But a grad-
al degeneracy supervened upon the primitive p u: perity of the church.
)uriiig the Iburtii century " the inysteiy of iniquii^," which had been
)::g before working in secret, began to discover itself more openjy,
tiilthough the Christians, hy the laws of tho empire, Avere exempted
oiu persecution, yet from this time forward u growing declension and
election among them is to be traced through every subseciuent period,
!lat length, in thessevcnth century, " the man of sin" became fully re-
[culcd, aiid, according to the predictions of holy writ, took his seat *» as
0(1 m tlio'temple of (jJod, opposing and exalting liimself above all that
tailed <iod, or is worshipped." It was about the period at whicli
il'iliatnjiicd arorsc tliat this tearful apostary had attained its height —

]7%TligOI>l < 1 lOV*

-f

•L

No rcvoltilion ipcordod in liisfory, if wn rxrnpf lliat rflrotcfl hy i||,.
religion (ifilic ^io.':n;i, ii.'is i'Mio/lufecl yrc^'Jcr clinn^cs ii.to llic s|(i(»M)|'
llic «;ivilizOfl wori*', llii.n thut \vl)i(!li lias yrown out ol llic rise, pioyiosii,
and j)crman(Mi'.'e i)f Moliiiiiini(;i.jiiii;,m. Tln^ history and cliaructt:;,
tliurelorc ot tlus rcjif^ioii hnconi's uii ulijoct Cifluiidablo ruriosily wui;
cv'ory crili/rlilcncd iiiiiul. ConsiderL'tl merely at* a di^partmcnt ol'die gen-
eral annal.s of iho world, r.parf iioiu any coiUiO.vion with the true rcli,'-
ion, it fiirnislu'is nonie ofllio niobt iuUTi^tm^ records oflhc hiiinau liin
IJiit wJien vi«'wnd us a p.irt ol'tlie groat chain of proyidential and pr-.
dieted evcntf, (lcsif;n«Hl to ha\ c a direct hcarin<r npon the slate of tlis
Christian clnn'ch, tliroiiyii ,the whole pi^riod of its diwastroub prevalur.ci,
it urges a new and stronger (Luni upon oiu" attention. \iy many distil;-
guibhed writerK, who iiavcch'cply rJtiulicd its origin, genius, and hisK-
ry, tho religion of ths- Kd/ m is co>'iidcntly regatdcd rather as a C7/nV
iian /icrciiif, or t!ie prodiu:tof a <Miii3ii,ui licrot^y, than as a heathen si;-
j)nrsliiion.'* ( 'on^niiienlly, il:i j'ali; i^i inviilved in that of all false doi-
trines whjfh liive cornipti;.! the (jOhi)cl ; and aa far as the disclosiiies
of oiopi'Cfy «),' (I'O ,.r> . at •> iliM-o o*. ilie nations of the earth, hold m
a hope ul" the spfci.y ^o•,kll..ll ni «•.« u^jioi', and of the establishnicnto:
the Ir.itii, th; eye is >; .iiri'liy iinued \\\[U deepening interest and anxic-j
ty to 'Iioh-; rv^ii>!io nl vie- g'obr u In re (ins religion has so long jircvai.-
cd.

Rui in proj).)rtion to I he ii'tcrcht i:i;-pir< d in the general suhjccloil
MohaiiMuedinnyni, is tliul which is telt in the life, character, and actiouiByin t
of its luiuider. That an obscure individual, sprung from the rovi;i.'Bilenci
tribes ol" Arabia, foHowing no liif^her occupation than that of a caraviii.miurc
trader, posseissing no peculiar advantages of mental cuUiu'c, nor disiiii^ivan
guished in the outset by any ine-eminence of power or authority, slimii
yet have been enabled, in spite of numerous obstacles, to foinul siiclia
extensive (.nipire over the mhids, a^ well as p'^rsons, of millions of
luuiir^i; raci!, and that this dojninion should liavc been continued I'oi
more than twelve himdiod years, prcsentti a pluMiomenon which incrcasBfthe
OS our wonder the more stciilily ii is contemplated. wid su

It IS proposed in the (.iisiiiiig p.igo ; to cxiubit the prominent events oBfprin

Jast ov
* " Ilcncc/' siys lln- !c iriiod .im! crcciiipbiry Minli^, •' iMalioiiietaiiism li;is fi't'qiie;i:B)i9fj]g,
ly l.C'jn ;icc(juii;c.J a Cli. isliiiii iK;r.\<', ; .'u.d as il liiid its o' ii;iii in Christianity, ='J iBjifl i
Christ it looks ill t!:c e d. I'd.-. ar.;o!(iin^ to thu ■; reed ol" the 3.1ah(inii;tfm«. .Fc'.«iiiiJ
expected to d. 5cend tu earth, to iiulir.;Co tiic rcliijioii orAlahotniii;)!, to slny At.t cli w^'^^pO
and to roiyii ivirli his s inits," 'J'hi; siiino authority aflirins, " that t!io ^Jalioniil.wVer to
an; noaror to Clir.sli mily tiriii many of the aiicionl iiorylii.-s ; th'j ('oriiilhian':;, (inofteir Ci
tins, and i\l;ur:.ln'i.'i. ^Onk<!

I'l

iti'
;!i
pr
nl
fa
\k

(iC

Lor

fvi

C(i,

(till

Ari(

the

rali

sure

sah'i

love,

ireb,

anoi

vef3

ase

!cneti

ies.

reedi

isfori

IMIJOIH » IIO.N

luit rflVctcd hy llioi
iu9 ii.to the stiitt'iif
1 the rise, progtcv*.
L>i-y ami clianiclcr,
able curiosity wiii;
pHrtmciilorthepi,-
Nvitli tlie tnie roli:-
s orihcUiinmiiiMi'
lovitleiitiiil and pr •
ipon the state oftkl
HiuUrous prcvuloi.o,
,n. Hy many distir-
I, iionins, and liisu-
!(i ratl.cr as n Chm\
hnu us i\ heatliciiMr|
that of all i'alse (W-
ar as the disclo>iiivc<|
,f the earth, hold od
the establishment Ml
cr interest and anxicJ
"has so long prcvauj

- general snhjccl otl
raVaetcr, and actiocJ
iiig troni the rovi;J
mil that of a cariiva;.|
il culture, nor Aim

or authority, slmui^
I'lcs, to found such !
lis, of millions of

been continued foj
benon which incrca^

j;romincnt evtnl:^

loiiietiniisni Ims fi-criiie;r]
111 ill Christianity, =u
c ?ilah(mi(3taii«. -ft'!^"-
[iiin;;l, tn slny Ai.t dr'
'• ili.it the 'Miilinnidai
I ili'j t'orlnlliiiuii, <'"»*

liint ♦Mho Uannyrcssors had come lo tin- full*" — ami the d»:^reo towhudi
ihe nonumil church hail (lepiirted from the staud:ird of I'iiith, morals,
iiiid worship cont incd in tho J^cripliuTM, ucll nigh siwpn«ses belief.
Tlicii it was that lliose foul (•or^uptlon^^ and superstifions were introdu-
ced info the church, which fmally grew to such a pitch ol'rnornuty as to
o,-'cn>'ion the sepiiration of f-uthcr and the other reformers from what
;]ioy deemed and dcnomuuilcd tin* commuMion of Antichrist. At thi.s
|,oriod it was, that the veneration lor departed saintf* and martyrs — tho
idoliilrous worship of images anil relics — the rendering divine honour.*
to the Virgin Mary — tlif^ doctrine of |>urgatory — and the adoration of
!MC Cross, had become (irmly established , and thus the lustre of tim
(jospcl sutlcred a darU eclipse, and the essence of Christianity was lost
under a loud of idle and su[)erstitious cer»jmonies-'.

In the eastern p:>rts of the em[)ne, especially Syria and tho coimtrics
bordering upon Arabia, as well as in some parts of Arabia itself, these
jfvils were njfgravated by the jumierous sects and heresies that prevail-
ed, and by the incessant controversuil wars which they waged with each
cllicr. The church was torn to pieces by tho furious disputes of tho
Ariaiis, Sabellians, IVeslorians, Eutychians, and CoUyridians, by whom
Ithc great doctrines ot" Christianity were so ccuifouudctl with metapiiysi-
calpubtlctics and the jargon of schools, tiiat they ceased, in great rnoa-
piirc, to be regarded as a rule of lilu, or as pointing out tho only way of
jsalvation. Tho religion of tho (Joai^el, the blessed source of peace,
jlove, and unity among men, became, by the perverscness of sectaries, a
llirebrand of burning contention. Council after council was called —
canon after canon was enacted — prelates were traversing the country in
tvery direction in tho prosecution of party purposes, resorting to ovary
base art, to obtain the authoritative establishment of their own peculiar
genets, and the condemnation and suppression of those of their adversa-
riefi. The contests also for the episco[)al oftico ran so high, particular-

inthc West, that the oppofing parties repeatedly had recourse to vi-
plence, and, in one memorable instance, tho interior of a Christian
church wns stained by the blood of a number of the adherentes of the
[ival bishops, who fell victims to their fierce contentions. Yet it is littlo

he wondered at that these places of preferment should have been so
frcedily 'sought after by men of corrupt minds, when we learn, that thoy
bened the diricct road to wealth, luxury, and priestly power. Ancient
listorians represent the bishops of that dcy, as enriched by the presents

the opulent, as riding abroad in pompous state in chariots and sedans,
ind surpassing, in the extravagance of their featts, the sumptuousuess
f princes ; while, at the same time, the most barbarous ignorance was
[ast overspreading th« nations of Christendom, the ecclesiastical orders
[liimselves not excepted. Ainong the bishops, the legitimate instructors
id defenders of the church, numbers were to be found incapable of
composing the poor discourses which their ofticc required them to de-
liver to the people, or of subscribing the decrees which they passed in
iieir councils. The little learning in vogue was chiefly confined to the
lonks. But they, instead of cultivating science, or diffusing any kind

LNTHOm-CliON".

k.^

*■ ]

•ft'

•H^

!< !■

nC useful kiio\vl»!(lgt\ sqimiidrrcW Uirir time iiitliosludy ot'tlio laimkii
legomls of protended Biiintis jiiul inartyrM, c»r in coniposin;^ histories (.
qunlly fuhtilotiH.

'I'liis woful corruption of ilortrino and monilH m ilm f;lcr«»y wns lol.
lowed, 08 might hn uxpoctnd, hy n vciy yonoral «l(!pravity ot'lhn rom-
men |)copIo ; and (hough >vn rnnnot suppose; that (iod loft hiniscll'alt,,.
gcthor without witnrssra inlhisehirk pcriorl, yr.t tlicimmhor of lhctiiil\
Ihithful had dwindled do«n to a m(;re rpmnunt, tnid tlut wido-sproadin-
defection seemed to call nloud for the judgment of heaven. In view r,i
this dcplorahlc state of Christianity, anterior to th(» appcHraneo ofMu.
]iommed, wo are prcpurcd to admit at once the justness of the foIlowiii;r
remarkfi upon the moral ends designed to he aecomplished hy Pro\|.
denec in permitting this desolating scourge to arise ut thi^ purliciilar
crisis of the world.

** At length,'' says Prideaux, *' having wearied the patience and lori«.
flufTering of God, he raised up the Saracens to ho the instruments oflns
wrath to punish them for it; who, taking advantage of the weakness of
their power, and the distraction oi' coiuiscls which their divisions Irad
caused among them, overran, with a terrildo devastation, all the cast.
crn provinces of tho Roman empire. And having fixed that tyranny q.
ver them which hath ever since afllicted those parts of the world, turu-
e<l every where their churches into mosques, and their worship into a
horrid superstition ; and instead of that holy religion wbioh they hada-
bused, forced on them the ahominahlo imposture of Mahomet. — Thus
those once glorious and most flourishing churches, for a punishment oi
their wickedness, being given up to the insult, ravage, and scorn of llie
'.vorst of enemies, were overwhelmed with such terrible destruction as
reduced them to that low and miserable condition tinder which they have
ever since groaned ; the all-wise Providence of God seeming to continue
them thus unto this day under the pride and persecution of Mahometan
tyranny, for no other end but to be an example and warning unto others
against the wickedness of separation and division."

^■

<si;- L

ly of llifi l'ili)lllt-:i
>sin;i liistoiica c.

■5 clergy wnH I'ol.
avity of thti com-
I loft himself iilti,.
imbcr of thcliiil\
(1 wido-sproadiD-
nvnn. In view oi
ipuaranco ofM;i-
as of llio followin;r
iplisliotl by Pro\|.
at thia purliculir

patience and lono.
inKtriuncnts ofln-*
)i tlic weakness of
[heir divisions Irad
ation, all the cast-
<cd that tyranny o-
of the world, turu-
loir woraliip into a
I wbioh they had ,v

Mahomet. — Thus
or a punishment of
re, and ecorn of the
iblc destruction as
kr which they have
jceniing to continue |
ion of Mahometan

arningunto others

filFE OF III01IAIfi:fl8^9>.

ciiAJ»'n:u I.

Satlonal Df scent of the AMt-.—Vrovcd to be from hlimael, <S'<»/< «;/*

Ahrahaui.

f.v tracing the gcncnlogy of natlonw to their primitive founders, tho
!)0ok of (leiK'sis is a Jlocumcut of mcpiliniuble valuo. With (hose who
do nvt hesitate to receive tliifl and tho otlier inspired books of tho
Scriptures an authcnlir. vouciiers for historiral fuels, the national des-
cent of the Arabs from Ishniael, the son of Abrahani, is a pomt which
will not admit of dinpute. Tho fact of this derivation, however, has
been seriously brought into question hy several skeptical writers, parti-
cularly by the eelcbrafod historian of the Decline and Fall of tho Ro-
innn Empire. With his usual dexterity of insijiuation, he assails the
united authority of 8criptuic history and Arabian tk-adition, respecting
the pe4 igrcc of this rouiarkable people. Yet iu no r iso does ho un-
dertake, in a formal manner, to disprove the fact to which ho still la-
bours to give the air of a fiction.* A succinct view, therefare, of tho
testimonies which go to establish the Ishmaelitish origin of tho Arab^
may form no unsuitable introduction to the present work, detailing the
life and character of the individual who has done so much towards ren-
dering the race illustrious.

From the narrative of Moses we learn not only the parentage, birth,
and settlement of Ishmael in Arabia, but tho fact also of a covenant*
made with Abraham in his behalf, accompanied with a prophecy res-
pecting his decendants, singularly analogous to the prophetic promise
concerning the more favoured seed of Fsaac. *' And Abraham said un*
to God, O that Ishmael might live before thee ! And God said, Sarah,
thy wife, shall bear thee a a son indeed ; and thou shalt call his name
Isaac : and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting
covenant, and with his seed after hira. And for Ishrwacl, I have heard
tliec : Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will
multiply him exceedingly ; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will
make him a great nation."! In like manner, it will be recollected, tho
nation of Israel sprung from the twelve sons of Jacob, and was divided
into twelve tribes. In a subsequent part of the Mosaic records we find
the notice of the incipient fulfilment of this prediction concerning tho
posterity of Ishmael. " And these are the names of the sons of Ish-

Declinc and Fall, ch. I.

t Genesis, xvii. 18—20.

.>.^

LlEi- OF 3lUilAM3lEU.

■A

\i •'•

"f 1

■ii , '

■4>

■A

mael, by their names, according to tlicir generations: Tiie lirsl-bornoi
IshmacI, Ncbajotli, and Lcdar, and Adbeel, and Mibmm, and Mishma,
and Dumah, and Massah, Hadar, and Tema, Jctur, Napish, and Kede-
mah.' These are the sons of lahmacl, and these are their names, by
their towns, and by their castles : twelve princes according to their na-
tions."* Their geographical residence is clearly ascertained in a sub-
sequent verse. " And they dwelt from Ilavilah unto Shur, that is be-
fore Egypt as thou goest towards Assyria.'"t Ilavilah and Shur, by
the consent of the best sacred geographers, are allowed to have com-
posed part of the region between the Euphrates and the Red feJea, deno-
minated Arabia.} From causes now unknown, the tribes of Nebajoth
and Kcdar appear to have acquired an ascendency over the rest, so that
the whole country is sometimes designated from one, sometimes from
the other of them, just as the entire nation of Israel is sometimes called
Judah from the superior numbers, power, or influence of that tribe.--
Among the ancient profane historians also we find the names of Nnhi.
iheans and Kcdarcnes frequently employed as an appellation of the
roving inhabitants of the Arabian deserts. This testimony is directly
confirmed by that of Josephus. After reciting the names cf the twelve
eons of Ishmael, he adds : — " These inhabit alt the country extending
from the Euphrates to the Red Sea, giving it the name of the Nabatc-
nean region. Tliesc are they who have given names to the whole race
of the Arabs with their tribes."§ In the fourth century, Jerome, in his
commentary on Jeremiah, describes Kedar as a country of the Arabian
desert, inhabited by the Ishmaelites, who were then termed Saracens,
The same father, in his commentary on Isaiah, again speaks of Kedai
as the country of the Saracens, who in Scripture are called Ishmaelites;
and observes of Nebajoth, that he was one of the sons of Ishmael, af-
ter whose names the Arabian desert is called.

Another source of evidence in relation to the national descent of the
Arabs, is their having practised, from time immemorial, the rite of cir-
cumcision. Josephus has a very remarkable passage touching the ori-
gin of this rite among the Jews and Arabs, in which he first makes
mention of the circumcision of Isaac; then introduces that of Ishmael;
and states concerning each, as matter of universal and immemorial no-
toriety, that the Jews and the Arabians severally practised the rite, con-
formably with the precedents given them, in the persons of their respec-
tive fathers. His words are these : — •' Now when Sarah had complet-
ed her ninetieth, and Abraham his hundred year, a son (Isaac) is born
unto them; whom they forthwith circumcise on the eighth day; and
from him the Jews derive their custom of circumcising children afler
the same interval. But the Arabians administer circumcision at the
close of the thirteenth year : for Ishmael, the founder of their nation,
the son of Abraham by his concubine, was circumcised at that time ol
life."|| Similar to this is the testimony of Origen, who wrote in the

* Genesis, xxv. 13—14. f Ver. 18.

% Wells's Sac. Geogr. vol. i. p. 341. § Ant. Jud b. i. ch. 1% $4,

Ant. Jud. b. i. ch. 10 tS5. m

■'•^7!''^,

LIFE OF xMOHAMMED.

The lirst-boni ol
m, and Mishma,
ipish, and Kede-
thcii" names, by
rding to their na-
n-taincd in a sub-
Shur, that is bc-
lah and Shur, by
;ed to have com-
e Red Sea, dcno-
ibes of Nebajoth
r the rest, so that
, sometimes from
sometimes called
:o of that tribe.—
le names of I^^oli-
ippellation of the
timony is directly
imes cf the twelve
country extending
Tie of the Nabatc-
} to the whole race
iry, Jerome, in his
ilry of the Arabian
1 termed Saracens,
a speaks of Keda:
; ailed Ishmaelitcs;
)ns of Ishmael, af>

mal descent of the
ial, the rite of cir-
touching the ori-
ch he first makes
IS that of Ishmael ;
id immemorial no-
ftised the rite, con-
)ns of their respcc-
larah had complet-
on (Isaac) is born
; eighth day ; and I
iing children after
.rcumcision at the
ler of their nation,
]ed at that time of
who wrote in the

|b.i.ch. la, *'l-

ttiird century of the Christian era. " The natives of .Tudea,'^ says, he,
«< generally circumcise their children on the eighth day ; but the Ishmae-
Htes who inhabit Arabia universally practise circumcision in the thir-
teenth year. For this hislory tells us concerning them." This wri-
ter, like Josephus, lived near the spot, and had the best oppertunities of
obtaining correct information respecting the Arabians. It is evident,
therefore, beyond contradiction, from his words, that the fact of theif
derivation from Abraham through Ishmael was an established point of
historical record, and not of mere traditionary fame, at the period at
which he wrote,

The direct testimony to the Ishmaclitish extraction of the Arabs fur-
nished by the earliest records of the Bible, and confirmed as we see by
foreign authorities, is strikingly corroborated by repeated references,
bearing upon the same point, in later inspired writers, particulairly tho
prophets. Through the long course of sacred history and prophecy,
we meet with reiterated allusions tp existing tribes of Arabia, descead-
ing from Ishmael, and bearing the names of his several sons, among
which those of Nebajoth and Kedar usually predominate. Thus the
Prophet Isaiah, in foretelling the future conversion of the Gentiles,
makes mention of the Gentiles, makes mention of the "rams of Neba~
jvih" the eldest, and " all the flocks of Kcdar," the second of the sons
of Ishmael ; that is, of the Arab tribes descending from these brotherGT;
a passage which not only aflbrda strong proof of our main position, but
conveys also an intimation of the future in-gathering of the Mohamme-
dan nations into the Christiaii Church. The same Prophet, in another
part of his predictions, notices " the cities of the wilderness, that Kedar
doth inhabit." And again, when denouneing impending calamity upon
the land of Arabia, he foretells how " all the glory of Kedar shall fail ;"
he employs the nanie of this single tribe as synonymous with that of the
entire peninsula. In this connexion the words of the Psalmist may be
cited : — Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of
Kedar." These words are supposed by some of the Jewish commen-
tators to have been written by David, under the influence of inspira-
tion, as the prophetic plaint of the Christian Church, labouring and
Groan'ng, as it sometimes done, under the yoke of Mohammedan op-
pression. In Jeremiah, also, we find mention of Kedar. He speaks of
it as *' the wealthy nation that dwelleth without care, which have nei-
ther gates nor bars, which dwell alone." Ezekiel, moreover, prophe-
sies conjointly of ** Arabia and all the prmces of Kedar.'* An allusion
toTema, the ninth son of Ishmael, as the name of a warlike people of
Arabia, occurs as early as in the book of Job ; " The troops of Tema
looked, the companies of Shcba waited for them." Lastly, the tribes
sprung from Jetur and Naphish, the tenth and eleventh sons of Ishmael,
are commemorated in the first book of Chronicles, who are there called
HagariteSi from Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, and of whom a hundred
thousand male captives.

When to this mass of Scripture evidence of the descemt of the Arabs
from Ishmael we add the acknowledged coincidence between the nation-

T ^:

rf 1

<r •« •■'*'i .'■i-X'

I . " i

SAt'K OV 3H«IA>IMEI^

nl chai'actci ol'tliis people in every ago, and ilic pietlictcd jicisoual ahw
ractcr of their progenitor — "And lie will be a wild man ; his hand will
be against every man, and every man's hand against him" — and the (act,
that the Ishmaelitish orij];in of the Arabs haaevcr been the constnnt and
unvarying tradition of thnt pcojde themselves, the subject scarcely ad-
mits of a more irrefragable proof. There are certainly few landmarks of
hiBtory more universal or njor« permanent than the names of countries
affixed by original settlers, or flowing from thein, and we may as justly
question the derivation of Hungary from the Huns, France from the
Franks, Turkey from the Turky, or Judea from Jukah and the Jews,
as those of the several districts of Arabia from the respective sons of
Ishmael.*

•The
subject in

! argument in thi:^ chnptcr is comlcnsei} from a nioro ainple discussiou of tiio
in the Appendix to "Forstcr's Midtoinetilniain Unvcilud.

CHAPTER H.

JBirth and Parentage of Mohavnmd — Losc.>i liis PavchIs in carhj Child-
hood — Is "placed under the can: of hie. uncle Aim Taleh — (Joes into
Syria on a trading crpedition zvit/i Iiis uncle at the age of th^y^t sen-
Enters the service of Cadljal , a widow of Mecca, whom he after-
zpards marries.

Mohammed, the Legislator of Arabia, the Founder of the Moslem or
Mohammedan religion, and thence dignifiod by himself and by his fol-
lowers with the title of Prophr^t and Apostle of (iod, was born at Mec-
ca, a city of Arabia, A. D. 5H9.* His lineage, notwithstanding that
many of the earlier Christian writers, under the influence of inveterate
prejudice against the prophet and his religion, have represented his ori-
gfn as base and ignoble, is clearly shown to have been honourable and
illustrious ; at least, when rated by the common standard of distinction
among his countrymen. The ancient Aral)ians, derivmg their pedigree
from Ishmael, and inheriting the nomadic habits of their ancestors, had
fronft time immemorial been divided into a number of separate independ-
ent tribes, roving at large over the immense sandy regions of whicU
their country is composed, except where here and there a few thousands
of them were gathered into cities, and erigaged in merchandise. Some
of these tribes, from various causes, were more numerous, powerful,
and renowned than others. 'J'hat of Koreish, from the founder of which
Mohammed was in a direct line descended, had long been accounted

* Other authorities place his Imth in A. D. 571. The precise year cannot be du-
ieiraiued whh certainty.

■i"l

LIFE OP MOHAMMED.

, • his hand will
"—and the (act,
the constnnt and
cct scarcely ad-
ew landmnrks of
mes of countrieo
ive may as justly
"Vance from the
h and the Jews,
;sj)ective sons of

plediscussiouoftlifl

ill's in early Child'
Takb—Oocs into

\ a^c of ih'.rteen—
a^ whom he after-

nf the Moslem or
■If and by his fol-
was born at Mer-
withstanding that
ence of iuveterate
presented his ori-
n honourable and
ard of distinction
mg their pedigree
eir ancestors, hud
eparate independ-
regions of whicli
c a few thousands
chandise. Some
ncrous, powerful,
} founder of which
2 been accounted

ic year cannot be de-

may trust to tiie same authorities, discovered the most wonderful presa*
£08. He was no sooner born than ho fell prostrate, in a posture of hum-
ble, adoration, praying devoutly to his Creator, and saying, *♦ God is
wreat ! There is no God but God, and I am his prophet!" By these
and many other supernatural signs, equally astounding, is the prophet's
nativity ^r'd to have been marked. To some of them it would indeed
appear t' the earlier Christians gave an honest credence; with this
(iiiierencv uowcver, between their belief and that of his followers, that
while the latter ascribed them without hesitation to the hand of God,
living in this manner a gracious attestation to the prophetic character of
iiis servant, the former referred them directly to th^ agency of the uevil,
who might naturally be supposed, thoy thouglil, to work some special
wonders on the present occasion. Upun the riurrutive of theso iniracn-
jous phenomenas the reader will form liis owi) juagmont. They are mei <•
tioned in the absence of all authentic information touching the period
and the event in question. Until the facts allege<i are proved, by com-
petent historical testimony, to have taken place, it is scarcely necessa-
ry to call in the aid of divine or diabolical agency to account for them;
iae it is much easier to imagine that an imposition or illusion may have
een practised upon the first reporters, or that the whole oatalogue of
nonders is a mere fabrication of interested partisans, than that the ordL-
ary course of nature sliould have been disturbed at this crisis.
The Arabic biographers of the prophet, mort-ovor, inform us that Ab-
lol Motalleb, his grandfather, the seventh di-y after the birth of the
hild, gave a great entertainment, to which iio invited the principal men
flheKoreish, who, after the repast Avn!= ovor, desired him to give the
nfant a name. Abdol Motalleb immediately replicci — *' I name this child
lohammed." The Koroish giandeca ut once expressed their surprise
lat he did not call his grandson, according (o custom, by a name which
lad belonged to some one of the f^Mnily. IJut he pessisted in the selec-
lonhe had made, saying, "May tlie ^\Iv^st High giorify in Heaven hin>
horn he has created on eatth !" alluding to the name Mohammed,
>hich signifies praised or glorified.

At the early age of two years Mohammed lost his father; and four

nrs after, his mother. The helpless orphan, now cast upon the kind-

of his relations, was taken intotho liuuf=ie and family of his grand-

ither, under whose guardian care he remained hut two years, when

le venerable Motalleh himself wus also called to pay the debt of na-

re. In a dying charge, he confided this iendur plant of the ancient

oek of the Koreish to the fathful hands of Abu Ttd"'.*. the eldest ofhis

ns and the successor of his authority. 'S>ly denr{^^t, best beloved son'^

thus history or tradition reports the tenoi of bis instructions^ — <' to

y charge I leave Mohammed, the son of thine own brother, strictly

roaimeuded, whose natural father the Lord hath been pleased to-

keto himself, with the intent that this dear child should become our»

adoption ; and much dearer ought be to bo imto us than merely an^

opted son. Receive him, therefore, at my dyiiig hand?, with the

me sin *ere love and tender bowels with which I deliver him to thy

re. Hinour^ love, and cherish him as much, or even more than if

'■t-

UVE OF MulJA:^'IMED.

.1
4

1 . '■

*■» . V

;- i i ■'

• ■ -H

- 1%

:l '5^

^ :i I

the most noble of them all, and his ancestors, for several generations,
had ranked among the princes of Mecca, and the keepers of the keys of
the Caaba, its sacred temple. Ilis father's name was Abdallah, one
of the thirteen sons of Abdol Motalleb, the chief personage in his day
among the Koreish, and inheriting from his father Ilashem the princi-
pal place in the government of Mecca, and succeeding him in the cus.
tody of the Caaba. This Hashem, the great-grandfather of Mohammed,
was the most distmguished name in all the line of his predecessors, nnd
from him not only is the appellation of Hashemitos bestowed upon tlio
kindred of the prophet, but even to this day, the chief magistrate, both
at Mecca and Medina, who must always be of the race of Mohammed.
is invariably styled "The Prince of the Hashemites."' The name of
Mohammed's mother was Amiua, whoso parentage was traceable also
to a distinguished family of the same tribe. Her lot was envied in gai;;.
ing the hand of the son of Abdol Motalleb, as the surpassing beauty of
his person is said to have ravished the hearts of a hundred maidens ofl
Arabia, who were left, by his choice of Amina, to sigh over the wred|
of their fondest hopes.

Abdallah, though the son of a rich and princely father, was possess-j
ed of but little wealth, and as he died while his son was an infant, or, asf
some eay, before he was born, it is probable that that little was seized!
with the characteristic rapacity of the Arabs, and shared among liisi
twelve surviving brothers, the powerful uncles of Mohammed. Althougli
the laws of the Koran, in respect to inheritances, promulgated by tliel
prophet himself, breathe more of the spirit of equity and kindness ; yetl
the pagan Arabs, previous to his time, as we learn from Eastern writers,[
were wont to treat widows and orphans with great injustice, frequently!
denying them any share in the inheritances of their fathers and husbandsj
under the pretence that it ought to be distributed among those only wliol
were able to bear arms, and disposing of widows, even against theirl
own consent, as a part of their husband's possessions. The fatherless!
Mohammed, accordingly, faring like the rest of his countrymen, re|
ceived, in the dibtribution of the patrimony, no more than five cameli
and an Ethiopian female slave.

The Moslem writers, in order to represent the birth of their pretendJ
ed prophet as equally marvellous with that of Moses or of Christ, tliej
ancient messengers of God who preceded him, have reported a tissueofT
astonishing prodigies said to have occurred in connexion with that evenlj
If the reader will receive their statements with the same implicit f
with which they seem to be delivered, he must acknowledge, thatatthd
moment when the favoured infant was ushered into the world, a flood oil
light burst forth with him and illuminated every part of Syria ; that thof
waters of the Lake Sawa were entirely dried up, so that a city was buiW
upon its bottom ; that an earthquake threw down fourteen towers of tha
king of Persia's palace ; that the sacred fire of the Persians was extinj
guished, and all the evil spirits which had inhabited the moon and start
were expelled together from their celestial abodes, nor could they evcj
after animate idols or deliver oracles on earth. The child also, if «i

:ei'al generations,
jers of the keys of
'as xVbilallah, one
rsonage in his day
iashem the priiici-
ng him in the cus-
tier of Mohammed,
predecessors, and
bestowed upon iho
jf magistrate, both
ice of Mohammed. 1
OS." The name of
was traceable also I
was envied in gai.i-
ir passing beauty o:j
Hundred maidens of I
iigli over the wreck

athcr, was possess-
,vas an infant, or, as I
hat little was seized

LIFE OF MOHA.M.Ml::!!).

lie had spruii";' IVom thino own loins ; for ull the honour thou &ho\ve«4t
unto him shall be trebled unto tlipc. IJo more than ordinarily careful
in thy treatment towards hlin, for It will be pnifl thee with interest.—
Give him the preference before thine own children, for he excecdeth
them find all mankind in excellenry and perfection. Take notice, that
whensoever he calleth upon thee, thou answer him not as an infant, as
his lender npre may require, but ns thou wouldst reply to the most aged
and venerable person when he asketh thee any question. Sit not down
to thy repasts of any sort soevei, cither alone or in company, till thy
worthy nephew Mohammed is seated at the table before thee ; neither
do thou ever ofier to taste of any kind of viands, or even to stretch forth
thine hand towards flie same, until he hnth tasted thereof. If thou ob-
eervcst these my injunctions, thy ^oods shall always increase, and in
no-wise be diminished.''

Whether Abj Talcb recognised in the depositc thus solemnly com-

imitted to his trust an object of such high destiny and such profound

veneration as his father' ts language would imply, we are not informed ;

but there is good evidence that he acted touarils his nephew the part

ol a kind friend and protector, g' ving him an education, scanty indeed,

but equal to that usually received by his countrymen. His followers,

litis true, in order to magnify their prophet's supernatural gifts, and

liendcr the compo^hion of the Koran a greater miracle, generally affirm

jthat he was wholly illiterjile. neither able to r*>ad or write. In this,

[indeed, they are authorised by the pretensions of Mohammed himself,

1 shared among bis^^ho says, " Thus have we sent down thebook of the Koran unto thee.
ohammed. Althougli

promulgated by the I
y and kindness ; yet
from Eastern writer?, [
injustice, frequently!

athers and husbands,!

nong those only wliol

I, even against theirl

ns. The fatherlessi

his countrymen, rej

e than five camels

irth of their pretend-
ses or of Christ, tliel
3 reported a tissue o(
Xion with that event.|
same implicit faitl
lowledge, that at the
he world, a flood of
t of Syria; thatths
that a city was
urteen towers of ths
Persians was extin]
the moon and star
nor could they evel
he child also, if ^vi

I'fhou couldst not read any book before tbif ; nvit^er couldst thou write
|it with thy right hand : then h;td the gninsayers justly doubted ol the
divine original thereof." " Believe, therefore, in God and his apostle,
[tlie illiterate prophet." But in ih K'lcan, a complete fabric ofimpos-
|tiire, the last thing we tire i<> e.<p» '■>♦ is an lionest adherence to truth.
[here is a!)undant evidpncv. from the pages of this sj^urious revelatioa
tlself, that writing v-ns an art in r«)mmon use ,»mong the Arabs at that
lime. The following precept concerning bonds puts it beyond question.
0, true believers, when ye bind yourselves one to the ether in a debt
|or a certain time, write it down ; v.ml let a writer wlte between you
|icccrding to justice, and let not the writer refuse w riting according td
fhat God hat!: taughi him " VVt- learn also that All Taleb. the son of
IbuTaleb, and cousifi of Mohammed, with whom the prophet passed
|ii$ childhood, afterward became one of his scribes, of whom he had
number employed in making copies of the Koran ns its successive
bortions were revealed to him. How did it happen that Abu Taleb
Ihould have had his son instructed In writing, and not his nephew ?—
The city of Mecca, moreover, being a place of traffic, the merchants
rtusthave hourly felt the want of some mo<1e of recording their trans-
Ictions ; and as we are informed that Mohammed himself was for se-
leral years engaged in mercantile pursuits before he commenced the
|ropagation of a new religion, it is scarcely supposeable that he was
[nacquainted with the use of letters.
Of the infancy, childhood, and youth of the future prophet no au-
bentic details have reached. The blank has indeed been copiously
iipplied by the fabulous legends of his votaries, but as they are utterly
loid of authority, they will not repay the trouble of transcription. Be-
pg destined by his uncle to the profession of a merchant, he was taken

' k

»,

■^ ii:

Hl£ OF MAU0.MML1J. |.j

fts somb atfii'tn, nt the npfo nrthirtccn, into Syria whU AbuTalcbstm.
diiiflr caravan, in order tu his hciniur p<'riVc(('U in tho business ol'hi^ in.
tended vocation. Upon tlie i^imple cirnnnstjinco of this journey, tiie
superstition of iiis followers ins f^raiXcd a series of miraculous oinrnij
all portendinfT his future ^rcutoess. Amon<r other things, it is suid by
his hi8turians, that upon iiH arriving- at Buzrnh, a certain man named
Boheh'u, a IVestorian monk, who is thought by Prideaux to be other-
wise called Serous, advanced throug'h the crowd collected in theinur-
ket-place, and, seizing him by the hand, exclaimed, " There will bf.
something wonderful in this boy ; for when he approached he appeare<|
~ covered with a cloud." He in said to have affii'med als^o, that the drv
trees under which he sat were every where instantly covered with i
green leaves, which .«^erved him for a shade, and that the mystic senli
of prophecy was impressed between his shoulders.in tho form of a small
luminous excrescence. Accoi-ding toothors, instead of a bright cloud
being the criterion by which his subo^quent divine mission was indica.
ted, the mark by which Htvhrirn knew him was the;»o;5/2fffc%/i/wI)irli
fihone upon his face. This miraculous lijsrht, according to the traditions
of the Mohammedans, wr.a first placed upon Adam, and from liim
transmitted toeachindividujd in tlie lino of his descendants, who siis |
tained the character of u M oe prophet. The hallowed radiance at lengij
rested upon the head of Ahr^iliam, from vt horn it was divided into a|
two-fold emanation, the greater or clearer descending upon Isaac andl
his seed, the less or oLs<uircr to Ishmael and his posterity. The ilghtl
in the family of Isaac is rcprespt'ted as having been perpetuated inj
a constant glow throujrh a lonjjiine of inspired messengei's and prophetjj
among the children of Isvat^l ; but that in the family of Ishmael is saidj
to have been suppressed, and to have lain hidden through the wholel
tract of ages, from Ishmael down totlie coming of Mohammed, inwhomj
the sacred symbol was again revived, and now pointed out (to Boheiral
the high destiny of him on whose person it appeared. However intriii.|
sically vain and visionary this iogen<l moy be deemed, it may, nevcrlb
less, be worth adverting to, as aflbrding perhaps, in its remoter souraJ
a hint of the origin of the halo, whicii in most of the paintings or engra?|
ings of the Saviour is made to encircle his sacred brows.

When Abu Taleb waf? about to return with his caravan to Mecca, Bo
faeira, it is said, again repeated his solemn premonition, coupicd witb^
charge, respecting the extraordinary youth. "Depart with thischildj
and take great care that he does not fall into the hands of the Jews; f
your nephew will one day become a very wonderful person."

The early Christian writers have laid hold of the narrative of this i
terview with the Syrian monk, as aflbrding a clew to the true orig
and authorship of the Koran. According to them, this Boheira, aliaj
Sergius, who, they say, was an apostate Jew or Christian, instruct!
J^ahommed in the histories and doctrines of the Bible, and that theyi
'concert laid a plan for creating a new religion, a motley compound i
Judaism and Christianity, to be carried into execution twenty years
terward ; and that accordingly the monk, rather than Mohammed, iseij
titled to the credit of the most important parts of the Koran. Others f
gain, deeming it altpgether incredible that a yoiith of thirteen shoufl

-ti,

!.;

MFJ: of 31011AM.MKD.

business olhis in
this journey, the
nii'aculous omens
^inffs, it is 8a»J by
prtain man named
ieaux to be other-
illectodin the mar-
I «' There will b?
ached he appeare-l
I also, that the drv
iritly covered with
,at the mystic senl
1 the form of a small
nd of a bright cloud
mission was indicB

liave couccivcd tlie Nast idoii of forming and propagating a new religion,
place this correspondence with Sergius at a later period of his lit'o ; that
isto sav, when lie was not fur from twenty years of age, ut which time
he is alleged to have taken a second journey into Syria. But, as wo
shall see hereafter, the question how far INlohammed was assisted by
others in the composition of the Koran is not susceptible at the present
day of a satisfactory solution.

The next remarkablo event in the life of Mohammed is his appear-
ance in the character of a soldier. At the age of fourteen, or, us oth-
ers say, nearer the age of twenty, he served under his uncle, who com-
manded the troops of Jiis tribe, the Koreish, in their wars against the
iival tribes of the Kenan and the Hawazan. They returned from the
expedition victorious, and this circumstance doubtless tended to render
ilie people of the tribe still more devoted to the uncle and the nephew,
and to acquire for Mohammed a notoriety which he, was afterward en-
'profhdk light whioh ■ jijied to turn essentially to his account,
ling to the traditions ■ p^om this time to the age of twenty-five he appears to have continued
iin, and frora '""'■intheemploy of Abu Taleb, engaged in mercantile pursuits. Ashead-
cendants, ^^ ^^^^"jl'Hvanced in years there is reason to believeUiat his personal endowments,
jd vadiarice a^^ into a B^^'"^'' ^^^^9 doubtless of a superior order, together with strong native
r^^r'uoon Isaac anilBp^^'Cfs of intellect, an acute observation, a ready wit, and pleasing ad-
'toritv. The lightBlress combined to render him both popular and prominent among his
'°en perpeluate(fiQR8!iociates. Such, at least, is Uie concurrent testimony of all his biog-
sen^ers and prophetjH'aphers, and we have no means of invalidating their statements. It is,
dv of Ishmael is saiiBiowever natural to suppose, that a strong colouring would be put upon
u \iK« ..^M.Mjyg^y superior quality of a pretended messenger of God, sent to restore
ilietrue religion to the world, and that he, who was by character.a pro-
ihet, should be represented by his adherents as a paragon of all exter-
al perfections. Abotitthis period, by the assistance of his uncle,, he
ras entered into the service of a rich trading widow of his native city,
ho had been twice married, and whose name was Cadijah. In the
apacity of factor or agent to this his wealthy employer, he took a se-
Olid journey of three years into Damascus and the neighbouring re-
lions of Syria, in which he devoted himself so assiduously to theinter-
stsof Cadijah, and managed the trust committed to him so entirely ta
er satisfaction, that upon his return she rewarded his fidelity with the
iftof her hand and her fortune. It may be imagined, that in entering
to this alliance, she was probably influenced by the family conncx-
nsand the personal attractions of her suitor. But whatever were her
lotives, the union subsequently appears to have been one of genuine af-
ction on both sides ; JMohammed never forgot the favours he had re-
icivcd from his benefactress, and never made her repent of having pla-
«d her person and her fortune at his absolute disposal. Although Cad-
It, at the time of her marriage, was forty, and Mohammed not more
an twenty-eight, yet till the age of sixty-four, when she died, she en-
lyed the undivided affection of her husband ; and that too in a country
here polygamy was allowed, and very frequently practised. By her

II through the wkk
Mohammed, m whom
inted outlto Bohcin
d However intrin-
ed, it may, nevcrlb|
n its remoter sourw
paintings or engrav
,rows.
ravan to Mecca, H
ition, coupled witli
lepart with thischi
ndsofthc Jews; to

I person."

e narrative of this 11

ew to the true origi

this Boheua,

Christian, instructt
5ible, and that they 1
1 motley compound '
ition twenty years i
lan Mohammed, IS e

lie Koran. Others

»,i

th of thirteen shoulBe liad eight children, of whom Fatima alone, his eldest daughter, sur-

Llti: ur MUilA.M.MKU.

vived liiiii. And aucii was tiic [Ji-oplict's respect to liio meiuory oi" lij.
wife, that after \wi- doatli he placed her in the rank of t!io four perfect
women.

CAArTER III.

Mohammed fur ins the dtsi^.i of palming anew Religion vpon the ivorld—Dijjl
cult to account fui' this determination — Considerations suge;csled — litlird
to the Cave of Hera — Jhuieunces tu Cadijah the Visits of Gabriel with n ,
ptrtion of the Koran — iShc becomes a Convert-^ His slew progress in gain.
ing Proselytes— Cnrious Coincidence. \

Bkino now raised by his marriage to an equality witli the first citi-
zens of Mecca, Mohammed was enabled to pass the next twelve years |
of his life in comparative atllaence and ease ; and, until the age of forty,
nothing remarkable distinguished the history of the future prophet. Iiis
probable, that ho still followed the occupation of a merchant, as the A-
sabian nation, like their ancestors the Ishmaclitci?, have always been j
greatly addicted to commerce. It was during this interval, however,
that he meditated and matured the bold design of palming a new religion
upon the world". This therefore becomes, in its results, the most im-
portant period in his whole life ; and it ia greatly to bo regretted, tha:|
the policy of the impostor, and the ravages of time, have deprived us
of all sources of information, which might aflbrd a satifiliictory clewlo
the real origin of this design. The circumstances which first suggesteil
it, the peculiar train of reflection which went to cherish it, the ends
which he proposed to accomplish by it, together with the real agenucsl
employed in bringing it forward, arc all matters wrapped in impeneliaf
ble mystery; yet these are the very points on which the inquiring miih!,
intent upon tracing great events to their primary sources, is most cageri
for information. At the present day, it is impossible to dotcrmine whe[
ther Mohammed commenced his career as a deluded enthusiast or adc-|
signing impostor. Those who have most profoundly considered thel
whole subject of Mohammedanism in its rise, progress, genius, and ef-I
fects, are, op this point, divided in their opinion.

On the one hand, it is supposed by some, that Mohammed was codI
stitutiona<ly addicted to religious contemplation — that his native tem-
perament was strongly tinged with enthusiasm — and that he might origij
nally have been free from any sinister moflvc in giving scope to the IdJ
nate propensities of his character. As the result of his retired specula-l
tions h« might, moreover, it is said, have been sincerely peisuadedinf
his own mind of the grand article of his faith, the unity of God, whicii
in his opinion was violated by all the rest of the world, and, thcreforej
might nave deemed it a meritorious work to endqavour to liberatclii|

iio iiioiMory of hi^
of i!io four pcrfcLt

i.lJK Ot iMulIAiM^iKb.

ipon the ivorld—Dijjl
u sugircsted--Iidir(i
iiU ut' Gahr'ui with a
'lew progress in gain-

ty with ihe first citi-
ic next twelve years
intiltbc age of forty,
uture propbet. Ilis
merchant, as the A-
, have always been
B interval, however,
liming a new religion |
•csulta, the mostim-
to bo regretted, that!
le, have deprived us
i satifilactory clew to
which first suggested
cherish it, the ends
ith the real agentics
rapped in impenelia-
1 the inquiring miinlj
urcee, is most eager
lie to determine whef
d enthusiast or adc-
dly considered thel
rcss, genius, andef-l

[ohammcd was con-
-that his native tern-
that he might origi-j
[ving scope to the in*
his retired speculaj
Icerely peisuadedii
[mity of God, whicl
)rld, and, thereforeJ
xvour to liberate bi

(ounlrynien and liis race from tljc bondage of error. Impelled by (his

motive in the outset, and being aided by a warm imagination, ho might at

length have come, it is affirmed, as cntbisiasts have often done, to the

firm conviction, that he was destined by Providence to be the instrument

of a groat and glorious reformation ; and tjic circumstances of his being

accustomed to solitary retirement would naturally cause this persuasion

to take a deeper root in his mind. In this manner, it is supposed, his

1 career might have commenced ; but tinding himself to have succeeded

beyond his expectations, and the force of temptation growing with the

increase of fiis popularity a'nd power, his self-love at last overpowered his

I honesty, ambition took the place of devotion, his designs expanded with

jhis Biiccess, and ho who had entered upon a pious enterprise as a woll-

lueaning reformer degenerated in the end into a wilful impostor, a gross

debauchee, and an unprincipled despot.

On the other hand, it is maintained, and we think with m( re of an air

lof probability, that his conduct from tlie very first bears the marks of a

Ideep-laid and systematic design ; that although he might not have anti-

Icipated all the results which crowned the undertaking, yet in every step

Icf his progress he acted with a shrewdness and circumspection very lit-

llle savouring of the dreams of enthusiasm; that the prctendeti visits of

Ian angel, and his publishing, from time to time, the chapters of the Ko-

Iran, as a divine revelation, are wholly inconsistent with the idea of his

leing merely a deluded fanatic ; and that, at any rate, tiie discovery of

^lis inability to work a miracle, the grand voucher of a divine messen*

gcr, must have been sufficient to dispel the fond illusipn from his mind.

Many circumstances, moreover, it is said, may be adduced, which

night have concurred to prompt and favour the design of this arch im-

bosturc. ]. Mohammed's genius was bold and aspiring. His family

bad formerly held the ascendency io rank and power in the city of Mec-

k and it was merely his misfortune in having lost his father in infancy,

pnd being left an orphan, that prevented him from succeeding to the

kame distinction. It was therefore the dictate of a very obvious princi-

W of human nature, that he should contrive, if possible, to make (he

ibrtune and influence acquired by his marriage a step to still higher Iion-

Ws, and to raise himself to the ancient dignity of his house. 2. He

|iad travelled much in his own and foreign countries. His journeys

n'ould of course bring him acquainted with the tenets of the diiTerent

fcects of the religious world, particularly the Jewish and 'he Christian,

pich were then predominant, and the latter greatly corrupted and torn

lo pieces with internal dissensions. Being a sagacious observer of men,

lie could not fail to perceive that the distracted state of the existing reli-

Eions had put the Eastern world into posture extremely favourable to the

propagation of a new system. His own countrymen, the people of Ar»<

pia, were, indeed, for the most part sunk in idolatry, but the vestiges of

|i purer faith, derived from patriarchal times, were still lingering among

(hem, to a degree that afforded him the hope of recovering them to a

Munder creed. 3. The political state of things at that time was such

b signally to favour his project. The Roman empire, on the one hand,

'20

I. in: (•!• .Ml.)lIA>iM^.I^

•* '*>

I' i

.1.

and iIjo Piirwuiii iiumnroiiy on (ho other, hud I'olh bccoiiiu cAceoihugiv
cnfccblad in thn prot.csH of a long doclint', towards (ho hist slu-rrs .if
which they wore now riipidly np^roa'diinfi;. Tho Anihy, on (he cuuirn-
ry, worts a Htrong nud llonribliinjjj pcuph-, nlioundiuK m numbers, nnri
inured to h;ird»hi|>H. Thoir being dividtid into imicpcndcnt (rbos pre-
wonted also advantHf,'f's for the spread oC a new faith whieh would no(
Jiavc cxistcil had thty been conbohdatcd into one government. Ah
Mohammed had considerable opportunities to acquanit hiniselt' with
the peculiar Hjtuation of these empires; as lie had carefully not»jd tin:
genius and disposition of the people which composed them ; and as Ik;
possessed a capacity to render every circumstance subservient to Iuh
purpose, it is contended, that hia scheme was much more logimately the
t'ruit of policy than of piety, and that the pseudo-prophet, instead of \w..
ing pitied for his delusion, is rather to be reprobated fur his base tabri-
cation.

After all, it is not improbable that Infinite Wisdom has so ordered it,
that a veil of unpcnctratcd darkness should rest on the motives of the in;,
postor, in order that a special providence may be recognised in the rise
and establishment of this arch-delusion in the world. In the absence
of suflicicnt human causes to account for the phenomena, we arc mori'
readily induced to acknowledge a divine interposition. In tho produc-
tion of events which are overruled in the government of (Jod to oporatc
as penal evils for the punishment of the guilty, reason and revelation
both teach us reverently to acknowledge the visitation of (he Divine
Hand, whoever or whatever may have been tho subordinate agcj»(3, or
their motives. " Is there evil in the city, saith the Lord, and 1 have rioi
done it?" i, c. the evil of s«^cnV/^r, not oCsin, Jt cannot be douluri
that, as a matter of fact, tho rise and reign of Mohammodimism has re-
sulted in the infliction of a most terrible scourge upon tho apostate
churches in the East, and in other portions of Christendom ; antl, un-
less wo exclude the Judge of the world from the exercise of his judicial
prerogatives in dealing with his creatures, wo cannot err, provided we
do not infringe upon man's moral agency, in referring the organ of clins-
tisement to the will of the Most High. The life and actions of Moham-
med himself, and his first broaching tho religion of (he Koran, are but
tho incipient links in a chain of political revolutions, equal in magnitude
and importance to any which appear on the page of liistory — revolutions
irom which it would be downright impiety to remove all idea of provi-
dential ordaitiment. If then we acknowledge a peculiar providence in
tho astonishing success of the Saracen arms subsequent to the death of
Mohammed, we must acknowledge it also in tho origination of that sys-
tem of religion which brought them under one head, and inspired them
to the achievement of such a rapid and splendid series of conquests.

The pretended prophet, having at length, after years of deliberation.
ripened all his plans, proceeded in the most gt-adual and cautious mau-
ner to put them in execution. He had been, it seems, for some time in
the habit of retiring daily to a certain cave in tl>e vicinity of Mecca,
called the rave of Hera, for the ostensible purpose of spending his time

l.UK OF .MDUA.MMKH.

•J I

JIIJO UACCOililiyiV

hn lust stages uf

b, oil tUc coiilrn-

in nuuibcrtj, and

icndcnt tvbcs pro-

whi':b wouW not

<roveiiuucnt. Ah

lint hitnsolt' wiili

irct'iilly iiototl till!

tlHMii; nn»l as tu;

subsci vicnt to l.iw

ore lf;gimatc\y the

ict, instead ol' he

fur his base tabri-

has so ordered it,
I motives of the im-
logni^cd in the rise
d. ' In the absence
icna, wc arc moro
'\. in the produc-
I ofiiod to oiH>r,itc
sou and revelation
\tion of the Divine
[)rdinntc n^eiit?, or
iord, and 1 have m
1 cannot be do'iljUl
.inodunisui luis re-
upon tho sipostate
.tcndoni ; and, im-
•cisonf his jndiciiil
it err, provided we
r the organ ofcbs-
Actions of Moliani-

.the Koran, are but
Icquulinniagnitiidt!
istory — revolutions
e all idea of provi-
iliar providence iu
lent to the deatii of
;in;'.tion of that sys-
and int^pired them
isof coiKpiests.
u-s of deliberation,
land cautions man-
1, for some time in
icinity of Mecca,
spending his time

III lasiiii^, piaytr, and holy nit;ditution. 'rhtMi.ipoitaiit fn>ia luivinj^
now nrrivcMJ, ho bcfjan to break to his wiff, oji hi^J return home in liiu
cv«ninj^, tiic solctnn intolli^i^nrscn orHiipornafmiil visions and voicvs with
which lio was fuvoiucd in hiu ruliremcnt. ('adij.ih, as mrjjht bo cxj)cc-
t3<l, was at first incrc'lulouH; Sho trciUed his visions as the drcuin» of
a disturbed iiniiyination, oras the; dolnsioiis of tho devil.* iMohammcd,
how over, pornistcd in a.s.suring hor of tho reality of these communica-
lioii", and rising still higher in his deniantfs upon her credulity, at
Iciigtli repeated a passage ivhich ho adirnied to be a part oi' a <livino
ivvi'lalion, recently conveyed to him by tho ministry of tho angel Ga-
biiol. The momorai)lc night on which this visit wa.s mado by the hear-
only messenger is railed the *' night of Al Kadr," or the night of tho
ilivinc decree, and is gror.fly celebratcnl, as it was the same night on
wiiicli the entire Koiian* descended from the seventh to the lowest heav-
en, to be thence revealed by (Tubricl in successive portions as occasion
might rc«piirc. The Koran has a whole chapter (i<;votcd to tho oom-
meinoration of this event, entitled Al Kadr. It is as follows : ** In the
Dame of the most merciful (jiod. Verily, wo sent down the Koran in
the night of VI Kadr. And what shall make thee understand how ex-
oollent the night of Al Kadr is? I'his niglit is belter than a thousand
month.-?. Therein do the angels descend, and tho spirit (iabriel also,
liy tjie permission of their Lord, with his decrees concerning every mat-
ter. It is peace until tho rising of tho moru." On this favoured night,
between t!ic 23d and <21th oi Ramadan, accortiing to tho prophet, the
I'.ngel appeared to him, fii glorious form, to communicate the happy ti-
dings of his mission. The light issuing from his body, if tho apostlc-
tlect may be believed, was too dazzling for mortal cycu to behold ; ho
tainted under tho splendour; nor was it till Gabriel had assumed a hii-
man form, that he could venture to approach or look upon him. The
imgel then cried aloud, "O MonAMMED, tuoh aut the apostle of
(tod, and I A^i THK ANoF,;. Gabrikl !" " Rcud !■' continued the an-
gel; tho prophet declared that ha was imable to read. "Head !'' Ga-
briel again exclaimed, " read, in tho name of thy Lord, wiio hath crea-
ted all things ; who hath created man of con-ealed blood. Read, by
[thy most beneficent Lord, who hath taught the use of the pen ; who
tcacheth man that which he knoweth not." The prophet, who profess-
ed hitherto to have been illiterate, then read the joyful tidings respect-
ing his ministry on earth, when the angel, having accompiislied his mis-
sion, majestically ascended to heaven, and disappeared from his view.
When the story of this surprising interview with a celestial visitant was
[related to Cadijah in connexion with the passage repeated, her unbe-
lief, as tradition avers, was wholly overcome, and not only so, but she
[was wrought by it into a kind of ecstacy ,declaring, " By Him in whoso
mds her soul was, that she trusted her husband would indeed one day
lecome the prophtt of his nation." In fhn height of her Joy sho iinme-

* Thia is the accoant given by Prideaux. Sale, however, says, " I do not mmsm*
ler to hatto read in any Eastern author, thai CHdiJab ever rejected h^r hiiaband'i pre-
tences as delusions, or suspected him of any imposture.' '—Prelim. Disc. p. 58. note.

.. •m.

rjiti

MIX (»1 MAHaMMl L»

'' ^f

i.*j

■« »

iliatol y imp:iitc(l uhut slio linil heard to one Wuraka, her couHJii, ulio
in Hup|)osed by Hornc to have been in the Mccrot, nn<i who, being a Chris-
tian, had lourned to wrifc in the Ilolircw rharucter, and was* toloralily
well verse*! in the JrwiHh and ('hriHtitm Scriptures, lie unliesitatiiigly
nssented to her opinion rcs[)ecting the divine dcMipnation of her huH-
hand, otiJ even atlirined, tliat Mohammed was no other than the greiit
|>roj)hct foretold by Moses, the 8on of Ainrain, 'J'hiu behef that boiii
iho propliet and his 8purious religion were uiihject^ of inspired predic-
tion in the Old Testament Scriptures, is utudiouinly inculcated in the Ko-
ran. ** Thy Lord is the mighty, the rn> rf if;d. J'iiis book is rerlaiti!-.
a rcvohition from the Lord of all creaturet), which the faithful npirit
(Oabriel) hath caused to descend upon thy hexrt, thut thou mi^htcst \h:
a preacher to thy people in the ptTNjncui'UH Arabic tongue; and it is
homo witness to in the Scripturea o^' formei ages. Was it not a Kij»n
unto them that the wise men among the chihlren of Israel knew it?"

Having succeeded in gaining over his wife, he persevered in that re-
tired and austere kind oi tife which tends to beget the reputation of pre-
eminent sanctity, and crc long had hi» cefvant, Zeid Kbn Harcth, ad-
ded to the list of proselytes, lie rewarded the fuith of Zeid by maim-
mittinff him from servitude, nnd it has hence become a standing rule a-
mongliie followers always to grant their freedom to such of their slaves
as embrace the religion of the prophet. Ali, the son of Abu Taleb, Mo-
Immmed's cousin, was his next convert, but the impetuous youth, disre-
garding the other two as persona of comparatively little note, used to
style himself the first of believers. His fourth and most important con-
vert was Abuheker, a powerful citizen of Mecca, by whose influence a
number of persons possessed of rank and authority were induced to pro-
fess the religion of Islam. Those were Othman, Zobair, Haad, Abdor-
ruhman, and Abu Obeidah, who ai\erward became the principal leaders
in his armies, and his main instruments in the establishment both of his
imposture and of his empire. Four years were spent in the arduous task
of winning over these nine individuals to the faith, soma of whom were
the principal men of the city, and who composed the whole party of \m
nrosely tes previously to his beginning to proclaim his mission in public.
lie was now forty-four years of age.

It has been remarked, as somewhat of a striking coincidcn(:c, that
the period of Mohammed's retiring to the cave of Flora for the purpose
of fabricating his imposture corresponds very nearly with Ihc time in
which Boniface, bishop of Rome, by virtue of a grant from the tyrant
Phocas, first assumed the title of Universal Pastor, and began to lay
claim to that spiritual supremacy over the church of Christ, which hus
ever since hccn arrogated to themselves by his successors.

" And from this time," eays Pridenux, " both he (the Bishop ot
flome) and Alohunimed having conspired to found themselves on em-
pire in imposture, their followers have been ever since endeavouring
by the same melhods, that is, those of lire and sword, to propagate it
among mankind ; so that Antichrist seems at this time to have set both
his feet upon Christendom together ; the one in the East, the other in
the West, and how much each liath trampled upon the church of

^*t

Llii:: OF MOllA.MMIU).

'2'6

L'ousuj, who
jing a ('hriH-
ir«a toloraltly
i)\ic»itatiugly
of her huH-
inn Ihc groat
icf that botli
ipircd predic-
ted inthcKo-
k is c«Tlaiiil\
\\\\\\A\\\ spirit
J mightcBtbc
uo ; and it is
1 it not a si[;n
knew itl"
red in that re-
Illation of pro-
n Hareth, ad-
^.eid by maim-
landing rale a-
of their slaves
huTalcb, Mo-
IS youth, disre-
3 note, used to
important con-
»Be influence a
nduccd to pro-
, hJaad, Abdor-
incipal leaders
icntboth of his
\c arduous task
of whom were
)lc party of liis
ssion in public.

ncidcnce, thai
or the purpose
rith the time in
•omthe tyrant
p began to lay
pist, which hiis

1^- .

khe Bishop ot

Isclves on cm-
endeavouring
I propngateit
, have set both
i, the other in
[he church of

Chiist, ull Hiiecteilin;; u;;cM huvi< nhiinilnntly rxprrinircti." Tho nr-
luoHcnKMit ui'Juto.'* Iiere lulvertcd to may be wurlli notioinir ; t>otU <>■
vi*nl« liuviii;; orciirriMl within the fii'»tt«ix or ei^tit yearn oTthe seventh
icntury ; hut wn huve au yet met with no evidence to convinru \i» of
tin) propriety of n|>|)lyiiiirtlie epithet Antirhrist lo Mohammed. It ix,
however, the opinion of many l*rotei4tunt expositors of prophery, (hut
thiri nppelUition Is properly lUtribntHhle to tliht nyfileni oreeeleiiins.licul
iloniinution nolun^ exer<:i>-ed hy the Homich hierarchy, niul the coii-
tiniianco ot' wliieh, it in maintained, i» limited hy the pro|dietie term of
IJOO years. If, therefore, llil.<^ pretUetcd pevioti, assigned to tlie reign
(I'lhe llomiiii Aniu hii8>t, be dateiUVom near the eomniencement o!
Ihoweventh i'«*ntury, wc arc not very far from the era of great moral
fliniigcs in the s' ito oftlio \v(»rld ; un«l there arereaHonn to be adduced
in a subsetpicnt part of thiii work, which lead uh to believe, that tho
ciircer nf iXolmmmedauirim tunt* parallel to thnt of Popery, and that,
takinjr their rite fiom nearlv a common era, they arc destined also to
(iyuoerise in their fall.

CHAPTER IV.

The Prophet announces his .V/.s5uin among his kindred of the Korcish—'
Meets with a htirsh repulse— -Begins to deciire it in pubUc—yitw of hi.j
fundanuntat doctrines— 'His pretensions respecting the Koran. — The. dis-
dainful Rejection of his Message hy his feUoic-citizniS'-' His consequrnLlJe-
nunciations against them.

The mi^jsion ot Mohammed had hitherto been conducted in private.
Tho proHelyttishe had thns far gained had been won over fromamon^
the clrelo of his immediate friends and connexions. The time had now
coine, he affirmed, when the Lord commanded him to make his mejs-
anffe publicly known, beginning with his kindred of the tribe of Koreish,
' thou covered, arise and preach, and magnify thy Lord.' '* And
Hdinonish thy more near relations." To this end he directed Ali ta
prepare a generous entertainment, and invite to it tho sons and des-
cendants of Abdol Alotalleb, where, when they were ail convened, ho
would formally divulge to them the solemn fact of the apostolic com-
mission. iSome disturbanee, occasioned by Abu Taleb, eaused the
conpany to break up before ho hud an opportunity of efiecting hia
purpose, which induced him to give them a second invitation on the
[ensuing day. About forty of them accordingly assembled around
his board, when the prophet arose, ond thus addressed his
wondering guests ;^*' I know no man in the whole peninsula of the Ar«
abs who can propose any thing more excellent to his relations than
what I now do to you ; I ofter you happiness both in this life and in
I that which is to come ; God Almighty hath commanded me to call you
Jnto him ; who therefore among you will be my vizier (assistant), and
I will become my brother and vicegerent ?" General astonishment kept

^>4

UEF OF M0IIA3I31EI>.

•■ M>

I-'.;.'

* V

., I .!'

Jhe assembly silent ; none ofloreil to nrccpt the profercd oflirt' till the
tiery AH biuret foHli and delured thot he would he the brother and as-
Kistnnt of the prophtot, " I," sold he, "'O prophet of God, will be thy
vizier; I myself will beat out the teeth, pull out the eyes, rip open the
bellies, and cut oft* the lega, of all those who shall dare to oppo!?e thee."
The prophet caug'ht the youn>^ proselyte in his arms, exeluiniing, ''This
is my brother, my deputy, my successor; show yourselves obedient
unto him." At this apparently extravagant command, the whole com-
^mny burst into Inugrhter, telling Abu Tnleb that ho must now pay obc-
'di6tice and submission to his own son ! As words were multiplied.
sOrpriso be;^an to give way to indignation, the serious pretensions cf
the prophet were seriously resented, and iu the issue lh« assemhiy
bi-ioke up in confusion, aflfdrding the ardent apostle b'ut slender pros-
|)ipctB ofsuccess among his kinsmen.

Undeterred by the failure uf his tlr.st public attempt, I>Iohanimed he-
gnn to preach still more open'y before Ihc people of illecca. He an-
nounced to them that he was commissioned by the Almighty to be hi.i
prophet on the earth; to assert the unity of tho Divine Being; to de-
nounce the worship of images ; to recall the people to the true anil
only religion; to bear the tidings of paradise to the believing; and to
threaten the deaf and unbelieving with the terrible vengeance of the
Ijord. Hi.<< main doctrine, and that which constitutes tt.e distinguish-
ing character of the Koran is, that there is but one God ; tRat he only
is to be worsbip^ped ; and that all idolatry is n foul abominatton, to be
utterly abolished. The 112lh ch. of the Koran, entitled " The Declar-
ation of God's Unity," is held in the most profund veneration by the
Mohammedans, and declared, by a tradition of the prophet, to bec-
<iual in value to a third part of thn whole Koran. It is said to have
been revealed in answer to the Koreish, w ho inquired ef the apostle
<'oncerning the distinguishing attributes of the God whom he invited
them to worship. It consists of a single sentence.

*' In the nanjo of the most merciful God. Say, God is one God ; the
eternal God ; he begettcth not, neither is he begotten : and there is not
any one like unto him." In tlie incessant repetition of this doctrine in
the pages of the Koran, the author is aiming not only at the grosser er-
rors of polyllieisrn and idolatry, then common among the Eastern na-
tions, but is levelling a blow also at thu fundamental tenet of Christian-
ity, that Jesus Christ is the son of God, *' the only begotten of tlw Fath-
er." Like others in other ages, Mohammed could conceive of
no mode of understanding the doctrine of the fdiation of Christ,
as held by Christians, which did not directly militate with the
truth of the essential unity of the Most High; and in his view
the first born of absurdities was, to affirm in the same breath that Christ
was the son of God, and yet coequal and coeternal with the Father,
The New Testament declarations, therefore, respecting the person
and character of the Messiah find no mercy at the hands of the author
of the Koran, who either had not the candour or the capacity to discri-
minate between the doctrine of the Trinity and that of Tritheism. "
yo who have received tho Scriptures, exceed not the just bounds in your
religion, neither say of (iod any other than the truth." — i. e. either by
rejecting Jesus as the Jews do, or by raising, him to an equality with

^-a-i: oi- AioH^,,,:,,^^

the apostle o/ G"od nn,< i • *""'y. CJn- st Jes,,., ,»

spirit proceeded from h/r T'l^ "'^'^'^ ''« oon^v^V d'nT^^' ^^'^^r. i»
JK and say not ther^ are thr^'i''"; *''«''««>'"nn c'dl^^fr. ««d a
'or you. God is but one old p'"t» /«»• ^e^; his • ^ ' -,1 J^\«Po«-
ason/ Unto him helonirethtwl''' ^"^ '* ^'■^l' him hat JIk ''!>"«f
he is sufficient u„to hSp'^uT'^' '« '" ^ea^I^n and ' ^«"^,^ have
Verily, God is Christ the !nn r ,i7''^^ «'''> corta nl/^nfi?,*'^'"^^ »* ""^
ion unto God, God 8 .«n ", ""^ ^«'-^- Wjioev«i jf .."^^^''^ ^^'ho sav
shall be helM;e!'" They a'rJt t ^'/" ^^^'^Pa^^d^^^^^ I ^«™P^n'

01 three : for there is no God h'^^'"'^ '"^'''«'« ^hoslyl^l!!'. ^^^itatian
'f «o "iore than an opos^e ? 'Jt' «"« «od. Sh/isWi?*'^ '* ^'^^ «»'>d
, "fy both ate food.»^°f Thi '"^ *^'* ™«ther vaa a wlm^ '*'° *'^^^«'->'»

ll«e follow the samet and fi^M """""""g 'he bueiacss ir..i*"°' ^ Mo.
U-" The objec7of h?. I- '"^ ""' 'fe desire oflSr^'lS'"": "-here
fverlo Ihe <vorM an en ?r^""°"' ""= «ffirmed?w,3 t^f "''o are ignor!
leplanl the only um S -^ ''°* *<=''«'no of rcIwL ' "• "»"='' t» dc-

N of the ancient Sr^°^^-" ^^ 'ov vS^id "'Sent with
Jflie corruptions or ,tri "" ""'?'". was t. be ^SL^^/*^'"»Wi*.

f nhe booL'Ttho g /:,7 ??5«.rie,i.n: ^:f «^t h^^

I mspirat on. he nt (hi ?*'" Teet«ment« «,>.,•.• ■ "dniits (ho

?»if„l|y'^'4"' ^l^y?"-' toe maintairrSaTZevir"^^^

fpies of both are „E ^ ""*"■ ''"Pectivo di«ciol« ^,k ■''^'> s«ce

f »>•>".« extract., t&oVwnf''"* '» ">« '«e1vSl rex^' P ""'J"
Jlli« primitive faith de^r„ a l '"■''^eive how nnsnarin?! .l """ *e

i".-Vr: c^;aur.s' ° -«g.rhir.h*? ^^-

} ^hat ye mav *k; Ji "^. "^ of them who rp>iH ^kI s5 • ® *"® t»"«»th.-<,.
fr say! ..S fr'ot God' "^^ ??« •'»''« ■S.ll^L^tJ^^^^P^'ver^^
f'* « false concMniT 'r a " " "<" from God -and fh "P""« ' «<«
I ™"S ^"''' "^^-^t their &^^^^r T^fete

;.,M:

4*- :%i

e:^

■ r M

J.IEL &V MOilAMMDD.

t hi'

'•"•I

fore because they liave brokeu tlieir covenant, uo* have ciascd tliom
and hardened their hearts; they dislocate the words of the Pentateuch
from their places, and have forgotten part of what they were admonish-
ed;' and wilt thou not cease to discover the deceitful practices among
them, except a few of thetn.-' " O ye who have received the Scriptures,
now is our apostle come unto you, to make manifest unto you many
things which ye have concealed in the Scriptures."

In the execution of his high behest, he, declared himself appointed to
promulge a new revelation in successive portions, the aggregate of
which was to constitute the Bible ot his followers. The original or ar-
chetype of the Koran, he taught, was laid up Irom everlasting in the
archives of Heaven, being written on what he termed the preserved
tabhf near to tke throne of God, from v/hich the series of chapters eom.
municated by Gabriel were a transcript. This pretended gradual mode
of revelation was certainly a master stroke of policy in the impostor.
*' The unbe'ievers say, unless the Koran bo sent down to him entire at
once, we will not believe. But in this manner hare we revealed it that
we might confirm thy heart thereby, and we have dictated it gradually
by distinct parcels." Had the wiiolc volume been published at once, so
that a rigid examination could have been instituted into its contents as
a whole, and the different parts brought into comparison with each
other, glaring inconsistencies would have been easily detected, and ob-
jections urged which he would probably have found it impossible to an-
swer. But by pretending to receive his oracles in separate portions, ut
different tiniec, a<;cording as his own exigences «r those of his follow-
ers required, he had a ready way of silencing all cavils, and extricating
himself with credit from every difficulty, as nothing forbade the mes-
sage or mandate of to-day being modified or abrogated that of to-mor-
row. In this munner, twent^-thres yetrs elapsed before the whole
chain of revelations was completed, though the prophet informed his
disciples that he had tiie coriSelation of seeing the entire Koran, bound
in. silk and adorned with gold and gems of Paradise, once & year, till
in the last year of his lilo, he was favoured with the vision twice. A
part of these spurious oracles were publiehcd at Mecca before his flight,
the remainder a* Medina after it. The particular mode of publication is
said to have been this: When a new chapter had been communicated to|
the prophet, and was about to be promulgated for the benefit of the world,
he first dictated it to his secretai-y, and then delivered the written paper|
to his followers, to be read and repeated till it had become firmly ini'
printed upon their memories, when the paper was again returned totlii
prophet, who carefully deposited it in a chest, called by him ♦' the ches!
of his apostleship." The liint of this sacred coffer was doubtless takei
from the Ark of the Covenant, the holy chest of the Jewish tabernacle,
ia which the authentic copy of the law was laid up and pre8erve(.
This chest Mohammed left at his death in the care of one of his wives

* The r«ad«r will notice that notwithstanding Mohammcii'B ■strenuous assertion f
God's abeclute unity, and his execrations of those who ascribe to him " associates,!
yet wh«n he introduces him speaking in llic Koran it is usually in the plural mmhd

hi
h
I
th

hr(

lilFE OF MUHAMftilUi.

ive cuvscd tUcni

the Pentateuch
were admonisU-
practices among
id the Scriptures,

unto you many

isc\f ai>poinled to
the aggregate ot
he original or ai-
Bvcrlasting in the
lied the preserved
3 of chapters com-
ided gradual mode
y in the impostor.
,vn to him entire al
xve revealed it that
.ctatcd it gradually
iblished at once, so
into its contents as
mparison with each
ly detected, and ob-
it imposBiblo to an-
separate portions, ui
those of his follo^v•
▼ilB, and extricating
ii<T forbade themes-
Sed that of to-mor-
i before the whole
irophct informed Ins
entire Koran, bound
U, once a year, Hi!-
the vision twice. A
.cca before lusIhgW. I
'ode of publication i3l

en communicated lol
■ benefit of the worl.il
ed the written papetl
a become firmly iij]
laain returned totM
.dbybim**thechesl

1 was doubtless takcnl
Le Jewish tabcrnaclel

up and preserve! .H
■ of one of his wives]

I'B-^trenuons assertion of
Ibe to him " associates,
[ally in the plural immH

and from its contents the volume of the Koran was afterwards compiled.
The first collection and arrangement of these prophotic relics, more pre-
cious than the scattered leaves of ;ill the l?ybils, was made by Abuboker,
but the whole was afterwards revised and new modelled by Othman,
who left the entire volumne of the Koran in the order in which wo now
have it.

Mohammed's first reception by the mass of his fellow-citizens of
Mecca was scarcely more hopeful than it had been among his kindred.
His alleged divine messages, especially when they assumed a tone of
reprehension and reproach towaids his countrymen, for their idolatry,
obstinacy, and porverseness, were met with indignant scoffs and rail-
ings. Some called him a magician and a sorcerer ; others, n silly re-
tailer of old fables ; and others directly charged him with being a liar
and an impostor. The reader will be amused and interested by the in-
sertion of a few out of tho scores of allusions, with which the Koran a-
bounds, to the profane and contemptuous treatment shown towards the
prophet at this time. " The Meccans say, O thou, to wh^m^'the ad-
monition (the Koran) hath been sent down, thou art certainly possessed
with a devil : wouldst not thou have come unto us with an attendance
of angels if thou hadst spoken the truth ? Answer, We send not down
the angels but on a just occasion." " Verily I have permitted these
Meccans and their fathers to live in prosperity, till the truth should
come unto them, and a manifest apostle : but now the truth is come un-
to them, they say, this is a piece of sorcery ; and wo believe not therein.
And they say. Had this Koran been sent down unto some great man in
either of the two cities, we would have received it." "The thne of giv-
ing up their account draweth nigh unto the people of Mecca. No ad-
monition cometh unto them from their Lord, but when they hear it they turn
it to sport. They say, the Koran is a confused heap of dreams : nay,
he hath forged it." " And tho unbelievers say, this Koran is no other
than a forgery which he hath contrived ; and other people have assisted
him therein : but they utter an unjust thing and a falsehood.' They al-
so say, These are fables of the ancients, which he hath caused to be
written down ; and they are dictated unto him morning and evening.
Say, He hath revealed it who knoweth the secrets in heaven and earth.
And they say, What kind of apostle is this ? Ho eateth food, and walk-
eth in the streets as we do. The ungodly also say, Ye follow no other
than a man who is distracted." " When our evident signs are rehears-
ed unto them, the unbelievers say of tho truth, This is a manifest piece
of sorcery. Will they say, Mohammed hath forged it? Answer, If 1
have forged it, verily, ye will not obtain for me any favour from God :
he well knoweth the injurious language which ye utter concerning it. —
I follow no other than what is revealed unto mo ; neither am I any moro
than a public warner."

^. But these stiflf-necked idolaters were plainly taught that they were not
to promise themselves impunity in thus pouring contempt npon the tes-
timony of an authorized legate of heaven. The Most High himself was
hrought in confirming bv an oath tho truth of his prophet's mission. "T

■)%,_

,^ I

•\.ui

LTTR or Jtj3HAM3lEP

9vi^ar by tliot Nvbich ye sec and that which yc aco not, that thin is tiic
fUscourse of an honourable apostle, and not the discourse of a poet :
how little do ye believe ! Neither is it the discourse of a soothsayer:
how little arc yc admonislied ! It is a revelation from the Lord of all
creatures. If Mohammed had forged any part of these discourses con-
cerning us, verily wc had taken him by the right hand, and had cut in
sunder the vein of his heart , neither would we have withheld any ot
you €to^ chastising him. And verily, this book is an adnronition unto
the pious; and we well know thero are some of you who charge the
same with impoBturo : but it fihall surely be an occasion of grievoas
sighing onto the infidels ; for it is the truth of a certainty." " BccausT)
ho is an adversary to our signs, I will aflliet him with grievoas calami^
ties; for he ^ath devised contumelious expressions to ridicule the Koran.
May be be cursed ! I will cust him to be burned in hell. And what
shall maRc thee understand what hell is ? It leaveth not any thing uii-
consumed, neither doth it sufibr any thing to escape ; it searcheth mcnb-
flesh ; over the same arc nineteen angels appointe<l. We have appoint-
ed none ftut angels to preside over hell-fire.'' *» Verily wo have prepar-
ed for the unbelievers chains, and collars, and burning fire.'' *' Verily
those who disbelieve our signs we will surely cast out to bo broiled in
hell-flre : and when their skins snail be well burned, we will give flicni
ffiber F^ins in r.Nehangc, that thev may taatc the sbnrpcr formont."'

*,.■,:

■Hi'

CHAPTER V

.'t

Mvltammed nol discmtragcd bij Ojrpositian — The hirdeyi of his Prca hhiit—Df.
scription of Paradise — Error to srtppose IVonun txcbided—Of Ihll — ila'm
some FoUvwers—ClmUen^ed to work a MirtKte — His Rcplif'—Tke Koran
the grand Miracle of firs Rdigioii— Judicial Obduracy charfi;cd upon, the Un-
believers.

Bpt no repulses, however rude or rebellious, operated io deter tlie
prophet frojnn prosecuting his apostolic ministry. No injuries or in-
sults, however galling, availed to quench that glow of philanthropy, (hat
earnest solieifude for the salvation of his countrymen, for which his di-
vine revelations plainly give him credit. " Peradvcnture, thon nfflictest
thyseU' unto death lest the Meccans become not true believers." " Ver-
ily, God will cause to err whom he pleascth, and will direct whom he
pleaseth. Lei not (hy soul, therefore be sp«nt in sighs for their sake?,
on account (of their obstinacy; for God well knoweth that which they
do." And it must be anknowlodged, that his firmness at this stage oi'
hia career, in the midst of bitter opposition, opprobrious taunts, and re-
lentless ridicule, has very much the air of having been prompted by, n
/sincere though enthu^'iasitic belief in the ^Uh and rectitude r»f hiscniisi^,

Lirr. OF MDRAMWFJD.

that thin is the
rsc of a poet :
fa Foothsaycr:
Ihe Lord of all
discourses con-
and had cut in
withheld any of
admonition unto
who charge the
sion of crievoas
ty." " BccauOT
grievoas calami-
dicule the Koran,
hell. And what
not any thing un-
t eearcheth mcnt-
We have appoint-
/ wo have prepnr-
gfire.'- ♦'Verily
t to he broiled in
wc will give them
per tormont.*'

\hJs Prea hiiiii—B(-

Rcpij—Tae Konui
\liarf>:cd upon the In-

erated to detet tlie
io iniiiries or in-
[ philanthropy, tlint
ij, for which his di-
Iture, thoa nfflictest
Ibelievcrs." "Vcr-
TiU direct whom he
Ihs for their sake?,
[th that which they
L at this stage oi
lous taunts, and rc-
len prompted by. i^
|titndpf>rhtRcaii';<^.

I'hc scope of several chapters of tho Koran promulgated at this time
I»ad8 to the same impression. They arc strikingly hortatory and im-
pa-iflioBcd in their character, inciilcr^ting the being and perfections of
the one only (iod, the vrnity of idols, a Piturc resurrection, a day of
judgment, a state of rewardy anJ punishmonte, and the necessity of
works of righteousness. The mnrks of imposture are much more disn
ccrnible upon the ])age3 subscquintly revealed, in which ^tho prophet
had private ends of a Kiniister nature to accomplish. But he contented
not himself with merely preaching in public assemblies, and proclaim-
ing in streets and market-places the solemn and awakening burden of
his message. With a zeal worthy of a better cause, and with a perse-
verance and patience tiiat might serve as a model to a Christian rai»-
sionar^', he backed his public appeals by private ^addresses, and put in
requisition all the arts of persuasion and proselytism, ,in which he was
so eminently skilled. He applied himii<clf in the most insinuating man-
ner to all classes of people; he was complaisant and liberal to the poor,
cultivating their acquaintance and relieving ;theirtwants; the rich and
noble he soothed by flit(t»ry ; and bore atironts without seeking to a-
vengo them. The effect of this politic management was greatly enhan-
ced by the peculiar character of those inspired promises and threattn-
ings which he brought to enforce his message.

His promises were chiefly of a blissful paradise in another life; and
these he studiously aimed to set forth in colours best calculated to work
upon the fancies of a sensitive and sensual race, whose minds, in con-
sequence of their national habits, were little sui^ceptiblo of the images
of abstract enjoyment. The notions of a purely intellectual or spiritual
iiiippiness pertain to a more cultivated people. The scorching heat of
those tro) i al regions, the aridnea^ of the soil, and the consequent
lank of a verdant vegetation, made it natural to the Arabs, and other
oriental nations, to conceive of the most exquisite scenes of pleasure
under the images of rivers of water, cooling drinks, flowery gardens,
shaded bowers, and luscious fruit?. The magnificence also of many of
the Eastiern building.", their temples and palaces, with the suinptuous-
ness of their dresses, the pomp of processions, and the splendour of
rourts, would all tend to mingle in their ideas of ^the highest state of
enjoyment an abundance of gold and silver and precious stones: — trea-
sures for which the East has been famed from time immemorial. Mo-
hammed was well aware that a plentltude of these visible and palpable
[attractions, to say nothing of grosser sources of pleasure, was an indis-
pensible requisite in a heaven suited to the temperament of his country-
men. Accordingly, he »i8surcs the faithful, that they shall enter into
delectable gardeus, whore the riveis flow, some with water, some with
wine, some with milk, and some with clarified honey ; that there will
be fountains and purling streams whose itebbles are rubies and emer-
alds, their earth ofcaniphire, their beds of musk, and their sides of saf-
Itron. In feasting upon the banquets of paradise, at one time the most
delicious fruits shall hsng dependent from the branches of the trees un-
Ider which their couches arc spread, so that they have only to reach

t ,1

I ' il

i^;; 'B

LIW' OF MAIfOMMEl).

forth thoir hands to pluck ihctn; nj'^iiii, they .shall be" served in dishes ut
gold filled with every variety ot orralctnl tocd» and supplied with wine of
ambrosial flavour. Bui the piop'uii's "twn tjlowing pictures of the joys
of his promised paradise will rto more justice to tho subject. "They
shall repose on couches, the lijung whereof shall be of thick silk inter-
woven with gold ; and the fruit of the two gardens shall ne near uthand
to gather. Therein shall receive them beauteous dainsals, retraining
their eyes from beholding any '.csie . thoir spouses, having complex-
ions like rubies and puarh'. IV'slJ«»i these there shall bo two oihcr gar-
dens that shall be dressed in eternal verdure In each of them shall fcf.
two fountains pouring forth plenty of water. In each of them shall bu
fruits, and palm-trees, and pomegranates. Therein shall be agreeably
and beauteous damsels, having fine black eyes, and kept in pavilion^
from public view, wliom no man shall have dishonoured before their
predestined spouses, nor any genius." '♦ They shall dwell ia gardens
of delight, reposing on conches adorned with gold and pr«ciou3 stones ;
sitting opposite to one another thereon. Youths, which fchall continue
in their bloom for ever, shall go round about to attend them, with gob-
lets and beakers, and u cup of flowing wine: th'ir heads shall not ache
by drinking the same, neither shall tiieir reason be disturbed." "Up.
on them shall be garments of fine green silk, and of brocades, 'and they
shall be adorned with bracelets of silver, and tiieir Lord shall give them
to drink of a most pure liquor — a cup of wine mi.xed with the water ol
Zenjebil, a fountain in paraaise named Salsabil." " But those who be-
lieve and do that which is right, we will bring into gardens watered by
rivers, therein shall they lomaiu for ever, and therein shall they enjoy
wives free from all infirmities; uid wc will lead them into perpwtuala-
bodes." " For those who fear their Lord will be prepared high apart-
ments in paradise, over which shall be other apartments built; and riv-
ers shall run beneath them." " But for the pious is prepared a place of
bliss; gardens planted with trees, and vineyards, and damsels of equal
age with themselves, and a full cup."

Such is the Mohammedan paradise, rendered alluring by its gross,
carnal, and luxurious character. It cannot indeed be denied that there
are occasional intimations, in the Koran, of some kind of spiritual hap-
piness to be enjoyed by the pious in addition to their corporeal plea-
sures. " Their prayer therein shall he,^ Praise be ,unto thee, O (lod
and their salutation therein shall nc, Peace ! and the end of their praycrj
shall be, Praise be unto God, th«i Lo;.' of all creatures," But it isbe-j
vend question, that inc main ingredients in the anticipated happiness ol
the Moslem saints are of a sensua' kind, addressed to the inferior prin
ciples of our nature, and niakmg'their paradise to differbut little froi
the elysium of the heathen Ncets.

Tl - - - I

pla
the
and
witj
ing

The reader of the Koran will meet with repeated deelarationa sul
versive of the vulgar opinion, that the leligion of Mohammed denies i
women the possession of souls, and excludes them from all participalic
in the joys of paradise. Whatever may have been imagined or atlirmeBadd
on this point bv some of his more *ignc;;'nt^rollowers, it is certain tliM^as

pie
void

iAVa OF MoUAALAOu^.

rveil ii» (lisl'cs ut'
,\icd with wine of
;ture3 of liicjoys
subject. "Th»;y
f thick silk inttr-
lU De near ut hand
,insals, rclraining
having complcx-
[ bo two oihor gai--
\ of tiicm shall bo
I of ihcm shall be
hall he agreoabl(i
I k»l>t in pavilions
lomcJ heforo their
\\ dwell ia gardens
ul pr«ciou3 stones ;
hich shall continue
•nd them, with gob-
eads shall not ache
disturbed." ;'%
brocaded, 'and hey
,ord shall give tkm

ed with the water 01
*' But those who be-
ffardeus watered by

ein shall they enjoy

kern into perpetual a-

prepared high apart-

{lents built; and nv-
Is prepared a place 01

',ud damsels ot equal I

Luuring by its g'^^s,
be denied that there
liind of spiritual ha?-
fheir corporeal pkjj
e unto thee, O t^od
le end of their prayei
Lea." Butitisbe.
licipated happinessoff
la to the inftnor praj
differ but little froi^

led declarationB8ul

Mohammed denies M

[from all participate^

i imagined or aftirine

[vers, it is certain til'

Mohammed himself thought too highly of women to incnloiite any such
doctrine, as the following |)nssng*'« aiII evince : "Whoso doctU evil,
shall bo rewarded for it; anti shall not find any patron or helper besides
(iod; hut whoso doeth good works, wh'Mlujr lie he male or female, and
is a true believer, they shall hn adnuttL'<l into paradise, and shnll not
ill the least be unjustly dealt with." "The reward of these shall be pa-
radise, gardens of eternui ?'.!m(lo, whi«h Ihoy shall enter, and whatever
shall have acted uprightly, of their fathers, and their wives, and their
|)08tcrhy ; and angels shall go in unto them by every gate, saying, Peace
be upon you, because ye h;ivo endured with patience ; how excellent a
reward is paradise !"

If these vivid repreacntations of the future bliss of the faithful werd
calculated to work strongly upon the passions of his denunciations of the
fearful torments reserved for unbelievers, were equally well fitted to
produce the same effect. The most revolting images of bodily sufler-
ing, hunger, thirst, the torture of fire, and the anguish of piercing cold,
were summoned up by the preaoher to alarm the workers of evil, and to
cal' off the worshippers of idols from their impiety. IJut for the trans-
gressors is prepared an evil recepiacio, namely hell: they shall be cast
into the same to he burned, and a wretched couch shall it be.'' "And
they who believe not shall have garments of fire fitted unto them : boiling
water shall be poured on their Iroads; their bowels shall be dissolved
ihereby, and also their skins; and they shall be beaten with maces of
iron. So often as they shall endeavour to get ovtt of hell, because of the
anguish of their torments, they shall be r^raggcd back into this same ; and
their tormentors shall say unto them, Tusto ye the pain of burning." —
"It shall be said unto them. Go veinto the puninhmentwliich ye denied
as a falsehood : go ye into the sliadow of thcsjnoke of hell, whichshall
ascend in three columns, and shall not shade you from the heat, neither
shall it be of service against the flame ; but it shall cast forth sparks as
big as towers, resembling yellow camels in ( olour.'V * Hath the news
of the overwhelming day of judgment reached tiiee? The countenan-
ces of some, on that day, shall he mat down ; labouring and toilinjj ;
they shall be cast into a scorching fire to be broiled : they sHhU bo gi-
ven to drink of a boiling fountain : they shall have no food but of dry-
thorns and thistles; whichshall not fatten neither shall they satisfy hun
ger." Is this a better entertainment, or the tree of Al Zaccum? How
different is the tree Al Zaccum from the abode of Eden ! We have
planted it for the torment of the wirked. It is a tree which issueth from
the bottom of bell : the fruit thereof resembleth the heads of devils;
and the damned shall eat of the same, and shall fill their bellies there-
with; and then shall be given thorn thereon a mixture of filthy and boil-
ing water to drink: afterward shall tiiey return into hell."

iSuch was the burden ofhis exnotrtt^ong. while he Avnrncd the peo-
ple of the danger of unbelief, and ui'v^ed thi^m by his eloquence to a-
void eternal damnation by putting '^aith in the apostle of God. In
[addition to these powerful motive^, drawn from another world, he
was lavish in the menaces of fearful punishments in this life also, if

Line OF MOHAMMKU.

^' li

I . .

■ n

they hiirkened not to his voice. Poi'thi« purpopo, Ite set beibre tlicm
the cnlamities which hud ovcrfDl.rn 'f-ow rv''o, in former tinier, had
refused to listen to the ^ropl rt» p^jm am >np: ihem. " Do they tut con-
aider how ninny pcnern-ionw vv » h»« •.» d^^itroyoU befrre them ? Oth»:
upostieshttve luii^h'id toscorii It.rjjre tLf«», hut the JMdgiuents which
Ifcey inadejeHlofenot»n»]iK«i,e i ti'os..* wUf» iHU^hed ihcin to pcorn. Hay.
Qo throug-h the enrth, rn! t)*/»>.;tl « hat Sns been the end of those who
accused our prophets of impo^Uun ." •' \Vi^ hnvo uliendy sfnt me«#ti.
ges unto sundry nations before thce.nnd we ofilicted them with trouble
nnd adversity, that they mi^ht humble themselves ; but their hearts be-
cane hardened, niui Satnr. f aa-f' then< to fmd charms in rebellion.--
And when they hud i'o.-gniwr fl.«a 'Niij* e.niug v,'hirh they hud been
^i admonished, we suddenly laid hold on them, and behold they were

:| seized withdispair ; and the utmost part of the people which hud act-

'W ed wickedly tvas cut oflT; praiHc Ue unto God, the liord of all cren-

tures!" Me cited the case of the iuhut»itant.:> of th« ojd world, >vho
perished in the delude for not f^ivin^ hetd to the prcac|iing of IVouh:
ofSodom, ovcTwheimed by fire for not receiving the admonition of
liOt; and ot the Egyptians, who wrre buried in the Ued SSeu for despi-
T singr Moses. To give still greater ctTest to his warnings, nnd ingratiate

t' himself into the favour, as well as to awaken the fears of his auditors,

he took repeated occasion to allege his entire disinterestedness in the
work in which he was engaged. He preached because ho was com-
i manded to preach, and not because he intended covertly to make gain

* of his hearers. He therefore boldly takes them to witness that he de-

manded no compensation for his services. He looked to a higher
ll source for reward. " But we have brought them their admonition.—

41 Dost thou ask of them any niaiiitennnc^ (or thy preaching ? since th^

^ maintenance of thy Lord is better ; for tic is tht? most bounteous provi-

der." " We have seat tUco to to ro uitu r than a bearer of good ti-
dings, and a denouncer of thrcMt>» ft»3y, I ask not of you any reward
* for this my preaching, beside* the i oiiVi'ipion of him who shall desire

f:'y to take the way unto his Lont."

'* , As the prophet therefore disclaimed all minister views in the execution

ij|; of his office, as he expressly renouriced the txpectancy of any earthly

?l! advantage whatever, so he was ccn^mandc] to divest his miad of all-in-

f g, due anxiety as to the result of his labonrs of love. ^* O apostle, let not

C Ihem grieve thee who hasten ta infidelity." *' Whoso is wilfully blind,

f, I the consequence will be t« himselfl We have not appointed thee a keep*

>: or over them: neither art thou a guardiaji over them." "And be not

thou grieved on account of the unbelievers, ' neither be thou iroubled
for that which they subtlety devise."

It is not therefore to be vvordered at that the rousing appetals'of the

prophet should have taken etiect; that ore ;\fler another should havelia-

i !; tened — pondered — wavered — and yielded — especially as the gravity

,1'-^ and sanctity of his deportment seem, at this time, to have corrcspondexl

'; [l with the solemn strain of his exnoistubtions. Such accordingly was

*> the^ct. The number of his f()lio!kve?b gradually increased, so that in

' i five years from the commencjemsnt of his* mission, his party, including

hipiself, amounted to forty.

That which operated more than any thing else to disconcertthe im?

'*»

III:

I.IA'*: OF >IOIiA.M:>lLJJ.

set belbre tliom
mcr iim*«» had
to they •w*^ «""-
them ? Oih»;
Igciients which
I to pcorn. Hay.
[\d ol' those who
idy srnt me*»tt«
em with trouble
[ their hturts be
in in rebellion.—
1 they hnd been
ehoM they were
. which hull acl.
Lord of allcren-
«ijd world, WHO
oeiiing of Noah :
le ad«nonitioB of
ed Sea for despi-
igB, and ingratiate
roofhiH auditors,
'restednees »» *"*
kiiee he was com-
•rtly to make gam
ritness that he de-
Boked to a bigher
eu- admonition.—
aching leince th^

bounteous provi-
brnrer of good ti-
of you any reward

who shall desire

^^3 in the execution

cy of any eortWy
hismi»dofalUn-
'0«po8tle, letnot
o is wilfully blind,
minted thee a keep-
." "And be not
r be thou iroubled

\n<f appcial8*of *^®
^eAhould have lis-

fy as the gravitv

nave corresponded

, accordingly was

teased, so that in

party, including

disconcert.the imr

|K)»tor was tilt; ileinuud repoaledly niiule upon him to prove the trulli of
aid mission by workinj; a miiarle. " iMoses and Jesus," saidliis hear-
ers, ''and the rest of iho prophets?, acrordinc; to thine own doctrine,
wrought iwirucles to prove themselves sent of Ciod. N»\v if thou be a
prophet, and greater than any that were before tUcc, as thou boastest
let us see a miracle irom thec'also. Do thou moko the dead to rise,
the domb to speak, the deaf to hear ; or olse can 'juntains to spring
out of the earth, and make this place a garden adorned with vines ana
palm trees, and watered with rivers running throng]* it in divers chan-
nels ; or do thou make thee a house of gold beautilied with jewels and
costly furniture ; or lot* us sec the book w*.iich thou alleges! to havo
come down from heaven, or the angol which thou sayesl brings it unto
thee, and we will believe." This natural and not unreas9nablc demand,
he had, as wo learn from the Koran, several ways of evading. At one
time, he tells them he is only a man sent to preach to them the rewards
of paradise and the punishments of hell. **The infidels say, unlesa a
lign be sent unto him from his Lord, wc will not believe. Thou art
commissioned to be a preacher only, and not a worker of mirav4es."
"Answer, Signs are in the power of God alone ; and I am no more than
a public preacher. Is it not sufficient for them that we havo sent down
imto thee the book of the Koran, to be read unto them ?" '• Wo sent
not our messengers otherwise than bearing good tidings and denounc-
ing threats. Say, I say not unto you, The treasures of God are in my
power: neither do I say, I know the secrets of God: neitber do I say
unto you. Verily I am an angel : I follow only that which is revoaled
unto me." At another, that their predecessors had despised the mira-
cles of the former prophets, and for this reasoM God would work no
more among tliem. Again, that those whom God had ordained to b«-
lievo, should believe without miracles, while the non-elect, those to
whom he had not decrsed the gifl of faitb, should not bdieve tiiough
ever so many miracles were wrought before them. "And though we
had sent down angels unto them, and the dead had spoken unto them,
they would not have believed, unless God had so pleased." "If their
aversion to thy admonitions be grievous unto thee, if thou canst seek a
den whereby thou mayest penetrate ,into the inward parts of the ear^i,
or a ladder by which thou mayest ascend into heaven, that thou mayest
show them a sign, do so, but thy search will be fruitless ; for if God
pleased ho would bring them alt to the true direction." At a later per-
iod, when he was at Medina at the head of an army, he had a more
summary way of solving all difficulties arising from this source, for his
doctrine then was, that God had formerly sent Moses and Jesus with the
power of working miracles, and yet men would not believe, aad there-
lore he had now sent him, a prophet of another order, contmitHoned to
enforce belief hy the power of the sword. The sword accordingly was
to be the true seal of his apostleship, and the remark of the historian is
equally just and striking, that "Mohammed, with the sword in one
|hand and the Koran in the other, erected his throne on the ruins of
Christianity and of Rente."

n .

4ft

l.Ui: OF M(»IIAM.MKI).

Uy some of the more < rtdiilons of tlu3 |ir<)|>liot'M fullowois, llicrc iiie,
it is true, several miraclos (ittril)iit(ul to iiiiii ; ns that he clave the moon
asunder; tluxt trees wont lorfh to meet him; that water , flowed from
between hi« firigerH ; that the Ktoncs Rahitcd liim ; that a hcam groaned
at him ; tliat u cHinel roi)i|)hiiiicd to him ; and (hat a shoulder of miitton
informed him of its being poisoned, together with Hcvcral others. But
these miraehjH were never alleged Uy Mohammed himself, nor ore they
maintained by any reapectablo Moslem writers. The only miracle
claimed cither by him or his intelligent votaries is the Koran, tho coir.>
posilion ofwhich iw the grand miracle of their religion. On Hub point
the reader will perceive that the prophcfw assumptions in the following
passages are high-toned indeed. *' If ye he in doubt concerning thai
revelation which we have sent down unto our servant, produce a chap.
tcr like unto it, and call upon your witnesses, besides God, if ycsay the
truth." " Say, Verily, if men and genii were purposely assembled,
that they might produce a book like this Koran, they could not produce
one like it, although the one of them assisted the other." *• Will they
say, Ho hath forged the Koran ? Bring therefore ten chapters like[un-
lo it, forged by yourselves ; and call on whomsoever ye may to assist
you." The infatuation of the Meccans in rejecting this inostimubie
" admonition," stamped aa it was with the evident impress of the divin-
ity, ho hesitates not to ascribe to the efli^ct of a fearful judicial obstina-
cy, such as the Jewish prophets frequently th-eaten agamst the perverse
nation of Israel. ♦' If we had revealed the Koran in a foreign language,
they had surely said, Unless the signs thereof be distinctly explained,
we will not receive the same : Answer, It is unto those who believe u
s.ure guide and a remedy; but unto those who believe not, it is a thick-
ness of hearing in their cars, and'it is a darkness which covercth thcra."
"As for the unbelievers, it will be equal unto them whether thou admon*
ish them or do not admonish them; they will not believe. God hath
sealed up their hearts and their h'^aring ; a dimness covereth their sight,
and they shall suffer a grievous. ; unislunent." *' There is of them who
hearkeneth unto thee when thou recdcst the Koran ; but we have cast
veils over their hearts, that they should not understand it, and a deaf-
ness in their ears; and though they should see all kinds of signs, they
will not belie\ o tiierein ; and their infidelity will arrive to that height,
that they will even come unto thee to dispute with Ihee." Still his
preaching prevailed. Ho became more and more popular ; proselytes
flocked around him; and, as (iibbon remarks, ♦' he had the satisfaction
of beholding the increase of his infant congregation of Unitarians, who
revered him as a prophet, and to whom he seasonably dispensed the
spiritual nourishment of the Koran."

I.IH' OK .\1(.»TfA'»«M

:^U

iNVCia, ihcic uie,
e clave the moon
liter ^flowed from
u beam groaned
louldcr ol* miitton
jral others. But
seU", nor arc they
'he only miracle
Koran, the com-
n. On lliis point
8 in tlie following
concerning that
, produce a chap-
God, if ye say the
losely aseembled,
could not produce
er." "Will they
I chapters likejun-
yc may to assist
T this inostimuble
ipress of the divin-
il judicial obstina-
gainst the perverse
I foreign language,
jtinctly explained,
hose who believe a
not, it is a thick-
covereth them."
icther thou admon'
»elievo. Godhnth
3vereth their sight,
re is of them who
but we have cast
md it, and a deaf-
nds of signs, they
ive to that lieight,
ihee." Still his
pular; proselytes
ad the satisfaction
,f Unitarians, who
ily dispensed the

CHAPTER VI.

The Kurt iah exasperated and (darmed hi/ Mohammed's frrowintc sw - "'»m-
mtnce persecution — Snme nfhis futlouurs aecic jinfetjf in Jliffht — ."^ tn-
vnts—The Koni^ih furm a /.c.i^uc (i<^iiisnl him—'Jlln Takband ( 'i
die — He tniiL'rs a trmjiornri/ Hi Ir nit from Mirca — Hiturn.i end vreachca
icith incnaaid zcitl—t'^omc of tin- Pilgrims from Mniinu coni-:rted.

The zeal of the prophet in proclaiming his doctrines, together with
the visil)lo increase of his followers, at I'nglh iilarnicd the foars of the
head men of the tribe of Koroisli; and had it rot hoim for the powerful

thi

have

protection of his undo, Mohammed would doubthid:^
fallen a victim to the malice of his oponon'^. The chief men of the
tribe warmly solicited Abu Taleb to abandon his ucpiiow, remonstrating
against the perilous innovations he wan making in tlio religion of their
fathers, and threatening him with an npn\ niptmc in case ho did not
prevail upon him to desist. Their cntrealic^) had so much weight with
Abu Taleb, that he earnest 'y dissuaded his relative from prosecuting his
attempted reformation any tUrthcr, reprt^s-oiiting to him in strong terms
the danger he would incur both for himself and his friends by persisting
in his present course. Hut the ardent upostio, far I'rom being intimida-
ted by the prospect of oj)posifion, frankly aasured his uncle, "That if
they f=ihould set the sun agcinst him on his right hand, and the moon on
his loft, yet he would not rclinqnish his enterprise." Abu Taleb, seeing
him thus determined, tiscd no iarth'n- arf^um^nts to divert him, but pro-
mised to stand by him against all his enemies ; a pronuse which ho faith-
fully kept till he died, though fhero is no clear evidence that hoover be-
came a convert to the new religion.

The Koreish, riudinii that they could prevail neither by fair words nor
by menaces, had rccousre to violence. They began to persecute his
followers; and to such a length did they proceed in their injurious treat-
ment, that it was no loger .safe for them to f jutinuo at Mecca. Mo-
hammed therefore gave leave to such of them as had not friends to pro-
tect them, to seek refuge elsewhere. Accordingly sixteen of them, a-
mong whom was Mohammed's daughter and her husband, fled into E-
thiopia. These Jvere af'teruard followed by several others, who with-
drew in successive companies, till their number amounted to eighty-
three men, and eighteen women, willi their children. These refugees
were kindly entertained by tiie king of Ethiopia, who peremtorily refus-
ed te deliver themjto the emissaries of the Koreish sent to demand them.
To these voluntary exiles the prophet perhaps alludes in the following
passage : " As for those who have fled from their country for the sake
of God, after they had been unjustly persecuted, we will surely provide
them an excellent habitation in this world, but the reward of the next
life shall be greater, if they knew it-*'

4- ;■

h^^

titi

f.U'K <}r !\IOIM.MMf:iV

")■■

I'*

In tlio siYlI* year oI'liismwHion, ho had tin* plrnsiiro of 8ccinj»iii.n pni-
ly Btrciigtlmncd by tli*; coiivcr«ioii of Iiih nnclc Ilnin/a, a inau of iliHlin-

{ruishod vul«)Mr, nnd of Omar, a pprnou of fCjiKiI note in Mcccn, who hn*]
ormerly iniule liitiiHoIf ron^'|)i« uou» hy his viruh^nl o[»|)opition to the pro-
phet Hnd his chiimi-". 'I'hin new nrrnsH»ou to the liHing soct < xuspcrated
the Korcish nfrrsh, nnd incited tfir-m to moai^urcs of ntill inoro acti\<
persjcution ngainst proprlyte^p. IJiit as porsocution usually advnncoM
tho cause w.'iich it hil)oius to destroy, fio in the present cuNe IwlanuBti.
made more rapid progress than ever, till tho Koreisli, maddened witii
tnulico, entcrect into a ^'olenln league or covenant against tho Ilnt)hcn)ito«,
and cppeciully the faniiiy of the Motallub, many of whom upheld thw
imposfcr, cngagaing toeontrnct no mnrrrages uitli them, nor to hold nn\
firther oonnevion or romnrcrce of any kind ; and, to give it the greattn
sanction, (lie porapar't was rediicfil tn writing ami laid up in the Oaubn,
Upon this liccame di\idcd into two luctions ; the Ihniily of llushcm, ex-
cept DIM of Mohamincd'8 uncles, putting thcmsclvca under Abu Talpli
as their bead, and (he oth^r party ranging themselves under the stand-
nrd, of Abu Sophyan. This league, however, was of no avail during
the lifetime of Abu Tuleb. The power of the uncle, who presided in tin;
government of Mecca, defended the nephew against the designs of Im
enemies At length, about the cIckso of the seventh year of the mission,
Abu Taleh died ; and, :; fe\>- days after h'm death. Mohammed was left a
widower, by tb« d«f:eas<e of Cadijah, M'hohC nicnioiv has been canoni/;-
cd by the saying ol/the propliet, hnt of women, lour only liad attained to
perfection, viz\ Cadijah, iiis wiff ; Fatitna, his danghter ; Asia, tlie
wife of Eiiaraoli ; and Mary (Mitlani,) the daiightpr of Iiiu'an and lif-
ter of Mos'cs.'' Ai3 to Abn TuIcb, thoiigli (he prophet ever <'l>erisho(l w
most gratelb! rensc of the Icitidne^s of Ms early l.eriefactor, vet if tlif
foliou ing passage fioin (he Koran has referciue, as some, of the com-
mcntatOKS say, to Iiia uncle, it shows that th(» dictates of nature in tin.'
nephew's breast wore thoroughly brought into subjection to tiic sfoni
precepts ot'hts religion. " It is not allowed unto the prophet, nor tho«e
who are true believers, that they pray for idolaters, although they are in-
iiabitants of boll."' This passage, it is said by some, was revealed on
accoimt of Abu Taleh, who. npon liis death-I)ed, being pressed by liis
nephew to speak a word which uu^lit rnal)lf livtn to plead his cause be-
fore God, that is, to profess Ifihun, absolutely refused. 3!ojuimmo'\
however, told him that ho would not cease to pray for hitn till he shoiikl
be forbidden by God ; such a [)ro!iibition, he aJiirmed, M-as given him
in the words here «ited. Others suppose tho o(rcasion to have been the
prophet's visiting his mother Amina's sepulchre, who also was an infidel,
soon after the capture of Mecca. Here, while standing at the tomb of
hia parent, be is reported to have burst into tears, and said, I asked
leave of Goil to visit my mothers tomb, and be frrantcd it me; but
when I asketl leave to pFuy for her, it was denied me." The twofold
affliction of the prophet, in the loss of bis uncle and his wife on the Kame
year, induced him ever after to coll this "The Year of .llourning."
The unprotected apostle was now left eomplefely exposed to the at-

J'l

tl'or nnd abettors. « ,,'it,^ 'iV?""'-^''" '"^•''"'«"^ I •'roHK 'Ir^'.''^^^-

'ina, then u.il.'n,! v„. '»'^"" "oruos, wfrw s nt nr«i.« • i . ' ^ «nado to

"/ 1" ^1 Irani of,.,v.nV. i ,""' '" ""■ "ly oC aL,i ,. " ' , ' <='n:uni-
"»l«h.srmaUulcri ;''k' "•'"■'''"' "'"^ "-«n «!,y" I'i '""'.P"™'' "'»

i«d Ave^lin tK' k"'" '" 'length.

I , . "' ""crcRs in Ariibin I

)e, was revealed on

criAPTGR vir.

I '' >v«s in ,1,,, ,„.„,,,. ^ ' "" '■^"•"•"ff««>/,<m-:

■J;

^.^

-S^" ■ ii'

j..

-i-

jjir: (-»r moha^imuj.

sulmans, and ono of tlioii* writers has givon ihc lollowina: biyhly.
wrought (li'scrlptioii of the mpmor>i;)|c niffht in whirli it oct'uiTed.— .
" in the darkest, inotsJ <)I)i?'(rnre, and most siU'iit ni^fht that the sun ever
caused by hipsabsencf, ^ince that glorious planet of light was crenteil
or had itH !)cin4r ; a night in which there was no crowing of cocks to
be heard throughout the whole univrt-se, no barkings of dogs, nohow,
lings, roarings, or ycllinf.sof wild bcR<!its, nor watehings of nocturnal
birds; nay, and not only th** feathered and (bur footed creatures sua-
pended their customary vociferations and motions, but likewise the
waters ceased from Iheii* murmuring, tlie winds from their whistling?.
the air from its breathings, the serpents from their hissing, the moun-
tains, valleys, nnd ca\ ems from their resoundings echoes, the earth
from its productions, the tendor jilaiits from their sproutings, the grass
of the field from its verd«ncy, the waves of ti.c sea from their ngita.
lions, and their inhabitants, Mie iijilies, IVom plying their fins. And in
deed upon a night so wondorful it was very requisite, that all thecrea-
tures of the Lord's handy- work siiould cease from their usual move-
ments, ond become dumb and motionless, and lend an attentive ear,
that they might conceive by mean>t of their ears what their tongues
were not capable of expjesiiing. IVor is sny tongue able to express
the wonders nnd mystLM'ies of this night, nnd should any undertake so
unequal a task, there could nothing be represented but the bare sha-
dow; since what happened in this miraculous night was infinitely the
greatest and most stu^fudoufs event that ever befell any of the poster-
ity of Adam, either ex "j-essed in any of the sacred writings which
came down from above, or by signs and figures. From the sublime
nltitudes of heaven the most glorious seraph of all those which God
ever created or jiroduccd. the iiicomparable Oabriel, upon the Inttpr
part of the evening of that «<tupendous night, took a hasty and precip'
tatc flight, and desceH.!eJ to this lower world with an unheard of unl
wonderful message, \%hich caused an universal rejoicing on enrth, and
filled the seven heavens witfj a more than ordinarv gladness; and,
as the nature of the message i)otIi lequiied and inspired joy, he visitd
the world under the most .'.rloiious and beautiful appearance that even
imagination itself is cai)at>!t» of figuring. His whiteness obscured thai
of the driven snow, ami hi^ ispiendour darkened the rays of the noontide
suu. His garments were all covered with the richest flowers in em-
broidery of celestial fabric, and his many wings were most beautifully
expanded, and nil interspersed %vith inestimable precious stones. His
stature was exceeding tall, and his presence exquisitely awful. Upon
his beautious capacious forehead h< bore two lines written in charac
ters of dazzling light ; the uppermost consisted of these words, La illdi
iV allah — Thf.rk is no Gon blt Ailah ; and in tho lowermost line \vi
contained, Mohamnnd Rasoid Allah — 1^(ohammed is God's Messenger."
In passing from this poetical prelude, conceived in the true gorged
style of oriental description, to the meagre and puerile story of the jour
ney itself, we feel at onro that the prophet's fancy suffers by coinparij
son with that of his disciple, who could certainly, from the abovi
specimen, have given a vastly more interesting fiction of a celestii
tour than the miseriible tissue of absurdity which appears inthefabi
cation of the prophet. Without detailing all the particulars of thi
nocturnal expedition in which the marvels thickened upon him till

leir

fed.

red
und
met

ould

JJKE OF MOHAM>rEL).

:.i!J

i-h it occuned.—
Ihnt Ihe sun ever
iglit was crenteil
owing of cocks to
B of tlogs, nohow-
injjH of noct jrnal
ted creatures 9U3
«, but likewise the
tn their whistlings

hisfeinSi ^^^ "^"""'
i echoes, the earth
>roulin|?8. the grass
■a from thcik- ngta-
their fins. And in
ite, that all the crea-
1 their usual move-
ndnn attentive ear,
what their tongues
rue able to express
Id any undertake so
ted but the bare sha-
lit was iniinitely the
•ell any of the poster,
•red writings which
3 From the sublime
all those which God
ibriel, upon the Intt"
tahastyandprecip-
lith an unheard olttn4
Voicing on earth, anj
'iorv gladness; and,
i.=piredjoy,hevi8ite<l
Lppenrance that even
fteness obscured that
le rays of the noontide
^chest flowers in ern^
were most beautifully
precious stones. Ha
iisitely awtul. lpoii|
es written in chavac-
these words, La UM
lowermost line wp
God's Messeugeu.
Jin the true gorgco

lerile story of the jour
.y sutTers by compan
ily, from the obov
r fiction of a cele»ti.
h appears in the raDi

! particulars ol "
,e led upon himtiin

(iiid renrhed the utmost hcijijht ol'tlio ein|»y»'oan. the following outline
will nrt'ord the render un idea of il.^ gontTy' <'i;ir;u tor.

While the propliot wus r.'fi )si,^ iu liis ht-d. wilh his bc'!<»ved Ayc-
isha nt his side, he was f-uddenly ^.vi-kviicd by the nnjiol (inbricl
who stood before him with oevruty .n?ii' '"<" c^jtanded wing<i, whi
(er than snow and clearer tfinii rryt-tai. The cujf^cl informed him
that he had come to ciudnet him to heaven, and din^cted him to
to mount an anim:ii that .stoi«d ;Tudy nt .iu- do»tr, and whirh was be-
ttveen the nature of nn uss >iud n mule. T'le name of the ben»t was
Alborak, signifying in thi* Arabic UuMigtif. •''V\r ii:!r>htning from hisi
inconceivable swiftness. His colour wai a milky white. Abbe had
however, remained inactive from t!ie time ^I'C'hi ift to that of 3lahom'
ined— there having' l»een iio prophet in the intortal to employ him—
he now proved so rcstlcse rt'id ref»-rt< • Jry, th»it >I.>han)ire{| could not
Rucceed in seating hintselt on his bock tili he had prenii»»ed him a place
in paradise. Pucitied by thi.' pr jiaisc h. r.v<frered the prophet quietly
to mount, and Gabriel, taking t'n: bridh .n his hund, conveyed him
from I\Ierca to Jerusalem In tjie i ivinklig ofeye When ho arrived
at the latter place, the departed pvo))t'ft' !>ml eeints came lorth to
meet and to salute him, and to requeJ'J i.u v i-rost in his prayers when
he came near to the throne of gi'.)rv. Goin.r -nitof tho temple he found
aladder of light ready lived fci th-ir ?'nd tyinir Alborak to a rock,
he followed Gabriel on iho l;id«i*'r till ihey readied the first heaven,
where admittance was readily gi.int'td bv the p'"»i t<;r, when told by Ga-
briel that his companicn way nu otii^.r than Moiiammvd, the prophet of
God. This first heaven, he tells uh, w:.p 'il' of pMre silver, adorned
with stars hanging from it by c'lai.is of j^obi. ''ach ol them of the size
Ota mountain. Here he was met by a decrO(.id old r^ian, whon5 the pro-
phet learned to be ourfathor Adam, iiivi .vho gio.dl/ rejoiced nt having
so distinguished a son. He saw also 'u\ Ui'ih hoaven innumerable angels
[in the shape of birds, beasts, and m"n ; but \U crowning wonder was a
igantic cock, whoso head tower.id u[) t(» the accoiid I'.cavon, though at
he distance of five hundred days journey tVom 'liC fi'sl! His winga
ere large in proportion, and were d'^rk.'d vv;th jiirbunclet* and pearls;
nd so loud did he crow, whenever ibf nvM-niii.T dawned, that all cre-
Inres on earth, except men and • ur'os. lu-a'^; t!ie tremeJidous din. The
cond heaven was of pure gold, !n>d oci» -linfil tivict as many nngels
is the former. Amonsr' these wae "ne jt' sun vai^t 'dimensions, that
le distance between his eyes was equal to the length of seventy Ihou-
land days journey. Here he met Nnah, 'vho begged the favour of his
rayers. Thence he proceeded to the tMrd, where he was accosted
y Abraham with the j»?.inf rooties; ':'♦<• he ioUMd the Angel of
'eatb, with an immense la'dcbv^Tft -^ hia*, ?=> wbii b te was writing the
James of the human raco a« ih*^y i»-^,'C i:y<i. it.!* o'c.ii.ij; tnern out is
leir allotted number of days was LOiU'inet'-d, ^'^hen they iinmcdiutvly
N. At his entrance into the Iburth aeavtn, which was of emerald,
was met by Joseph, the son of Jacob. In the fifth he beheldhk hon~
red predecessor, Closes. In the sixth, which was of carbuncle, he
and John the Baptist. In the seventh, niudo of divine light instead
"metals or gems, he saw Jesus Christ, whose superior dignity it
nuld seem that he acknowledged by requesting an interest in hi»

1 .

LIFE QF MWJIA.M.MKIJ.

!i '

i, f-

prayers, wiiereas in every prercdiiiff cuse the pcrsona^eaj inenlioiu'd
solicited this fuvour of him. In this heaven the number of angciU,
which had l»een IntMeasin/er tlirough ©very stop of his progress, vastly
exceeded that of all the other departments, and nmonfor them was one
who had seventy thoupurid heads, in every head seventy thousand
mouths, in every mouth seventy thousand ton^urs, in every tongue sev-
enty thousand voices, with which day and uight he was inccseantly
employed praising iAod !

The nngcl having conducted him thus far, informed him, that he
was not permitted to attend him any farther in the capacity of guide,
but that he must ascend the remainder of the distance to the throne
of God alone. This he accordingly undertook, and finally Qccom-
plifthed, though with great difficulty, his way lying through watfrs
and snows, and other formidable obstacles, sufficient to daunt the
stoutest hearts At length he reached a point where he heard a voice
addressing him, saying, '< O Mohammed, salute thy Creator." Moun-
ting stiii higher, he came to a place where he beheld a vast extension
oflight of such dazzling brightness, that the powers of mortal Tision
Avere unable to endure it. In the midst of the etful^^cnce was the throne
of the Eternal ; on the right side of which was writen in luminous Ara-
bic characters :<' There is no God but God, and Mohammed is his
prophet." This inscription, he says, he found written on all the gates
of the seven heavens through which he passed. Having approached
to within two two bow-shots of the Divine presence, he affirmed that |
he there beheld the Most High seated upon his throne, with n cover-
ing of seventy thousand veils before his face, from beneath which be
stretched forth his hand and laid it upon the prophet, when a coldnen
of inconceivable intensity pierced, as he said, to " the very marrow of
his back."

No injury, however, ensued, and the Almighty thcncondescended|to
enter into the most familiar converse with his servant, unfolding to him
a great many hidden mysteries, making him to understand the whole
law, and instructing him fully in the nature of the institutions he wasto
deliver to mankind. In addition to this he honoured him with several
distinctions above the rest of his race ; as that he should be the roost
perfect of all creotures ; that at the day of jndginent he should have
the pre-eminence among the risen dead ; that he should be the redeem
er of all that believe in him ; that he should have the knowledge of all
languages; and, lastly, thatthe ppoils of all whom he should conquerj
in war should belong to him alone. After receiving these gracious as-j
surances, he retired from the presence of the Divine Majesty, and, re
turning, found the angel awaiting him at the place where they parted,]
who immediately reconducted him' back, in the same manner in whii
ho came, to Jerusalem and Mecca.

Such were the puerile conceptions of the prophet. Such the
rhapsody which he palmed upon the credulity of his followers as ll
description of a most veritable occurrouce. The story, however, carj
ried on the face of it such glaring absurdity, that several of his parlAnj
forsook him at once, and his whole cause came near to being utterlljijg
rained by it. At length Abubeker, the man of greatest ^in^uenoe i
inong the prophet's friends, by professing to give credence to the tal
at once pvt to shame the infidelity of the rest, and ^xtrlcatde his Icai

torn

1)0

1 i

lAFE Ql' 3l0.1tA31.MJ.:i).

aires* inenlioiu'd
,„ber of ang«le,
nrogress, va»Uy
,ff them was one
,voniy thousmul

vvas inceseanlly

capacity ofguide,
^cS to the throne

l^through tvalo"
f nt to daunt the
rV he heard a voice

Creator." Monn-
la a vast extension
rs of mortal Ti*lon
"^ was the throne
luminous Ara-

or li'om liLs uulujppy tlileinina. He boldly vouched lor the pronhel'd
venicity.

'• If iMohainiued alfunis it, it is undeniahly true, and I will stand by
liim. I belio\ e evcMv word ofit. Tiie Lord's elected cannot lie." Tho
reasonable incident lot only retrieved the prophet's cre<!it, but increa-
sed it to sucli a decree, that it made him sure of bcin^ able ever after
to impose any fiction he pleased ujion the easy faith of his discipies.->-
(jo that this senseless and paltry fable, which at lust threatened to
j^last all the impostor's schemes in the bud, did in fact serve, by a pecu-
liar combination of clrctimstances, materially to promote his success.
Abubcker henceforth had tho honorary title of '-Faithlul Witnosis" be-
stowed upon him.

We learn from Sale, the English cot-anientulor upon the Koran, that
it is still somewhat disputed amoui^- the Mahammedan doctojv,
whether their prophet's night-journoy was really performed by him cor-
porually, or whether it was only a dream or a vision. Some tUiuk it
was no more than a vision, and alifge uu express tradition of Moawi-
vah, one of Mohammed's successors, to that purpesc. Othe!'K suppose,
iliathe was carried bodily to Jerusalem, but no farther; and that he
ithence ascended to heaven in spirit only. Bnt the received opinion is,
that it was no vision but tliat he was actually transported in the body to
feis journey's end , and, if any impossibility be objected, they deem it a
sufficient answer to say, that it might easily have been effected by an
)ninipotent Being.

It is by no means improbable that Mohammed had a farther design
Id forging this extravagant tale than merely to astonish his adherents
)vthe relation of a miractilous adventure. The attentive observer of
itle distinguishing traits oflslamism will not fail to discover innumera-
llo points of resemblance between that system and the divinely-reveal-
1 religion of the Jews ; and it appears to have been an object stud-
lusly aimed at by the impostor to assimilate himself as much as possi>
inauiuvi""- - gyjjgjJeto Moses, and to incorporate as many peculiarities of the Jewish
ired ^^"^ ?! the mosiBconomy into his own fabrication as he could without destroying tho
he should ^^^^ haveBnplicity of his creed. This fact is in keeping with what may be as-
|inent he s^^ yedeem-Brted in general terms, that tho deseendants of Ishroad, under a con-
rh knowledge of al»ousne?s that the covenanted blessings of Jehovah have flowed down
1 he should conquwB the line of Isaac and Jacob, have ever shown a disposition to imitato
Vna these gracious a^Rat they could not attain. More striking proofs of this will appear in
Vine Majesty, and, ^*,K. sequel. We adduce the observation here as affording a probable
where they l^°!'u[ lB ew to the motives of the prophet in feigning this memorable nigiit-

-«i«a the throne
"nce vv as "'^
eninlominousAr;

Mohammed is h«
Iten ou all the gat«
illving -PP'-^^ta.

r^'^vthTeo?.;!

rb"ne:Sl'wb;chJ;
;ret,whenacoUl«e«
uhc very marrow «i

thcncondescendejjlo
,ant? unfolding to hm
rderstandthewbo

institutions he;:"^

rney. Hitherto he had only imparted to his followers the Koran,
licb, like the books of Moses, may be termed his written law. In
iking this revelation he had professed himself merely an organ through
lOtn the divine counsels were to be uttered to the race of ra«n. He
ply gave forth what was communicated to him through the medium

^ the angelic messenger, and that without interposing any comments

greatest ^inHuence '■expositions of his o^yn. Accordingly, when pressed by the carilsof

e credence to the ^» adversaries, his usual refuge was to affirm that the Koran was not

d extricatde his Icoij [3^^}.^ ^^^^ God's, and that he alone could give a just interpretation

,phet. s«c^;»»rf

If his followers as"
fc story, however, cat^

-t

J.ll'i: 01' MOHAMiHKi).

i ■

K'}

of its meauing, which was in some places to be iinderstootl littrall), m
others allegorically. "Thoic is no (iod but God, the living, the sclt:
subsisting: he hath sent down nnto thee tlie book of the Koran with
truth, confirming that which was revealed before it. — It is ho who haih
sent down unto thee Ihobook, wherein arc some verses clear to be un-
derstood ; they are the foundation of the book ; and others arc parabol-
ical. But they whose hearts arc perverse will follow that which is pm.
abolical thoroio, out of love of schism, and a desire of the interprctn-
tion thereof; yet none knoweththe interpretation thereof except God,"
But having by some means become acquainted with the fact, that the
Jews, in addition to the teritten law dictated by God himself, were in

Sossession of another, called the oral law said to have been given to
loses nt fhe same time with the former on the holy mount ; and from
him handed down by tradition from age to age; understanding, moreo-
ver, that this law was accounted of equal authority with the writitii,
while it had its origin solely from certoin verbal declarations or die-
, tates of Moses which were prebcrvod in the memories of those wh^i
conversed with him; the prophet may from this have taken the hiato;
a similar mode of advancing his authority, and of giving the weigti
and character of oracles to his private sayings. To this end it is no
unlikely that he originated the fabulous legend ot his nocturnal (rave
into the regions of the spheres. He was well aware, that could he one?
succeed in making it believed that he had been favoured to hold this
high converse with God in the secret of his presence, and thathehadj
been there fully instructed in the profound mysteries of heaven, hccoiildl
upon this foundation erect just such a fabric of imposture as he pleasec,
and impose it upon his credulous followers. Such at any rate was tin
actual result. From this time forth a peculiar sacredness attached
tho most trivial sayings and the most inconsiderable actions of the pn
phet in evtry thing that regarded his religion. They were reverent!
QOted during his lifetime, and devoutly collected from traditional n
ports after his death, and at length brought together in those volun!
of traditions, which compose the Sonnah, answering precisely to
, oral law of the Jews. And as the Jewish Rabbins employ themselvi
' fn collating, digesting, and explaining their ancient traditions, by ra
ny of which they make the law of God of none effect, so also amongtl
Mohammedan diyinee, there arc those who devote themselves to (he bin
inees ofexpounding the Sonnah, as containing the sum of their theoli
gy, both Speculative and practical. It was not without reason, (hen
fore, that the impostor was extremely anxious to have this marvelloil f
recital cordially believed, or that he should have introduced the N(h j(
High in the Koran confirming the truth of his servant's asscveratioi
** By^e star when it setteth, your companion Mohammed erreth ni
nor is be led astray : neither doth he speak of his own will. It is
Other than a revelation which hath been revealed unto him. The he
isf Mofaaanmed did not falsely represent that which he saw. AVI
therefore dispute with him concerning that which he saw '{'■

i
n

si
1)

tb
W

st
8«

nu
ci(

c&
cd

'■i\

If If

'''■■1!

T.IFE (iHF MoH-;V3I;MElJ

■rslootl literally, in
the living, the sell-
of the Koran wilh
—It is ho who haih
•rscs clear to be uu-
[ others arc parabol-
)W that which is par-
ire of the interprcta-
hereof except (lod."
ath the fact, that the
led himself, were in
} have been given to
)ly mount ; and from
nderstanding, morco-
)rity with the writttn,
declarations or dic|
cniories of those wh
lave taken the histcl
of giving the weigti
To this end it is noil
)t his nocturnal travel
arc, that could he oncci
favoured to holdthisi
?encc, and that he \m
ies of heaven, hccoulJ
mposturc as he pleajtcf
chat any rate wastbf"
sacredness attached!
able actions of the pd
They were reverentll
ed from traditional te[
rether in those volunid
vering precisely to tW
ins employ themselvd
ient traditions, by raj
ffect, so also amongtti
e themselves to the biij
the sum of their theolj
without reason, thcij
to have this marvellci
\ie introduced the m
[servant's asseveratioJ
^lohammed erreth nj
his own will. Itis]
unto him. ThcM
[vhichhcsaw. A>i"l
;h lie saw T'

CHAPTER VIII.

Jii Embas^u sent to the Prophet froai Medina — Kulera into a league loWi
them — SeuJs thither a. Mismonaru — Another Deputation sent to proffer him
nn Asylum m that City — His Enemies reneto their Persecutiona— Deter'
mines tofiy to Medina — Incidents on thetoay — Makes a Solemn Entry into
the City'— Apostate Christians supposed to have joined in tendering km the
Invitation.

The fame of Mohammed had now extended beyond the walls of his
native town. While he was opposed, scorned, and derided at Meocai
his reputation wai growing, and his doctrines secretly spreading at Me-
dina. This city, anciently knoNVn by the name of Yatreb, amd lyia^ at
the northern extremity ot* the province of Hejaz, about seveaty miles
from Mecca, had been distinguished by the early introduction of letters,
arts, and sciences; and its inhabitants, composed of pagan Arabs, here-
tical Chistians, and Jews, were frequently designated as the people of
the book. The two principal tribes which now had possession of the
city were the Karejites and the Awsi'.os, between whom a hereditary
feud bad long subsisted, and the disturbances occasioned by the rivalry
of these two tribes were enhanced by the disputes of religious factions,
Jewish and Christian, which distracted all classes of citizens. It has
been already observed that several of the inhabitants, in a pilgrimage to
the Caaba, had been converted by the preaching of Mohammed, aud
that on their return they had not been slothful in the propagation of their
new sentiments. That they were both sincere and successful disoiplesi
of the prophet may be interred from the fart, that on this year, tho
twelfth of the mission, called the accepted year, twelve men came to
Mecca, and took an oath of fidelity to Mohammed at Al Akaba, a hill
on the north of that city. Tho amount of this oath was : " That they
should renounce all idolatry ; that they should not steal nor commit for-
nication, nor kill their children, as the pagan Arabs used to do vhen
ti^ey apprehended they should not be able to maintain them; and that
they should obey the prophet in every thing that was reasonable."—
When they had solemnly bound thomsevles to the conditions of tho^ath,
Mohammed sent one of his disciples, named Masab Ebn Omair to iri-
struct these men fully in the principles and practices of the new reli-
gion. Masab's mission was eminently successful. Among the prose-
lytes were Osaid Ebn Hodeira, a chief man of the city, and Saad Ebn
Moadh, prince of the tribe of Aws; and scarce a house in the city but
numbered one or more converts. If the terms may be allowed, the ex-
citement was little short of a Mohammedan revival.

The next year, the thirteenth of the mission, Masab returned to Mec-
ca .iccompanied by seventy-three men and two women who had profes-
cd Islamism, besides several who were as vet unbelievers. Th§ object

l.il.K i)i MfJll.V.Vl.MW''.

#i'i

of this utsputaiiuii was to prnHrr to tlio, apostle an asylum or any Qssibianro
in their power, as llicy had Icarnc<i (hat, from the strength and mahcc
of adversaries, he stood in special need of auxiliaries. It was in fact a
political association which was proposed to bo entered into, "in which
we may perceive," says (lihbon, "the first vital spark of the empire of
the Saracens." In this secret conference with the prophet, his kinsmen,
and hia disciples, vows of fealty and of mutual fidelity wore pledged !)y
the parties. The deputies from Medina promised, in the name of the
city, that if he should be banished, they would " receive him as a con^
feocrate, obey him as a leader, and defend him to the last extremity,
like their wives and children." " But if you arc recalled to your coun-
try," they asked4*'will you not abandon your new allies 1" "At!
things," replied Mohanamed, *' are now common between us ; your
blood is as my blood ; your ruin as my ruin. We arc bound to each
other by the ties of honour and iRterost I am your friend and the ene-
my of your foes.'' •' But if we are killed in your service, what will be
our reward ?" •' Paradise !" replied the confident apostle. This trea-
ty was then ratified, and they seperated, Mohammed having first cho-
sen twelve out of their number, who were to have the same authority
anrong them as the twelve apostles of Christ had among the disciples.

Abu Sophyan succeeded Abn Taleb in the government of Mecca, in
wliOm Mohammed found a mortal enemy tohisfamily,his religion, and him-
self. No sooner was ho called to tho head of the state than he dele:
mined to exterminate tho apostle a»d his new-fangled heresy. A coun-
cil of the Koreish and their allies was called, and the death of the im-
postor decided upon. It was agreed that a man should be chosen out of
each of the confederated tribes for the execution of the project, and
that each man should have a blow at him with his sword in order to divide
the guilt of the deed, and to baflle the vengeance of the Hashemites ; as
it was supposed that with inferior strength thsy would not dare, in the
faco of this powerful union, to attempt to avenge their kinsman's blood.
The prophet declared that tho angel Gabtiel had revenlef". to him the tt-
trocious conspiracy, to which he thus alludes some time afterwards :
•' And call to mind, when tJie unbelievers plotted against thee that they
might either detain thee in the bonds, or put theo to death, or expel thee
the city ; and they plotted against thee ; but God laid a plot against
them; and God is tho best layer of plots." The heavenly minister, how-
ever, who disclosed the plot, pointed out no way of defeating it but by
a speedy flight. Ei'cn this chance of safety had like to have been cut off
through the vigilance of his enemies. He was indebted for his escape
to the devoted zeal of Ali, who wrapped himself in the greon mantle of
the prophet, and lying down upon his bed deceived the assassins who
had besieged the house of his friend. Mohammed, in the mean time, in
company with his faithful friend Abubeker. succeeded in getting safely
out of the city, and in reaching a cave three miles distant, called (he
cave of Thor, where the two fugitives concealed themselves three days
from their pursuers. A tradition of his followers states that the assas-
FJnp; having arrived at (he moutU of (bo cave, were deceived by (he no^t

T.iKM

'ii' 'MmU3JMKl)

['fa pigeon nude at ifsonfnnr. , ^^

ly woven across if ii ''"^'?"cc, and a w-ol) whirl, o c • j .

man being wTjiihin m '"^ ^'^'^ ^^ ^^^ «uffi 'uin't . ?|t'" '''''^ ''-^lunate-
.nanifest tokens of 'v/'l'^ ^^^'«'<^ 'ion. all /; X .^''''" ''^■'^' "-^ ''"- ^
occasion, afforded ht li-^''^''"" vouclKsare ,' , t r>'i ''• '^'^°
t-re destitution of hunTin 1? '""'^'^ragnnvnt over « er ^/"^ ''' ^" '^^'^
nly (rod will a..is him ''^k^''^^^- " ?<' 3-e asni t 'ot ih J'" '". "^" «"-
icvers drove him on n^' >t ^^ ^^^'^^sicd him formal! u P'^'^''^^ ^e-
Abuefcer with h.m -1 '^'.''''^' ^'^« ^ocond of ul ?' ""^^'^ *^° ""^e-
"n(o hie companion' k '? '''"^^ ^^'^''^ l>oth ,n the '„^'' "' ^u^''"S ^^'^

vc saw not ." V "^ ''I""' '"^"^ «frenffthonp7v . ^""^ ^'Od sent

towards the citv afrnr ^ '*'>' °^ ^^'c perils ol'tho 1 a- 1 ^^^eir enemies,

there met byfive huTi . 'I- ^ ^^^a, two miles frt xfe ^^^' ^^^v-
po^e, and by whom 1^" ""^'^^ ^''^'zens whXd !^T r^'".^'.""' ''^^^^
The prophet! ha^ '^^ "'T'^' -- greeted w^h f co'rt l'^ '"f "^^ P"-
Iicad, and a t urban .fnf^ 1 ^"^ "" ^^^"^1 W'ith an nmhr.n ^' welcome.—
lomn entry into the ^ifv'^ '"rf-^'^^^ °^'«-^ banner Zl h" '^7?-^ ^^•^'' ^is
place of his throne T?' ^'^'^^' w«» hereStot"' '^"'^'i^ «ncJ so-
Arabic tongue m;,.' ^'S^'tof theapoXofl^i ''"'''^^^ «^ ^I'o
grand era o^ «nr/;".^'. ^•* "^^^o prope,?;X ^7'?' l'"^^ '» '^^^

^"'""ed nations, beino- l!;'' '^^^ ^^<^ome the

grand era of all Vh;M', ""* '"°''° prope/lv the FF T' ""^''^^ '"

henceforth became esHhvJ i''^''"^ ^'^ pcrson nn^ 1 7''''. ^^^n,
"ppeliatrons for the fug tivS'^r'^ ^^"^ ^''^^^'^ or Lw, ? r"^'?"'

kreat fdieit^'^""^ ' '^^^ ^^^'1 --'afnlht J;^^?.^ if- f -
At this distance of (Jm. •. • ' ""^ ''''*"

5 Medina, some w^^^.^'\''"''''«bed chapter of V/.„t^ '^"^^in^ pas-'
at city were thl mi . '^ ''"^^ interred that thll '^°''^" «»er e„ter.
"l'''ou%haTsureIy7oi?r''^ ""^'^"»« '" ntrocruci^;^'';?' Christians of
'etuie believers to h-.K^^*""^* ^'o'ent ofall m«n^- ^^^ "npostor—
'"thou Shalt surlfind'th'""^ ^"'' thew'ofa tern '" ""•"^'^ °ff«'««»

H'epnesis among thf.ni and

■ «•

I.V

4ii

uyy. m MwMA.M.Mi;jj

monks, and l)ccausc they nro not elated ^^ilh pride; and when ihoy
hear that which hath hoen ^cMit tlown unto thcnpostic read unto them,
thou shiiltaeo their eyes overUow with ♦curs h^cnuse of the truth whit h
thoy per4!eive therein; siiyin;?, O fiord, wo bellovi^; write us down
therefore with thoKO who buar witnesr* to the truth: nnd whnt shouU
hinder as from believing in <i.)d, aiul iho truth which hath come unto
us, nnd from enrn>*Htly de.^inntr that our f^ord »vould introduce us into
paradise with the rigrhteouH peu,de?" This is ct-rthinly Important as
a historical dpcumeut, and iJthe i(iitrcn e dr;;wn from it be correct, It
aftbrds a melancholy proof of the d?ep dcgenera<>y of the eastern
churchos, that thoy should he atuiMi^,' thf» fir.-i to embrace the foul Im-
posture. If that were the fact, ii I'lU-iiisKes j)rtlpnblp demonstration ul
so, thativiien men have ouco b.>f^an to s.vtjrvt: and deviate from the
truth, no limits can be set to the J{i<?ree of'.ipaat^cy into which they
are liable to fall. A fearful illuotrntion is thus uffovdodof the lawof
the divine judgments, that wtiere uien, under t!ie eloak of a Cbrigtion
profession, receive not the love ol tiutii !>it hMro nleasnro in unri/^ht-
eousness, God shall send thorn strong; delur^ion that they should be-
Here o lie, and that too to their inuvituulo ruin.

OHAFfER !X.

I-

Prophet now raised to a high Pilch of Dignilij — Builds a Mcsqm—A
Ohanurcin the Tone i>f his litvdativtis — The fiiiihful noiv commanded to

ThePrc^

Chanfccin the Tone of his lie vclat ions — The fahhful
fiffhl for the true Uclif^ion — Hia first war-Ukr attempt nnsuccessful — Tkt
Failure compensated in the Secoiui — ^kcounl'qf the Battle of Beder — IB
Victoiy much boasted of—lJiJJicuUies in Ihn Division of the Sjjoil'^Ca
Jew, assassinated at the Instance of the Prophet.

•Cuaft, (i|

Prom a fugitive Mohammed became a monarch. No sooner had he
arrived at Medina than he fonnti hlmr^eiif at the head of an army devo-
ted to his person, obedi<>nt to hib will, Hud h!md believers in his holy
office. He be^an at once to make arrancfementr? for a permanent set-
tlement, and his first business, after aiving his daughter Fatima iaj
marriage to Ali, waa to erect adwtlhne h.->ype for himself, and a tem-
ple or mosque, adjacent to hin own residence, iur a place of rcligiousj
worship, in which he might [>nblicly pray aad preach before the peo-
ple. For he now, in his own por.-icn, combined the temporal and the
religious power; ho ivu» lendnr of bis army, judge of his people, nm
pastor of his flork.

With the change of his fortunes, his doctrines began also to vary.
Hitherto he had propagated hi^ rfJigi.^n by the milder arts of argi
meats and entreaties, and hts whoh- ^'^ ctss before leaving Mecca
to be attributed solely to the eflVjct or persuasion, and not of force.

"Wherefore warn thy pecple; forth:MJ nit a warneronly; thoua^
not empowered to act with authority over them." Up to the period
his flight, he had utterly disclaimed th>~ use oi'any species of eocrcit
in propagating, or of violence in detendiu^, the principles of his hoi

pell

JJFK OV JMfHTAMMm)

itul >vhtn llicy
read unto them,
t'thc li'Uth whu h
Avrlte us down
ind ^vhnt should
halh come unto
iiurofiuco us into
ily ImporlontaB
n it be correct, it
,r of the eastern
iiace the foul ira^
lemon.trationttl
deviate from the
into which they
aoaoftho law of
jakofaChmtQU

at they should bc-

Builds a McaqM-'j

fulnoxo commnndtdio

•mpt unsucces8jiU—l^t

liatlleofBcder-lhi

No sooner had he
faaofanarmydevo.
believers in hisholj
for a permanent set i
daughter F«tima .a
rhunself, andatetnl
la place ofrcl.gH
leach before the P J
\he temporal andtlj
{e of his people, an<1

Ibegan also to vary.

■ milder arts of arg>
tore leaving Mecca
P, and not of force.

■ arneronly.thoua
,- Up to the period"

ly f^pecies of coerc'
•principles of bis ho

fuith. In numerous pn-s-uges of* tl;i> Koran, puhliHhod nt 31ctMn. he
expressly drclL-rci that his biiHinoa-' wns only to prrnch and admon-
ish ; that l.«' had no uuthoiMy v> rfniu:! any one to emhrare hiM reli-
gion; and that wl.clhor p»'0| '« h»i.< %rd -iMliFbelievcd was no concern
of his, but a matter that 1 '^'onp'.'^d s»o!ely to <aod. **\\e have also
spoken unto thee, O Moliiiti.n td. by revelation. Hnying. Follow the
religion of Ahruhnm. wJio wis orttiodov, and was no idolater. In-
xite men unto the wny of thr .ird by wisdom and mild exhortation ;
nnd dispute with th >nt in t;u> \rv*ii rondrNcrnding manner ; for thy
Lord well knowelh bin-. \\'.<^ si<.jye.ih firm hi»^ pnlh. and ho well
knoweth those w' ive lifjnliv dii.cttd. Whi-ref'-re do thou bear op-
position with putioncn; l;<]tth> p)<ti> ;)re f«linll Mot he prantirable unless
with God's assistiince. An I ?« i.(.i thou griovtd on account ofthe un-
believers." "Lc* ttie.e : t to violin.' «' in relijjion." Indeed, so far
was ho from allow •"o- hiw i<»'U.i' «'VK to rpf-ort to violence, that he ex-
horted them to boar wiif w.-^tkn* ' tin- ininrios ofTercd them on ac-
count of their faith, and \ li^-o t's«THi»rd Mnistlf, i-hose ratbcr to quit
the place of hisbirtb. ami r< ib • . » •• '»si:io' villus*' '''an make any re-
sistance. But this exfmplary n;o(Jer ition, rciDtinued fur the space of
twelve years, seems to have been owing nllogeiher to his Kant of pow-
er, and the nscrni>'»i< y -.• li-i n ptr>s ; fov no sooner was he enabled,
by the assistance •'ftur n^^'i- fi' '^ethiH. to \vi<l!ibtnn<i his adver8arie^',
than he suddenly 'n|ie*ofI i-ii.- yrlcv." <i' riarinff .lw»t God bad allowed
hiin and his fi)ll'^W';i- >'> u<-f"f.,tJ iIimp'^iIvcs l.y human weapons a-
^ainst the infirleis; und mj- Ui' fones ir.creasetl. he j rctei.ded to have
the divine permission to arti'n(,n th ofiensi^e also, to attai-k bis foes,
to root out idolatry at nil )i.^i!i.*«ls aid lo ijrpe the true faith nt the
point of the sword. "War is vnjt.inod jou against the InfidelH."—
"Fight, therefore, f!,iainy» th** fririith fff^atan, for the stratagem of
Satan is wenk." "O tr i» '>ti."\ eis, tak» 'our necessary precaution
against your eneiri'-s, zrd til^ »• •; • wrth ♦•; war in srpnrntc parties,
or go forth all togfhe.' In e bodv.'' And when itie ntonths wherein
ye shall not be allowed t.; :Uti!» k thoin sl»all be pEst, kill the idolaters
wherever yc shall Hnd Uif.n> ni.d tidie tlieui prltsoners, and besiege
thoni, and lay wait for t icm »>: v\tH\ convenient place." " When yo
encounter the iinbeli-^vt's ;t ik.-* on'iheii bends until ye have made a
lE:rent slaughter anioiif.; tl.'^n : v.rn\ bhn\ tboinin bonds; and either give
them a free dismiss: 'T ♦^'le. w;m<J, or exMot a ransrm, until the war
shall have laid down iJ a«inp '' •V'rily, Crod hath purchased of the
true believers tb^ir scjls. muiI t'leii »ubstai^<-e. prom'sing them the en-
joyment of paradise on c.-^m''' .<p ibat fhey fight for the cause of God ;
whether they slay «<r be '^l".ir. the promi'<p for the same is assuredly
due by the law, and *^e ■roii-.o', i.ud th^ W^onin." This fierce intoler-
ant, and sanguinary .-if)) tit w'U bo fbunc' to diMtinguish most of the
chapters revealed ni Medinr, pc fbrt i} ran tVequeiitly be determined,
from the tone and ti\ni;)e'' pervpf'iijj;,' it. withort consulting the date,
whetherthe portion v-/* *. v\tiilo.pM«b.<'Oi after 'he f.ight. Tbeproph-
cfs followers hnve (■•iilb»")i.v v ft d u;) I fhe spirit of these precepts; and
the terrific announc mflut ut^tending the IVosIem arms has been, " The
Koran, death, or tribute !" Even to tbf> n-esentdr.y, every other religi-
ous sect living under the gov^ '•jip-.'-mji of V1i>hanintei*on ratforts is eom-
pelled to pay an annual tux as a molct iot thrir infidelity, and are sure
I ^0 meet with persecution. ifHot with death, ifthey oppose or vilify any

•!«

Lih'E OF .MUllA.M.MKp.

ofthe tenotR ofthoh )ly prophrt Imlnctl, rvory IhinfT like mauimut
or Koiitrovcisy with the iinhf lievrrH, tnou<?li not nlibolutoly forhijhh'ii,
is fdr from lieing couiitcnHnri'tl. ns wo inny ^allicr IVoin tlio roliowin^'
prerept to the prophet liimself. "Let th(>m not thcreruro, disputL*
nith theo concorninir tliim mutter ; but invite them unto thy Lord ; lor
Ihou followcst the ri^ht direction. IJut if they enter into debate vfith
theo, God well knoweth thut uhirh yo do ; (^od will jud/^e betwe^-n
you on the duy of resurrection concerning that wherein ye now die>u-
gree."

The prophet waf> now ennhledto put in operation n more eflectuai
syetem of measures to campH8t> hi8 great endu than he Imd hitherto had
power to adopt. He hud begun to wield the sword by divine noni-
miesion, and he wus not disponed to let its potency remain unproved.
Yet the iir^t warlike enterprise undertaken under the nut>picc8 ol'the
martial apostle, an expedition designed to liarrass the Koreish, was
unsuccessful. Having learned that a curnvnn, the pro|)crty of the
hostile tribe, was on its way from ^Syria to .Mecca, he despatched his
uncle Hamza, with a party of thirty horse to cupturo it. Hut the
nearer approach of the caravan discovering to the Uhsailants that it
was giiarded by a body of three hundred men, they deemed it prudent
to forbear an attack, and to return quietly to Mecca.

The shame of the prophet's fuilurc on this occasion was more than
compensated by the success of his arms at the battle of Bcdcr, so fa-
mous in the Mohammedan annals, which took j)lace the ensuing year.
A rich caravan proceeding to Mecca, and guarded by Abu Sophyan
with between thirty and forty men, tcmptc(' at once the -revenge and the
cupidity of Mohammed. The spies of the prophet informed him that
their rich and apparently easy proy was within his grasp. He advan-
ced with a few followers in pursuit of it; but before he could overtake
the unprotected band, Abu Sophyan had despatched a messenger to his
brethren of Mecca for a reinlbrcement. Roused by the fear of losing
their merchandise and their provisions, unless they hastened to his re-
lief, a troop of nine hundred and fifty men, among whom were the chief
persons of the city, instantly obeyed the summons. Mohammed was
posted between the caravan and the approaching succour with only
three hundred and thirteen soldiers, mounted, for the most part, on ca-
mels. Of these, seventy-seven were fugitives, the rest anxiliaries.
Undismayed by this disparity of force Mohammed determined to try the
event of a battle, and risk his fortune, his reputation, and perhaps his
life, upon the issue of the contest. The troops wore persuaded to en-
gage the superior forces of the enemy, abandoning for the present the
tempting prize of Abu Sophyan's wealthy caravan. The prophet ani-
mated them by his prayers, and, in the name of the Most High, promi-
sed them certain victory. But however assured he might have been of
divine assistance, he was careful to omit no human means of securing
Ruccess. A slight entrenchment was formed to cover the flank of his
troops, and a rivulet, flowing past the spot ho had chosen for his en-
campment, furnished his army with a constant supply of water. When
the enemy appeared descending from the hill, Mohammed, alluding to
his own party, exclaimed, " O God, if these are destroyed, by whom

I.U'J: OI' .MOiJA.MilU).

Ihc ioUowiiijr
•oforo, dispulL"
vliy liorii ; i«>r
ito Uebale wiU»
juc\ge belxvwix
in yc now

dit>)A-

i more cffectuo
iiud hitherto h«a

by divine com-
inain unproved.

niippices ol ine
,c Koreish, was

property of the

e desputched his
turo it. «"tthe
ftHsailatits thut .
eemed it prudent

on was more lUan
. of Bcdcr, so t;v-
^ tbc ensuing year.
' by Abu Sophyan
he .revenge and the
informed him ll»al
rasp. Headvan-
he could ovcrtukc
a messenger to lus
the fear of losuig
ihastencd to hia re-
Ihom were the chid
Mohammed was
succour with only
e most part, on ca-
. rest auxiliaries.
terminedtotryUie

in, and perhaps his

re persuaded to en-

for tho present lUe

The prophet am-

[Most High, pronn-

I • _i-* \.«w*» been 01

<rht have been'
Sansofsecuting
ver the flank of his
chosen for his en-
y of water. ^Vhcn
Immcd, alluding to
cstrovcd, by whom

^^lUll^ull ho woisiljippeil on enroll Conragi!, my children, close your
riinks, discharge your arrows, atul the day is your own !" Before the
firmies, however, eould on^'agc, three conibntants, Ali, AI Hareth, and
Hatnzo, on the side of the Moslems, and three of the Koreish, joined
in single combat. The Moslem champions M'cre victorious, and thus
gave to both armies a presage of the iHsuo of the coming engagement.
At the commencement of the buttle, the prophet, together with Abube-
ker, mounted a kind of throne or pulpit, earnestly asking of God the
assistance of Gabriel with three thousand angels; but when his army
nppcarod to waver, he started from his place of prayer, threw himself
upon a horse, and easting n handful of sand into the air, exclaiming,
•• Confusion fill their faces !" rushed upon the enemy. Fanaticism ren-
dered his followers invincible. The force* of the Koreish were unable
to break the ranks or to resist the furious charges of his confiding sol-
diers. They trembled and fled, leaving seventy ol their bravest men
dead on the field, and seventy prisoners to grace the first victory of th«
faithful. Of the Moslems, only fourteen were slain, whose names have
been handed down to posterity, and enrolled among the list of martyrs,
whoso memory tho pious Mussulman is taught to cherish with devout
veneration. The dead bodies of the Koreish were stripped, and with a
lavage barbarity cast into a well ; two of the most obnoxious prisoners
were punished with death, and the ransom of the others fixed at four
thousand drams of silver. This sum would compensate, in a measure,
(or the escape of tho booty ; for, notwithstanding the !defeat, Abu So-
phyan managed to eflect a decent retreat, and to arrive safely at Mecca
with the greater part of the caravan. Tho spoils however arising from
tho ransom of the prisoners, and the partial plunder of the caravan, a-
mounted to a considerable sum, the division of which had like to have
proved fatal to the victors themselves. For of the two parties compos-
ing the prophet's army the Ansars, or auxiliaries, being the most nu-.
mcrous, laid claim to the greatest share. The Mohajcrins, from being
drst in the fuilh, assumed equal, at least, if not superior, merit to> that
|of their comrades, and a furious altercation ensued. Mohammed, in
rder to put an end to the contention, feigned a seasonable revelation
rom Heaven, in which orders were given him to divide the booty equal-
y, after having deducted a fifth part for the uses of tho prophet, and
ertain specified purposes of charity. *' In the name of the most mer-
iful God: They will ask thee concerning the spoils: Answer, Tfia
ivision of the spoils belongeth unto God and the apostle : therefore,
car God and pompose the matter amicably among you ; and obey God
ad his apostle, if ye be true believers." " Know that whenever yo
;aiR any spoils, a fifth part thereof belongeth unto God and to the apos-
e, and his kindred, and the orphans, and the poor, and tlie traveller."
he part which the prophet adjudged to himself on this occasion, a-
ounted to several thousand drams, or dirams, of silver ; how much of
is sum he allotted to *' the poor, the orphans, and the traveller," his-
ry gives us no intimation.
The success of Mohammed, with his little band of devoteei;^ at tha

«%.

>>•'

J/ll i: 1)1 MUHAMMKlJ.

battle ofBciloi-, is tVcfiut'iilly alliDi'd to in llin Ivtiraii in a stylu ulMcIt
flatiflod vanntirm' und triiinipli, und is oltcn nppcHlrd to hy IiIm i'ollow
ci'B 08 nothing' If^sntliun n miriirriloiio atlcxtvilioii ol' (iod himririf in (a
vonr of the propliut. " Y«' have nirrady had :i niinwli* shown yon in
two armies which ntta<*itrd rnrh nthrr : one army fou>rlit ffn- Cio«I'>
ti'uo religion, hut tlie oth»'r wrro infidrls ; thry snw thn t'oithnd twiro
OS many an themsolvoH in thrir own oyti-sifflit : for 4»o»l Mtron;»thpniili
with his help wliom he pleaneth. ' Uesides the niii-Hcle of tlie intidels
seein^f the Woplcm urniy <loul)Ie to what it whh, two otijern are sold to
have been wrought on tliis uieinoruble orrasion. I. Tliesand or pm
vel which Moiinnitnod throw into tlie nir is said to have heen t-nrrlcd
by the power of (»od witfi such for<"e a/raini't tiie fares of tlie enrmj
that they immediately turned their hacks and fled. '• And ye slew nni
those who were slain nt Keder yourselves, hut God ^-!ew theni. \ri
ther didst thou, C) illohanimed, rn«»t the ^Tavel into their eye-*, whrn
thou didst seem to east it ; but C«od cast it." 2. \Venre nL<o taupht
that God sent down to the prophet's aid, first a thousand, and nfDoi'
wards three thousand nufrels, having their lieads adorned with white
and yellow sasheu, the ends of which hung down between their rihoul
ders ; und that this troop of celestial auxiliaries, borne upon hluck
and white horses, and headed by <jiabrici upon his &teed Iliazuni, re-
ally did all the exoeution in the defeat of the Korcish, though I>Iohum-
incd's men foOght bravely, and, until better instructed, gave the cre-
dit of the victory entirely to themselves. '■ Anil God had already gi-
ven you the victory ut Beder, when ye were inferior in numbers ; there-
fore,' fear God, that ye may be thankful. When thou snidst unto the
faithful, Is it not enough for you. that your I^ird should assist you
with three thousand pngels, sent down from Heaven. Verily, if ye
persevere, und fear God, an<l your enemies come upon you suddenly.
your Lord will assist you with live thousand angel-, distinguished by
their horses and attire.

The vindictive spirit of the prophft was strikingly evinced not long
after this event by the assassination of Cnab, the son of Al-Ashra^ a
Jew. This man, having a genius for poetry, and being inveterately
opposed to Mohammed, went to Mecca after the battle of Beder, niiil,
with a view to excite the Koreish to revenge, deplored in tou«;hing
verses tho unhappy fate of those of their brethren who had fallen while]
valiantly resisting a renegade prophet, with his band of marauders'
He afterward returned to Medina, and had the hardihood to recite lii>j
poems to the people within the walls of that city. l\Iohammed wasso|
exceedingly provoked by the audacity of the poet, who must, indeed,
have been possessed of the hightst phrensy of his tribeto promise him I
«elf impunity in these circumstances, that he exclaimed, " Who willl
deliverne from the son of Al-Ashraf." A certain namesake oftliel
prophet, Mohammed, the son of Mosalamu. a ready tool of his master!
replied, "I, O prophet of God, will rid you of him." Caabwassoonj
after murdered whHc entertaining one of the apostle\s followers.

\k\\
Jliid(
I'roii

;«f

in u ^lvlu o\'f*v\f

to hy iuH follow
i.)tlliimf*rir»n la
.|e tihown you in
foujilit f'>»' <«""^''
hn faithnil twice
i(u\ Htronjrthonclh
i-lr of the intirtels
, otIierH arc said lo

The sand or pra

f-es of tin; oneiny
'• Anclyo felewnnt

, ihfii- eye--. "*^'»*""
Vonn' rt'^'o taupht
ousand, and nftoi
.domed with while
,etweon their ^.hou
hornc upon hluck
, 6.to«d llinzuui, ic-
sh, thoujjh IMoham-
urtfd, pivc tlie ere
Uodhndaheadygi
rin numbers ;the.e-
thou saidst unto the
rl Qhould assist you

aven. Vevily, 't F

upon you sudden y

;1-, distinguished by

;,y evinced not long

,d bring: invcterately
battle of Beder, nnd
.plovpd in tourhing
who had fallen «hile
bando! in«vLiu«lers
ordihood to recite hh
IMohainmedwnssol
r ^vhomu8t, indeed
tribe to promise Ima^
'.Uimed, '' Who ^

.dVtoolofhismai'ter
liin." Caabwassoonj
,slkvs followers-

IJI-T. <.V Vl...llVM\IF.H

.l!

iUM'TFJi X.

Mohamnuil alUrs ihr ICihlu—Mniii/ of hi.^ FulU>wa'.<i (*rcally oJJ'unLil therehj-
—Muhavvni'ilan In.stiliilifm of' Prnifi f'->'lltpoinls thi- Fast qf Uiimntl(tn-^
jkcuunt of this Ordinance.

On tlic second ycnr of tlio Hojira, Molmmmcd altorod the Kebla
lur ills (liaciplos, thiit is, Mio point of the compass toward« which tUey
wci« to (liiecl tiicir [Jinycrs. It NvasuHuui among the votaries of all the
icligionsofthc Eust to uhHcrvo Bonig particular point in tlie heavens to>
wards which Ihoy turned tlioir Ihccs when they prajfod. llie Jews,
in whatever part of the world Ihoy chanced to b(<, prayed with their f?~
res toward Jerusalcni, the scat of their sacred temple ; the Arabians,
t/)\yards Mecca, because there was the Caaba, the centre of their
worship; the Sabians, towards (he North Star; the Persians, who dei-
fied fire and liglit. towards the Kasf, where the Sun, the fountain of
hight, arose. "Every sect," says the Koran, *'have a certain tract of
heaven to which they turn themselves in prayer." Mohammed, when
lio first arrived in Mediua, deeming the particular point itself a matter
ot perfect indiflerence, uwd with a view probably to ingratiate himaclf
with the Jews, directed his disciples to pruy towards .lerusaleEO, which
lie used to call the Holy (Htij, the Ciii; of the Prophets, and which he,
iitone time, intended to have made the j^rand seat of his worship, and
the place of pilgriruage to his followers. But lindigg tho Jews too in-
tractable, or that his other converts still retained a saperstitious regard
for the temple of Mecca, for so many ages the place of idolatrous re-
sort, and thinking it would tend to conciliate the inhabitants of thatcity»
if he kept up tho sanctity of their temple, he, at tho end of six or se-
jvenmonths, repealed his former law regulating the Kebla, and thenca-
forward required all tho faithful to oiler their .supplications with their
faces directed towards Mecca. Though not now in actual possession
I of that city, yet anticipating the time when it would be in tire hands of
Moslem masters, he fixed upon it as tho future "holy city" of his fol-
lovfcrs. "From what place soever thou comest forth, turn thy face to-
nvards the holy tompic ; and wherever ye be, thitherward turn your faces,
lest men bavo mutter of dispute againwt you." This change was indeed
an offence to many of his disciples, from its indicating a smgular degree
(if fickleness in a professed prophet, and large numbers accordingly fbr-
pook Jiim altogether on account of it. But his growing aversion to the
lews made him steadfast in tl<e present alteration, to whicb he thus al-
ludes in the Koran : " Tlve foolish men will say. What hath turned thcan
from their Kebla towards which they /brmeily prayed? Say, Unto
God belongeth the East and the West : he dirccleth whom he pteaseth
Jin the right way." " Wc have seen thee turn about thy face towards
llieaven vith nncprtarntv : but we cause thcc to turn thyself towarcte a-

;^^;

LU'K OP .MOHA.MiMEI>.

5KV

-■.r

••(-41 %'

#■

'Wi

Kebia that will please thee. Turn therefore thy faco towarils the holy
temple of Mecca ; and, wherever ye he, turn your faces towards that
place." " Verily, although thou shouldst show unto those to whom the
Scripture hath been given all kinds of signs, yet they will not follow thy
Kebia; nor will one part •f thorn follow their Kebla; nor will onp part
of them follow the Kebla of the other." The bearing or situation of
Mecca, with its holy temple, fiom any particular region of the Moham-
medan world, is pointed out within their mosques by a niche, which go
verns the direction of their faces; and without, by tho situation of tlio
tloors which open in the galleries of the minarets. There are also ta-
bles calculated for the purpose of readily finding out their Robla, when
they have no other means of ascertaining the right direction.

No duty enjoined by the Mohammedan creed is more prominent than
that of prayer. The proph«t himself used to call prayer " the pillar of
religion and tlie key of paradise," and to say that there could be no
good in that religion which dispensed with it. He therefore prescribed
to his followers five stated seasons in the space of twenty-four hours for
the performance of their devotions. 1. In the morning, between day-
break and sunrise. 2. Just after noon, when the sun begins to decline
froni the meridian. 3. At the middle hour between noon and sunset.—
4* Between sunset and dark. 5. An hour and a half after night has fuU
ly closed in. At these times, of which public notice is given by the
muezzins, or criers, from the galleries of the minarets attached to the
mosques — for the Mohammedans use no bells — every conscientious
Moslem engages in this solemn duty, either in a mosque, or by spread-
ing his handkerchief, and kneeling in any clean place upon the ground.
Such extreme sacrcdness do they attach to this part of worship, and snch
intensity of spirit do thoy hold thcmHclves bound to attend upon it, that
the most pressing emergency, that the bursting out of a fire in their
chamber, or the sudden irruption of an armed enemy in their gates or
camps is not considered a snfficicat warrant for their abruptly breaking
offtlieir prayers. Nay, the very act of coughing, spitting, sneezing, or
rubbing their skin in consequence of a fir-bite, in the midst of tiieir
prayers, renders all the past null and void, and obliges them to begin
their devotions anew. In the act of prayer they make use of a great va-
riety of postures and gestures, such as putting their hands one on the
other before them, bending their body, kneeling, touching the ground
with fheir foreheads, moving the head from side to side, and several
others, among which it is impossible to distinguish those enjoined by
Mohammed himself from those which were common among tlie ancient
Arab tribes befqre he arose. Still it is aftiriucd by travfllors, that.notwilh-
standing the scrMpulous preciseness of tho Moslem devotions, no people
are more deeply tinctured with the pharisaical spirit of ostentation, or
love to pray in the market-places, and in the corners of the streets, that
they may bp seen of men, and ohtain their praise. Among (he Turks
especially it is sjiid that wherever they find the greatest concourse of
pf spectators, {>arlicularly if they be Christians, there tiiey are ever sine
to ppread thny handkorchiofs, whatever inconveniences innv fittrnd tin;

J.IFK or MaHA'.MiM£D.

(wards the holy
es towards that
,sc to whom Ihe
II not follow thy
lor will one part
r or situation of
[ of the Mohani-
niche, which go
i situation of tho
here are also ta-
)cir Robla, when
•ection.

e prominent than
^er " the pillar of
here could be no
srefore prescribed
nty-tbur hours for
ing, between day-
begins to decline
oon and sunset.—
after night has ful-
icc is given by the
ets attached to the
very conscientious
sque, or by spread-
e upon the ground,
f worship, and such
ttend upon it, that
t of a fire in their
y in their gates or
abruptly breaking
lifting, sneezing, or
the midst of their
iges them to begin
G use of a great va-
hands one on the
uching the ground
side, and several
those enjoined by
amono- tlie ancient
f-llor5i!,that,notwith-

levotions, no

people

, of ostentation, or

of the streets, that

Among the Turks

atest concourse ol

they are ever sure

iccp mnv attond thf

location, and begin tlieir adorations. In these petitions, a vory promi-
nent object of request is, that God would grant the blessing of dissen-
sions, wars, and tumults to be enkindled among Christians ; and the ru-
mours of such joyful events are hailed as tokens of his gracious answers
to their prayers.

Oa the same year the prophet introduced into his religion the holy
frtst of Bamadan, or Ramazan, so called from its being continued thro'
ihe whole of this month, which is the ninth in the order of the months
ol the Arabic year. Of this duty Mohammed used to say, it -was «• the
frateof religion," and that "the odour of the mouth of him that fasted
i«more grntefnl to God than that of musk." An acceptable fast, accor-
ding to the Moslem dcclrine, includes abstinenuc from food, the res-
training all the senses and members from their accustomed gratitica-
tions, and the withdrawment of the tliojights from every thing but God.
The institution is thus announced in the Koran : " O true believers, a
fust is ordained you, as it was ordained unto those before you, that ye
may fear God. A certain number ofdays shall ye fast ; but he among
lyou who shall be sick, or on n journey, shall fast an equal number of
other days. And those who can keep it and do not, must redeem their
neglect by maintaining of a poor man. But if ye fast, it will he better
lor you, if ye knew it. The month of Ramadan shall ye fast, in which
jllie Koran was sent down from Heaven, a direction unto men." By
■the law of their religion, therefore, the disciples of Islam are required
Itoiast, while the sun is above the horizon, during the entire month of
iamadan, from the time the new moon first appears, till the appear-,,
nice of the next new moon. Throughout that period they abstain
rholly from the pleasures of the table, the pipe, and the harem ; they
neither eat, drink, nor receive any thing into their mouths during the
day, till tho evening lamps, hung around the minarets, are lighted by,,
khehnam, or priest o! the mosque, when they are released from the"^
pbligations of abstinence. They then give themselves, without res-
Iraint, to the pleasures of the palate, and compensate in full measure
or the penance of the day by the indulgence ot the night. This is con-
lioued, according to the law of the pi'ophet, " till they can plainly dis-
lofBlsh a white thread from a black thread by tho day-break," when
lie season of self-denial commences again for the ensuing day. Aft
ost of the Mohammedans, however, are not too scrupulous to quell
he annoyance of appetite by sleeping away the hours of the day, the
Ibservance of the fast of Ramadan is little more than turning day into
jight, and night into day. As the Arabic year is lunar, each month
I a period of thirty-three years, falls into all the different seasons of the.
blar year, and consequently the observance of the fast, when the
lonth of Ramadan occurs in summer, is rendered, by the length nnd'
eat of the days, extremely rigorous and trying ; especially as the poor
^e still compelled to labour during the day ; and yet are forbidden,
pon paia of death, to assuage their thirst hy a drop « f water.

»*

'»

''r

^ t

i>t

DWV. i\l .^*10HANU;Jil>

CHAPTER XI.

U'hc Ki/ruJih undertake <i nf.w K.tpcdition :igainst Ike Prop}wt — The Ballh a'
Okod — Mukammed and his Jiymy entirdy defeated — Hisfoll9wers nmrnuir
— The Frophtt's poor devkes io retrieve the diaicrace incurred in this ar-

tion Resolves it nuiinly into the doctrine of Predesfiuation — Jf'ine and

Games of cImiuc forl/iadcn — Soplufun, son of Caleb, slain — fFar of tht:
Ditch. * _•

The resentment of Abu Sophyan and tlie citizens of Mecca, for llie
loss and th« disgrace sustained the preceding year, stimulated them fo
undertake a new expeJ tion against the warlike apostle. The Koreitili
accordingly asseni-jlcc! an arvvf cf three thousand men under the com-
mand of Abu Sophyat:, anu proeecucti to bnsleg* their enemy in the city
< f Medina. Mohummo<], be:2;g mocli infcvior in numbers to the invad-
ing army, determined al nrst to await and -'occivc their attack ^yithill
the walls of the city. 15ut ;iio ardour of liis vnen, enkindled by the re-
collection of their t'ormer buccess, could not brook restraint ; they cla-
morously demanded to l>o led out »o buttle ; and ho unwisely yielded to
their request. Impelled, also, himself, by the same spirit of rashconfi-
' dence, he unwarily promised them ccitain victory. The prophetic pow-
ers of the apostle were to be est'matofl by the event. Mohammed, in
every encounter, seems to have iiifinifoated, in a high degree, the talents
of a general. In the prenent instance his army, consisting of about ou
thousand men, was advantageously posted on the declivity of the mo.
tain Ohod, four miles to the north of Medina. Three standards w.
confided each one to a separate tribe, whilo the great standard was car*
ried betbre the prophet, and a chosen baiul of fifty archers were station-
ed in the rear, with peremptory orders to remain there till commanded .
to th« attack by Mohamme<l himself. The Korei^h advanced in the
form of a crescent; Caiek, the fiercest of the Arabian warriors, led tlic|
right wing of the cavalry; while Hinda, the wife of Abu Sophyan, ac-
companied by fifteen matrons of iVIccca, incessantly sounded timbrels]
to animate the troops to the afiproaching conflict. The action commen-
ced by the Moslems charging down the hill, and breaking through the I
enemy's ranks. Victory or paradise was the reward promised by Mo-
hammed to his soldiers, and they strove with frantic enthusiasm to gainl
the expected iccompense. Tho line of the enemy was quickly disor-f
dered, and an easy victory socmed about to crown the spirit and valour!
of the Moslem troops. At this moment, the archers in the roar, impel-r
led by the hope of plunder, deserted their station and scattered them-l
selves over the field. The intrepid Calod, seizing the favourable op.j
portunity, wheeled his cavalry on their flank and reat , and exclaimingl
aloud, " Mehammed is slain !" charged with such fury upon the disorf
dercd ranks of the Moslems, as spjcedily to turn tho fate of the davj

LIFK OF i\lOHAM^l»Eli.

The rtying report of the death of their leader so dUipiritcd the fuithfitl,
that they gave way in every direction, mu] the rout soon became gener-
h1. Mohatnincd endeavoured in v?iiu to r.illv his broken troops; ho
fought with desperate valour; exposed his por-on where the danger ap-
peared greatest; was wounded in the tare by a javelin ; had two of his
teeth shattered by a stono ; was thrown from his horse ; and woidd in
all probability have b«en slain, but for the determined bravery of a few
chosen adherents, who rescued their leader from the throng, and bore
him away to a place of safety. Tiio day was utterly lost ; seventy of his
soldiers were slain, among iv'hom was his uncle Hamza; and his rcpn-
tation as a prophet and apostle was in imminent peril. His followers
murmured at the disastrous issue of the conflict, and had the hardihood
to affirm that the prophet had deceived them; that the will of the Lord
had not been revealed to him, sinco his confident prediction of success
had been followed by a signal defeat. Th ' prophet, on the other hand,
throw the blame on the sins of the people ; tho anger of the Lord had
fallen upon them in consequcuco of um overwconing conceit of their se-
curity, and because he had determiner] to make trial of their sincerity.
"After a misfortune hath befallen you at Ohod, do ye say, Whence
comeththis? Answer, This is from yourselves : for Ciod is almighty,
,\nd what happened unto you was certainly by the permission of God,
that he might know the faithful and that he might know the ungodly. —
And wo cause these days of dilFerent success interchanijoably to suc-
ceed each other among men, that God miglit prove those who beliove,
and might destroy the infidels. — Did yo imagine that ye should enter

_ . paradise, when as yet God knew not those among you who fought stren-

tU degree, the talents ■ ^Qusly in his cause ; nor knew those who persevered with patience ? —
nsisting of about ou ^Verily, they among you who turned their backs oh the day whereon the
eclivity of the mo. " ^ ,q armies met each other at Ohod, Satan caused them to slip for some
hree standards w- ^ rime which they had committed." In order to stifle the murmurs of
at standard was car- U those who were overwhelmed with grief at the loss of their friends and

rclfltives, he represented to them, that the time of every man's death is
distinctly fixed by the divine decree, and that those who fell in battle
could not have avoided their predetermined fate even if they had staid
at home; whereas now they had obtained the glorious privilege of dy-
ing martyrs for the faith, and were consequently translated to the bliss
of paradise. "Otrue believers, be not as they who believe not, and

^ said of their brethren when they had journeyed in the land, or had been

breaking through the ■jj^j^^^ If they had been with us, those had not died, ner had these been

d promised by Mo-BjIjIjj. whereas, 'what befell them was so ordained. — No soul can die

ic enthusiasm to gam ■jmiggg |jy jj^q permission of God, according to what is written in the

[y was quickly disor-Bijogij containing the determination of things. — Thou shalt in no wise

the spirit and yaloumgg|jQjj those who have been slain at Ohod, in the cause ©f God, dead :

rs in the roar, impel-Bnjy^ tjigy ^^^ sustained alive with their Lord, rejoicing for ^yhat God

nnil scattered thetn-HQfkjg favour hath irranted them." With these miserable evasions did

p]u>t^Thc Battle of
lis followers vmrnm
incurred in this <tc-
stiuation—fyine awl.
b, slaiit—tyar of the

i of Mecca, for tlie
stimulated them to
istle. The Korcish
ncn under the com-
3ir enemy in the city
imbcrs to the invad-
, their attack witliiii
enkindled by the re-
restraint ; they cla-
, unwisely yielded to
e spirit of rash confi-
The prophetic pow-
nt. Mohammed, in

archers were station-
[there till commanded
inh advanced in the I
jian warriors, led the |
lofAbuSophyan, ac-
itly sounded timbrels |
The action commen-

11 g the favourable op-Bjic excuse the falsehood of his prediction, aftd salve over the ignominy

(rear, and exclaimmglofhis defeat. This doctrine of fatalism howevdr, took a deep root a-

h fury upon the disorfcr,ng his followers, and to this dav the MohiUaBICclanp ai"C thc HlOst
Ii the fatcoftho davp

ti*-

'■ »

LIPK OF M01IAi>kM±lU.

'5,

strenous sticklers of any people on earth for the doctriae ot absolute uh-
conditional predestination. *♦ No accident," saith the Koran, " hap-
peneth in the earth, nor in your persons, hut the same was entered in
the book of our decrees, before we created it."*

Abu Sophyan, for reasons now inexplicable, did not pursue the ad-
vantages he had gained on this occasion. He merely gave the prophet
a challenge to meet him again in the field on the ensuing year, which
was readily accepted, although somewhat more than a year elapsed be-
fore the actual renewal of ho8tilitics.

About this limp, or in the fourth year of the H(>jira (A. D. 626),

Mohammed prohibited the use of wine and of games of chance to his
followers. *< They will ask thee of wine and lots. Answer, In both
these there is great sin, and also some things of use unto men ; but their
sinfulness is greater than their use." The occasion of this prohibition
seems to have been the prophet's witnessing their bad effects in pro-
ducing discord and broils among his disciples. " O true believers,
wine and games are an abomination, of the work of Sutnn ; therefore
avoid them, that ye may prosper. Satan seekcth to sow dissension
and hatred among you by means of wine and lots, and to divert you
from remembering God, and from prayer ; will ye not, therefore, ab-
stain from them ?" The sins of the past, arising from this source, are
graciously remitted on condition of future amendment. * In those who
believe and do good works, it is no sin that they have tasted wine or
gaming before they were forbidden ; if they fear God and believe, and
do good works, and shall for the future fear God and believe, and
shall persevere to fear him and to do good — obey God, and obey the
apostle, and take heed to yourselves : butif ye turn back, know that
the duty of our apostle is only to preach publicly." Under wine arc
cnmprehended also all kinds of strong and inebriating liquors ; and
though Mussulmans of lax and libertine principles, and many such there
are, will indulge themselves with the forbidden beverage, yet the more
conscientious 6crupulously avoid it, and not only hold it criminal tn
taste of wine, but also to press grapes for the making of it, to buy of to
sell it, or even to maintain themselves with the money arising from the
sale of it.

Another act of blood stains the fame of Mohammed in this part ofhis
history. Being informed that Sophyan, the son of Cnled, was collect-
ing men for the purpose of attacking him, he ordered Abdallah, the
sonofOnais, eurnamed Dhul-Malldhrat, that is, a man ready to wider-
take any thing, to assassinate his designing foe. Abdallah obeyed the
prophet's command, and murdered Sophynn in the valley ofOrsa.—
He immediately returned to Mohammed, who, upon hearing the sue-

* *< We had at th« same time the following striking instance of the frivolous ap-
pcald to the Deity amoni; the Mohammedans. A man went round the caravan, cry-
mg with a loud voice, * In the name of God, the just, the merciful. My cup is gone I
from rae I it disappeared while I prayed at sunset (and may God grant my evcnin'l
prayer). To whoever may find the same, may God Ien.;^th.3n out his life, may Goa I
au§[ment his pleasures, and may God bring down afikirs of business on his oead.'!
This pompous appeal to Heaven, and prayers for good fortune to the finder of thel
missing utensil, were ail powerless, however, in their effect. The lost cup was not |
' found ; and the consolation then assumed was, ' God knows where it is gone ; butl
it was written in heaven from of old.' "—Buckingham's Travels in Mesopotamia! [
vol. 1. p. 281, London 1837.

■4

LIFE UF MOHA.VlAiKiJ.

V)7

le oi absoluie um-
le Koran, " hap-
le was entered in

not pursue the ad-
iT gave the prophet
luing year, which
a year elapsed be-

jira (A. D. 686),
B of chance to his
Answer, In both
into men; but their
I of this prohibition
jad effects in pro-
i O true believers,
)f Satan; therefore
to ^ow dissension
and to divert you
s not, therefore, ab-
pom this source, are
ent. -In those who
^ave tasted wine or
Jod and believe, and
d and believe, and
God, and obey the
irn back, know that
" Under wine aro
kating liquors; and
and many such there
vernge, yet the more
hold it criminal t(»
nff ofit, to buy or to
oney arising from the]

ined in this part of his
f Cnled, was collect-
lered Abdallah, the
a man ready to wider-
\bdallah obeyed the
le valley of Orsa.-
lon hearing the sue-

nice of the frivolous ap-
round the caravan, cry-
terciful. My cup is gone
God grant my evcnmE
,an out his life, may^f,
If business on his heafl.
Lne to the finder of the
Jt The lost cup was no
U where it is gone; but
Travels in Mesopotamia.

,.C!>» L»l''he ciiieri>jis.c, icavc hlin (is n token of his iVietiitship the cano
with wh)<'li hf* ii-rjiilly utjlki-tl.

On the fifth j'oar of the llejirn occnrrod thr war of the ditch, or, as it
i? olherwiso termed, (hr war of tlw nations; which, but for pecbliar cir-
cuuistuiiee?, would probably have resulted in the entire overthrow of
the impostor. The Koreish. in conjunction with a number of the neigh-
bouring tribes or nations, many of whom were Jews, assembled an ar-
my often thousand men, and making' eoininon cause against the grand
udversary of their oncient religion, ndvanced to the siege of Medina.
Oa their approach, i>Iohamme(l, by the advice of J??oliman, or Salman,
llicl'eri«ian,* ordered a deep ditch, or intrenchrwent, to be dug around
the city for its security, behind which he remained fortified for nearn.
month. During this period, no other acts of hostility occurred than a
few ineffectual attempts to unnoy cn<;h othei- by shooting arrows and
slinging stones. In the mean time, tradition says, the prophet was
busily employed by his arts and emissaries, in corrupting and bringing
ovci* to his interest tb'j lending men among the enemy. Having suc-
ceeded with several, he employed them in sowing dissensions among
the rest; so that at length the camp of the confederates was torn to
[pieces with divisions, and one party breaking offnfier another, nearly
the whole army was finally dissipated, and the little remnant that ro-
I mained thrown into confusion and made powerless by the direct visit-
ation of an angry (Jod. For while they lay encamped about the city»
a remarkable tempest, snpernaturally excited, benumbed the limbs of
the besiegers, blew dust in their faces, cxtiagnishcd their fires, over-
torned their tents, nn»l put their horses in disorder. The angels, more-
over, co-operated with the elements in discomfiting the enemy, and by
crying " Allah Achau !" (God is c;rcat !) as their invisible legions sur-
rounded the camp, struck them with such a panic, that they were glad
1 10 escape with their lives.

The prophet was not insensible to the marks of the divine favour
I vouchsafed him in these illustrious prodigies, nor did he fail to hold
llhem up to the consolation of his followers on subsequent occasions.—
'0 true believers, remember the favour of God towards you, when
lariHies of infidels came against you, and we sent against them a wind,
Rnd hosts of angels which ye saw not." But, to whatever it were ow-
ing;, whether to human or heavenly agency, it is certain that from this
Itimo the Koreish gave up all hopes of putting an end to the growing
Jpower and spreading conquests of Mohammed. They henceforth un-
(dertook no more expeditions against him.

This Soliman, otiicrwise called Suleiman Pauk (i. c. the pure), has ».cel«brftted
I tomb erected to his memory near the ruins of the ancient Ctesiphon, on thp Tigris.
Ih is among the prominent objects of curiosity to modern travellers to the- East.—
r From the ruins we -went to the tomb of Suleiman Pauk, whose name has super*
Isededthatof the builder of this magnificent pile, in giving a name to the district.—
■The tomb is a small building; with a dome ; ttic interior, to -which^ they allowed us
lacceas, on our pulling off our shoes, was ornamented with arabesque arches, and
|flio surrounding enclosure was used as acnravanserai." — Kcppel's Journey, p. 89,

<ij

I '

'}^

%:'

LIPE ©F .nr©HA-M>iED,

ClIAPTEK XIJ.

H-

J ■■

^7te JtJw //ic n^iccial objtcis- of Mohammed's Enmity — f^everal Tribes of than
reduced to Subjection — Undertakes a Pilgt image to Meeca-'The Mec-
cans concluding a Truce with him often years — His Power and Jtuthoribj
greatly increased — }Ius a Pulpit constructed for his Mosque — Goes against
Chaibar, a City of the Arab Jeics — Besieges and takes the City, but is
poisoned at an Entertainment by a young fVomnn—h still able to pro'!''-
cute his Victories.

Whatever might have been the prophet's oarly reverence for the city
of Jerusalem, and his friendship towards the Jews, who, together with
the sons of IshmacI, claimed in Abraham a common father, their obsti-
nacy converted his favour into implacable hatred ; and to the last mo-
ment of his life he pursued that unfortunate people with rigour of perse-
cution unparalleled in his treatment of other nations. The Jewish
tribes of Kainoka, Koraidha, and the Nadhirites, lying in the vicinity
of Medina, were singled out as the next objects of his warlike attempts;
and as they fell an easy prey to the power of his arms, spoliation, banish-
ment, and death were the several punishments to which he adjudged
them, according to the grade of their crime in rejecting a prophet or
opposing a conqueror.

Our intended limits will not permit us to enumerate the various bat-
tles fought by Mohammed during the five succeding years. Suffice it
to say, that, according to the computation of some of his biographers,
no less than twenty-seven expeditions were undertaken in which he
commanded personally, and in which nine pitched battles were fought.
The heart sickens in following a professed messenger and apostle of
God from one scene of blood and carnage to another, making the pre-
ffences of religion a cloak to cover the most unbounded ambition and
the vilest sensuality. A peaceablencss of the religion of Jesus maybe
dazzled by the glare of a tide of victories, and lose its detestation of
the impostor in admiring the success of the conqueror. But to one who
feels the force of Chriatiun principles, no relief is aftbrded by the view
of arduous battles won, of sieges undertaken, or of cities sacked or
subjected, by the prowess of a leader whose career is stained like that
of the founders of Islam.

One or two subsequent expeditions, however, arc too important in the
prepbet's history to be passed over without notice. In the sixth year of
the Hcjira, with fourteen hundred men, he undertook what he declared
to be a peaceful pilgrimage to the holy temple of Mecca. The inhabi-
tants were jealous of his intentions, and while he halted several days at
Hodeibiya, from whence he despatched an emissary to announce his in-
tention, they came to a derermination to refuse him admittance, and
Bent him word, that if he entered the city, it must be by forcing his way at

MFE OF MOiU'MMKl).

Of)

ral Trihea of than
Mecca— The Met-
jwer and Juthorit'i
ffljte— GoM against
ics the City, but is
! sfill able to p-orr

ercncc for the city
^ho, together with
father, their obsti-
ind to the last mo-
th rigour of peise-
,ns. The Jewish
ing in the vicinity
3 warlike attempts;
, spoliation, banisli-
A'hich he adjudged
jcting a prophet or

itc the various bat-
r years. Suffice it
lof his biographers,
taken in which he
)attles were fought,
iger and apostle of
r, making the pre-
inded ambition and
on of Jesus maybe
e its detestation of
Lr. But to one who
Iftbrded by the view
lof cities sacked or
is stained like that

Itoo important in the
lln the sixth year of
|k what he declared
locca. Tke inhabi-
llted several days at
Ito announce his in-
|m admittance, and
by forcing his way a*

tiie point of the sword. Upon this intolligonco, the warlike pilgrim caU
led his men together, and it was resolved to attack the city. The Mec-
cans, in the meantime, having more accurately measured their strength*
or estimated their policy, and having been, besides, somewhat wrought
upon by an unexpected act of clemency on the part of Mohammed, in
pardoning and dismissing eighty prisoners of their fellow-citizens, who
had fallen into his hands, altered their purpose of resistance, and sent
an ambassador to his camp to confer upon terms of peace. Some um-
brage was given to the Moslems by the facility with which their leader
waived the title of Apostle of God,* but the result was the concluding
of a truce of ten years, in which it was stipulated, that the prophet and
his followers should have free access to the city and temple whenever
they pleased, during the period of the truce, provided they came unar-
med as befitted pilgrims, and remained not above three days at a time.
In the 48th chapter of the Koran, entitled "Tho Victory,"' the prophet
thus alludes to ' 3 events of this exp^'litiop ; '* If the unbelieving Mec-
cans ha' -iu^,. ^ainstyou, verily •'"■■ j had turned their backs ; and
they wouui not wave found a patron or protector ; according to the or-
dinance of God, which hath been put in execution heretofore against tho
opposers of the prophets. It was ho wlio restrained their hands from
vou, and your hands from them, in the valley of Mecca." The entrance
into Mecca on this occasion is vaunted of by tho apostle as tho fhlfil-
mcnt of a prophetic dream. " Now hath God in truth verified unto his.
iipostle the vision, wherein he said. Ye shall surely enter the holy tem-^
pie of Mecca, if God please, in full security."

This event tended greatly to confirm the power of Mohammed ; and
not long afler, he was solemnly inaugurated and invested with the au-
thority of a king by his principal men. With the royal dignity he as-
sociated that of supremo pontiff of his religion, and thus became at onco
the king and priest of his Moslem followers, whose numbers had by
this time swelled to a large amount. So intense had their devotion to
tiicir leader now become, that even a hair that had dropped from his
head, and the water in which he washed himself, were carefully, collect-
ed and preserved, as partaking of superhuman virtue. A deputy, sent
from another city of Arabia to Medina to treat with the prophet, beheld
with astonishment tho blind and unbounded veneration of his votaries.
"I have seen," said he, "the Chosroes of Persia, and the Gassar of
Rome, but never did I behold a king among his subjects like Moham-
med among his companions."

With this new addition to his nominal authority, he began to assume

* " In wording the treaty, when the prophet ordered AH to begin with the form, .
"In the name of the most merciful God," th«y (the Meccans) objected to it, and ia-
Bisted that he should begin with this, "In thy name O God;" which Mohammed
submitted to, and proceeded to dictate : These are the conditions on which '^loham-
mcd the apostle of God, iias made peace with those of Mecca. To thia Sohail ac ain
objected, again objected, saying, " If we had acknowledged thee to be the apoitle of
God, we had not given thee any opposition." Whereupon Mohammed ordered Ali -
to write as Sohail desired, ' These are the conditions which Mohammed, the son of
Abdallab,'" &c.— Sale's Koran, vof. 2. p. 384, note.

uvi: Of .\io}i.\.Nj\iEi).

i
t

I I

*«■ '

more of the pomp .ind puriule duo to his lanK-. After the crectio:i of tlic
mosque at Medina, in wliich the proplict huriMolf otliciatcd as leader of
worship, he had lor a long time no other coineiiicuuc in the way of stand,
desk, or pulpit, than a tn-rdc of a [)a!m-tree fixed pcrpcndicwhirly in the
ground, on the top of w. ieh he was acrubtonicd to loan while preach,
ing. This >va3 now b(!eome too uiv.nu an aecommodation, and by the
advice of one of his wives he caused a pulpit to he oonstructod, with a
seat and two btcj)3 attached to it, v.hich he hcneeforth made use of in-
stead of the '* beam." The heauj, however, was loath to he deprived
of its honour, and the dcalerH in tlie marvejjo'is anions? his foilowins
say, that it gave an audible j^roan of rejrref when the prophet left it.—
Othman Ehn Aflun, when he became Caliph, jiung this pulpit with t;i-
pcstry, and iMoawiyah, another (Jaliph, r.iiscd it to a greater height by
adding six steps more, in imitation, doubtlos.s, of the ivory throne of
Solomon, and in this form it is said to bo preserved and shown at the
present day, as a holy relic, in the mosque of .Medina.

This year he led his army afiain.st Chaibar, a city inhabited by Arab
Jews, who offering him a manly resistance, he laid siege to the place
and carried it by storm. A jrreat miracle i:; here said to have been pci-
formed by Ali, surnamed " The Lion of God. A ponderous gate, which
eight men afterward tried in vain to lift from tiie ground, was torn Iv
him from its hinges, and used as a b ickler during the assault !* i\lo.
hammed, on entering the town, took up his <iu:'iters at the house cf
Hareth, .one of the principal inhabitants, and here met with a reception
■which eventually cost him his life. Zeinab, the daughter of fJaretij,
while preparing a meal for the conqueror and ids attondants, inserted a
quattity of poison into a slioulder oi' mutton which was served up at the
lahjc^ Bashar, a eornpanionof .Molnimmed, had scarcely began toont
of it,' before he was seized with convnisions, and died upon the spot.
Mohammed, by spitting out the greatest part of what he had taken info
his mouth, escaped immediate death, but the eliects of the fatal dru;'
had entered his system, and, lesistin'^- cvej-y effort of medicine to expel
or counteract it, in somewhat more th;:u three years afterward it brought
him to his end. Il", as the reporters of Mohammed's miracles aflirm,
the shoulder of mutton informed the prophet of its being poisoned, it is
cartain the intelligence came too late. 'l"he seeds of fieath were hence-
forth efleclually sown in his constitution; and his cvn decline ever after
kept pace with his growing power. When Zei;ia was asked, how she
had dared to perpetrate a deed of such unparalleled enormity, she is
said to have answered, •' that s!k^ was determined to make trial of liis
powers as a prophet; ifhowerea true prophet,"' said she, "he would
know that the meat was poisoned ; ifnof, it would be a favour to the
world to rid it of such a tyrant.'" It is not agreed among the Mohani-
raodan writers what \vas the piinishoicnt inflicted upon this second Jael,
or whether she suffered any. Some adirm that she was pardoned ; oth-
er* that she was put to death.

The progress of the prophet's disease was not such as to prevent him
from prosecuting that successful conrso of conquests in which, he avus

crcctior. of tlic
3tl as leader of
,0 way of stand,
licularly in the
, ^f/\u\t preach-
on, and by the
itructod, with a
nade use of in-
to he deprived

jrr hJB foUoWeVK

ii-ophet left it.—
B pulpit Willi ta-
reuter height by
ivory throne ol
nd shown at the

ihahited by Arab
ic^e to the phvce
to have been per-
vious gate, which
nul, was torn by
i assault !* Mo-
s at the house cf
;t witli a reception
.nrhter of Harctb.
in«lunt8, ini?erte(] a
.s served up at the
• cely began to out
led upon the t»pot.
he had taken into
of the fatal dru;;
.medicine to expel
[terward it brought
, miracles aftirni,
itirr poisoned, it is
lie'iah were hencc-
dec line ever aflev
.s asked, how she
enormity, she is
make trial of Ins
. yhc, "he would
a favour to the
long the Moham-
this second Jael,
3 pardoned ; oth-

lis to prevent him

\m whif-h- hf ^^'^'^

l.l*K OF .MOIIAM.MKD. Ul

i,o\v cngaget'. The Jew**, the constant objects of his vengeance, again
tempted Ilia victorious sword. Ho proceodci' against lledor, Watiba,
iind Selaliina; places which ho brought under subjection; permitting
thoir inhabitants to retain pos:;essioii on condition of paying him one
half the product of their date-trees as an annual tribute. On these terms
they remained undisturbed in their towns and villages Muring the Ufe-
limc of the prophet; till at length in the reign of Omar, who pretended
that Mohammed in his last sickness had given him a charge not to per-
mit two religions to coexist in Arabia, they were all expelled from their
ancient scttlemonts.

CHAPTER XIII.

Mohiinmt'd alleges a Ihaich of Faith on the part rf Ihe Mvecnus, and inarchu
an Army uiiuiinsl them — The. Cilij suvrendnedtu the Contjurror — Mu ^SV
jihyan and Al Ahhas, the Prophet's Unr.le, decline themsclvis Converts—
Mecca drxlttred to h<' Hulif Gruund — 'Ihc neii'^hhniriajr Tribes collect an
Army of four thousand 7niH to arrest the growing; jioieer of the Prophtt —
The Confederates entirely outrthrotni'-A rival Vroyhel arises in the per-
son of Moseiluma — Is crushed l»y Caled.

Two years had scarcely elapsed when INIohammcd accused tiio Mec-
cans of violating the truce, an J made tinjir alleged breach of faith a pre-
[ence for summoning an army of ten thousand men with a design to
uake himself master of t!ic city. He was now strong, and his enemies
tereweak. His superstitious roverencc for tht? city of his birth, and
lie temple it contained, served to inllucnre hit; rk termination for war.
The time since the concluding of the truo«> had been skilfully employed
iseducing the adherents of the Korcish, and converting to his religion,
|r enticing under his standard, the chief ciiizeiis of Mecca. By forced
jiarches ho urged his large army rapidly towurt's the city, and so unex-
jctedly was the place invested by the Moslem troops, that they had
carcciy time to put themselves in a posture of dtfenco before they were
rivea to such extremities, that the surrender of the city at discretion,
total destruction, scenied to be the only alteruntive. In these eircum-
[iincos the former step was resolved upon, humilialing as it was, and
Sophyan, the former inveterate enemy of Mohammed and his re-
gion, accompanied by Al Al)bas, an uncle of tlie impostor, came forth
jid presented the keys of the city to the conqueror. Nor was this all :
ey both crowned their^submission by bowmg to the prophetic claims
I their new master, and acknowledging hjm as the apostle of God.
lis we may suppose was a constrained admission, made under the up-
VJ scimitar of the furious Omar, md yielded as the price of life.

r>2

JUL ^Jl MUIJAMMKK*

Mohammcil, tliou;.^li i\ roiKinoror uml an impostor, wa.=5 liot lial>ituuliv
cruel ; bin anjicr wus tlircctod rutlur njxaiiist tin; is^odn of Iiih country.
than its inliiibitants. Tlio rhu'ln of flic Korcish proHtrated thnins«lv(!s
letbrc him, imd earnestly demands. 1 lucrc)' at Win hantls. "Whatmor-
cy can you ex()cct IVoin the man you hav»; wronged J" exclaimed i\\p.
prophet. ♦' Wn confido in the goncrosily of our kinsman." " You shall
not confide in vain/' was the g'licrouH or politic reply of Mohammed,
•* He gone ; you are »ufc ; you arc free.'' They were thenccfortli loO
unmolested, and places of honour and trust were still confided to tliciii.
On his entry into the city, of which he had now made himself ahsoliito
master with tho sacrifice of oidy three men and two women, whom ho
ordered to be executed, he proceeded to purgu the Caaba of its llirci
hundred and Bixfy idols, and to consecrate that temple anew to the pm-
poHCS of his religion. The aposth; again fulfilled tho duties of a pil-
grim, "'.d a jterpetiud law was enacted, that no unbeliever should dar
to set his fool on the territory of the holy city. On tho day in wliicli
the prophet entered Meccu in triumph, he ordered Bclal, his crier, to
mount to the top of the temple at noon, and from thence to call the pou-

{)le to prayer r>r the first lime under the new institution. This custom
las been religiously otiserved in Mohammedan countries from thutdny
to the present , the crier, who is called muezzin, still giving the poo|il
notice of the ho<ir of prayer from the minarets of their mosques.

When the news ol'the conquest of iIIccch reached the neighboaricj
tribes of Aruhs, tho Ilunazinp, TnliifianB, and others, hastily assem-
Iil«ci a force nrnountiu^ to tibout four thousnud men, with the designoi'
cru»hin^ the u«iM-per before his dun^irernus power had attained to nny
gri?at height. iMohiunnied, nppointiiifr a temporary governor of the
city, marched out with an army of no lt*ss than twelve thousand uieii,
aud met the enemy in the valley of Iloiicin, three miles from Mecca
on the way toTaycf. Tlie Moslems, secin;? themselves so vastly su-
perior in point of numbers, were inspircil with u presumptuous conii'
dence of victory, which had like to have resulted in their ruin. Intiie
first encounter, the coR(ederutes rutshed upon the faithful with such des-
perate vulour, that they pui nearly the whole army to flight, many oi
them retreating back to the \vail» of Dleeca itself. i>Iohammed, mount-
ed on a white mule, with u few of his faithful followers at his sidpj
boldly maintained his ground ; and sueli whs his ardour in this crisi
of the conflict, that it wus by muin force that one of his uncles andaj
cousin, laying hold of his bridle and stirrups, restrained him from rush
ing alone into the mid(*t of the enemy. ** O my brethren," he exclaim
ed, " I om the son of Abdallah ! I nm tho npostlo of truth ! 1) men,
£itand fast in the failh ! <> God, send down thy succour!" Hisuni
Abbas, who possessed a^ttcntorian voice, exerting the utmost strenjtl
of his lungs, recalled the tiying troops, and gradually rallied them a
gain around tho holy standard ; on which the prophet, observing will
j)leasure •' that the furnace was rekindled," charged with new vigoui
the ranks of the iitidels and idolaters, and finally succeeded in obtainj
ing a complete victory, though not, as appears from the Koran, with
out the special a'-*sistnnre of angels. The giving way in the first Id
stance was a murk of the Divine displeasure against tho I^foslems fo

dabi

the

Ibeol

is IT

I ■ \

i:|J:J: 0,V MOUAiUMK^.

Q:i

tiki'ir ovcrvvcciiiiig ronlhli'nru in their Hii|>rrii)k' iiuiui)Ci-<'. *' Aow liulli
timl iiHssifrtoil you in nuiny cnpap^rmrnts, and pnrtlrulurly ;ii tlu; buttle
(il'llont'in ; wlu'n yo plonsfcl youi>iclvrs in yoor multitudcH, luit it wny
no nuinntM' of nd vantage nnto you ; ilw cnrtli nccmcd to bo too narrow
in your proripitato fiifrht ; then did yo ro1r«'nt anti (urn yourburkH.—
Attcruard Cjod in-ta ilown his scrurily upon U\n apostle and apon tho
tiiithful, and troops of anfrols which j i* huw ;;.)t."

Tho remaining part of tin; year was sjionr in demolii!liin*i^ the tem-
ples and idulM of tlio subjVi.t Arubs. Sniid, I'ak-d, and oihrrn of his
Moslrni chioftBJns wore tlofpatrhed in voriouft directions ov«>r the con-
iliuTod provinces with orders tc wa^o u war of cxterniinution against
the idols of the ancient superstition. This pious cruHado was crowned
with the conver^ion of mnny idolaterM, a» well as with the <le8truction
, fthe " lyin<jf vanities'' of their worsjldp, and it is nit suungo thai they
!.hould huvc admitted the doctrine ol'lhc tlivine unity, when the dca-
tfoying sword of tho apost'e had cut off all jjods Init one.

The prophet having noXv bcettine in furt tlie soveroign of Arabia, ho
Itojjan, in the ninlh year of the Hcjirn. to nieditule the conquest ofHy-
rin. He did not live fully to accomplish this design, which was cxe-
ciited by his successors ; but he entered upon it, and notwithstanding
the expedition was undertaken in thti! heat ofthchunimer, and the scar-
ify of water subjected his men to almost intolerable sufferings, yet ho
ItiUvTeeded in obtaining possession of Tubuc, u town on the cnnlinesof
jlheCireck empire, from whence he made ii victorious «lescentupon the
idjaccnt territories of Uauma and lilylu. Their princes yielded to tho
lestiny which now seemed to accompany the arms of the impostor
herevcrthey were turned, and they were henceforth enrolled among
is tributaries. This was the Inst expedition on which the propiiet went
rth in person. The fame of his power had now become so extensive
id imposing, tlint distant tribes were awed into submission, and sent
leiremissaries to tender to him the voluntary acknowledgment of their
lomage and fealty. The numerous deputations which for this and o-
ler purposes, waited upon Mohammed this year, induced him to call
■The Year ofKmbassies."

The close of this year was distinguished by the prophet's last pilgrim-
etc Mei'ca, called, from its bemg the last, " The Pilgrima/rft of Val-
liotion. An ideu of the amazing incrensc of his followers since he last
sited iMeccu may be formed from the fact, that on this occasion he is
id to have been accompanied by one hundred and fourteen thousand
oslcms !
Signal success in any enterprise seldom fails to call forth imitators

^^ li rivals. Alohammed had now become too powerful to be resisted by

rethveti'," he exclaimBrce, but not too exalted to be troubled by competition. His own ex-

lo of truth! O wonm,p|p jn assuming the sacred character of an apostle and prophet, and

liuccourl" Hisundm,[j,,ji]j^^jj ^j^g^,pgg ^^.|j-^.jj Ij^j attended him, gave a hint toothers of

g the utmost strens»j pj.Qj^^ljj^ ^^,^j^^ of advancing themselves to a similar pitch ofdig-

lunlly rallied tbcnTi'my ^j.j J j^j^^Ij^j^jj^ ,^1^^ gj^jj.^ of emulation, therefore, raised up afor-

phet, .°['^*^''y^"vijjoiB(iable fellow-prophet in the person of Moseilama, called to this day

red ^^^^^JjJJ^i„ oblainl'he followers of Islam, " the lying Moseilama," a descendant of the

• *"*^^the Koran, wilhBbc of Honeifa, and a principal personage in the province of Yemen.

"^"'•"v in the first injis man headed an embassy «cnt by his tribe to Mohammed, in the

n^«!t\ho iMoslems <'#hycar of the Hojira; and Oicn profc^^cd him^lf a Moslem: but on

i.^ not UaUituali}
^ of his country,
ruled themselves
\». *'Whiitmor-
t" exclaimed tho.
ian." " Yo'i shall
y of Mohmnmeil.
ro thonccforlh '.eft
1 confided to tlioiii.

himself absolute
women, whom Ik;
Caaba of Its thrc.

io anew to the i.uv-
,0 duties ot i\ pil-
cUcvcr should (lur
, the dav in wlnoh
Belul, his cvu-r, to
cncctocuUthprco-

ition. This custjn,
intrios from that day

ill giving the pcoi-l;
icir mosnnes.
,cd the neighboviriDj
her^, hastily assem-

1 with the design 01

had attained to nny
L-v governor of the
Sve thousond men,

miles from Mecca.

selves so vastly su;

presumptuous oonH

in Iheh- rum. l^m
luithful with such de*

y to tJight, many of
Mohammed, mount
Uowers at his sulel
Uourin thiscmij
. of his uncles andal
ained him from rush]

t '

■&2

a;.

i.lFE OV MuHAMMKJ).

i I

his rcturu home, poiidi'iint; on tlio tmtiirr ol'llio new relipmu auii lin-
character uml I'ortuni'-H of its foiindrr, tliu Hucrilcpioiis suggestion or-
ciirrcd to him, that by skillni mana^rnuMit he might nhuru with \m
countrymen in the glory of a <li\ me misHion ; nnd accordingly, in fli«
enduing year, hcgim to put his r reject in execution. Ho gave out that
he also was a prophet sent of ( iod, having a joint cummisHion with Mo-
liamnied to recall matd^ind from idohvtry toth(t worship oftho true (iod.
Ho moreover aped liis moflel ko closely as to puhlinh written revelationM
like the Koran, pretended to Jjave hecn derived from the same sonroo.
Having succeeded in gninin;;;;! coiisidoraldo party from the tribe of flo-
noifa, he at length began fo put hirnyelt still more nearly upon a level
with the prophet of Medina, j nd even went so far nn to propose to Mo-
hammed a partnership in his apiritual *>uprema«y. His letter commen-
ced thus : ♦♦ From Mosoilamn, the apostle of God, to Mohammed, tlic
apostle of (iod. Now let tlu? earth be half mine and hiUf thine." But
the latter, feeling hiuiself too firmly • stabliyhed to stand in need of an
associate, deigned to return him only the following reply: ''From
Mohammed, the apostle of (iod, tt» Moseilama, the liar. The earth is
God's ; ho giveth the same tor inheritance unto such of his servants as
he plriscth ; and the happy issue f^hall atteiu' those who fear him."
Duri:;2 the a ./ months that Mohammed lived after this revolt, Mo?eil-
ama continued, on thr. whole, to gain ground, and became, at lengtli,
so formidable, as to occasion extreme anxiety to the prophet, now rap-
idly sinking under the eflects of his disease. An expedition undcrthc
command of Caled, •' the 8word of God," was ordered out to suppress
the rival sect, headed by the K|)uriou8 apostle, and the bewildered ima-
gination of Mohammed, in his moments of delirium, was frequently pic-
turing to itself the results of the engagement between his faithful Mos-j
lems and these dating apostates.

The army af Calcd returned victoriors. Moseilama himself and ten I
thousand of his follower?" wore l^li dead on the field; whilo the rest, i
eonvinced by the shining evidence of truth that gleamed from the swords
ot the conquerors, renounced their errors, and fell quietly back into!
the bosom of the Mohammedan church. Several other insurgents ofj
similar pretences, but of minor consequence, were crushed inlikeman-f
ner in the early stages of their defection.

^UK ui.. mUAM^MBp

CHAFi'iiK XIV.

Thf NiUsrion of the Prm,i * /• .

We have no. reached th ' '*^"'^' ^^

submission of tho rest of A ^V''''^' ^'^^ ^^^TZfuct t T^^ "^"•
offered, for a time jL 1^'^'*'" ' ^"'^ though "everal Ir .."^"' ^•'" ^^>"

mself did no, i„deeK.f ""^ ""'' "'clofirus J^^ M''f>' ""<>

bJ more sensiblv n mM> ^' '^*'?a" *<> discover f I -n.! ^iuchhad
» approach and?, f f'TP""""" '» 'heVven. U «"" '■>»<oning

, !

*»

llki

^ ..V'

I*'

L\\iE OF jrWIAlilMEI).

( ;

man? let l»im proclaim my faults in the fjice of the congregation, ilaa
any one been despoiled of his goods? tho little that I poF,ses9 ahall
compensate the principal and the iiitrrc«totthc debt." — " Yes," replied
a voice from the crowd, " thou owest me throe drachms of silver."
Mohammed heard the complaint, satisfied tlie demand, and thanked his
creditor, that ho had accused him in this world rather than at the day of
judgment. He then set his slaves at liberty, seventeen men and
eleven women ; directed the order of his funeral ; sitrovc to allay the
lamentation of his weeping friends, and waited the approach of death.
He did not expressly nominate a successor, a step which would have
prevented the altercations that afterward came so near to crushing in
its infancy the religion and the empire of tho Saracens; but his appoint-
ment of Abubeker to supply his place in the function of public prayci
and the other services of the mosque, seemed to intimate indirectly the
choice of the prophet. This ancient and faithful friend, accordingh,
after muth contention, became the first Caliph of the Saracens,* tiio'
his reign was closed by his death at the end of two years. Tho death
of Mehammed was hastened by the force of a burning fever, which de-
prived him at times of the use of reason. In one of these paroxysms ot
delirium, he demanded pen and paper, that he might compose or dictate
a divine book. Omar, who was watching at his side, refused his re-
quest, lest the expiring prophet might dictate something which should
supersede the Koran. Others, however, expressed a great desire that
the beok might be written ; and so warm a dispute arose in the cham-
ber of the apostle, that he was forced to reprove their unbecoming ve-
hemence. The writing was not performed, and many ot his followers
have mourned the loss of the sublime^^ revelations which his dying vi-
Bions might have bequeathed to them. His favourite wife Ayesha hung
over her husband in his last moments, sustairiging his drooping head |
upon her knee, as he lay stretched upon the carpet, watching with trem-
bling aaxiety his changing countenence, and listening to the last bro- j
keri sounds of his voice. His disease, as it drew towards its terminn-
tion, was attended at intervals with most excruciating pains, which lie I
constantly ascribed to the fatal morsel taken at Chaibar ; and as
mother of Bashar, the companion who had died upon the spot from (lie I
same cause, stood by his side, he exclaimed, "O mother of Bashar,!
the cords of my heart are now breaking of the food which I ate witlil
your son at Chaibar." In his conversation with those around him, hcl
mentioned it as a special prerogative grantod to him, that the atigel ofl
death was not allowed to take his soul till he had respectfully askedliisl
permission of him, and this permission he condescendingly granteJJ
recovering from a swoon into M'hich the violence of his pains hit
thrown bins, he raised his eyes towards the roof of the house, and withi
faltering accents exclaimed, " O God ! pardon my sins. Yes, I cooid
dmeng my fellow-labourers on high!" His face was then .sprinkled

* Saracen is tke name bestowed by the ancient foreign writers upon tho Arab'J
They may have tolerated the title, but it is not one of their own imposition or of liitf
likhjg. '

:i*,

|(Ti-cgation. Haa
t^l possess bUaW
-" Yes," replied
aohms of silver."
1 and thanked his
than at the day of
fcnteon men and
.trove to allay tho
approach of death,
which would have
ear to crushing in
^gthuthisappoinl-
01, of public prayer
imato indirectly the
riend, accordingly
,hc Saracens,* tho
years. The dcalh
^nc fever, which dc-
f these paroxysms ol
t compose or dictate
side, refused his re-
icthing which should
st\ a great desire that
[e arose in the chanv
their unbecoming ve-
many ol his followers
, which hia dying vi-
rile wife Ayesha hung
12 his drooping head
.watching with trem.
ening to the last bro-
V towards its temim.

aing pains, which k
Chaibar; andastk

ppon the spot from the

fo mother of Bashar.

liood which I ate wiji
those around him, he

jiini, tliat the auge 0!
respectfully askedhi

Llescendingly gra'f 1

Vce of his pains ha
of the house, and wttJ
nysins. Ves, 1 cod
fowas then sprinklci^

In writers upon the ArabI
%wn imposition or of tlifl

i.lFJ-: OF MOHA^liMEi^

with n atcr, and that by las own feeble hand, when lie shortly after ex-
pired.

The city, and more especially the house, of the prophet, became at
once a sceiio of sorrowful, but confused, lamentation. Some of his fol-
lowers could not believe that he was dead. " How can he be dead, our
witness, our intercessor, our medi'itor with God? He is not dead.
Like Moses and Jesus lie is wrapp«<l in a holy trance, and speedily will
he return to his faithful people." The evidence of sense was disregard-
ed, and Omar, brandishnig his scimitar, threatened to strike On the
heads of the infidels who should affirm that the prophet was no more.
The tumult was at length appeased by the moderation of Abukeker.
"Is it Mohammed," said he, *' or the God of Moharomedf whom ye
worship? The God of Mohammed liveth for over, but the apostle was
a mortal like ourselves, and, according to his own prediction, he kath
t<xperienced the common fate of mortality.'"'^

The prophet's remains were deposited at Medina, in the very ro^m
in which he breathed his last, the floor being removed to make way for
his sepulchre, and a simple and unadorned monument some time afler
erected over them. The house itself has long sinco mouldered or been
demolished, but the place of the prophi t's interment is still made con-
spicuous to the superstitious reverence of his disciples. The story of
his relics being suspended in the air, by the power of loadstone, ia an
iroa coffin, and that too at Mecca, instead of Medina, is a mere idle&b-
rication ; as his tomb at the latter place has been visited by millions of
pilgrims, and from the authentic accounts of travellers who have visited
both these holy cities in disguise, we learn that it is constructed of plain
mason work, fixed without elevation upon the surface of the ground.

* " Mohammsd is no more than an apcstle : the other apostlea havo alpeady deceas*
cd befor* bin : if he dio, therefore, or be slain, will yc turn back on your heels?"'—
Koran, ch. iii.

"Verily, thou, O Mohammed, shultdic, and theyRhiili die; and ye shall debate tho
matter [idolatry] with one another beferc your Lord H the day et' resurrection."— >
Ibid, ch, xxxix.

CHAPTER'^XV.

Ri'jlections vpon the extraordinary Career of Mohammed— Description of his
Person — General Vieiv of his Character. .... . . .,"

Thus closed the earthly career of one of the most reniarkable men»
and of decidedly the most successful impostor, that ever lived. By tho
force of a vast ambition, giving direction to native talents of a superior
order, he had risen from small beginnings to tho pinnacle of power a-
mong tho Arab nation, and before hi^ death had commenced one of tb9

LliK ^l' ^ilOHAMMfijy.

'I^lv

I Nl

greatest Devolutions known in the history of mnn. He laid (he founda*
tion of an empire, which, in the short apace of eight years, extended ito
sway over more kingdoms and countries than Rome had mastered in
eight hundred. And when we pass from the political to the religious as-
cendency which he gained, and consider the rapid growth, the wide dil".
fusion, and the enduring permanence of the Mohammedan imposture,
we are still more astonished. Indeed, in this, as in every other instance
where the fortunes of an individual arc entirely disproportioned to the
means employed, and surpass reasonable calculation, we are forced to
resolve the problem into the special providence of G»d. Nothing short
of this could have secured the achiovement of such mighty results; and
we must doubtless look upon Mohammedanism at the present day as a
standing monument of the mysterious wisdom of Jehovah, designed to
compass ends which arc beyond the grasp of human minds, at least till
they are accomplished.

As to the person, Mohammed, according to his Arabic biographers,
was of a middling stature and of a florid complexion. His head wot
largo and well foimed ; his hair smooth and of a glossy black ; his eye
of the samo colour ; and so uncommonly vigorous and robust was his
frame, that at the time of his death scarcely any of the marks or infirmi-
ties of ago had appeared upon him. His features were large, yet regu-
lar ; his cheeks full ; his forehead prominent ; his eye brows long and
smooth, mutually approaching each other, yet not so as to meet; and
between them was a vein, of which the pulso was quicker and higher
than usual whenever he was angry. Ho had an aquiline nose and a
large mouth, with teeth of singular brilliancy and somewhat singular
form, as tiiey were |)ointed like the teeth of a saw, and placed at some
distance from each other, though still in beautiful order. When he
laughed he discovered them, and thej^' appeared, if tradition may be cre-
dited, like hail-stones or little white pearls. Even his laughter is said
to have been full of majesty, and in his smilo there was such a contrac*
(ion of the muscles of the mouth and cheeks, and such an expression
given to the countenance, as rendered it irresistibly attractive. In hi«
later years becamo corpulent ; but ho had always a free, open air, a ma-
jestic gait, and a most engaging address.

The Moslem writers are unbounded in their eulogy of the prophet's
character as a man. Even those of them who treat as it deserves the
foolish fiction of his having been taken by two angela in his childhood,
his body laid open by a knife, his heart taken out, aad pressed, and
wrung, till its original corruptions oozed out in the form of large black
fetid drops, when it was again replaced, purified and perfect, in his bo-
som, and the wound miraculously healed, still maintain that his moral
qualities were such as to lift him quite out of tho grade of the common
r' ce of men. But here the history of his life and the pages of the Ko-
ran will enable us to make those abatements which, in respect to his
personal accomplishments, we can only suspect ought to be made.—
His followers extol his piety, veracity, justice, humility, and self-denial,
in all which they do not Rcruple to propose bim as a perfect pattern to

-,«i

UhJ-. UF MOHAMMllD,

r>9

Ihe faitlilul. His charity, in paiticular, lliey say, was so conspicuous,
that he seldom had any inonoy in liis house, keeping no more than was
just Bufficiont to maintain his family, and frequently sparing even a part
of his own provisions to supply the necessity of the poor. All this may
have been so, but in forming our judgment of the exhibition of these
moral traits, wc cannot forget (hat he had private ends to answer, and
nethus find it impossible to distingush between the generous impulses
of a kind and nnble heart, and the actings of an interesting {M)I;cy. It
is no unusual thing for a strong ruhng passion to bring every other pas-
sion, even the most opposite and discordant, into harmony and subser-
viency to its dictates. Ambition will sometimes control avarice, and
the love of pleasure not unfrequently govern both. A man may afford
to be just and generous, and to act the part of a very saint, when he has
no less a motive before him than to gain the character of a prophet and
the power ot a monarch. If Mohammed really evinced the virtues of a
prophet, he doubtless had his eye upon *' a prophet's reward." But we
\youkl not be gratuitously harsh in oui judgment of the impostor's moral
qualities. Wo think it by no means improbable, that hia disposition was
naturally free, open, noble, engaging, perhaps magnanimous. We
doubt not injustice may have been done by Christian witers to the man
io their unmeasured detestation of the impostor. But as long as we ad-
mit the truth of history, as it relates to Islnmism and its founder, i\*. is
plain, that if he were originally possessed of praiseworthy attributes,
ihcy ceased to distinguish him as he advanced in life ; for his personal
degeneracy kept pace with his success, ;;nd his delinquencies became
more numerous, gross, and glurmg, the l()f.gcr ho 'ived.

Ofhis in^ellectuai cHrh-wnicntiii, fiio foilnwcrs speak in the fiame
strain of high pamgyric. His geniufci, s>. uring above the need of cul*
ture, nnaided by the lights of Irurniiig, ilp((pii«ing t>ooks, bore him by
its innate strength into the kindred 8tibl:niitiv.'8i)t* prophecy and poetry,
and enabled him in the Koran, without. ntodclH ur masters, to speak
with an eloquence un{>BraUeIed In any human production. But here it
has escaped them, that they praise the prophet at the expense of his
oracles; that whatever credit, on the score I'f authorship, they give
to hint, so much they detract from the evidence of its inspiration ;—
|siDce Mohammed himself constantly appeals to his revelations as pro-
ceediojr from Hn "illiterate praphet," and Uierefore carrying with them,
n their uneqdallcd style, the cleiirest evidence of being, not a human,
)Dt a divide composition. On the point, however, of the literary mer-
jltsof the Koran, and of (he mental endowments of its author as evin-
edby it, the reader will judge for himself. We can more readily as-
entto their statements when they inform u.«i, that his intellect was a-
ute and sagacious, his memory retentive^, his kno^vledge of human
lattire, improved as it was by travel and extended intercourse, pro-
bund and accurate, and that in the artsof insinuatien and address he
ivas without a rival. Neither are we able to gainsay their accounts
. jn'^^respect to his Bvhen they represent him as having been atthhJe, rather than loquaci-
ht to be made. — ■"*! of an even cheerful temper ; pleasant and familiar in conversa-
r d self-denial, ■?" ! and possessing the nrt, in a surprising* degree, of attaching his

lity, ana * . B-iends and adherents to his person,
a perfect pattern w m »

laid the founda*
ars, extended it»
had mastered in
» the religious as-
ivth, the wide dil'-
icdan imposture,
ery other instance
•oportioned to the
we are forced to
i Nothing short
ighty results ; and
e present day as a
lovah, designed to
Dinds, at least till

rabic biographers,
on. His head was
,8«y black ; his eye
and robust was his
ne marks or infirmi-
ere large, yet regu.

eye brovs long and
80 as to meet; and
, quicker and higher
aquiline nese and a
somewhat singular
and placed at some
I order. When he
radition may be orc-
his laughter is said
was such a contrac-
such an expression
. attractive. In hi«
ree, open air, a ma-

)gy of the prophet's
Ut as it deserves the
3la in his childhood,
It, aad pressed, and
Iform of large black
Id perfect, in his bo-
Uain that his moral
[adc of the common
lie pages of the Ko-

* ¥

l.iri: Ui'MUHAJVL\lLL».

(

':!

On tltc wiiulc. i'l-ain ii candid sui'voy ol'liis lil'u and actions, \vemu>
safely pronounc.t'Mohamir.ed to have been by nature a luau oi'asupi'-
lioi- fjiot ofcharHctur, nnd very coiisidfrably in tulvunce oCtliu ago in
ivliich he livtHl. Itiit tlio upe and the country in ul)i<'li he 'iroso and
shon« wore raJo und barbarou&i ; and the stanilard \vhic!i would tie-
tfpniine him ([>r<al amonff the roving tribes of Arabia might have lel't
him httle more iba'.. u conunon man ia the cultivated dimes of Europe.
Mens' characterr. are moulded as much by their eircumHtancosaiod for-
tunes aa by their native ^eniur^ and Ijia8. Under another cambinatioti
of accidentci, the founder of the Moslem faith and of the empire of the
JSaraccns mi^rld have Munk to oblivion with the anonymous millions of
his race, hm thedr.>|i»< of rain are absorbed into the sands ofhis native
deserts, liis uhole history makes it evident, that fanaticism, ainlii-
tlon, and lust were his master-passions; of which the former appeals
to have been ^tadually eradicated by the fjrowing strong'th of tlio two
last. An enthusiast by nuiure. he brcame a hypocrite by policy ; and
MS the violence ofhis c jr. apt propentrities increased, ho scrupled not
to gratify them at tlie expense of tratli, justice, friendship, and human-
ity, it is ri^ht, indeed, tn foraimg' our estimate of his conduct in its
most repuUive respects, that we should make allowance ibr theigno-
ranee, the prejudict^s, the m.'.niters, the laws of the pcopla amon<; whom
he lived. A heathen people cannot be fairly judged by the rules of
Christian morality. In the mere circumstance of multiplying^ his wives,
he followed the (; xamon example of his countrymen, with whom po-
lygamy htnl bc'-Mi. from the earlicbt a<jes, a pj-evjiilinj?' practice. Aiul
so, though we tfonnot jiiJitify, yet we may in some mcasui'c palliate,
the nmrder of ( ai>b and 8o,<hyaa, if we supposed the prophet to have!
viewed them as emtaii- s i'r^m whom his ov/n life was in jeopardy ; for
in tnis no violence wai? done to the common sentiments of the Arab
race. Even at the present day, among the pro{)hct's disciples all over
the East, no trait is more common or more revolting than recklessnan
of life, uhich is doubtle^'h< to be ascribed as much to national habits an
to a native craelty or ferocity of disposition. We must, indeed, thiti
but little of the morality of such a people, and must behold with indio-i
Ration a pretended prophet, while professing* to purify the moral codej
of hia countrymen, continuing still in the practice of some of the won
of its tenets. Here, in fact, our heaviest condemnation falls uponWol
Iiammed. H<' did not observe those nUes ofmoralitij which he himself laid d$ien.\
and which he enforced upon othtrs by such Itrrible sanctions. No excuse caal
be offered for the impo'itor on this score. He abused his claims Qsal
pi'ophet to SCI ecu the guilty excesses ofhis* private life, nnd under tiiel
pretence of a special revelation, dispensing him from the laws impof
sed by his own religion, had the female sex abandoned without reserv«|
to his desires. " O jj/ophct, we have allowed thee thy wives unto whom
thou hast given their dower, and also the slaves which thy right bandl
possesseth, of the booty which God hath granted thee ; andthedanghl
tersofthy uncle and the daughters of thy aunts, both on thy fatherf
side and on thy mother's side, who have fled with thee from Weccaf
and any other belie^ ing woman, if she give hersif unto the prophet!
in case the prophet desireth totakeherto wife. This is a peculiar prlTl
ilege granted unto thee, aoove the rest of the trae believers." Theeil
cecdingly liberal grant thas made to the prophet on the score of m^
rimonial privilege may be contrasted with the allowance mndo to '

HfE «F SuniA \1AIEJ>.

, acliowB, Nvemuj
, ttlImnoi■u8npl•
unceofll«ougela
uh he 'iroso and

whic'' would tie
Q might Uave lelt
icUmeHot'Europc.
umHiancosuudlor-
oihpr comijination
iftho cmpJieoftho
iiiymous milUons ol

snnds of his native
liumticism, ambi
the Ibrinev appears
«tronglhotthouvo
,rite by polJcy; and
Hi ho scrupled not
iudship, ond human.
»f his conduct in its
owance lor the igno-
peoplaamonjJfvvliom
U\ by the rules ol

multiplying h'^^^'^'''
,e„, xviih whom po-
jnling pracnec. «ml
me measure palhale,
d the prophet to liave
, was in jeopardy ;fo

ktimentB of the Ara
ruet's disciples all over

Iting than recklcmm
to national habits a?
c must, indeed, thiii
,8t behold with jndig
purify the moral coile

(iot'someoithovorjt
,»nation falls upon Mo.

,hich he himself laiddm.
[ctions. No excuse ca
bused his clmmso
\tenfe, andmiderthe
a from the laws impo
Idoned without rese»>«
thv wives unto wnoDJ
1 which thy right ba;

d thee ; and »^%2
' both on thy father

,ith thee from Mec
L-slf unto the prophe
Thl. is a peculiar PiJ
Le believers.' Thej
ft on the score of m
Uawance made to wj

lollowors. " Take in niarrinfro of h'icU woinou as plrjiso ytiM two. Ihrrr,
or lonr ; and no more IJiil ifyo fear tliut ye oiiunot net cfiiiil.jbly to-
wards so many, inniry on»» only."'

Rcs*pert te dccorinn forMdn our vntrring into dt'tf»il>* vfliitivo to tins
part of Mohammed's condvict tiiul r':Mract<»r. IJui fitiui what has been
already adduced, the rpadr-r cp.iinol liavc fnilftS to pi'rrt'ivo how com-
pletely the prophet's iinpnritnri.' tvaxnuulo an engine tor promothifj the
gratification of Fcnsnal pns'«ion. O.ic of the ffro^ifest m*tnncesi of lii;)
unhallowed abase of the clniiTit^ to whic!i he pr''»<'nilt'd «.««Tur9 in the his-
tory of his intercoursse with .Hiiry, on E<ryjitir.ri slave. The knowledge
ofhis illicit amours with this " possession of his ri^hl har.'f' having'
come to the ears*, or rather to the eyes, of one ofhis lawful wives, who
thereupon reproached him most bitterly for his nsfidelity, he went so
far, in order to pacify her. as to promise with an oath nevf r to be ffuil-
iy of a repetition of the i>{renro. IJnt the iijllrmity of nnt>jre having
not long after triumphed njfain over the j-iveng-th of bin resolution, ho
had recourse to his revelations to cover t!i<' ytandal of this shameleisq
lapse. The expedient now resortrd ti) forms one of the blnfkest stains
upon the pnjres of the Koran, and upon the rims'Hoter of its atitaor. —
It was nothin«! Ici^s than a pretended absolution ofths' prnphet from t'ue
nblipatlor. ofhis oath. *• O prophet, why h";!(lest t!ion tiiut to be pro-
iiibited which God !i;ith allowed thcc, seckint^ to plense thy wives; since
God is inclined to forgive, and merciful ? (iod hulh allowed you tho
tlissolution of your oaths, and tiod is your niastnr." II<tc is an al-
leged dispensation of the piopliet, which must bo construed as actually
legaliziing perjury on the part of a professed messen^^'^r of truth; one
too who thus instructs his followers : " Perform your covenant with God,
when ye enter into covenant with him, and violate not your oaths after
the ratification thereof; since ye have made God a witness over you. —
Verily, God knowetji that which ye do. And he not like unto her who

undoeth that which she hath

spun,

uniwistuifj it alter

she hath twisted

it strongly." " Therefore take not your oaths between you deceitfully,
lest your foot slip after it hath been stcdfastly fixed, and ye taste evil
in this life, and sufler a grievous punislunent in the life to conic." This
is hut too fair a sptciineu of the general character of the Koran. By far
the greater part of its contents were (abricatcd to answer paiticular pur-
poses, which he could eflcct in no other way ; and this was an expedi-
Icnt which never failed. If any new enterprise was to be undertaken, a-
ny new objections answered, any difficulty to be solved, any disturbance
among his followers to be hushed, or any offence t» be removed imme-
diate recourse was had to Gabriel, and a new revelation, precisely adapt-
ed to meet the necessities of the case, was grantjcd. As an inevitable
consequence, a vast number of variations and contradictions, too pal-
pable to be denied, occur in the course of the book. His c ommentators
and disciples acknowledge the fact, but account for it by saying, that
[whenever a subsequent revelation plainly contradicts a former it is to bo
[considered as having been revoked or repealed by tho latter; and above
|a hundred and fifty verses are enumerated as having been thus set aside
liy after-discoveries of the divine will. In this they arc countenanced
Ibythe words of tho impostor himself. "What ever vcr&'c we shp.ll a-

i^iV^ OF MvilAM«>li:D.

•*

brogatc, or cause theo to forget, wo will Uriu^ a better tliuti it, or oiio
like unto it." '* When wc substitute in the Koran an ubrogating vcrsf;
in lieu of a verso abrogated (and God best knowcth the fitness of that
which ho revealeth,) the infidels say, Thou art only n forger of these
verses : but the greater part of them know not the truth from faJBchood."
When this feature of their religion is objected to modern Mohamme-
dans, as it was by Henry Martyn in his controversy witfc (hem, they re-
ply, that "this objection is altogether futile; for the precepts of God
arc always delivered with a special regard to the necessities of his »er-
uants. And there can bo no doubt that these must vary with the varying
exigences of the times in which they are delivered. The divine Law-
giver may here be considered as the spiritual physician of hia people ;
who, like a temporal physician, prescribes such regimen and medicinca
as arc most likly to suit the want4 of his patient.^'* The pupil hero is
certainly worthy of the master, when thoy both agree in teaching, thai
the grand principles of morality are not eternal and immutable, grow-
ing out of the very nature of the relaxation subsisting between the Cre-
ator and his creatures, but are mere arbitrary rules, subjected to bo re
laxed, modified, or dispensed with, as circumstances may dictntc. See-
ing that this pitiful device of feigning dispensations and abrogations of
particular duties subjects the immutable counsels of the Almi^hiy to
the charge of weakness and fickleness, it is surprising that his disciples
should have been blinded by so flimsy a disguise ; yet such is evidently
the fact. And it adds another proof of the truth of the remark, that bs
there is no error or absurdity in religion too monstrous to h% conceived
or broached, so there is none too gross to bo imposed upon the credulity
of others.

* Lee's Ttranslation of II. Martin's Controversial TractB.

-<fm0

CHAPTER XVI.

*ieeount of the Prophefg Hives'— Cadtj ah — Ayesha — Hafsa'—Zeinah'-Saha
'—Hts Concubines-^SingiUar Precepts in the Koran respecting the nives
of Mohammed'— His comparative Treatment of Jencs and Christians— -Pre-
dictions of the Prophet alleged by Mohammedans to he contained in the sa-
cred Scriptures.

As the subject of women occupies a prominent place in
a complete history of the prophet's life hisnumerc*-^ jvi

the Koran, so
jvivea, of which
the number is variously stated from fifleen to tv^enty-' ne, form a topic of |
too much interest to be omitted.
During fhe lifetime of Cadijah, it does not appear that she was ever I

iJKK iih MUil'A.MiMLi).

7;i

01 1^-

I- tliau It, *»■
ibrogatinj vcrs».
le fitness of that
a forger of these
from fiilBchood."
iorn Mohammc-
itk them, they rc-

pTOcepts of God
sssiiies of hi» «er-
y with the varying
The divine Law-
an of his people;
»en and medicines

The pupil hero is
5 in teaching, thai
immutable, grow-
r between the Cre-
aubjccted to bo re
s may dictf\tc. Scc-

and abrogations of
)f the Almighty to
^» that his disciples
rei such is evidently
the remark, that as
•ouB to b* conceived
►d upon tho credulity

naiiiCd wiih tho i,ight or suspicion of u rival. Atlcv hui demh, when at

length hisrnputiition us u prophet hfid become established, and his autho-
rity too firmly rooted to be 8liaketi, the restraints which policy had im-
posed upon passion weio gradually thrown off, and tho most unlimited
license in this respect marked his subsequent conduct.

His third and best beloved wife was Ayesha, tho daugliter of Abubc*
|»or, whom he married in the first year of the Hejirn. Vague rumours
of conjugal infidelity have cast a stain upon the character of Ayesha not
entirely effaced oven at the present day. They were not believed, how-
erer»bv the prophet, and the divine acquittal in the twcnty-lburth chap-
ter of the Koran has done much towards shielding her fame from rs-
proaCK "As to the paiiy among you, who have published the false*
hood concerning Ayesha — every man of them shall be published accord-
ing to the injustice of which he hath been guilty ; and he among them who
hath undertaken to aggravate the same shall suffer a grievous punish-
meat Did not the faithful men and the faithful women say. This is a
manifest falsehood ? Have they produced four witness tlicreof? Where-
fore, since they have not produced the witnesses, they are surely liars in
the sight of God. Had it not been for tho inHulgonce of (lod towards yoti,
and his mercy in this world, and in that which is to Come, verily a griev-
ous punishment had been inflicted on you tor the calumny which yo
liave spread ; when yc have published that witli your tongues, and spoko
that with your mouths, of which ye had no knowledge ; and esteemed it
to be light, whereas it was a matter of importance in the sight of God.''
Ayesha was married — such is the surprising physical precocity pecu-
liar to an eastern climate — at the early age of nine; and survived her
huiband forty-eight years. Her memmory is held in great veneration
by the Moslems, who have bestowed upon her the title of ProphefesSf
and Mother of the Faithful, probably from the circumstance of her be-
JDg much resorted to after her husbaiici's death, as an expositor of the
doubtful points of the law ; an office which she performed by giving
the sense which she had heard the prophet afhx to them in his lifetime.
Her expositions, together with those of Mohammed's (irst ten converts,
form what is called the Sonnah or the Authentic Traditions, of the pro-
fessors of Islam, which bear a striking resemblance to the traditions
f the Jews. Ayesha was the invetemte enemy of Ali, the rival candi-
te with Abubeker to the honour of being tke prophet's successor ;
nd when at the last he attained to thnt dignity, she appeared in arms a-
ainst him. Her expedition was indeed unsuccessful, yet she found
pans, some time alter, to excite a defection among Ali's followers,
bich finally resulted in the ruin of himself and his hou.sc.
Hafsa, the daughter of Omar, was next in favour with the prophet,
'o her, as being the eldest of his wives, he committed the Chest of
is apostlcship, containing the original copies of his protended revola-
ions, from which the volume of the Koran was composed after his
ath, by Abubeker. She died at the age of sixtyty-six.
_ Zeinab, another of his wives, was orimnally the wife of his servant
ar that sho was c^'^'Keid ; upon whom, as we learn from the Koran, God had bestowed tho

ialTtacti

\irefpectingtheWm
and Christians-' tre-
be contained in the sa-

lace in the Ko/an» so
Irc-^ Nvives, of which
ne, forma topic of

* '»

h^-

J.lli; 01> MUHA.Mi>U4^.

grace to bccoinc one of tlie curliest converts l(» llio true fuiili. The
circumstanccB which led to her becoming the wife of the prophet, form
a story worth relating. Mohammed, having occasion, one day, to call
at the house of Zeid upon some mutter of business, and not finding him
at home, accidcntly cast his eyes on Zoinab his wife. Being a woman
of distinguished beauty, the prophet was so smitten with her charms at
ilrst sight, that he could not forbear exclaiming, " Praise be God, who
turneth the hearts of men us he pleascth! and thenceforth became vio-
lently in love with her. Zeid, when made acquainted with the circum-
sfhncc, was thrown into great perplexity. His affection for his wife
and his wish to retain her were counterbalanced by his sense of obliga>
tion to his master, who had not only freed him from servitude, but had
also publically adopted him as his son and heir, by a religious ccremo-
ny at the black stone of the Caaba. Upon mature reflection hu detor*
mined to part with Zoinab in favour of his benefactor, whom ho pri-
vutelv acquainted with hivs intention, at the same time giving out in pub-
lic, that he no longer retained any affection for her, in order to pave the
way for a divorce. Mohammed, aware of the scandal that would ensiio
among his people, from his taking to his bed one who stood to him in
the relation of a daughter, made a feint of dissuading him from his pur-
poso, and endeavoured to suppress the violence of his passion. But
iinding the flange which consumed him unconqucra c, a chapter of the
Koran came seasonably to his relief, which at once removed ail impedi-
ments in the way of a union. "Aid remember, when thou saidst to
him unto whom God had been gra( ious (Zeid), and oD wham thou also
hadst conferred favours, keep thy wife to thyself and fear God, and
thou didst conceal that in thy mind f i. c. thine uffcction to Zeinab} which
God had determined to discover, nnd didst fear men ; whereas it was
more just that thou shouldest fear God. But when Zeid had determin-
ed the matter eonceruing her, and had resolved to divorce her, we join-
ed bcr in marriage unto thee, lest a crime should be charged on the true
believers in marrying the wives of their adopted sons: and the com-
raand of God is to be performed. No crime is to be charged on the
prophet as to what God hath allowed him." Here the Most High is
represented not lonly as sanctioning the marriage, [but as conveying a
gentle rebuke to the prophet, that he should so long have abstained
from the enjoyment of this favour out of regard to public sentiment, as |
tliough he feared men rather than GoJ ! Zeiiiab hereupon became the |
wife of this most favoured of mortals, and lived with him in great afl'ec-
t^on to the tune of Ivis death ; always glorying over her associates, that]
whereas they had been married to Mohammed by their parents and kin-
dred, she had been united to him by God himself, who dwells above the]
seven heavens !

Another of his wives, Safya, was a Jewess. Of her nothing remark-
able is related, except that she once complained to her husband of be-l
ing thus reproached by her companions : ** O thou Jewess, the daugh-j
fer of a Jew and of a Jewess." To which the prophet answered, " CanstI
thou not say, Aaron is my father, Moses is my uncle, and Mohainmedl

..:#*.

LIFi: (iV MdHA^\l!MKI>.

true fuilli. 'riic
lie pronhct, form
I, one day, to call
id not finding bim
Being a woman
vith her charms at
raise be God, who
iforth became vio-
d with the circum-
ction for his wife
lis sense of obliga-
servitude, but had
1 religious ccremo-
reflection ho detor-
tor, whom ho pri-
le giving out in pub-
in order to pave the
[lal that would ensuu
^ho stood to him in
,g him irom his pur-
f his passion. But
c, a chapter of the
removed all impedi-
vhcn thou saidst to
d on wham thou also
• and fear God, and
^ion to Zeinab) which
en; whereas it was
n Zeid had determin-
divorce her, wejoiu-
e charged on the true
sous: and the com-
o be charged on the
ire the Most High is
fbut as conveying a
long have abstained
public sentiment, as
hereupon became the
th him in great aftec-
jr her associates, that
their parents and kin-
who dwells above the I

fhcr nothing remark-
to her husband of be-
u Jewess, the daugh-l
xet answered, " Cans

hclc,

and Mohammedl

ts my husband V' iiut in rcferoncc to tlioso insulting (aunts, an adiooo-
ition was conveyed to the ofTendcrs from a higher source titan the pro-
phet himself. *' O true believers, let not men laugh other inon to scorn,
wiio peradventure may bo better than themselves; neither lot women
laugh other women to scorn, who may possibly be better tkan them-
selves. Neither defame one another, nor call one another by opprobi-
ous appellations.''

In addition to his wives, the harcin of the prophet contained a uum«
ber of concubines, among whom Mary, the Egyptian, wa his favour-
ite. By her he had a son, Ibrahim (Abraham), who dieu in infancy,
to the unspeakable grief of the prophet and his disciples. He had no
children by any of the rest of his wives oxcopt Cadijah, who was tboi
mother of eight — four sons and four daughters ; but most of those died
in early life, none of them surviving their futlicr except Fatiina, the
^ife of All, and she only sixty days.

The following passages from the Koran evince that not the prophot
only was an object of tho divine care, beneficence, and guidance, but
that his wives also shared in the same kind providence, and that what-
ever instructions or admonitions their frailties might require were gra-
ciously bestowed upon then). From an ir.firmity not uncoramon to the
sex, they had become, it appears, more devoted to the decoration of
their persons than was ^creditable for the wives of a holy prophet, and
had demanded of him a large allowance on the score of dress than ho
deemed it prudent to grant. Thoy are thus rebuked : " O prophet,
say unto thy wives. If ye seek this present life and the pomp thereof,
come, I will make a handsumc provision for you, and I will dismiss
you with an honourablo dismission : but if ye seek God and his apostle,
and the life to come, verily God hath prepared for such of you as woiic
righteousness a great reward." *'0 wives of the prophet, yo arc not
as other women : if ye fear God, be not too complaisant in speech, lest
he should covet in whose heart is a disease of incontinence ; but speak
the speech which is convenient. And sit still in your houses ; and set
not out yourselves with the ostentation of the former time of ignorance,
and observe the appointed times of prayer, and give alms ; and obey
God and his apostle; for God desireth only to remove from you the a-
bomination of vanity, since ye are tho household of the prophet, and to
purify you by a perfect purification."

The prophet interdicted to all his wives the privilege of marrying a-
gain afler his death, and though some of them wore then y6ung, they
scrupulously obeyed his command, delivered to theni, like* every thing
else in the Koran, in the form of a mandate of heaven, and lived ana
died in widowhood. The passage in which this severe edict is found is
a curiosity, and will doubtless lead the reader to suspect that it was
prompted by a spirit of mean jealousy, the effects of which he aimed to
perpetuate when he was no more. It is prefaced by some wholesome
cautions to his followers respecting the etiquette to be observed in their
i intercourse with the prophet and his household.

" true believers, enter not intoithc honsefl of thejprophet, unless it

•<t.

i^&:

7tl

t.ll K OF 3iaiiAMM*:r

-f

lie permitted you to eat meat witli iiiip, without waiting liis convpnlent
time; lint when yo nrr itivitod, tlicn enter. And when ve shall have
catca, disperse your^elvcp ; nrid stay not to enter into fMiniiinr discourse;
for thiH incommodrth the pjo|ih«t. He is nshuined to bid yon depart,
but t»od is not ashamed of the truth. And when ye ask of the pro-
phet's wivcR what ye may liavo occKnion for, a«k it of them behind a
curtttiu. I'his will lie more pure lor ^our hearts and their hearts. Nei-
ther is it fit for you to ^ive any unoasmoHS to the apostle of It od, or mar-
ry his uivca after him for ever ; for this would be a grievous thing in
the sight of (iod,''

In the outset of his career, Mohammed appears to have been more fa-
vourably disj)osod towards (he .Tews than the ('hristians. This is infer-
)fd from his enjoying with them a common descent from the patriarch
Abraham ; fronj his agreement with thoui in the fundamental doctrine of
tlie divine unity; and from his proflTerinj^ to make Jerusalem the point of
pilprioa^ic and of \\w Kcbia to his followers. Rutconceiviitg a pique
againf t them about the time of iiis ontrnnco into Medina, he theueefor-
ward became their inveterate enemy, and in ull his wars pursued thoni
w ith a more rclcntlcs'j severity than he showed towards any other people.
Thus this descendant of Ishmael, without intending it, made good tlie
ileclaration of holy v.rit respecting the antagonist seeds of llagar and
of Sarah. " For it is written tiiat Abraham hud two sons, the «ne by a
bond-maid the other by ^ tree woman. Hut he who was of the bond-wo-
niau was by promise. Hut as then he that was bora after the flesh per-
^ecutcd him th^t was after the spirit, even so it is now." '/'Aeir opposi.
tion to liim can easily be aceount'Ml for on the score of national and re-
Iigioli« prejudice. And the opprobrious name which they gave to the
corrupt syytem of the heresiireh, tended still more to provoke his indig-
nation. For while he profi saed to be a rostorer of the true primitive
religion which (lod communicated to Abraham, and Abraham to Ida son
Ir^hmael, and which the prophet denominated Islam, or Islaniism, from
a word signifying to devote or dedicate to rdigion^ the Jews, by a trans-
position of letters, called the new creed Ismaclism, from the prophet's
progenitor, iind thus cast the greatest possible reproach on the bastard
faith of their enemy. Tlieir elironfery Mohammed neither forgot nor
forgave. Still, both Jews and Christians were admitted to protection in
ordinary cases on the payment of a specified tribute.

Towards the Christians, though the Koran, and all who embrace \l
breathe the most inveterate malice and the most sovereign contempt
against the "dogs" and "infidels" who profess the (lospe! faith, yet I
lather more forbearance is exercised than towards the Jews ; and some
of the Moslems will grant, that Christianity, next to their own, is tbc|
best religion in the world, particularly as held by Unitarians. Yet Mo-
humnied, in the Koran, loses no opportunity to pour his revilings indis-
criminately upon both. ** Je\\s and the Chrisliaits say. We are the chil-l
tlren of God and his beloved. Answer, Why, th( refore, doth he punishi
}ou ibr your sins." " They say. Verily, none .shall enter paradise, cx-l
cept they who arc .Tcws» ov Christians : this is thoir '.vish. J?av. I'rodiK"!

MFK OF MOIIAMMKP

V /

T his convenient
'n ve «buU have
miliar discourse-,
, bid you depart,
, ask of tbo pro-
of tboro behiad ft
leir hcorta. Nei-
cofCiod, or mar-
grievous thing in

lavc been more fa-
rts. This is infer,
from the patriarch
imcntal doctrine of
nsalcm the point of
conceivini; a pique
[Una, bethencefor-
wars pursued thorn
33 any other pooplo.
r it, made good tlie
^neds of 1 1 agar and
■J sons, tbo ane by a
wasofthcbond-wo-

li after the flesh pcr-
)W." '^'*<^*^ oppo«i-
. of national and re-
ich they gave to the
to provoke bis indig-
of the true primitive
I Abraham to bis son
or Islaniism, from
he Jews, by a trans-
, from the prophet s
roach on the bastard
fd neither forgot nor
itted to protection in

all who embrace it.

soveroigi» contempt
he (Jospel faith, yet
IthcJews; and eomc
t to their own, 19 the

[nitavians. YetMoJ
^,rhisrcviUng9»n(lis-
Isay.Wearcthcchil-
Lfore, doth he punish
U enter paradf*?. "^1

voiir proof of tbia, if yo spoak friUfi. The .lows «ay, Tbo Ohrifltiunt
urc protmdod on nothing : ytt they both rcud the Hcripturos/' *« () ye,
to whom the Scriptures havfl been givun, why do yo didpnto concormng
Abraham ? Altrahnrn was neither ;i Jow or a Chiistinn; but he was of
the true religion, one rebigned unto (iod, and wua not of the number of
idolaters."

The religion of the Koran tolerates Chriaian rhurch«« in places
whefe they have been accidently founded but permits them not be roar-
ed on new foundations. Christians nuiy repair the walls and roofs of
their places of wornhip, but are not allowed to lay a stone iu a new place
consecrated to the site of a holy building ; nor, if tiro or any other acci-
dent should destroy the superstructure, arc tliey sufturcd to renew the
Iduiidntiong, so as to erect another buildirig. The consequence is, that
Christian rljiirches, in the Moh.imniod dominions, must necessarily at
length ' ink t<i ruin, and vast rmmbers of thcni have already gone entire-
ly to decay. In the great fires wlr h happened in (Jalata and Constan-
tinode in 16G0, nuniorous (Jhristi.i.i churches and chapels worn reduced
toa'hcs, and wlicu the piety and zeal of their votaries had rc-cdiJied
almost completed the greatest aumber of thorn, ii public order was

ail

i>sucd that they sliould all he again deinolisiied, it being judged contra-
ry tn Turkish law to permit the resioratiou of churches where nothing
but' the mere Ibundation remained.

The fact may be \vrb adverted to, in drawing our sketch to a close,
that Mohammed not only admitted the Old and New Testaments as di-
vinely inspired books, tlioujjh corrupted by their disciples, but afiirmcd
inat they bore unoquivocr.l proi>lictic teHtimony to his future mission as
prophet and apostle: '• And when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, () cbii-
dren of Israel, Verily I am the apostle of God sent unto you confirming
the law which was delivered before rae, and bringing good tidings of
an apostle wiio shaU come after nic, and whose name shall be Ahmed
(Mohammed}." In support of what is bore alleged, tbo Persian para-
phrast quotes the words of Christ in hir; last address to bis disciples r
"If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you ; but if I go
away, I will send liim unto you." This passage the Mohammedan doc-
torn unanimously teach has a direct infercnco to their prophet, and is
fulfilled in him only. But then, in order to make good thoir interpret
lation, they are obliged to hold th(.t the Christians in their copies have
I'orruptod the true reading, which instead o^ Paraclete (^Comforler)^ is
Periclytc [illuatrions^ rcnotoncd), a word perfectly synonymous with
Mmcd.

The following passage (Dcut. xxxiii. 2) is o!ro suborned to the sup-
port of the same bad cause: "The Lord cpme from Sinai, and rose
up from Mount Sier unto them ; ho shined forth from Mount Paran,
and ho came with ten thousand ot his saints ; from his right hand went
aliery law for them." liy these words, say the Moslem expositors, is
set forth the delivery of the Inw to Moses, on Mount Sinai ; of the Gos-

el to Jesus at Jerusalem ; and of the Koran to Mohammed at Mecca.

V ^oir, thev innintnin (hat the mountains of Jerusalem are meant, and

. \,'

illC. id' iMUllA.MMr.I>

by Paran, tliofn in (Lo nciqliliourhoof] of Mecca. Dut tlicir ^cogrnpl»y
will iipi>car r\8 laniu oh llHir divmiJy, hIuh it in utatcd, thiit Heir was n
iHJndreii initen rliiitanr IVom JoniRakin, and Puina fivo hundred trom
Mecca. Their other ^Iohh: s of thi^ v ' f^ need no confulalioii.

In Another srnHo, buwevoi, wholr rOniDnt from that intended by
Mohammed or iiitt foliowerH. wu douht , t!iut litis grand impostor aiid
hit religion are distinctly fortitold iti thu sacred volume. Tho ndigion
promulgated, 'aid thn oinpire etitahlislied, by t!io author of Islam, linn
been too signal a scourge to (ho Church and tho civilised world not to
bo entitled to a place in thu prephctic aimunciation^ of tho Bible. Ai
tho subject of tho rise, progress, and purmanenco of Mohnmmodanism
cannot be duly apprcciotod apart from tho prediclioiiw coacorning it,
we have determined to devote a nortioai of the Appendix to the coriHtd.
eration of the most prominent and striking of these prophecies, to wliicK
the reader will permit us to bespeak his attention.

i I

V,',

"I .

~h\iK' ' '

% '

thou- ijoogruplky
, that Heir wan ix
'vo hundred from
,nfulation.
that intended by
and impostor and
10. Tho r«\«gion
hor of Isluin, \\m
lisod world not to
Bflho Bible. Ai

Mohnmmodonism
ouii concerning it,
indix to the conHiJ.
ophccics, to wiucK

APPKIVOIX.

(A.)*

PROPHECY.

(THE VISION.)

8. Tho he-goat waxed very groat : and when he wan strong, tho groat horu wa«
broiwn; and ror it came up tour notable on«B toward the four winds uf heaven. 0.
' nd out oftheu) came fortn a little horn, which waxod exceeding' great toward the
'outliBuJ toward the cast, and toward tli^ plvasonl lind. 10. And it waxed great
trun to the host of heaven ; a<id it cniit down Bu;nu of the liuipt and of the starn to the
ground, and stamped upon thorn. 11. Yea, lie magnified himselfevca to tho Prince
J the host, and by him was the daily sarrinoo takun away, and tho niaeo of his sonc-
luary was cost down. V2. And a hosr was given him against tho aaily sacrifice by
reason of transgression ; and it cast down thu truth to thu ground ; aud it practised
ind prospered. 13. Then I heard one saiut spuaking, and another saint said unto
that certain saint which spaku, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily
lurifice, and tho transgression of desolation, to give both tho sanctuary and the host
to bu trodden under foot ? 14. And he snid unto me, Unto two thousand and three
hundred days ; then sbull the sanctuary be cleansed.

(THE INTERPRETATION.)

31. And tho rough goat is the king (kingdom) of Grecia : and the groat horn that
I \> between hin eyes is the first king (kmgdom). 22. Now that being broken, where-

aifcur stood unfor it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but in his
[power. 23.Anaia thu latter time oftheir kingdom, while the transgressors are come to
Ithufull, a king of fiorcu countenance, and undorstondinc (Heb. making to under-
jtttnd, teaching) dark eontencos, shall stand up. 24. And his power shall be mighty,
llutnot by his own pawer ; and ho shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and
IptactiM, and (shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25. And throuj[h his policy
lalwhe shall cause craA to prosper in his hand ; and ho shall magnify himself in his
\m, and by peace shall destroy many : he shall also stand up against the Prince of

(innces; but he shall be broken without hand. 26.And the vision oftheevening'and the

nnrning which was told is true ; wherefore shut thou up thu vision ; for it shall be for

Daoy days. Dan. vii. 8 — 26.

Thb prophecy of Daniel contains a prospective view of the provideno
[ial history of the world, including the four great empires of antiquity,
logethcr with the powers which should succeed them to the end of time,
Vnd consummation of all things. It is reasonable therefore to expect, that
\6y6tein of predictions thus large upon the history of the world, would
|ot omit a revolution of such magnitude and prominence as that occasion-

*For the materials of this chapter, nnd occasionally for some portion of the Ian-
uige, the compiler acknowledges himself indebted principally to Faber'a Sacred
lilendar of Prophecy, Foster's Mahommetanism Unveiled, and Fry'ti Second Advent
I Christ. lie nas moreover given a minute and critical ^attention to these propho'
p in the original languages. "

APi'EMDIX.

■4

od by Mohununed and lM(»linintnndanism. IVo event, ruoicovor, Imsiiad
a more direct and powerful bearing upon the state of the Church than
the cstablishtticnt of thi:s vast im|)0>sturc ; and as the preceding chapter
contains a full and exact portraiture of the Papal tyranny which was to
nrise and prevail in ihc western portion of Christendom, so the present
is vefy generally admitted to contain a prediction of that great apostacy
which was destined to grow up and overwhelm (ho Church in the Eajit.
The reasons of this opinion we now proceed to state.

The theatre of this prophecy ia the Macedonian empire, ibundcd by
Alexander; from one of the four dismembered kingdoms of which tho
littks horn of the vision was to opring up. In the vision, the prophet saw
the first great horn of the he-goat, or the kingdom of Alexander, " bro«
ken ;" indicating that that kingdom was no longer to have a place as
a kingdom in the eye of prophecy. The dominions of Alexander at his
death were divided between four ef his generals : Mncedon and Greece
in the west were assigned to Cassander; Thrace and Bithyniain the
north to Lys^macus; Egypt in the south to Ptolemy; «nd Syria with the
eastern provinces 'o Seleucas.

Ver, 9. And out of them came forth a little horn. — A ** horn," in the
symbolical language of prophecy, represents a civil or ecclesiastical
lungdom. TLo little horn here mentioned was to come forth out of one
of the four notable horns or mcmuers of the subdivided kingdom of A*
lexander. The question ha? been much agitated whether Alexander
seized and retained any portion of the Arabian peninsula : the fact of
his having done so may he fiCRn in any map of the Macedonian ompiic.
** The empire of Ale.vuuder," ob!>(iivt.s M. Roliin, "was distributed
into fb:r kingdoms ; of Avhich Ptolemy had Egypt, Lybia, Arabia, Coc-
l<osyri\i, and Palestine." The district occupied was indeed no more
than an outskirt, but thot outskirt comprised part of the province ofHe-
jaz; that is to say, part of that very district which gave birth to Mo-
hammed and his religion. As the horn in the vision was a little om,
80 Mohammedanism in its first rise pt^rfectly corresponded with the
symbol. It originated with an obsrure inhabitant of a desert corner of j
Asia, whose earliest converts wore Iiia wife, his servants, his pupil,
and his friend ; nnd whose party fit the end of three years scarcely num-
bered a dozen persons.

Which waxed exceeding great toward the south, and toward the east,
and toward the pleasant land. — Mohammedanism accordingly, in ils
primitive course of conquest, did presently wax exceedingly great; and!
that in the very line marked out i»y the prophecy. Its conquests extcid
ed sopthward over the peninsula of Arabia, over Egypt, and over a con-l
siderable portion of central Africa; eastward, over Persia, ?JokharaJ
and Hindostan ; and northward, over Palestine, Asia Minor, Mesopoto*!
tamia, Greece, and Tartary, the countries now forming the Turkish emi
pire. "The pleasant land," or, literally, ''the beautyy" "the ornal
ment," is an appelation bestowed upon the land of Judah, from its beingl
in a peculiar manner the residence of tlio divine glory, the seat of wor-f
ship, containing the city of Jerusalem and the temple, which were *'3|

U'l'L.NUlX.

lU-covcr, has had
the Church Ihan
rocctlhig chapter
ny which was to
n, 80 the present.
U great apostacy
lurch in the East.

iinire, Ibvmacd by
lomB ol" which tho
n, the prophet saw
Alexander, "bro-
to have a place as
f Alexander athw
jcedon and Greece
»d Bithynia in the
«nd Syria with the

_A**l»o^"'" '"*^'*
vil or ecclesiastical
jmc forth out of one

ided kingdom of A-
whether Alexander
unsula: the factol
Macedonian empire,
''was distributed

Lybia, Arabia, Ca-
nvas indeed no more
f the province of He-
I save birth to Mo-
ion was a Utile om.

rresponded with the
',f a desert corner ol

servants, his pupil,
years scarcely num-

land toward the east,

Im accordingly, w»'^
lceedinglygi-*-ivf,!«J.
Ilts conquests extend
l^ypt, andovfracon.

ler Persia, >:*okhar4
L Minor, Mesopoto.
Una the Turkish em-l

[beaV' "»^\°2l
.Tudah, from itsbein

lory, the seat of H
[mple, which were a

crt.vvn of bfciiuiy and u diadem ot* glory*' fotjio nation ot i:iiael. The
original word here employed is found in a |)aranel scnce Ezek. xx. 5, 15*
♦'u land llo'ving with milk and honey, which is tho glori/ of all lands."
Jerusalem was cajilured by the Saracens A. D. 637, alter a siego of four
months.

Vcr. 1 0. And it teaxed great evcJi to the host of heape7i.—T\ie " host
of heaven" is but anotlier nonao for the multitude of stars in tho firma-
iueiit. But stare, in the idiom of prophecy, aro a standing emblem of
ecclesiastical orticera. Tlie word " host" accordingly is not only ap-
plied to tho priests and Levites lujrforming the service of the sanctuary
fiVum. iv 3.) but to the nation of Israel asi a great otganized ecclesias-
tical body, or kingdom of priests. Ex. xii. 41. And when Christ saya
(Rev. i. 20), "(he seven stars arc the angeLs of the seven churches,"
his meaning undoubtedly is, that these stars are symbols of the spiritual
rulers of the churches. The grand scope, therefore, of the present pro-
phccyis, to point out u spiritual desolation, achieved by a hostile power
suddenly attaining great strength, and forcibly thrusting itself into tho
body of true worshippers, with a view to their discomfiture and dispor-
iiion.

And it cast doion some of the hunt, and (i. e. eveii) of the stars to the
^roundf and stamped upon them. — As in the figurative language af pro-
phecy the stars denote the spirUnal pastors ol* God's church, so the vio-
lent dejection of such stars from heaven to earth stgnities a compulsory
apostatizing from their religion. Mohammedanism strikingly falfUled
ihis prophecy from the date of its first promulgation, when it stood up
against the allegorical host, or the degenerate pastors of the Christian
Church. Such of them as lay within the territories of the Grek empire
were especially given into the hand of this persecrting superstition ; bur
by its inroads into Africa, and Spain, and France, and Italy, it waxed
yreat against the whole host. Of the eastern clergy, it cast some to
tho ground, or compelled them altogether to renounce the Christian
faith. And as for those who still adhered to tho form of their religion,
it stamped them, as it were, under its feet with all the tyranny of brutal
fanaticism.

Ver. 11. Yea, he viagnijied himself evcu- to the Prince of {he host. —
If the Btarry host bo the pastors of the Church, the princo of that host
must obviously be tho Messiah. Mohammedanism has most clearly
verified this prediction by magnifying its ibundcr to a pitch of dignity
and honour equal to that of Christ. In fact, it has set \ip Mohammed
above Christ. The Arabian impostor allowed Jesus to be a prophet ;
but he maintained that ho himself waM a greater prophet, and that tho
Koran was destined to supcr.sedo the Oospel. Thus did Mohammedan-
ism magnify itself " even to" tho Prince of the host.

And by him the daily sacrifice was taken away^ and the place of his
sanctuary was cut down. — The term rendered " daily sacrificet'^'-or,
literally, *' the daily," '* the continual," is a term frequently used res-
pecting the daily repeated sacrifices of the Jowish temple, typifying fhe
Heath of Christ till he should come. Now, what this continual bumt-

Al'PE^liiX.

offering was with ic;:=pcct Lo Cliiij^l's firat coniiiifj;, uic tlie daily oHlmij.8
of prayer and praise, 'and all the solemnities of the Christian Church,
at) administered by a divinely appointed order of men. When, there-
fore, the Saracens and Turks by their victories and oppressions broke
up and dispersed the churches of the East, and abolished the daily spii-
itual worship of God, then did the " little horn" take away the "con-
tinual oficring" established by the Princo of the host. IJut the predict-
ed desolation was to extend yet farther. The place of God's sanctuary
was to be razed to its foundation, and both the sanctuary and the hobi
for along course of ages to be trodden under foot. Accordingly, I\lo-
hammedanism began this appointed work by the subversion of the Chris-
tian churches and altars in every stage of its progress against the Greek
empire ; and has conirnucd the desolation during nearly twelve hundred
years, until it has all but completed the extinction of Eastern Chrisii-
anity. Gibbon observes, that upon the taking of Jerusalem, "byihu
command of Omar, the ground of the temple of Solomon was pioparud
for the foundation of a raostpie." And it is worthy of notice, that
whereas the original word used by Daniel for *' sanctuary" is Kodsh,
the same historian remarks, Ihat the epithet Al Koih is used now, and
was then among the Arabs as the proper appellation of the Holy City,
of which the sanctuary or temple was the distinguishing ornament and
glory.

Ver. 12. And an host was given him against the daily saerificc ly
reason of transgression : and it cast down the truth to the ground: and
practised and prospered. — From this it would appear, that power was
to be given to the little horn, not merely for the subversion of the true
religion, but also for the permanent bubstitution of another faitli.
*' llost," we may naturally suppose, means in this 'j)hice the same as
when it was used in a former verse, — "a host of slurs,-'' symbolicnl of
the several orders of Christian pastors and ministers. '* An host," ilicn,
to be given to the little horn, implies tiiat iic loo should have his orcltis
of teachers, and a regular system of religions worshij), and thai by
means of this new and spurious ecclesiastical polity, the Christian min-
istry siiould be oj)po8ed and superseded, and, ** the truth cast to the
ground." The prediction, 'thus interpreted, according to the natunil
forccof the Innguap'^ and construction, is applicable to no other known
power ; but as applied to the heresy of Mohammed, its fulfilincnl ap-
pears perfect. For the religion of Islam permanently ovei throw tiiu
Christian priesthood and altars, by the permaneut erection of other al-
tars and of another priesthood in their room. Every where throughout
its vast domains the mosques replaced the Christian temples; and the
Imams and the muezzin were substituted for the appointed ministry of |
Christ. In a more enlarged view, the Saracens and Turks themselves
composed the antagonist liost or priesthood. For in Mohammedanism,
the sword being the grand engine of conversion, the whole Mussulman I
people became virtually a priestiiood; and each individual Saracen and
rurUieh soldier a missionary and maker of proselytes.

e daily oUlnu'^H
ifiBtian Church,
"When, there-
)nre6sions broke
id the daily spii-

away the " con-

Kut the preditt-

God's sanctuary
ary and ihc host
accordingly, Mo-
sionofthcChiis-
a^ainst Iho Greek
ly* twelve hundretl
' Eastern Chrisii-
rusalem, ''byilv
mon was pioparod
lY of notice, that
ictuary" is Kodsh
» is used now, and

of the Holy City,
hi.ig ornament and

ie daily satrificc ly
I to the ground : and
lar, that power was
bvcrsion of the true
n ot another faitli.
'nlaco'the same as
urs,-' symbolicta ot
H. " An host," vlicn,
)uia have his orders
orship, and thai by
r, the Christian mm-
he truth cast to the
rding to the natural
c to no other known
>d, its fulfilment up-
lently ovcrtlircw the
erection of other al-
rv where throu<;lK)iU
un temples; and the
.npointe.d ministry ot
.d Turks themselves
in Mohammedanism,
he whole Mussulmau
lividual Saracen and
tcs.

APPF.lvr»IX.

Ver. 23. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the trana-'
gressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance and wider'
standing {teaching) dark sentcncec, shall stand up. We are here far-
nislied with a chronological clew to the period of tho commencement of
tiiJB disastrous power. — The first thrco empires, tbrming a part of the
symbolic image which appeared in vision to Nebuchadnezzar, were in*
deed strippc^d of their doinrnions by the conquests of the fourth, or Ro-
man empire ; but still, in the v^ow of prophecy, their lives are consider*
(id as being ncvcrtbclesi> prolonged ; Dan. vii. 12. Hence it is <}n indis*
pu(al)le fact that tho tittle horn of Mohammedanism rose up in the latter
time of the Greek empire. — Another striking note of tho time of tho rise
of this power is contained in the words, "When tho transgressors are
come to the full," or, " when the apostacy shall bo completed." By tho
tiaasgressors or apostates hero mentioned, we ma«t understand the cor-
rupt Chri.stian Chnrch, with its degenerate pastors, the smitten ccclea-
iastical stars, spoken of ir> a former verst*. Wo learn both from the
civil and sacred history of tho time when Mohammed arose, that tho
Christian Church had then arrived at the height of those corruptions in
doctrine and practice, which had been so clearly foretold by Ihe Apostle
Paul in his prediction of tho Man of Sin. Tho extraordinary success
of the Mohammedan imposture was permitted as a punishment of this
great defection. The allegorical host, by reason of their apostacy from
the truth, were subjected to the tyranny of the little horn. But this a-
postacy, which had long previously infected both the Efist and the West,
was completed, or had reached its acme, about the commenccnient of
the seventh century, when Ihe prophet of Islam first appeared. Gibbon,
the historian, introduces his account of Mohammedanism by observing,
that "the Christians of the seventh century had insensibly relapsed into
a scnjblance of paganism," From this time, therefore, the stars were
given into the hand of tjio little horn, as tho appointed rod of God's an-
ger: they were penally consigned to its tyranny by reason of their pre-
vious apostacy into the idolatrous superstitions of the (icntiles. Again,
as far qb the aspect of Mohammedanism is concerned, that wonderful
ecclesiastical domination may well be described as a " kingdom of fierce
countenance," when tho avowed maxim ?f its founder was to employ
jthessvord astlie grand engine of conve- ju. Of this ferocious spirit
its nrosclytcs have in all ages largc'y on i^ken. Some, however, sUp-
pose the words should be translated " of a firm countenance," denoting
the bold eflVontery of the barefaced, impudent li?r; and such were Mo-
hammed and his succossor : their >: '.irion is, m truth, Uie most glaring
lim|)osition that viis over palmed upon the credulity of mankind. — As to
|tho remaining character of this desolating power — that he should " un-
derstand dark aentcnces" — the expression, " dark sentences," is equiva-
leni to the familiar scriptural pliravses, " dark sayings," and *' dark say-
bgs of old." Theso phrases, in the language of the sacred writens, will
lie found uniformly to convoy a spiritual signification. Thus the Fsal-
list, " I will open my mouth in a parable ; f will utter dark sayings qf
)ld.'" It seems probable, therefore, that th<? equivalent cxpfession.

AI'l'KNPlA

'' *■' dark scntrnctis,** rciiitcs, in one shapf; or otlicr, to roji^ion ; and lij.j
•' understanding dark sontcn(;cs,"' to real or pretended skill in the in-
1 terprctation of things spiritual. The Koran, so'cclcbrated in iho Alc-
}^aramcdun religion, the book containing their spiritual mysteries, exact-
iy answers to tiiis description. And it is not a little remarkable, that
the author of the Koran should have been unconsciously led to appro-
priatc the language of this very prediction to himsell". ♦* O Lord, thou
hast giren me part of the kingdom, and hast taught mo the interpret;!-
tion of dark sayings." " We taught him the interpretation of dark sa'
in{;E, but the greater part of them men do not understand.'^ " This is a
secret history which we reveal unto thee, () Mohammed."' As the fa-
bricator, therefore, of the Koran, Mohammed has himself continiiei!
his elaim to the propiietic distinction of " undorptanding dark scnton-
ccs;" for it is the declared object ol" this pretended revelation to ievi\(
the traditions of ancient times ooncrrning (tod and religion ; and it pi,v
fesscs farther to unfold tlio history of futurity, and tiic secrets of tiieiti.
visible world.

Ver. 24. And his power fthail he migJiij/, hut not hi/ hjs own power,—
Of this language a twofold interpretation may be suggested, either nf
which is satisfactory, though it be not easy to deride which of them jv
the true one. By "his power !>oing mighty, but not by his own power,
may bs meant, that the fcmporctl power of Mohammed and his suocos. i
sors was to owe its greatness and perpetuity to bis spiritual doruiriion;
or, in other wordb-, tirat the empire which he ibuudcd was to be iiphcii
by the imposfierc which he estublished. To this purpose the loll(jniti:'|
passage from Demetrius Canteniir, the historian of the Ottoman empir,,|
will be found very striking. "The Turks," says he. "ascribed tin j
fortunate successes of the empire, not so nnjch to liuman prudence, poli-
cy, and valour, as that their first eiu|>erorM WHgod war, not through nm-
bJtron and a desire of dominion, hut throtigh tho zeal of propagatiii!:; the
Mohammedxm religion ; and by that means they procured the diviaoa -I
sistance to their undertakings'' The temporal po.ver of iMoljiirmn; f
danism, accordingly, has repeatedly risen and declined : tho iMohiiit:
mcdan world has again and again changed masters, but its spiritual iv
ranny has subsisted in undiminished vigour ; it has live/1 and roigm^'
nnaltered, throngh the whole of its period thus fur fulfilled. It is miglilvj
therefore, by the power of the host given unto it, AccortHng to anothirl
interpretation, the passage may be simply designed to teach, that tiioni
markahle success of the Mohammedan power is to he relerred dirccil;
to the spceial providence of (lod, that tho results attained wore sop,,
tirely to tr«n8cend all that could be ai\ticipa1ed from tho ordinarv oppi-
ntion of human causes, tliat the hand of God was to be clearly rccnJ
nised in every stage of its progress. Viewed in this light, the laneiia;'j
of tho Moat High respecting Nebuchadnezzar umy aflbrd a <:omnicnt,i|
ty of most striking pertinency upon this prediction: " O Assyrian, t
rod of mine anger, and the statf in their iiand is mine indignatioi).
will send him agninst an hyp' -xl nation, and against tl'.e people nj

rrlv wrath willj give liim a char,!^<. lo fake spoil, and fn take ilie ;>r''|

Al»i»iIVLl.\,

1) roli^ioi' ; ami llic
i(]c<l skill in the in-
Icbrated in iho Me-
al mysteries, exact-
,e rcrftnrkable, that
:iously led to appro-
[i; »♦ O Lord, thou
it mo the intcrpretii-
vetJitioaoftlarksa-
stand/' "This is u
^mmed.-' As the ta-
is himself oonfiruicd
anditic; Jf>rk scnton
I revelation to vevnt
religion; andilpr.v
the secrets of ihs ill-

r hi/ his ''w?" power.-
, pugrrested, either "f
ride whieh of them i^
ot by his own power,'
mmed and biH succos-
s spiritual domiiiion:
idcd wa3 to b<^ ^^M\
pnrnoee the follfwin:
^f the Ottoman emivji,
V9 ho. '* aseribecl tli^
'human prudence, poli-
l war, n<>t through air,-
.eal oVprof>agalin5th.'
procured the divinoav
po.ver of Mohamm-
leclined : the Mohiiii-|
rs, but its spiritual tv-
[baa liveil and rcigniH
tulfdled. Itismigli'.y.l
AcconHng to anotir
led to teach, that the r([
to hP^ referred dirccl,
Its attained were so r.,|
1,-cni the ordinary ope|
n<, to be clearly rccn;
his light, thclaueiia-l
,ny aflord a -omnicnt^
on : " O A»^^vriaii.
,9 mine indignation,
d against thnpeoi'lonl

and fo tako th'' Vn

nnd to Ircad thcin down like the niirc of the streets. Howbeit, he mean-
clh not fio, nei'hor doth his heart tliink ho; but it is in his heart to des-
troy and cut off nations not a few. For he saith, by the wisdom ; for I
am prudent. Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweih there-
with f or aliall th»; saw magnify itself against him that tjhakoth it? as if
t!ic rod should shake ifself against them that lift it up, or as if the staft*
slioidd lift it up itself as ii it were no wood."

And hn shall dcsfrnif wonderfvljij, and shall prosper and practise,
(tad .".hall destroy tha mtrhty and the holy people— -li should be borne
in mind that the ver.se^ we arc now consider'ug contain the angel's in-
torpretntion of the symbolic actions petfomod by the little horn in tlio
vision. Of j'hcse iho principal was his rudely invading the emblematic
"host,-' or tiie hierarchy, violently cc'inng thorn to the ground, and
stamping upon tlicm with his feet. The language before us is unqueB'
lionably exegeJical ol this figurative scenery, and the phrases, "shall
destroy wonderfnlly," and ** shall destroy the mighty and the holy peo-
ple," arc equivalent to saying, he shall succeed to a surprising degree
in causing multitudes to apostatize trom the Christian profession. This
was to be done by spreading the poison of a false religion. For the ori-
ginal word rendered " dc-^troy"' is a term implying not merely physical
destruction, but moral corruption, or the vitiating influence of false
doctrines and principles upon human coiuiucf. It is the term employed
in the following pni.'sngcs : — " For all llenh had corrupted his way upon
the earth ;•' *' Take ye therefore good hoed unto yourselves, lest yc
corrupt yourselves, and mjiko yoti ft graven image, dkc.;-' *' They arc
corrupt; they have done abominable works." In allusioo to these cx-
prcssions, it is said in the nntuhu iation of divine judgments in the Apo-
calypse, *'Thy wrath is "omf^, that thou shouldst destroy them that des-
troy the earth ;" i. c. tliose that r(»rruj)t the earth. In affixinjr this sense
to the destruction to be achieved by the little horn, or tho Mohamme-
dan power, it is noi neccsf^ary tf» exclude the idea of the bloodshed and
Jefiolation which have marked ll'.o progrorfe: of the Saracen and Turkish
arms in planting and defcn<ling their dominion. Yet we think tho sense
ot' a moral depravstion, brouglit .ibout by the introduction of a spurious
and pestilent faith, and accomplu hing a sad defection among the profes-
^^ors of the true relijjion, answers bet((;r to the nature of the svmhoi cm-
ployod, and is equally accordant with tho truth of history.

i'er. 25 And thruugh hi.f jtolicy also he shall cause craft to prosper in /«>
hand: ami he. shall mas:nifj/ him-nAf in kis heart, aud pracc shall destroy many:
In: ukall als!) stand up against </i«' Prina: of princes. — The institution of tho
religion of tho Koran with its " hosts," orders of teachers, and its sys-
tem of worship, was Mohanmied's masterpiece of *' policy." It was by
this means that his followers supplanted the preachers of the Gospel,
and converted to the faith multiludea of those over whom the temporal
authority had been extended by the power of the sword. *♦ Policy"
here is probably to be understood in the sense of unprincipled shrewd-
iiiess, tho working of a keen but depraved intellect, laying its plans with
in sorpontino .jubtlctv. and executing them with an entirf^ recklessness of

'»

" I-

APPENDIX.

>f.

v" '*ii\

the moral character oftlio means employe*]. In tl)i3 maiinor success
htLi crowned tho Mohamniodan power ; their vile arts, their "craft,"
their perfidy, have strangely proi^prred. No morp striking charactistic
of the founder or the followora of Islam could be designated. " In the
tixercise of the political government," saye Gibbon, " Mohammed was
compclIoJ to abate the stern rigour of fanaticism, to comply in »omc
Measure with prejudices and passions of his followers, and to employ
tVGU the vices of mankind as the instiument of their salvation. The
use of fraud and perfidy, of cruelty and injustice, was often subsorvier.t
to the propagation of the faith." " In the support of truth, the arts of
fraud and fiction may be deemed loss criminal ; and he would have
started at tho foulness of the means, had he not been satisfied of thciin-

Sortance and juatif j of the end." The recent Travels in the East of
Ir. Madden, av iinglish gentleman, furnish some very graphic sketches
of Mohammc Jan character, which may be adduced to fill up the pro.
phctic portraiture we are now considering. *' His (tho Turk'oJ inher-
ent hostility iO Christianity is the first principle of his law ; and the per-
fidy it is supposed to enjoin is tiic most prominent feature in his charar-
ter." *' The most striking qualities of the Moslem are his profound ig-
norance, his insuperable arrogance, his habitual indolence, and the per-
fidy which directs his policy in the divan, nnd regulates his ferocity in
the field." " As to the outward man, the Turk is, physically speaking,
the finest animal, and, indeed, excels all Europeans in bodily vigour a^
well as beauty. As to their moral qualities, I found them charitable In
the poor, attentive to the sick, and kind to their domestics ; but I also
found them perfidious to their friends, treacherous to their enemies, and
thankless to their benefactors/" " I never found a Turk who kept his
word when it was his interest to break it."

As to the expression, " by peace he shall destroy many," it has Icon
interpreted by some as implying, that the kingdom represented by the
little horn should destroy many by wasting invasions while their victim' I
were slumbering in a state of negligent security; a peculiarity said to have
been cxcmpificd in the whole progress of the Saracen arms.Such mayhuve
been tho case; but wo incline to attribute anotlicr import to tho word^
Adhering to the sense before given to the word "de6troy,*''as implying tlic I
same as to corrupt, seduce, lead into destructive error, wo suppose tlie
allusion to be the fact, that thousands during the victorious progress of I
tho Moslem arms accepted of life, safety, and "peace," on condition off
their embracing tho foul imposture of the conquerors. Thus it was that
" by peace he destroyed many ;'-' i. e. he corrupted them by tho terms on
which he granted peace. It is notorious that these were " death, tribute,
or the Koran," nnd where the subject nations escaped the pomt of thcl
swcrd, they were destroyed by the corrupting and deadly influence ofl
the i'upcrstition wh''h ihey embraced.

J^nt he shall he I- ken without hand. — That is to say, not by human,
harids, or by tho instrumcniaiity of man, as empire are usually over-
thrown ; but this spiritual dominion is to meet its fate when 'ho stotio cull

Al'PEVDIX.

!5/

I maiuior success
itif, their " craft,"
riking charactistic
ignatcd. "In the
" Mohammed was
to comply in Bome
jrs, and to employ
jir salvation. The
is often snbsorvicri
,f truth, the arts of
ind he would have
[1 satisfied of the im-
ivels in the East of
sry graphic sketches
4 to fill up the pro.
(the Turk'-) inhcr-
lis law ; and the per-
eaturo in h.is charac-
, are his profound ig-
lolencc, and the per-
uUites his ferocity m
physically speaking,
IS in bodily vigour a^
id them charitable to
Jomestics ; but I also
to their enemies, anii
tt Turk who kept bis

y many," it has been

m represented by the

Ins while their victim^

icculiarity said to have

arms.Such may have!

import to the words'.
,troy,*'"as implying tiic I
:rror, wo suppose Hie
ictorious progress ol
c," on condition oi
,r3. Thus it was that
them by the terms on
were " death, tribute,
aped the pomt of m
id deadly influence ol

jto say, not by human.
[ire ore usually ovci-
[ate when <he slo!io o^t

" without bunds" is dashed ngnimt thr iin.i^c, mid riMlucos ull the power
of dcpotism and delusion to \\\>: dj«.t Kxj.nHJi.ira of prophecy arc ma-
ny of them confident in the iitlioi' lii.i; 'h»; I\iu.. inr.in« ('mi importurc will
begin to be broken, witli<i'U. Iri <1. f.i i|ii; ui«jc wlieii the grenf nnticbris-
tian confederacy of the Roman l> nsJ if, (i« ^truyj'd ; and ut th« epoch
when the Millennium is on tho point cl" "f^niittcnrin^. At this period
the Gospel, begin to bi^ successfully preached thfou^diout f!je wholo
world; and the issue, it is 'JUjM)0'4ed, will be the universal gathering of
the Cantiles into the pale of the Christian ('hurch. During this period,
the Moliammcdims will be converted to tho true faith ; and when their
conversion shall have become g'^nnr?l, tho spiritual kingdom of the Eas-
tern little horn will no doubt be broken. IJut in that case, it will plain-
ly have been broken by the ^word of violence, in the hand of an earthly
conqueror ; but by the invisible agency of the Holy Spirit, inclining
the hearts of its long deluded votaries to renounce their errors, and to
embrace the faith of the true Prophet of God.

Thus we have seen, that the little horn of the symbolical he-goat an-
swers in every irnpo''tant particular, however, circumstantial, which has
hitherto been nccomplished, to the successful imposture of Mohamme-
t(i. The result, therefore, of the whole inquiry must be, that by the
htt'.e horn, described in this chapter ol Daniel, is symbolized the spiri-
tual kingdom of Mohainmcditnisin.

Another parallel prophecy is now to he traced in Apocalypse of John,
who has confirmed and i!lustr:itpd the most important predictions of
Daniel.

REVELATION, CH. IX. 1-19.

I, And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from hcuvon unto the earth :

nndtuhiiu wasgiventhc key ufihe bottomicsH jiii. '*. And iic opcncii tho botto nlcs<7

tilt; and there arose a smoku out ot the pit, as the ttinoku ofa great lurnacc ; and tho

pi and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of tho pit. [i. And there

tame out of the smoke locusts upon tho earth : and unto them wiia given power, as

jho scor|)ion«)ortho earth have power. 4. And it was commanded tl.oni that they

tbouldnothurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, iieithoi c^ny trcti ; but

Viiv those men which iiavc not tiic aoal of God in their foreheads. T). And to ' lom it

mas given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormenir^d five

nonths: and their torment was us the torment ofa scorpion, when hcbtrik»»th a man.

B. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to

lie, and death shall flue from them. 7. And the stiapes of the locusts were like unto

|or6es prepared unto battle; and on their heaH« were as it were crowns, like gold,

ind their faces were as the faces of men. P. And ihey had hair as the hair of women,

m their teeth were as tho teeth of liom. 9. And they had breastplates, as it wor&

Iresstplates of iron ; and the sound of their win;;s was as 'he sound of chariots of

\m horses, running to battle. 10. A/id they had tails like unto scorpions ; and

here were stings in llieirtffi' , : and their pov\'«r was to hurt men five months. 11. And

m had a king over them, which ia the angei of the bottomlesH pit ; whose name, in

le Hebrew tongue, is Abaddon; but in tho Gn^tk toiigie huth his name Apollyon.

s. One wo is past; and behold thiro cnma two more woes hereafter. 13. And the

llh angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the tour horns of the golden altar, which

jheforeGod; saying to the sixth ungel which had the trumpet, loose tho four angely

Ihich are bound in the river Euphrates. And tho four angels were loosed which

lerc prepared for an hour and u day, and a m9nth and a year, lor to slay the third part

I men. 16, And the number of the army^of the horsemen veie two hundred thousand :

'I*

^^.s

APl'KMJlX.

.•ff

■I

f
4

unil I licjirdtiieiiuiiibor <il' tliuiu. 17. And Uuih I huw tliu iiuntux in llio vihioii, ani
tlicm that Hat un tiium, linving bresHtnlatcK of lire, and of jacinth, and brinistoiiu :
and th« headn oftho hnrsoH wcru n« tho hf.id of lions; and out of tlicir mouth issued
fir«, and smoku, nnd hrimstonu. IH. Ily these three waathc third part of men killed;
by th»! fire, and by tho smoko, and by the brimntono. whinh issued out of their inoutliM.
if). For their power in in their in nith, and in their tails : for their tails wore like uiitu
HurpcntH, and had huiids, and with thcin tlicy do hurt.

** In the prediction of Daniel," observes Mr. Fuber, *' Moliaiumcdaii-
ieni alunc is tipoken of: its two priiicipHl supporters, tho ^arucens und
the Turks, are not the superstition from its comtneiicerncnt to its tcrmi.
nation is given, without dusccndin;; to piirticuhirizo the nations by which
it should be successively patronised. In the Revelation of John, thiij
deficiency is supplied ; and we are furinshed with two distinct and accu-
rate paintings, both of the i::^<lraceuic locusts under their extormirialini;
lender, and oftho Euphateun horsemen of the four Turkish Sultanics."
Those two departments of the prophecy we uhall now endeavou. to ex-
plain in their minute particulars.

Vcr. 1. And /aaw a siar /a// (d'r. " having fallen") /row heaven
unto the earth ; and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit, and
there arose a smoke out the pit, as the smoke of a great furnntr .-
and the sun and the air were darkened hy reason of the smoke of tlit
jtit. — Commentators at tho present day are almost universally agreed in
regarding tho fiQh trumpet us symbolizing and predicting the appear-
ance of the Arabian impostor, his spurious religion, and liis Saruccji
followers. But, as it is hy no moans evident, how Mohammed himsull'
can properly be represented as " a star falling from heaven," the usual
symbol of an apostate Christian teacher, or of the Holy Spirit iu (hii
imagery to be, to teach uf», that Mohammedanism is to bo considered os |
tho fruit or product of a Christian heresy. Tho star had fallen before
the lime of tlio false prophet, in tho person of Ariu.s, and other gross he-
retics ; and as the consequenct; <ii' their npostacy from the truth, the I
providence of God so ordered ii, tluit the dcHolatjnjf delusion of Mo-
hammedanism should arise and oveisjircad somt.' oi'the fairest portions
of the Ciiurch. This view ot the urch-inipasturo of Islamifim has bwn
taken by some very ablo writers of modern times; particularly bvMr.l
Whitaker in his "Origin of Arianism." ThO|grand heresies, therefore,!
of the Christian Church, previous to tho time of Mohammed, seemlol
be here personified in the fallen star,and represented as being instrumen-f
tal in introducing this master-plague of error and superstition intothcj
world. The poetical machinery of the vision is supposed to be takenl
from the sacred oracular caves of the ancient Pagans, which wcreolleDJ
thought to communicate with the bea, or the groat abyss, and whiclil
were especially valued, when (like that at Delphi) they emitted aiil
intoxicating vapour ; it is used, therefore, with singular propriety inj
foretelling the rise of a religious imposture. There may possibly be aiil
allusion also to the cave of Hera, whither the prophet was wont to retirij
for the purpose of excogitating his system, and from which it really ciiibT
natcd. The opening of tho bottomless pit, therefore, and letting o!ii|

I in llio vj«i'>ii, ;»ii'i
ih and briuistime;
o!cit mouth issued
i iiart of men killeil ;
outol'lhcirinoutlu.
tails wore like uul«

Al»rj.MJl.V.

;»(; \iipjiir a.»tl Mii'»ki} «)l I'.Kj iiil'i-riiiil rojjlou-s, apll\ ri-jiri-icuU tlio WJc-
Led ami diuboliciil systctn of loli^rion, tlic duu.so unii noxioua femes ol"
itiu cunu,)ttUc.>loiTy which iio hromhcd, nnd by MJeaiis of which so
lurne a |»()rtion of Christendom was tinally ubscured and involved ia
darkness. Tfic preternatural darkenin;; r>f the sun foreshows the cclipso
ofthc true religion; and thtil of tile uir prefigures <he uncontrolled do-
niiuion of tho pmverrf oi'darLnnnH. As a striking coincidence with tho
sii,Mi9 here predicted, it is worthy of note, that n rcmarkablo coniet ini*
mediately preceded the birth of Mohammed; and that an eclipse of
ilicsun, of extraordinary degree and duration, attended tho first an-
nouncement of his pretended mission,

Ver. 8. Jlnd there came out of the pit hcust.i nprtn the edrlh. — Arabia has
long been noted for Riving birth to prodip.ouB swarms of locusts, which
often overspread and lay waste the neighbouring; countries ; and it is
remarkable, that in a genuine Arabian romance, the locust ia introduced
;i6 the national emblem «)f the Isinnuelites. T lic symbol, therefore, of
the locusts issuing out of the smoke strikingly ropreyeiits the armies of
tlie Saracetis, the martial followers of the prophet ; first engendered, as
it were, nmid the fumes of his religion, and then marching forth, at hid
command, to conquer and to proselyte the world. Thci)agcs of liistory
ti.ust be consulted to learn tho devastations of those destructive Sa-
racens, which, under the guidance of Mohammed and his successors,
ilightcd upon nud wasted the apocalyptic earth. Yet, notwithstanding
the phantasms that came forth from the pit of the abyss bore a general
resemblance to locusts, they were marked by several peculiarities, by
which they were more perfectly adapted to typify the pooply designed to
be thus shadowed out. These we shall consider as wo proceed.

Vtr. 4 <^nd it \oaa commanded them that they should not hurl the graaa of
tktarth, neither any ^reen thing; neither any tree ; but only those men tchxch have
Ml the name ofGodin their foreheads. — By the command that they should

_ inothurt the grass, nor the trees, but men, only, it is evident that these

^V 1"\' m\fiw^ ^^^^ beenBwere not natural, but symbolical locusts ; and also that they were un-
'^ -tcularly hyMr.^dcr providential control. The same thing appears from attributes as-

*' MoUaiumcdnu-
iho SSoraceus uiid
:ment to its tcrnn.
B nations by Nvhich
itiou of JoUn, this
, distinct and uwiu-
heir cxtormuifttin?
^irUish SuUanics. '
w cndeav ou. to e\-

len") /^^"* '"^''^'"'
Uottomle»8pit, aid

•a great furnau:
of the stnobc oj tut
universally ogr«c*l m
cdicting the appeal-
,n, and his Saruccii
Mohammed bimscl
n heaven," the usual

. Holy Spirit m this
3 to be considered OS
tnr had fallen bctore
, and other gross he-
'from the truth, tiP,
i5j delusion of Mo-
,r the fairest \^ox\v.

Id heresies, therelore,
[Mohammed, seem to

d as being instrumen-
supcrBtvtion intolhe|

.apposed to be tne
fans, which v;ero oft J

oat abyss, and whicW

in they emitted ii

lingular piopnct/ J
".nay possibly be aa

.etwaswonttoretir

;,<hieh it really en-

cfore,aua letting o-i

Ire

g appears
igncd them, which plainly belong to the objects signified, and not to
he sign; as tho human face, tho woman's hair, the golden crowns, the
ron breastplates. But it is very common in the symbolic diction of pro-
hccy, to find the literal and the allegorical sense intermixed, and that
vcn in the same passage. We are thus furnished with a clew to the
eal meaning of the symbols. JJy the precept here given the embieroa-
ic locusts were required to act in a manner perfectly dissimilar to the
avages of natural locusts: and yet how faithfully the command was
beyed, may be inferred from the following very remarkable injunction
f the Caliph Abubekcr to Yezid, upon setting out on the expedition a-

nst Syria, the first undertaking of the Saracens in the way of foreign
onquest. It can scarcely be doubted, that these instructions have been

eservod, under tho providence of God, for the express purpose of fur-
ishing an illustration of this prophetic text. "Remember," said Abu-
eker, " that yon arc always in the presence of God, on the verge of

\I'>'J.M>l.\.

dculh, ID ihc ;i iirunco of' .jii(l};ii>rra, uml (lir liupc «)l imradisc. ^^ iii
you tioht the balllus oi' llir Lor. , ni;»iuit yoiir.sflvi'H like men, uiilin
turning your hacks ; l>ul let not your victory Ijc stained with tho Moi
of women or cliildren. Destroy no |»!dni-trerH, nor burn ariv tif;Ms
corn. Cut down no (Vuit-trei's ; nor do any nuHchict' to Ciitth only sik
as you kill to cat. When you make any covenant, ftand to it, and I
as good as your word. As you go on. .on will llnd soaic religious pc
son??, who live retired in inonaatcrios, and prn[)o.so to themsolvcsto scr'
(jod that way: let them alone, and nr«itlier kill them, ivn- destroy tlic
monasteries. And you will find anotnor sort of people, that belong
tho synagogue ofSatan, who have HJuivcn crowns: bo sure you clem
their skull, and give Ihcm no (piarter till tli«y either turn Mahometan
or pay tribute." It has accordini^ly been noiicc<l, that those parts of tf
Roman n piro which were left untourhed by these Haraccn Imrdo
were those in which it nnponrs from history the remnant of the tri
chui 'h of (iod was still li)iin«i residing: they were only to hurt the mc
who had the mark ot' (iod on their forehead.

' Pa'.R. And 1 them it was pivcn llint thcj/ s-liauld itnt kill than, iul'jh,
Ihey should he tonnnitcd Jive vmnths : and their torwent wn.i the torment of
fcot'pion, xi'hrn he .siriketh a man — 3Ir. tiiljbons undesipned rommcntoi
on these words will show how the conmiisbion was fultillcd. " Tho fa
option of friendship or submission, a battle was proposed to the encmii,
of Mahomet. If they professed the creed of Islam, they were admiltc
to all the temporal and spiritual bcnelits of his primitive disciples, an
marched under the same banners, to extend the relinion they had cm
braced.. The clemency of the prophet was decided by his interests
yet he seldom trampled on a prostrate enemy, and ho seemed to pron
ISO, that on tho payment of a tribute, the least guilty of his unbclicv
subjects might bo indulged in their worship. — The period assigned
the power of the locusts, in this prediction, is " five months." 1'
phecy has its peculiar mode of computing time. A day for the mo:
part stands for a year. Five months, therefore, of tliirty days each,
mount, in the computation of prophecy, to one hundred and tifty yea
As five literal months is the utmost term of the duration of the natur
plague of the locusts, so the prophetic five months accurately denote
period of the main conquests of the 8araccn empire, computing fro
the appearance of Mohammed to the foundation of I5agdad. " Rcai
says Bishop Newton, " the history of the Saracens, and you will lin
that their greatest exploits were performed, and their greatest conqucs
made, within the space of five prophetic months, or one hundred ar
fifty years, — between the year 612, when Mi.homet opened tJie botto
less pit, and began publicly to teach and propagate iiis imposture ; ar
the year 762, when Almaiisor built Bagdad, and called it the city
peace." The comparison of the locusts' torments to that of the sco
pion will be considered subsequently.

Ver. 6. Jliid in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it ; a
SimU desire to die, hut death shall Jice from them. — This prediction basu:«
ully been considered as awfully expressive of the hopeless snflctin

API'KNJJI.V.

ttl

po ill" para<UH«'. "NN ln;ii
;Uvos like men, without
c htfiiiu'il with the hlood
nor hum ntiv tichls ot
chief to raltU- onlytiuch

1 imd ••■oino religions prr
,setothcineolvcBtnsor\v

1 tlicni, nor destroy thou
of people, thut belong to
ivna : bo sure you clcuvo
cithor turn MahometanN
.c(l, that thoHC parts of th.;
y these t^araccn hordes
the remnant of the true
kvcrc only to hurt the moil

auUlnnt kill thm, but'.llm!
„.Hif)./. iJ'fi.'J ihr torment of <■
uuaesipnetl conimcnta.y
nvas fulfilled. " The tan
vs proposed to the cncmK,
Islam, they were adniittc
,is primitive disciples, and
the reliizion they had cm-
decided by his interests;
■ and ho seemed to prom-
Jtuuiltvofhisunhclicyiiig
^ -The 'period assigned for
IS u five months." 1 ro-
time. A day for the most
,rc,ofthirtydayseacl., a-

,c hundred and hOy yoni^
he duration of the natura
.nths accurately donolo Ik

n empire, computing fr m

tion of Bagdad. " i ca -

iaraccns, and you will f •
bd their greatest conqvicsi

Lnths, 01 one hundred and

ELet opened the bottoH

pagate his imposture ; an

' and called it the otyoi
Ucnts to that ofthcscor-

\th, and shall not Jindjl; «J
I —This prediction has ujB-

[of the hopeless suflenn?

mid dosi>air ol Kasteru CjiriNtondoMi, imdt'r the lawless iusultii, violen-
ces, uu«l oppressions syHteniafically pra(ti«ed by their SaruriMi niastors.
We wuiild uut deny that this nuiy jmvo been alluded to ; yet, us it would
seem that men desirous ol (•«capiti<> HuHi>rmg by death, might easily, in
a thousand ways, li'ive uecomplishcd their object, it may bn suggested,
wlirtlier the 8arar(:ns fhomsolvcs are not the [lorsons her(> reforred to,
as coveting death in biittlc, iV.jm a view to the honoiir, and tho rewards
of such a decease. The followiii-r passage from the Koran, is worthy
nf special nolo in thi» connexion. " Moreover, ye did sometimes wish
lor death, belbro that ><; met it '■ On those words Sale remarks, in a
note, "that sevrralol iVlfdiammtid's followers, who wcro not present at
lledcr, wished for an opportunity of obtaining, in another action, tho
like honour as tliosu had <jairicd who fell mariyrs in that ovont." The
import of the language, therefore, may be, that (lod should give to tho
Moslem hosts such an uninterrupted tide of compiests, they should tro
iinifortnly come olf victorious in their engagements, and that with such
luconsidcrablc losses, that numf'<Mf', in the height of their cnthuaiasin,
bliould pant in vain for the gl- , lous privilege of dving in the field of
hiittle.

\tr.T. And thr shapcf of "ily ivi'ic like unfo horsr.i fwepareti vnto

laltk."'" Aruhiii,'' says (.«ibl>..r is, in the opinion ol' naturalist ~, tho
native country of the horse."' .j luirsenjanstiq) of the Arabs has ov-
jtr been an object of admiration. "Thu martial youth, under the hau-
lier of tho Emir, is ever oil Jiorscback and in the field, to practise Iho
lixorcise of th(5 bow, the javelin, and the scimitar.-' In correspond-
luce, therefore, witii the iiieroglyphic of tiie prophet, the strength of tho
>!iiraccns consisted very much in their numerous cavalry, and tho linri-
Ivalled speed of tlu? Arabian coursers forms tho most striking possiblo
|emblem of tiie raj)id career of t!ie f*^aracen armies.

And on their luad.v irc/r as it icfrr vrniruti like fX'dd, mid their faces ivcra as
I'/ie/acw o/mt«.— " Wake n point," says a pi'ccept of Mobunimed, "of
Ineiiriiig turbans ; because it is the way of angfds." Tho turban, ac-
prdingly, has ever been the distinctive headilress of the Arabs, and
peir boast has been, that they wore, as their common attire, those or-
naments, which among other people are the peculiar badges of royalty.
[file notice of tho "faces of men" scorns to be intended merely to afford
It clow to the meaning of the emblem; to intimate, that not natural lo-
custs, but liumari beings, were depicted under this symbol.

I'er. 8. And thcij hud hair,' as the. hair of women, and their teeth were as
\lii teeth of lions. — Tlio Arabs, ay I*liny tt'stKies, wore their beards or ra-
|licrmustachios, as men, while their hair, like that of women, wasflow-
ng or plaited. Tho " teeth like those of lions," has reference to tho
weapons and implements of war ; and tho " breastplates of iroa" to the
Irmour made use of by the iSaracon troops in their expeditions. The

sound of their wings as the sound of chariots of many horses running

battle," is but a partof tlie same expressive imagery denoting war-
Ikp scones and preparations.

»»

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f/i

4i>^

,§i;

./^
&

.•M>PKM>!X.

1.1

Vfy. 10. ,/lnd thfy had taHs like uvto scorpions: anl Vure were e'ings ii
their tails. — TheinterpretMtion of tho syiubnls of llio Apocalypso imis;
be sought for in tho Ohl TcstamcMit Froin tho followuig words of Isu-
iah (ch. ix. M, 15) it finpRHrs thiit tho tail ofu heist denotes the fal^e
doctrines or the siiperstitinn w'uich he maintainH : — '' TlKircfore tlir:
Lord will cut ofFfrom Israel head anJ tnil, hraneh and rush, in onedny.
The ancient and honourabh?, !ic is tho head ; and the prophet that teach-
eth lies, he is the laiV^ 'i'ho oinhlem, therefore, stnUinj^iy represents
the infliction of spiritual wourtds \\v tho propixgntion of j»oisonons arid
deadly errors and hercsicp. And nothing is more evident from tho pn;;c
pj history than that the Mof^lem folIoweriJ of Mohammed iravc scattcrp'!.
like Bcorpions, tho venom of their doctrines behind thoin ; and whctlie;
conquering or conquered, hare snceccf'o ! in p.ilining a new creed ii;.o:i
those with whom they have had to do. By this symbol, then, wc an^
plainly taught, that the plague of the ullegorieal locusts eousifitecl no-
only in the ravages of war, but in thu sMrcessful projxigation of a hy
religion, of which the doctrines should be as delctcrous in a spirit»;t!
point of view, as the sting of a scorpion in a natur.d. In like maniie;,
when it is said (ch. xii. '^, 4) of the *' great red dragon having sevtn
heads and ten horns, that his tail ilrew the third part ol the stai>! of Iioav-
en, and did cast thorn to tlic earth," the explieation, is, ih;! th.c Auli-
christian power shadowed out by thir. foriiiidable monster shunl.-l l)c p(r|
milted to instil the most pernieiotis errors into the rniiid« of flic profrs
ed ministers of the truth, and tlius bri.-,g about th;ir entire den'ctio::!
from Christisnit}.

Ver. 11. And thev l;<id a fcin<r orei- than, irJiirk is Ihr a)i;::rl of the hoUux-
hss pit, Ufhosv namn in the Ivhre.iv tumsvr in Jlbdildun, hut in the (irirl: tm;pi
hutk his name JlpcUyon. — Hutb flll•^(• \Qvn\'^ ^\;fn\\'y (h-aiyoijer. ^iiure tliil
locusts are at onco se*',uiar coiHintrors asul (In^ propagators of a I'alsel
religion, their king must slaml to liu'm in the double relation of a lem-r
pornl and spiritual head. Such acconlingly were JVIohaiumed arullln'
Caliphs liis successors, who n'r.at he viewed as jointly co:)stitutin;: tliil
the locust-king Abaddon ; for in the; usual language of prophecy, akinJ
denotes, not any single indiviil-nii, but a dynasty or kingdeni. 'ili'l
chief of the locusts, when ihiiv lirst issued tVoni tlie pit of the abyss, wA
Mohammed himself; but during tlie r.liottj'd period of the wo W\\v\
they occasioned, the reigning destroyer was, of course, the nig'iii.;
Caliph, if, therefore, we were to suppose tiie genius of Moiiamni']
danism under the Caliphs to bo person! fi-jd, and tbis svmbolirnl pcrsorJ
^^ge to be designated by the mostapropriatc title, Abaddon, ihcdestrov
cr, would be the appellation.

As the portion of the prophecy thus fu- considered has reforonce
the origin of Mohammed's imposture, and to the rise, progress, m^
conquests of the Saracens, its earliest abettors and propagators, solH
remaining part announces the commencement and career of tiie Tiiikil
power, the principal of its later supporters.

Vei'.m. And the sixth aiifrt I sounded, and I heard a V)ice from the fat
horns of the golden altar, i:yhich ift bifmr. Cod, .iat)ini>; to the -tirlh aii<T'l 'M

.AH»KN'n:x.

1 7 fit re were s'ings i;
ilui Apocalypso mus?
lowing words of Isu-
nst denotes the false
,^ . »• TlK'.rofore the

ftUfl ruflif, in ""^ <^^\'
he prophet that tench-
strikingly ro;)rcsent8
on of j.nisoriouH arid
ovident from the l>n;;o
,mmc(! hiivc scattcrp'!.
h\ tiiein ; and \v\\q\\w;
ning a new ciccd ii;.o:i
symbol, then, wc ar^
locusts cojisisted no'
proiiagution of a fnW
Ldetcrous in a spiriUia!
iir:ii. In li^'i^ nianne;,
drauon having sevia
artol the stms ofhcav-
ion, i.^, that thcAiiti-|
.monster shonld he per-
,c ntiudtf of tl»e profess
t ihrir entire del.'ctin:;

^u hut in the and: hn;^
il'y flfsiicijer. ^««m',P tlw|
e projuiflidors oi a lal>o
)uhle relation of aterc-
;,e Mohiuainedaudtkl
ointly constitutiii2 tiii'l
^e of prophecy, a kijil

,stv or Uiiigdcni. M
tuepitoftUcuhyss,w4

HMMVl of the wo ^ViU-«

ofronrsc, the rei-^nnJ

,c {^oninsofMohiunnK-l

thfs svmholicnl V^'^^n

I, Ahiiddon, thodestroy'l

idored has reforuiice
th« rise, progress, m
and propagators Hf)t
uul career of tlieTiiik!

nrd a V'}ici' from the M
inirto thfs'iilh nn^'l vh<

as depicting tiie visionary scene of a field ofba'-lle, in \v(i'.x.h the rnvalry
/■aV the trumpr.t, Loo.fr. thefotirantrtls ir'ii'-karz hound in {rMUvr «•', h\/. in the
vicinity «f ) the. i^rcit rivt-r K'tji'irnt's, au'l tlffovr unf^cls werr hD'rit, — It in
impossible, from the train of events, an! l'r<j'>n th:; qiarter of the world
in whicli wt; arc directed to look for the irruption of the.s>5 prodigious
multitudes of hor.icmen, to mistake to whom t!ie prophecy reiers. The
four angels who are deseribod as bound in the regions bordering on tho
liver Euphrates, not in the river itself, are the four eontempor;iry aulto-
nics or dynasties, into which the cmpu-e of the S.djukrun Turks was di-
vided towards the close of the eleventh eenlury : Persia, Kermav, v^v-
KiA, au'j RnoLM. 'I'hose sultanies, from different causes, were long res-
trained from cxtenflinj; their conquests beyond what nniy be geographi-
<idly termed the Ruphratean re;;ions, but towards the close of the thir-
(•^enih century, tlie four angels ou the river Eupratox were loosed in
(lie persons of their existing representatives, the united Ottoman and
fseljukian 'J'urks. The historian of the Decline and Fall of the Roman
Empire must of neressily be tin; guide to nny English eornmentator on
this part of tho propiietie iiistory. The following i-? his testimony as to
i!»e immense number of the 'I'urkish cavalry. *'As the Bubject nations
ciiarmeJ under the sinndard of th^ Turks, their eavulry, both men and
iiorses, were proudly computed by nnllions." " On this occasion, the
myriads of the Turliish horse overspread a frontier of six hundred miles,
from Taurus to Erzeroum."

Ver. 17. .'Ind thus 1 saiv the hurHtS in the }!ision, and those that sat on
Oitin, kaviniz hrenstplatts f>f fir'' and of Jacinth, andbiimslone. Tliese pro-
piietie ciiaracterislics oi" the Eupiiratean warriors accord in the most
peifeci manner with (he description which history gives of the Turks.
Tliey brought immense armies in the field, elnefly composed of horse,
iiud from their fust appearance on tho great political stage of nations
their costume has been pecul'arly diistm^uishe<l by the colours of scar-
lot, blue, and yellow, which are here denoted by the terms '* fire," "ja-
tintli," and " britrfstone.-' Uyoaut's " Present iStute <»f the Ottoman
Empire,'' published towards the close of the seventeenth century, will
satisfy the reader on this point.

And the heads u{ the horses were as Ihc heads of lions, and out of their mouths
issvedjlre and smohe and brimslnne. We liave hen' j\ xytnhol wbicli isi
not elsewhere to be met wiih in tlie Sdiptures. The prophetic horsea.
arc represented as vomiting out .ifi!)-.;ir niOiiths '-firr, a. id smoke, and
brimstone," by which it is added, ''the third part of men was killed." —
.Mede, Newton, Fabej', and most other eminent expositors of the Rev-
ulation, agree in supposing that the flashes of fire attended by smoke and
brimstone, which seemed to proceed iVom the mouths of the hor^res, were
iij reality ' the flashes of artillery.' The Turks were among the first
who turned to account the European invention of gunpowder in carrying
on their wars. Cannon, the most deadly engine of modern warfare,
were employed by Monau)me<i II. in liis wars against the Greek em-
pire; and it is said that he was indebted to his heavy ordnance for the
I'Hlnction o(Oonstantino]ile. The prophet, therefore, is to bo considered

i*U

mii

,^PPKNJJJ\.

♦A

:|].

jiiid arlillery are bO uiiugloil together lliut wliile flashes ol'tiio and (kwise
t^louds of smoke issued IVom the cuMnoii, tlic horses heads alone would
be dimly discerned throurjh the sulpliurous mist, and would seem to tlie
'cyoofthe spectator to belch forth the smoky jliiinv^s from their own mouth.
Wo may now see how far history coniirms this interpretation. " Anioiifr
lhe implements ofdcbfruction," says Mr. (iibhon, " he (Mohammed II.
studied with peculiar care the recent and tremendous discovery of the
Latins; and his artillery surpassed whatever liad appeared in the
known world." *' The Ottoman artillery thundered their cannonade on
all sides, and the camp |and city, the Greeks and Turks, were^'involved
in a cloud of smoke which could only he dispelled by the fmal deliver-
ance or destruction of the Roman empire," " The great cannon of
Mohammed has been separately an important and visible object in the
history of the times. But that enonnuiis engine, whicii required, it is
said, seventy yoke of oxen and two thousand men to draw it, was flanked
by the fellows almost of equal magnitude: the long order of Turkish
artillery was pointed against the wall ; fourteen batteries thundered at
once on the most accessible places ; and of one ot these it is am-
biguously expressed, that it was mounted with a hundred and thir-
ty guns, or that it dischanged a hundred and thirty bullets."

Per. 19. For their power is in tluir mouth, and in their tails ; for their
tails ivcre like unto serpents, and hud heads, and with ther.i thnj do hurt. — The
emblematic import of the tad of »i beast we have already considerttl.
The imag'»"ry in the present symbol is sliiyhtly difi'orent from that of the
Haracen locusts, which had tails of scorpions? ; but the import is the
same. Here the tails of the ijorses terminated in a serpent's head;
and it is not a little remarkable, that the Turk.'s have been in the habit,
from the earliest period of their history, of tyin<? a knot in the extrt'-
luily of the long ilo wins' tu''s of their horses, when preparing for war;
so that their resemblance to serpents with swelling heads must have
been singularly striking. Strdiing too in the fact, that so slight a clr
cumstanee should imve been ailveried to by the bisto.iun so often quo-
ted, who thought as little of beiu,,' un ortr^in ti>il!usti*a e the predictions
of Scripture, as the Turkathenisolves «liti of being agents to fulfil thciii
Speaking of Alp Arslan, the lust To iiis;.! it-VH(ter of the Konuin Em
pire, he says, '• With his own han^i^r^ iic tied up his horse's tail, and deo-
lared that if he were vaniiuisiied, that spot should be the plaeo of his
burial.*' The scope of the hierogly})hie here employed is to predict
the propagation of a deadly imposture by the instrumentality of the
same warlike power which should achieve such prodigious conquests,
The event has corresponded with the propluey. Like the Saracens
of the first wo, the Turks were not nuu-ely secular eonqueroi-s. They
were animated with all the wild fanaticism of a false religion ; they
professed and propagated the sane ihecdtjgie-' system as their Arabian
predecessors; they injured by their <lortriiie£ ess than by their con-
quests; and wherever they e^ti;l)li'>-he«i tn dominion, the Koran
triumphed over the Gospel. Thus writes !>Ir, Gibbon : ''The whole
body of the nation endjraced the religit»n of Mohammed." "Tweiity-
flve years after the death of Basil, bis successors were suddenly as-
saulted by an unknown race of barbanansj who united the Sn/lhitV)

ralov^ W\ti\ \\\0 j'i'nridrisni ofur<i> I'DiiTrrt.c,"

ics ol' tiio and ilcnso
shcadi^alonewoultl
woiiM seem to the
oin then- own mouth,
rctution. "Anions;
he(Mohummo(llI.
13 iliscovLMV ol' tlu;
d appeared in the
i tljeif cannonade on
.irkb, worc^'involvcd
by the linal deliver-
lio o-rcat cannon of
visible object in the
fWidx required, it is
» draw it, was Hanked
ig order of Turkish
ittcries thundered ;U
B ot these it is am-
a hundred and thi.-
lirty bullets."

tkcir tails; for Vmr
em tht'ij do /lur/.— The
> uU-eady considertil.
bi-ent I'rom that ol'the
ut the import is the
in a st-rpcnt's head,
tive been in the habit,
I a Unot in the extii'
n preparing for war;
1,1? heads must liaye
r "that so alight a civ
isto.iun so often quo
is.li'H e the predictions
^^ ajjents to fulfil thoui
T oi' the Roman Em
, horse's tail, and dec-
d be the place ot his
iiiployed is to pfec hit
nstriiinentality ot the
l>rodigious conquests.
Like the Saracens
I- conqueroi's. They
1 falser religion ; they
stem as their Arabian
es!^ than by their con-
[dominion, the Koran
Jibbon: '-The whole
ammed." '"rs^ei.t.V-
were suddenly us-
united fhr Snilhw'

AL'i'ENDl'X.

J>i>

^^ul^^(•ielll proof lias now bpcii iiU'orderi, it we mislaku not, that tlio
vippearnnce of the Arabian propliet intiir woi-hl. and the rise, profjress,
anil rc^^'ults of }iis imposture, are rifjirly ibretold in the SSucrod volume.
Indfefl, it would not l>e easy to specify any admitted sultjert of pro-
phecy, upon wliit'li history iind l*rovi«lenje have thrown a strong-er
orcleiirer lijrht, than tlisU whirii w»' nave considered in the precedinpr
pasjes Interpreters liiivc been jastly Sitnick at the surprising? cxact-
iii'SB of the delineations, and their perfect aecordan<!e with the details
oChistory. " Tho proj»hetic trnliis,"" says IJr. Zoach, "comprised in
the ninth chapter of the Vpotalypse are. of themselves, suflicicnt to
sliinip the mark of divinity upon that book. When I compare them
with the pa<?e of history, I am tilled with amazement. The Haracens,
a people which did not exist in the time «)f John, and the Turks, a na-
tion then utterly unknown, are there described in Innj^ua^e the most
iippropriate and distinct."' If then the considerations commonly ad-
duced to account lor the rise, jiro^ress. and reign of Mohammedanism
appear to be inade(jnat<', — if the hinnnn causes nsuaiiy quoted ta
explain tho astonisliins: success oi'iMohanunedan imposture still seem
to us tolcaven^any ol't-jc {>heno:nena inexplicable, and the greatest re-
volulion in the world i-onnected with the history of the Church stands
toith an unsolved |)rohleni, — why should we hesitate to ascribe it
directly Co the determinate will and counsel of the iMost High, and
thus find a clew to ail the mysteries connected with it ? Why should
\vc he anxious to escape the recognition of a Divine interference in
tlio rise of this arch-heresy ' If wc have been correct in our interpre-
tation of the preceding prec'ictions of Daniel and John, the Mohamme-
dan delusion is as real and as prominent a subject of prophecy as any
in the whole compass of the Bible.

\ow, to insist upon tho opcrHtion of human causes in the production
[ofati event which is truly a subjVei of phophecy, is in fact to take the
givernnient of'tlie world out of the hands of CJod. And this principle
mushed to thoextrem"! will inevitably lower and impugn thesuro woid
of prophecy ; for it -.nakes Ood th** prfidicfor of events over which, at
llhd same time, he has no special superhitondence or control. iSuch a
irinciple cannot stand th<^ leuf^t examination. When Daniel foretells
Ihe fortunes of the four grea* empires: or when Isaiah speaks of Cy-
rus* by imnie, as one who HJioald >u'c. >mpliiHh certain great purposes of
Ihe Infinite Mimi, is il to i>e suf-ixised, the events predicted were to
mppenexclu»iv4, of FrovidHnii;i! agency? As easily and as justly
[hen may we ac'.now ledu'c a spr'cial [>re-ordainn»ent in the case of
I'ohammed, win -.ie still n^'Tc fiM'iMidable dominion and more lasting
ind more fatal ageiioy u) tho riirai»>: oi'men, a»'e equally the theme of
inqucstionable predictions. IV i»'.hnission ofthis nature militates with
Ihe free agency of man, or at ali aflects the moral character of his ac-
ions. The mere fact that an event is foreknown or foretold by the
•eity, neither takes away nor weakens the accountability of the a-
[ents concerned. Of this, the whole Scripture is full of proofs. But
lie reflecting reader will desire no farther confirmation of so plain a
losition.

l-M^

J-

i)ij

Ai'i'ivXLl.\.

(B)

THE CAABA.

C^AAUA istlip name j?(ven to a vrry nncit-nt lensplo, in the cily of iMic.
'cii, the origin of which isio*t in the (IrirUneiss* nfrt'inote njjes. Centu-
ries before Moiuiniinetl was lun-n, j»n<l while the Arnbs were yet I'n-
i^ans, thii9 building' wan iicitito possess a peculiar »i»nctity : pil^i'linRf^es
were mode to it fmm distant re^^ions ; and that trii)C or family wasuc
■<;otinted the most hononrable, who were the keepers of its keys, hi-j
<an obiongf, massive ftnieJufe, built of hirge blocks of different sized
stones, joined rudely to'rolhrr, and is ul)onl eij^litec n paces in length,
fourteen in breadth, and from thirty five to forty feet in height. ItiiHs
but one door, on the north fide, seven feet aliove the <rround, %vhol!y
plated with silver, and emljellislied with f<ilt ornaments. From the
Poor's beincr pluecd, not in the eentre, but near to one corner of tho
buildinfiT, it appttars not tohnve been ori.<^mally designed for a sacred
use; but at what time, or for what reasons, it became thus opprofria-
ted. it is not possible now to determine. Near the door, in the anj^lu
of the wall of tho north-east corner of tlje Caabe, about seven span;;
from the ground, is tho celebrated '• black stone,'' so devoutly Itissfd
by every pilgrim vi^iitingthe sncrrd city. It is of an ovnlshape, ohoiit I
seven inches in diameter, composed of about seven small stones, of dif-
ferent sizes and siinpes, well .joine<l tr.gethcr with cement, and prr-
fectly smooth ; appearing as if the original stone ha<l been broken into
many pieces by a violeiit blow, and then united again, which indeed
is rcperted to have been the fact. A border of some kind of cement,
rising u little above the si>rface of the stone, surrounds it, and both this |
and the stone are encircled by a silver band.

According to the fabulous legends of the Mussulmans, the "bla(k|
stone" was broujjfht down from Heaven by Gabriel, at the creation of |
the world ; and 'vas then of a pure white, bat has contracted its pre-
sent sable hue from th» guilt of the sins committed by the sons ofmen.l
If a conjecture, however, may be hr>zar<led, we should not hesitate to |
refer its origin to that peculiar trail in tfie character of the Ishmnelitcs,
which hog ever led them to imitate the Israelites. 55>carcely a feature I
in the religious institutions, usages, or traditions of the Jews, but hn?[
its spuious counterpart in those of the seed of Hagar. Jacob's pillarj
of stone, at Bethel; would of course become celebrated among his de-l
scendants. In like manner, from causes now unknown, we may iina-[
ginethis stone to have received a similar sanctity among the Arabs.!
This is rendered more probable from the circumstance, that ohe ofthcl
names given to the Caaba, in Araback language, is Beit-t/lUali, hovMtm
God; a fvord of the same import and similar sound with BethelT
from which the Greek term Baituta was frequently applied to 8aiired|
stones or memorial-pillars, like that of Jacob,

The double roof of the Caaba is supported within by three octaD|ni-|
lar pillars of aloes- wood, between which, on a bar of iron, hang a num-l
ber of silver lamps. The four sides without are covered with a richi
black silk stuff hanging down to the ground, and encircled near the topi

UM'KMUX,

J):

note ojrcs. <-'eniu.
inbs were yet I'n-
notiiy : pilgi'iinnjlt's
l,e or fttHiily waau. .
.,•9 of its keys, liw
s of different sjxed
,cn pares in lengtl.
,rt in heiglit. It hHS
the o-round, wholly
namerits. From the
o one corner ol Iho

Ksi^rned for a »«c«-f' '
,aniethu6.api>roFna-

,e iloor, in the nnjilo
. about seven fpun^
•' so d<'vnutly liJSSfd
;fanovnUhape,abmit
en smail gtones, ofilif-
ith ceniont, and per
had been broken into
again, which u.Uee
some kind of cemenl
rounds it, nnd both tb.s

,«gU\mans, the "black
Uriel, at the creation of
Ls contracted its pre-
ed by the sons of men.
i .hauld not hes,t«jc to

.terofthclshmneJitcs,
Scarcely a feature

I'of the Jews, huthns
agrnr. J0cob'« p.lar

.bfated among h.s «le.

nknown. we may »ina
Ely among the Arab.
Uance. that otieot the

[T^Beit-Mlah, tool
^"'.ound with Bethe
,tiy applied to sacred

lithin by three octangul
arofir«n,hanganutn|

tre covered with onch
E encoded near the to

v.ilU nn CMibitMilfrcd bui.d of/roM. wliicb <',om|)us»iL's» the uliole huHd-
uvj;. '^hi^^ t«>v<Minir, uhich is renoued every year, wosi JbrmeHy sup-
jilietl l)y the (,'aliphs. iirrorw:;ril l»y tlie SuHniis of Kjrypt; but is now
>i'iit fioiii Curio, ill {h(^ I'xpciise of tUt* (i/mid Hei^nior, ut tlie time of
\\w liiul.i, wlu'ii ihe old ono is <?nt int() sinull piooe* and sold to the
liilffrinis ibr uearly :is iniioh money a-ji tho new oue*coHtsi, 'J'hb» eiir-
uiiii or veil, tylle<l Krsuini, is \iU\7.ouri\ all over with f lie words, ''There
is no ii.nl, Injt CJod,"' &c. in <x<>KI leltis-a of great size; and such a
^acrednes »tt:u'!u'S to it, that tho caniel wbieh transportc* it to Mecca is
ever alter excnijited fiain labour, 'i'his eireunjstauce of the Caabu
\tc\ng covered in the ummu'r (Joscrihed sinj^jests the probability, that
ihe structure wus inteiKled ua fi rti-le iuiUatioa of the Jewish Tabenia-
cle, which was also enveloped in erahroidered curtains without, while
within was a jjoiden eamllcstick, wilij seven branches, kept cuustaut-
iy liurning-,

The Caal)u, at asli;:Iit di-sliinc «, is SMrrounded with a circuliir enclo-
sure of thirty-two slender ^ilt pillars, lietweea every two of which nro
suspended seven lamps, upon «jaialj bars of silver connectinjy the pil-
lars towards the lop. These lamps are always lighted after sunset.
Tiiissatired paling reniip.ds us a<!:atu of liie Tabernacle; the ujurt of
which, thouifh of an oliloi.^ instead of a circular fonn. was coustruct-
Cil i)f pillars, and hung' witli curtains, with only u siUj-i^le i)Iaee of eiT-
ir.inoi'. Within liiis enclosure of the Cauba, and almost uonti<^uous 16
Its l)!ise, lies the '• w!iit(3 stone," said lo be the sepulchre of Ishmael,
wliiuh receives the ruin- water fallin<r olf the flat roof of the edifice
ilii'ounh a spou?. formerly of wood, but now of ff old. A.ucordin|^ to
;lit' account ot' IJurckhardt, the etlect of tlie wliolo scene, the mysteri-
ous drapery, the profusion of <fuld and silver, the blaze of lamps, and
ihu kneelinu^ multitudes, suri)asses a:iy thing' the iaiagiuation could
have pictured.

At a small distance fvom the Caaba, on the east side, is the station
or place of Abraham, whom the Arabs afllrm to have been the builder
oftlie temple, where there is another stone mnch respected by the
Moslems, as they pretend that the patriarch stood upon it while em-
jiloyed about the building-, and profess to show the prints of his foot-
steps to this day. Just wittiont the circular court, on its south, north,
and wost i-ides, are three buildings designed as oratories, or placesof
piiiyer. wljere the pilgri;a worshippers pertbrm their devotions. Bo-
^ides these there arc several small buihlinfT« near to the main structure,
ill one of which is the (atnoiis well oi'Zemzem, said by the Mussulmans
iol»e the very spring which the angel discovered to Haiarar in the
wiUlcrisess. and whose waters of c )ur.-e possess the most miraculous
virtues. They cure all diseases, both of body and spirit, and supply
tlio whole town tor drinking and oblation. It is said to be tlie only
sweet water in the wliole valley ; bat Pitts, an Kngiish traveller, found
it brackish, and says, tho pilgrims drink it so inordinately, that "they
are not only much purged, but their flesh breaks out all in pimples;
and this they cdled thsi {""'STing of their spiritual corrupt^n." They
not only drink, but have buckets of water poured over them, and then
ttiink their sins are washe«l into the well. One of the miracles of .Alec-
\c>\\s, that tho water of this well never diminishes; hut this is not
surprising to the true believers, who regard it as having been rainac-
ilously created to save the infant Ishmael when dyii ; o^ thirst in

h\ ■

Arpis^Dix.

the wilderness. Uurckhurdt, however, tixpluins it wiltiuiit u inirucio,
by supposing that tlit; nntcr Hows through tliu bottAin, bein^ supplied
by a subterraneous rivulet. The water, he says, is perfectly sweet,
but heavy to the taste, slightly tefml, and sometimes in its colour re-
sembles milk. The piljfrinis frequently destroy the ropes, buckets,
and other appendag-cs oi the well in their cag^erness to quatf its holy
water.

Surrounding all the ohjccts now described, which occupy the centre
of an open space, is the square colonnade or crand piazza, consisting
of a quadruple row of columns on one side, and a triple row on the other
three sides, united by pointed or Gothic arches, every four of which
support a dome, plastered white — the number of these domes amounting
to one hundred and fifty-two, and the pillars to four hundred and forty-
eight. From the arches of these colonnades are suspended lamps,
some of which are lighted every night, and the whole of them during
the nights of the Ramadan. The columns are upwards of twenty feet
high, and somewhat more than a foot and a half in diameter ; some arc
of a reddish gray granite, some of red porphyry, and others of white
marble. No two capitals or bases are exactly alike; in somo cases, by
the ignorance of the workmen, the former have been placed upside
down on the shafts. The arches and some parts of the walls arc gaudily
painted in stripes of yellow, red, and blue, which, as mo have already
seen, are colours peculiar to Mohammedanism, At each of the four
corners of this immense quadrangular court, towering above the pillar- |
cd domes, rises a lofty minaret, surmounted with a gilded crescnt, tiie
invariable accompaniamcntof the Moslem temple.

" The high antiquity of the Caaba," says Mr. Forster, '• is undispu-
ted. The permanent character of its rites is certified by onr knowledge
of the adherence ef the Arabs, in every age, to their ancient customs.
But, from the uniform consent of Mahometan writers, it farther appears
that the statues of Abraham and Ishmael, which from remote antiquity
had held a conspicuous place in the Caaba, and constituted the princi>
pal object of its idol worship, remained to the time of Mahomet, and
were there found by the Mussulmans after the captuio of iVlecca. Ma-
homet, Abulfeda tells us, when he took Mecca in the eighth year of the
Hejira, found and destroyed in the Caaba, on his entering the temple,
the image of Abraham holding in his hand seven arrows without heads j
or feathers, such as the Arabs use in divination, and surrounded with a I
■great number of angels and prophets, as inferior deities, among whom,
as Al Janubi and other writers add, was Ishmael with divining arrows |
also in his hand.

*' Various external signs, betokening its patriarchal origin, may be I
Uated in the Ante-Mahometan worship of the Caaba. Among these one |
custom is sufficiently remarkable to claim distinct notice in this place,
inasmuch as it has been alluded to and censured in the Koran. The |
pagan Arabs were used to compass the Caaba naked, because clothes,
they said, were the signs of their disobedience to God. The celebrateill
black stone of the Caaba also, the primitive source and object of Ara-f
bian idolatry, strongly indicates the origin to which it has been uniform-

;ilUontu mirude,
,ni, beinpr supplied
, perfectly BWt-et,
»s in Its colour ro-
iie ropcB, buckctf.,
ss to quaff its holy

I occupy the centre
piazza, cdnsistmg
pic row on the other
^ery four of which
Bc domes amounting
r hundrcU and forly-
e suspended lamps,
-hole of them during
ivards of twenty feet
diameter; some arc
and others of white
e ; in some cases, by
e been placed upside
■the walls are gamliy
as wo have already
At each of the four
sring above the pillar-
a gilded crescnt, the

'orster, " is "n'|''^f '
lied by oar knowledge
their ancient customs.
ters, it farther appears
[from remote antiquity
Constituted the princi-
Eme of Mahomet, and
jtuio of Mecca. Ma-
the eighth year of the

IS entering the temple,

arrows without iieads

and surrounded with a

Ideities, among whom,

with divining arwvs

larchal origin, may be
Iba. Among these one
}i notice in this place,
Jed in the Koran, m
Eked, because clothes,
iGod. The celebrated
Irce and object ot Ara-
[chit has been unifom-

APP,EMJ).IX,

ly referred. Tlie Arabs attribute its introduction into the temple of
Mecca to the immediate posterity of Ishmuol. The peculiur kind of
superstition is just what might bo expected to arise from the abuse of
an early patriarchal custom — that of setting up stones on particular
spots in honour of the true God. While the connexion is farther mad»)
out by the exact correspondence in this particular between the idolatry
of the ancient Israelites and that of the Ante-Muhomctan Arabians,
their identity might bo largely shown from tho Old Testament ; but a
passage from tho prophecy of Isaiah will suOice. Tho prophet thus
indignantly reproves the Jews for their idolatry : — ' Among tite smooth
stones of the stream is thy portion : they, they arc thy lot : even to them
thou has^ourod a drink offering, thou hast otiered a meat offering.' ''

'XlM

■••i. ' - . .• .»

!f 1'

■«»

iOH

s?M'r..vn!\.

( 1

TlIK KORA\.

The wor»l Kornn, «JjMivtMiriHiiu llir v»'i!> lv.\r..\, tn irnu, proprrly si;:;.
niHcs the reading;, lifj^md, or lliui irhick oiiixht In In' rmd ; by which iiniiK;
the ^ohatnmedanH ilcnote not oiily tli*' eiitirt* \iooU or voliiini' oj" ilii>
Korao, but nl^o nny purticijIiuMliHpJerors.HiioJ) dI' it, just ns the .lews,
in their Innpfnngp, rull the whole S<Tip1uie, ctr uny piirt of it, Ity llic
noine of fi.'<//YiA, tir Mikra, \vtn<l^ »>f preeisely tln> pnine origin nnd ini
port US Knrun. Tliis bodk m'»sl be rt'^ri'.tleil J'?^ the rode of lawn, loli
ploB, nnd inoraliiy, wl>ii;h ?«Ioh;»niineil. in liiis eharurter «>f lr^it;!ii(oi-
and prophet, promuli^'iiled to the peopU- of Arabia. As it is llierel'or,;
the only hookofhiw uniorvr tlu' i\IiH."*ii!niinii, u!ul eoinpreliendN also
the rclig'lous dortrlncs \vhieht!i'\v m-e tnu;rht to believe, it foUowH, tliut
>vith them ndoetoriR Jlie \n\v is alfio r> fleet or in tlu'olojry. nhieli tur,
profeistfiions ore wholly insepuinhle. Tbiwlaw. u|)(in wl'.ieh is fouiiilcil
nil their thtvilog-y nnd jorixiuiidrrM-e. is eoiti|»rised in tlie Kfiran, iu tlu'
same manner UM the eivileocle oftlicJi'Ws iseonipii i«lin the iive books
of.lloscs.

The eollecfion of morni traditions. rouij:f>srd ofJhp suyinfrs iirid »(
tions uV tht? prophet, tiiid lorjnin^- a kind of t-uppiriiieut to tli«' Ktjn.i,
thcMoS'lems enll the ^onnnh ; JMsl r.y the J<'\vs huve demiuiii'.alfd ii,f
book contHinin-T)' their oral tiiuiitions, the Mis!, no.

The entire Koran Is divided into one I.iunbed nnd thirteen porli^.^;..
whirh an' denominated Svr<i:-;, or «.'h:5jite!s : and llu-ae ji^imu ii;1o sMiiil
ler divisions, railed ^h/nt, nns\veji!i«' neai ly, tlioiiiih not exactly, to on;'
vcr.ses.

There oppenrs to be i::i rnlliv nbseree »*f any thiiirr like desi<,''n onnc-
thod in eilhtr the lariror or flie simsllt r divif^ion^:, Aeither the time nl
which they were delivered, nor t!ie niadt r Ihcy eontnin. wns the iiili'
by which they were arrnnpred, Tiiey were, in fact, aj parenlly tlirowii
together without order or rnennintr. (tne \ ecse htis t^eldoni any ('(iii-
nexion with the preeedin^r ; :nid I lie sajiie sinbjert, unlei^s it be some
narrative, suehaH that of Abiahnni. Joseph, or Fheraoh. di^Jtorted tVom
the saered fSeribtures, is in no ease eetitinaed fi,r a doaea verges in
succession; each one nj)peais an isolated preee;t or ext^lamalion, tin-
tendency and (lertinence of v. hie!) it is often ditncnlt and frecpienily im-
possible to discover. The lir*-t nine title.s will <-onvey to the reiulcr !i
fair conception of the arninirentenf, and soiaelhiti^r of the natuio, nl'
the subjects cinbrneed in the wlude. 1. Tlie Fieline. '2 'J'ho Cdw.
3. The Family of Iram. 4. The Women, r,. Table. (7. t'atile. 7.A!
Arof. ». The Spoils. 9. Th<- l>ee!uration of InanuMily.

As to the plan or structure of this p'sendo jeveljili.-.n, it is rennnka-
blethat j^loharnnied makey God tiie speaker thron^Jtlioiit. 'J'his t-hoiild
l»e borne in mind by the rea«lt r in pernsiny the e:ilrnets ;L:iven in )hp|
preceding work. The addresses lu-e fertile inc.^t pmt made dinetty
to the prophet, informing Itini whatheisto eon.munieale to hi.- cmiii
trymen a;»d the world : ir. oilu'r ea<?es, the pret epts, pi rmisr s. oi tlnri!

APPKXlJiIX

101

raid, pvoprv'ysi-
[i ■ \,y which nniiie
4 rr'volume of tlic

it, jiisl nstlie.li'w^,

pu'i-l of it, t-y tlu!
nut' orl^rin "nd im
■ rii«U' oJ' lawH, nli
inirtcr of lr;?ib!»(oi-
At* it islluM-ernr.;

fomprchcnilM hI^o
lit'vi'. it followH.tliiit
j„.<,loiry. >v'nifh two
,(in whiV-h i^ futiiulnl

n\ the Koran, in tlu'
,bH:<linth»'Uvelj(>oiis

fJhP MJVi"?'^ »"»«^ "<-
Unu'iit to tlu-Koniii.
,ve <UM)iimi»'.aliil tlif

iwl thirt.jn pol•tit)n^.

irh Moit'XU<'tly,tomiv

liiif'iiUo (U'sijrn oniic-
Nritber lite time iil
•ontiun. wns the lulf
<t n| paicnily thnwii
h>i^ fc-<hlom i«iiy «'oii

rt. unlet-s il ln' s«^i'i''
ii.raob. ai^^toiiciHVoui

ii,r ;< dcKt'ii vtM-sfs 111
i or rx(-li«mnlion. tht
•ii'.t jumI frequently im- !
jun cy to t'it« ro»«lcr u
fiPt-- of the niituvo, ol
'fliue. 2 Tho roNV^
hi,.. 0. tliittle. <.A1
|r.iiii!iii1y.

i>lalion. it i;* reninrka-
,,oh«ul. This M-.ou a
,.:4trnets jiiven in lijf
;\ pnvt msule .lirn>tly
;nuunentr to U^ roun

I tiiiJO;- M't' .nhlrc.5>i'il iinrnniliiit«'|y (rj the unhriii'viTfj. or tho r.iithfiiF,
■ic.-firdinir w^ Iho l>itr«h>n ofthcni npplivs to tlio one or the otiicr. Tht»
i»!l )\\in;!r riliitions rmiy •*i'rv»' hh ti specim«»ki of tlie whole hook. "■Vow
ivc li:i'>\v th.Mt whiit thi'V npruli <ri'ievi'lh IIum' : yi't, they Ho not nrciiHo
I'icc offiil^t'liood : hut the ui)<;o«tly ronlnidirt the Hiffi'Mof <joil. And
;ito-iMes luM'iir*' thee hiivehoen nrcotiiiti'd hurn : hut they patiently horn
lici'.' iu'.eouiitJ'd Iti'iny hnrsi, nndthoir hrinjr vexed, until our help ennitt
i; iti> liieni.'' '" S.Ty. N'erily I mn forhidden to worship the falMC deiti(*H
wiiigh ye invoke hcsidos («i»(i. S;iy. I will not ioilow your desires;
t'.r ilu'ri Mhould I err. neither HJintild F he one oflhosc who nre rightly
tlir.'cted. Hiiy, I helleve jucordiii^ to the plain deelaration whielt I
h ive received fr.>in my lionl ; hut ye have forpejl lieH concernlnjrhlm.''
The word " Say,"' whie i ls< almost of pei'p«>tual ocrurrence in the Ko-
vin. is f^enprnlly prehvf'd to the Henteneen or paracrraphs contiiinin)i( a
im'sh;i:re to tlie people; an<l the won! ••Answer" is employed wher-
ever iiny hypothetieal or foreseen ohjeetionstare to he ohvintcd, or any
I il;)iil>triil (jucfftions to h« re.solved, '• 'J'hey will a^-k thee also whntthoy
I '^iKiil bestow in alms : answ«!r, What ye have to spare. They willal-
»() iwk tlieo ron«;erniri!r orphnuf" : answer, To deal riffliteouHly with
|iiu'!ii is hest ; and if ye intermeddle with the inHna<^enieiit of what hc-
[itnirs to them, do them nowronjj; tliey are your brethren : God know-
|fth tlie corrupt dealer from the riiihteouH ; and if God please he will
liPi'ly distrtfsw you. for God is mi<?hty nntl wise." To olherHthe Divine
liiiiindates aro usually eouohed in the followinj? stylo : " O men, now
|i>i the apostle come unto you with truth from the Lord ; believe, there-
lore ; it will be hotter for you." "We have formerly destroyed the
L'pii'TatioMs who weru before you, O men of I>Ieeca, when they had
Itictod unjustly, and oar ai)oslle9 had eome unto them with evident mir-

„'/!

lacie.e, and they would not believe. Tlius <lo we reward the wicked
,|ieoplc." •'(> (rue believers, wajjje war a<^ningt suchof the infideh a!;;
Iiiro near you ; and let them lind severity in yon : and know that God
|i> with those that fear him." '• O true believers*, raise not your voices
Itiliovc the voice of the prophet ; neither speak loud unto him in diri-
ruurse, as ye speak loud unto one another, lest your works become
vain, and ye perceive It not."

Immediately alller the title, at the head of every chapter, with tho
Binjrle exception of the ninth, is prcHxetl the solemn form, " In the nam**
ofthe 3Iosl I^Ierciful God." 'I'his form is called by the Mohammedans,
^Ihmillah, and is invarinbiy placed by them at the begrlnninjir of nil their
iiof)ks and writing's innfeneral, as a peculiar mark or distinguished chn-
riictei'istie of their reliifion : it-feeinfir deemed a species of impiety to omit
If. The Jews, for the same purpo.se. make use of the form, '* In the
pine ofthe liord," or, " In the name ofthe great God :" and the Eas-
lorn Christians that of. " In the name ofthe Father, and of the iSon,
jiiuloftheHoly Ghos.t.''
In its general outline of facts, the Koran correfponds with Ihe Old
restiHuent in the following liistoricnl details: the accounts ofthe crea-
|on of the world ; of the fall of Adam ; of tin? general deluge ; of the
lilibcrsuice of Noah nnd hiss family in the ark ; the call of Abraham ;
jie stories of Isaac and Ishmaehof Jacob and the patriarchs; the
(flection of the Jews as God's chosen people ; the prophetic office,
liirarles. and ndministration of i>Ioses; the inspiration nnd authority

■h

J(rj

ah>i:nuix.

or the Ilchrow liistoriiiiH, fH'oplirtN, aiul |i^nlmi»ts, OMpociiilly ofDnvid
andHoloinon ; and, liiHtly. oftlio prnmiNp oltho n<ivont ot tliu l>IeMaiu||,
with many of the n('('oiiip>tnyiii/7 priMiictinnM roupcctiiig it.

A^iiin, witlithr New 'IN'Htnnn'iit \\w Koran wonriirs in tho rr<'o«ni.
tion of JeHiiH C'liriHt hh tlie proniiMed i>I<>8Hiuh of the Jows; in IiIh miru.
culouH roncoption hy tlic brculh or Hpirit of God ; IiIh immaculate nu-
tivityoftlio Vir/fln .>Iary ; hin title of !i0^oR, or Word ofOod; in the
miraculous birth of John the Biiptitit, son of Zarharian, a^ hin ruri>
runner; i.i his perfonnaneo of ininiy mi^'ity niffnu and miracleH, fiucli
ns heaiin^ tli' ' .ck, raiiiin^* the dead, and eontrollin^ and casting out
tlevilf4 ; in his r.'jecti m and iierNeeutioii by hi:* own (ountrynien ; lij^
rondemnntion to the rteatii of'th*' crosn: his bodily uficenKion into heuvin;
hin otHeiatiriic there aft a i^Io«liator and Intercessor between (ilod nuil
mau, and at J\J*\jfo of all men ut the last day. After the example,
lio«vcr, of Houie of the aneieut heretic$<, Mohammed, an appears from
the following pa^Hafi^es, dcoied the reality of the Savour's crucillxiuii
— " And tor that they have not believed in Jesus, and have spoken ii
gainst Mary a ii'rievious calumny; and have ^tiid, Verily, we Imvc
slain Christ Jcaus, the son of Mary, the npostle of («od; yet they hiru
liim not, neither crucified him, but he wm represented by one in iii'i
likeness, They did not ruulJy kill him ; but Uod took him U|> to him
self: and <joiI is mighty and wise." ''And the Jews devised u Mra
tavern against him ; but Ciod devised u stratagem against them : nniJ
God is the best deviser of stratagem!!)." This stratagem, according to
the Moslems, was Uod's taking j^sus up into heaven, and stamping
his likeness on another person, who was apprehended ond crucilicd
in his stead. Their constant tradition is, that it was not Jesus liim
Mclf %vho underwent that ignorainous death, but somebody else inhi<
shape and resemblance.

Thcso nuincrons coincidences of the Koran with the fads and doc-
trines of the IJible are strangely interspersed with matter the most in-
congruous ; with extravagant iablcs, monstrous perversions of the trutli,
and ridiculous and endless pHerilities. This is accounted for on the I
supposition, that wliilo the authenlic facts were derived immediately
from the canonicul Scriptiu'cs, the fictions and absurdities were deduced I
in part from the traditions of the Talmudic and Rabbinical writers; and
in part from the apocryplial Gospels, or from the books of Adam, oil
Seth, of Enoch, of Noah, and other similar fabrications, well known ml
church history as having been extensively in uso among the heretics oil
the first centuries.

A specimen or two of the manner in which some of the best-known
narratives of tl^e Old Testament appear in the Koran, may not be tin
suitably adduced here. •' Our messengers also came formerly unto Al
braham with good tidings. They said, Peace be upon thee. And heanl
swered, And on you be peace ! and ho tarried not, but brought a roasl[
cd calf. And his wife 8arah was standing by ; and she laughed : aniil
we promised her Isaac, and after Isaac, Jacob. She said, Alas ! shall
I bear a son, who am old : this my husband alao being advanced inl
years ? Verily, this would be a wonderful thing. The angels answerj
cd, Dost thou wonder at the effect of the command of God ? The niei [
cy of Goti and his blessings be upan yoti. And when his appiehensiorl

Al'l'KMUX.

JUo

pwppcinUy of Dnvi.l
enl o( Ihc I>Ie*iiiuli,
[•tiuff it.

•iirs in tho rrrouni-
5 Jew«; \n\\\t* miiu
liiH limnnculuto n«-
iovd of UotI ; in Ihc
rhurian, m hlf» fort'
untl inli'ftclos, siirli
liiijr and cuBtinior out
vn ( ountpymon ; \\U
pcenbion into heaven
botween Oo<i ami
An«'i- the cxniniile,
;(J, nri appeni-s I'roiu
Savour's ciucifixioii
untl hnvo HpoKon ii
I, ill, Verily, we liitvo
tHiiid', yclthey hlnv
uonled by one m hi<
[ took him u|> to him
Jews devised u stra
1 ngninst them : nnd
latagem, according to
oaven, and stamping
hendcd and crucilk.l
L was not JesuB him-
somebody elfleinhi<

Iwith the facts and doc-
ith matter the most in.
erversions of the trulli,

accounted for on the
derived immediately
surdities wore deduced!
abbinical writers ; anil
le books of Adam, oi
.cations, well known in

among the heretics ol|

,me of the best-knoun
Roran, may not be un'
[came formerly unto V
inonthce. And he an
jt, but brought a roast-
land she laughed : iinj
, She said, Alas! sM
llso being advanced in
The angels answei-
id of God-? Themer
kvhen his appvehension

iiad de.partod iVorn Ahrulian), and tho j^ood tidiny,-* ol' I sa.ic's hiid, had
coniP unto him, he disniitcd Willi iih « (uirfrmii;; tlio pt'opli- (if \^i . ff,,.
Abralintn was a iMtiliii, eoinpasNiuiiate, and devout person. Tin; ani^cU
said unto him, () .Vhrahain, ah.stain iVoiii tiiin; for now \h (he eornnianil
iiltliy l<ord oomc, to put their scntont'o in execution, and uii iiievitniilo
punishment in ready to fall upon them. And when uur meiiMen^urH
( amo unto Lot, ho wan troubled for thorn ; and his arm wuh Htraitencd
t oiiccrning tlicm ; and he Huid, Thio if* a ^rievoun day. And his people
came unto him, rushing upon him : and they had formerly been guilty of
nickudncss. LiOt said unto iliuin, O my (loople, thcHo my duughters arc
more lawful for you : thoreforo fear (jod, and put mo not to shame by
wronging my guests. Is there not a man of pru«lenno among you ?—
They answered, thou knowcst that we have no need of thy daughters ;
anil thou well knowest what we would have, lie said. If I had strength
sulficicnt to oppose tiiet", or I eould have recourwo unto a powerful sup-
port, I would certainly tlo it The angels saiil, ( ) Lot, verily wc arc tho
messengers of thy Lord ; they shiill hy no means come in unto thcc. —
Go forth, therefore, with thy laiuily, in some |)art of tho night, and let
not any of you turn back : but as for thy wife, that sjiall Iinppcn unto
er which shall happen unto thoni. Verily, the prediction ot their piin-
jisliment shall be fulfilled in tho morning.
"And Abraham said, Verily 1 am g<^ing unto my Lord who will di-
cet mc. O Tiord, grant me a righteous issue ! NVhcrcibro we ac-
iiaintcd him that ho should have a koii, who should be a meek youth.
ml when ho had attained to years of discretion, and join in acts of
eligion, with him, Abraham said untu him, O my son, verily I saw in a
ream that I should oticr thee in sacrilit-e: (consider ihcretbrc what thou
rt o( opinion I should do. He answ<M'ed, () my father, do what thou
i;t commanded : tho i shall fnul me, if (jod please, a patient person.-*,
iidwhen they had submitted thcmselvos to the divine will, and Abra-
am had laid his son prostrate on his face, we cried tirito him, O Abra-
lam, now hast thou verified the vision. 'J'lius do w i reward tho righte-
m. Verily, this was a manifest trial. And we ransomed him with a
loble victim."

The following passage may serve to illustrate tho correspondence of
c Koran with the historical relations of the New Testament: —

Zacharias called on his Lord, and said, Lord, give mo from thee a

o<\ offspring, for thou art the hearer of prayer. And the angels called

him, while ho stood praying in tho chamber, saying. Verily, God

omises thee a son, named John, who shall bear witness to thk word

liich cometh from God, ; an honourable person, chaste, and one of the

hleous prophets, llo answered, l<ord, how shall I have a son, when

1(1 age hath overtaken me, and my wife is barren ? The angel said,

jo God doth that which ho pleasetb. Zacharias answered, Lord, give

le a sign. The angel said, Thy sign shall be, that thou speak unto no

an for three days, otherwise than by gesture. And when the angels

id, Alary, verily, God hath chosen thcc, and hath purified thee, and

th chosen thee above all the women of tho world : when tiio angels

104

Al'PKA'LlX.

f I

said, O Mary, verily, (jod sendetli iIkm; ^rood tidiiijfs, that lliou sli^jt
bear the word, procecdinjuf from liimstilf ; his name shall be Christ
Jesus, fhc son of Mary; honourablo is tho worid and in the world lo
come, and one of those who approach near the presence of God : Sin;
answered, Lord, how shall I have a son, since a man hath not touclicd
ine ? The angel said, So God createth that which he pleascth : when
ho dccreetii a thing, he only saith unto it, Bo, and it is : (xod shall lencli
him the Scripture, and wisdom, and thn law, and t!io Gospel; and he
shall appoint him his apostle to the children of Israel."

But besides aj^reements with the Old and New Testaments of this pul.
pable kind, the Koran betrays its obligations to the sacred volume hv
numerous coincidences, more qv less direct, with the sentiments, tin;
imagery, and the phraseology of Scripture. Indeed, the most intoiest-
ing light in which the Koran is to be viewed is a spurious resemblanrc
of the inspired oracles of Jew^ and Christians. The extent to whiih
the Hible of Mohammedans is made uj) of plagiarisms from the true rp-
velation can scarcely be conceived by one who has not instituted aspn-
cial inquiry into the contents of each, witli tho express design of tracing
the analogy between them. Of the fact, however, of the Koran LeiiiJ
constructed, in great measure, from the materials furnished by tho QU
and New Testanjents, no one can doubt, who is assured that the fol-
lowing is but a specimen of hundreds of similar correspondencies wliirli
might easily be made out between the two.

BIBLE. KORAN.

Take Iiccd that yo do not your altus be- Make not your alms of none effoct, hv I
fore men to bo seen of thorn; otherwise reprouchingor mischief; as lie that layeiij
ye have no reward of your Father which
IS in heaven.

Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of
God among you by miracles and wonders,
and signs which God did by him.

Thou shalt give life for life, tooth Tor
tooth, foot for foot, burning for burning,

wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

But their minds were blinded : for un-
til this day remaineth the same veil unta-
kcn away in the reading of the Old Tes-
tament. But even unto this day when
Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

'I hey said therefore unto him. What
sign showoth thou then, that we may see
and believe thee ?

In tho beginning God created the heav-
en and tho earth. And God said, Let
there be light, and there was light.

And when he (Moses) was full forty
years old, it came into his heart to visit
nis brethren, the children of Israel.

And in the latter time of their king-
dom, when the transgressors are come
to the full, a king offi^ce countenance

out what he hath, to appear unto men;)
give alms.

We gave unto Jesus, the son ofMcirv,|
manifest signs, and strengthened
with the Holy Spirit.

We have therem commanded them tkil
they should give life for life, and eye I'll
eye, and nose for nose, and ear fur e.:
and tooth for tootii, and that \YouDiii|
should be punished by retaliation.

There is of them who hearkenetli un!t|
thee when thou readest the Koran;
we have cast veils over their hearts, tluJ
they should not understand it, and deafl
ness in their ears.

The iniidels say, Unless some sign i
sent down unto uini from his Lord, nf
will not believe.

It is he who hath created the iieavcni
and the earth : And when-evcrhe sajellj
unto a thing, Be, it is.

I have already dwelt among you to t
a^e of forty years before I received it {i
Koran.) Doyo therefore not undcrstani

According to tiiy dream shall thy LoiP
choose thee and teach thee the infcr|r|^
tation of dark sayings.

Jk.l'i^LMjl\.

I Ob

i<rs, that thou bhuU
iTe shall be Christ
^x^<\ in the worhl \o
;cnceofGod: Sk
an hath not touchciJ
ti he pleaseth : when
is : God shall Icncli
the Gospel; and he

tel." „ . . ,

estamentsoflhispai-

Aie sacved volumo hy
h the sentiments, tlu;
.d, the most intovost-
miirious resemblanrc
The extent to whuh
iams from the true ro-
13 not instituted a spn.
press dnsi(ir. of tracing I
J. of the Koran beiiii
s'furnishedby thc01a|
s assured that the lol-
lorreapondencies whicn

KORAN.

liuth, to appear uiuo menu

nto Jesus, the son of Muiy,!
ina, and strengthened hiK

^^er^c^n commanded them Ik
Wc life for Ufc, ami eyu.t
fornose, and ear fore
tooth, and that woundi|
r.,^hPi\ bv retaliation

roiii uudersuii liu;; dark sentenced, ahall
tiUnd up-

I will open my rnoutii in parables ; I
will litter things vrhicii have been kept so-
crct from the foundation of tho world.

And the dsv&nth anj^ol sounded ; and

Inisr

Wo taught ium the interpretation of dark
sayings, but the greater part ufthetu d^
not understand.

O Lord, thou hast given me a part of
the kingdom, and hast taught ma (lie in-
terpretation of dark sayings.

And his will be the kinsdom on the day

there wore great voices in heaven, saying, wJiereon the trumpet shall be sounded.
The Kingdoms of this w<»r!d are becoiuo
(be kingdoms of our Lord and of bis
Christ.

For behold, I created new heavens
aad a new earth. We look for new
heavens and a new earth. I will cause
you to come up out of your graves. And
tvcry man shall receive his own reward
according to his own labour.

bill

loureadest the Koran;

their hearts, mi

^ veils over

1 not understand it

and deitl

Unless some slgnt
from his Lord, ^1

ears.
[jls say,
into uim

feath created the h^J
: Andwhen-evcrhesajci

Be. it is. .„,

i'ady dwelt aniong.you tot
^..irs before I received It (U

':nhe:eforenotund-^^^
r to thy dream shall th)i^«'?
'alid teach thee the u)tctf <
Irk saying

1 was envious at the foolish wheu I .saw
the prosperity of the wicked. Thus my
heart was grieved.

Iftbou, Lord, should murk inii|uitius,
1 Lord who shall stand !

Dust thou art, aud unto dust shalt thou

ilure.

The merciful dueth good to itis own
[(oqI; but he that is cruel iroubleth his
dsvn flesh.

Not rendering evil for evtl, but con-
jtrariwise, blessing.

Call yc on the name of your gods, and
I will call on the name of the Lord. And
khcy cried aloud. And it came to pass
hat there was ireither voice nor any to
luwer.

All that are in the graves shajl hear his
fm, and shall come forth. All nations
yi bo gatkered before him.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this
ne thing, that one day is with the Lord
i a thousand years, and a thousand years
) one day.

I Go to, now, yo that say, To-day or to-
■orrow we will go into such a city, and
pntinue there a year ; and buy and sell
bd get gain : Whereas ye know not
rhat shall be on the morrow. For that
s ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall

! and do this or that.
I But of that day and that hoar knoweth

>man; no, no't the asgels which, are in
'"veil, neither the Son, but the Father.

The day will come when the oartlt shall
bu changed into auother eartli, and the
heavens into other heavens ; and men
stiall come forth from their graves to ap-
pear before tho only, the ihighty God.-~
That God may reward every aoul accord-
ing to what it siiall have deserved.

Uast not thine eyes on the good things
which we hare bestowed on several of tlio
unbelievers, so as to covet the same; nsi-
tlior be tliou grieved on their account.

b'God should punish men fur theif ini-
quity, he wouU not leave on tlio earth any
niuviug thing.

Out of the ground b?.ve we created you,
and to tho same will we cause you to
return.

If ye do well, ye will do well to your
own soula ; and if ye do evil, ye will do
it unto the same.

Turn asideevil with that which is better.

And it shall be said unto the idolaters,
call now upon those whom ye have asso-
ciated with God : and they shall call np-
ou them but they shall not acswer.

And the trumpet shall be sounded again,
dnd behold they shall come forth from
their graves, and shall hasten unto the
Lord.

But God will uot fail to perform what
he hath threatened : and verily one day
with the Lord is as a thousand yean of
those which ye compute.

Say not of any matter, I will surely do
this to-morrow ; ualess Chou add, If Gkid
please.

They will ask thee concemiag the last
hour ; at which time its coming is fixed?
Answer, Verily, the koowledce thereof
is with my Lord; nonoshallclectare th«
fixed time thereof except he»

'[*<■■

lot;

APPJIiiVDIX

'«'

l^j

From the Ibicgoing cxiunplos it will appear manifest, tliut the pUi-^
arismsof the Koran arc not limited to the leading facts and narratives
of the Bihle, but extend to many of its minuter peculiarities ; to its modes
of thought, its figures of speech, and even to its very forms of expres.
sion. Yet, in several instances, we meet with such egregious blunders,
as to plain matters of fact, stated in the sacred volume, as must con-
vict the copyist of the most arrant ignorance, or of downright falsifica-
tion. Thus he makes the prophet Elijah (Al Kcdr) contemporary with
Moses, Ishmael to have been ofl'cred in sacrifice instead of Isaac, Sai;
to h'lve lod the ten thousand down to the river's brink instead of Gideon,
and, by the most monstrous anachronism represents Mary, the mother
of Jesus, to have been the same person with Miriam, the sister of Moses'

The palpable obligations of this spurious revelation to Holy Writ, ami
the real or supposed incompetence of its nominal fabricator, have vein-
naturally given birth to enquiries into tho history of its composition,
The great mass of writers on Mohammedani«nj, following the opinion
of the Eastern Chrrstans, have generally agreed on supposing that in
the couslruction of the Koran, the Prophet was indebted to the assis-
tance of one or more accomplices. It is certain, from the pages of the
work itself, that this was objected to him at the outset of his career.-
*'We also know that l!iey say, Verily a certain man tcacheth him to com.
pose the Koran." " The unbelievers say, This Koran is no other
than a forgery, which he hath contrived : and other people hath assisted
him therein : but they utter an unjust thing and a falsehood." But this
emphatic disclaimer of the Apostle has failed to produce conviction. The
unbelievers of Christendom have continued to side with those of Mec-
ca, and as many as eight or ten different persons have been designated
as having been, some one or more of therm, associated with the impos-
tor in the promulgation of his counterfeit oracles. The more general
belief has been, that Mohammed received his principal aid from uJN'es-l
torian monk, named Sergius, supposed to be the same person as the
Boheira, with whom he became acquainted at an early period of his I
life, at Bosra, in Syria. On this, the learnud Sale remarks : "If Bo-
heira and Sergios were the same men, I find not the least intimation in i
the Mohammedan writers, that he ever quitted his monastery to go iiito|
Arabia, and his acquaintance with Mohammed at Bo-sra was too carl;
to favour the surmise of his assisting him in the Koran, though Mohanij
mcd might, from his discourse, gain some knowlc*lgc of Christianitjj
and the Scriptures, which might be of somo use to him therein."
same writ&r, however, admits with Prideaux and others, that while iMol
hammed is to be considered as the original projector and the real au-
thor of the Koran, he may have been assisted, in some measure, hjl
others, though his successnil precautions of secrecy make it inipossiblej
to determine, at this day, by what agents, or to what extent, thts \ya8l
done. After all, the assertions advanced in respect to the part borne bjl
others in the composition of the Koran have never been authenticate(l|
by proofs, and the whole story has the air of an hypothesis framed
meet the difficulties of the case. And even were the popular belief onl

Al^l'liNDJA.

107

Ifest, tlmttlic phij^i-
fiicts and narratives
i-aritics ; to its modes
rery forms of expres-
co-regi^us btuntlore,
lume, as must con-
• downright ialsitica-
■) contemporary with
istead of Isaac, Saul
rdc instead of (lidcon,
Its Mary, the mothei
1, the sister of Moses'

lion to Holy Writ, aiul
fabricator, have very
y of its composition,
following the opinion
on supposing that in
ndcbtcd to the assis-
from the pages of the
)ntset of his career.-
antcachetU him to corn-
is Koran is no other
ler people hath assisted
a falsehood." But this
iroduce coirviction. Ihc
de with those of Mec-
3 have been designated
ciated v/ith the impos-
s. The more general
•incipul aid from a ^'es-
Lhe same person as the
Ian early per i^(l o'^.f
bale remarks: "It Bo-
lt the least intimatioiun
lis monastery to go into
U Bo«ra was too carl;,
iKoran, though Moham-
,wlc«lgo of Christiami)
p to him therein." 'M
d others, that while Mo-

joxtor and the real au-
d in some measure, bjl
recY make it impossible!

pwhat extent, thts>ya!l
fpect to the part borne bjl

ever been authenticat(jll
m hypothesis framed lol
■e lhe popular belief ol

liiis question to be admitted, it would not do uway all the diflicultlcs
which embarrass tlio subject. For who was capable, in that dark peri-
od, of producing such a work ? Tliis pretended revelation, independ-
ently of its plagiarisms from our Scriptures, contains passages as much
superior to any remains^ whether Jewish or Christian, of the literature
of the seventh century, as tlioy ; utterly inferior to the contents of
that sacred volume which tljc Kc i)laspljcmously .issume^ to resemble
and supplant. Tlie wKole subject, (hcrofore, of the origin of this re-
markable book, with the history ofits composition, as well as the ques-
tion how far Mohammed was acquainted with the Christian vScripturcs,
must doubtless remain an unsolved problem to tin) end of time.

Of the literary merits of the Koran, *a fair estimate is not easily to be
formed from a translation. By those who arc acquainted with the ori-
ginal, it is universally acknowledged to possess distinguished excellen-
cies, which cannot be transfused into any other languages. It is coD-
fessedly the standard of the Arabic tong«c; is written,for the most part,
in a pure and elegant style, abounding with bold figures after oriental
manner ; aiming at a conciseness which often renders it obscure. —
Thongh written in prose, the sentences usually conclude in a long con-
tinued rhyme, for the sako of which, the sense is often interrupted, and
unnecessary repetitions introduced. This feature of the composition,
though a disadvantage and a deformity to a translation, is one ofits
superlative charms in the estimate of the native Arabs, whose ear is
singularly susceptible to the harmony of the rhythmical 'cadences with
which the periods conclude.

When we pass from the mere sound and diction which mark " the
pcispicQous book," it is indubitable that its finest passages are devoid
of the merit of originality. Sir William Jones remarks; " The Koran
indeed shines with a borrowed light, since most ofits beauties are taken
from our Scriptures ; but it has great beauties, and the Mussulmans
will not be convinced that they are borrowed." In describing the ma-
jesty and the attributes of God, and the variety and grandeur of the
creation, it often rises to an expressive elevation ; but in almost every
[ instance of this kind^ it is evident that some passage of inspiration of
corresponding import was in the eye of the writer, and the copy is in-
ferior to the original. Yet the resv.lt of a candid examination of this
pseudo-bible of Mooammedans, oven in our English version, would
probably be a more favourable impression of the book on the score of
its composition, and a conviction that amid the multitude and heinous-
nessof its defects, scarcely common justice had been done by Christian
writers either to the character of its "beauties, or the extent in which
they obtain. Taken however as a whole, so far fVom supporting its
arrogant claims to a super-human origin and eloquence, it sinks below
the level of many confessedly htiman productions, to be found in differ-
ent languages and regions of the earth " With occasional passagcB of
real beauty and power, ijt is, on the whole, a strange medley, in which
the sublime is so nearly allied to the bombastic, the pathetic to the ludi-
crous, the terrible to the absurd, that each chapter, each page, almost.

ios

-UTKNDIX.

each paifigrapli, is sure t3 give rip« to Ihe most opposite emotions

He?pect, contftrpt, adrriration, abhorrence, po rapidly succeed carh
other, in the perusal, as to leave no fixed or uniform impression on the
Mind.'»*

JTorstpr.

(B)

r:i

M0HA3I1IEDAN CONFKSSION OF FAITH ; TRANSLATED FROM TlU,

ARABIC.

(Trom Morgan's Malionictism Explained.)

The Articles of our faith ivbich every good Mussulman is bound to
believe and to receive Avith an entire assurance are thirteen in number,
whereof the first and principal is,

I.— 0/ God's Existence.

To believe from the heart, to confess with the tongue, and w ith a
voluntary and sttaJfaet mind to afFirm, that there is but one only God,
Lord and Governor ofthc universe, who produced all things from no-
thing, in whom there is neither iinayoor resemblance, w!)o never begot
any person whatsoever, nf lie himwelf tvas begotjou by none ; who, us
he never was a son, so ho never had been a father. It is this I^ord and
Sovereign Arbiter of ail things whom we Mussulmans arc bound lo
serve and adcfre; so that none ampng us may deviate from this artrcic,
but every one ngust imprint it deeply in his heart ; for it i» unqneslion-
able.

II. — (if the Prophet Mahovitt and the Konin.

We must believe from our hearts and confess with our moutlis (Iitil
the Mast High God, after having revealed himself to mankind by his
ancicjQt prophets, sent us at length his Elected, the blessed Mahomet,
with the sacred and divine law, wiiich through his grace he had created,
the which ts contained in the venerable Koran, that hath been from him
remitted unto us. By this holy law it is that God hath abolished nil the
preceding ones and hath withdrawn from their doubts and errors all
natioEis and people in order to guide them to a firm and lasting state
of happiness. AVhereforc we are oblig(»d exactly to follow the pre-
cepts, rites, and ceremonies thereof, and to abandon every other sect
OV I'CiigioQ whatsoever, whether instituted before or since this final revc-
laUon.^ By ih'ts article we are distingsisijied and separated from all sorts
of idolatry, lying rhapsodies, and false prophecies, and from all those
Becta^ st)eietie9, and religions difittrent from ours, which arc either er-
roneous., abrogated, or exaggerated, void of faith, and without truth.

lositc cmolionp—
lly succeed corh
impression on Ihe

I,ATED FROM TIU.

ulman is bound to
thirteen in number,

AFPENiax.
III. — (// Providence uiut Predestination,

10(5

tongue, and vitiia
is but one only Gutl,
all things <ron» no-
.ce, wbo never begot
)u by none ; wbo, hs
It is this IjOX^ and
mans arc bound lo
ute Oom this article,
for it i» unqurstion-

Koran.

with our mouUis tbl
fto mankind by his
IP blessed Mahomet,
grace he luid crentei!,
t hath been from him
ath abolished all tlic
loubts and errors all
firm and lasting state
ly to follow the pie-
ion every other sect
,r since lh»s final revc-
■parated from all sorts
■s, and from all those
which arc either ei-
and without truth.

We must firmly helit e and hold as a certainty that, except God hiir-
sclf who always w as and always shall be, every thing shall one day bo
nnnihilated, and that the Angel of death shall take to himself the souls
of mortals destined to a total and universal extinction,* by the com-
niandof God, our powerful Lord and Master, who was able and hath
vouchsafed to produce out of nothing, and in fine to set in from this
universal world, with all things therein contained, both good and evil,,
svieot and bitter ; and hath been pleased to appoint two nngela, the one
on tlic right, and the other on the left, to register the actions of every
one of us, as well the good as the bad, to the end (hat judicial cogni-
zance may bo taken thrrcof, and sentence pronomiced thereupon, at
the great day of Judgment. It is therefore necessary to hcHevo pre-
destination ; but it is not permitted to discourse thereof to any whoraso-
cvoi", till after being perfectly well versed in the study of our writteo
kw, viz : the Koran, and of our Sounub, which is our oral law. See-
ing then all things are to Uavo an end, let us do good works, and deport
ourselves so that we may live for ever.

IV. — Of the Interrogation in the Grave.

We must truly and firmly believe and hold as certain and assurcJ,
tlie Interrogation of the sepulchre, which will after death be administer-
u! to every one of us by two angels upon these four important questions :
—1. Who was our Lord and our God ? 2. Who was our Prophet? —
3, Which was our religion 1 4. On what side was our Keblah '? lie
\dio i>hall be in a condition to make answer, that God was his only Lord„
and Mahomet his Prophet, shall find a great illumination iu his tomb,
and shall himself rest in glory. But he who shall not make a proper an-
swer to these questions shall be involved in darkness until the day of
jjudgment.

V. — Of the Fvtvre Dissolution.

We must heartily believe and hold as certain, that not only shall al!
Itliingfl one day perish and be annihilated, viz. angels, men, and devils,
[but likewise this shall come to pass at the end of the world, when the
angel Israfi^ shall blow the trumpet in such sort that except the Sover-
eign God none of the universal creation shall remain alive immediately
after the dreadful noise, which shall cause the mountains to tremble, tho
barth to sink, and the sea to be changed to the colour of blood. In tliis
|otal extinction, the last who shall die will be Azarael, the Angel of
death; and the power of the Most High God will be evidently mani-
Icsled.

i "VI. — Of the Future Resurrcciion. ..^ „*

We arc obliged cordially to believe and to hold for certain, that the

* Notwithstanding this annihilation, it is taught in the Koran that all intelligent
Inatures will be reproduced again at the resurrection.

.\i>pf:MJi\.

*H ,Ji

first before all otlicra wliom God shall revive in licaven sh;ili Lotlic Am.
gel of death; and that ho will at that time recall all thopouls in goneral,
and ro-unite them to the respective bodies to which each belon<2;od ; some
of which shall be destined to glory, and others to torment. Hut upon
earth, the first whom God \f ill raise shall our blessed prophet Mahomet.
As for the earth itwlf, it shall open on all sides, and shall bo changeii
in a moment; and by God's command fue shall be kindled in every p!ni
thereof, which shall be ejctendod to its utmost extremities. God will
then prepare a vast plain, perfectly level, and of sufficient extent l,
contain all creatures summoned to give anaccountof their past conduct.
May this solemn, definite, and irrcvokable judgment awalion us from
our security ; for to nothing that hath been created shall favour be show-
ed. Everyone shall be judged there by the same rule, and without ex-
ccption of persons.

VII.— .0///t6 Dui/ nf Judvnent.

We nriust believe from our hearts and hold for cetrtain, that there shall
Ik) a day of judgment, whereon God shall ordain all nations to appear
in a place appointed for this great trial, of sufficient vastness that His
Majesty may there be evident in sp'«ndour. It is in this magnificent and
spacious station that the universal assembly of all creatures shall be
made, about the middle of the day, and in the brightness of noon : and
then it is, that accompa«ied \)y his propliet (Mohammed), and in tli,;
presence of all mankind, God shall witli justice and equity judge all the
nations of the earth in general, and every person in particular. To this
effect, everyone of us shall have a book or catalogue of our actions de-
livered to us; that of the good in such wise that it shall bg received and
held in the right hand ; thatof the wicked, so tliat it shall be received
and held in the left hand. As to the duration of that day, it shall he a.'
long as the continuance of the present age. This shall be a day of sighs i
and griefs, a day of tribulation and anguish, when the cup of sorrow
and misery must bo drunk up. even tlie very dregs thereof. But this
is what shall be particularly experienced by the ungodly and the per-
verse; every thing shall present to them ideas of sorrow and affliction,
To them every thing shall become aloes and bitterness. They shall not
obtain one moment of repose. They shall behold nothing that is agree-
l)le, nor hear the voice (ijat shall delight them: their eyes shall see no-
thing but the torments of hell ; their ears shall hear nothing but the cries I
and bowlings of devils ; and their terrified imaginations shall represent]
unto (hem nothing but spectres and tortures.

VIII. — Of Mahomet's Intercession.

We are bound to believe, and hold as certain, that our veneiable pro-
phet Mahomet shall with success intercede for his people at the great]
day of examination. This will be the first intercession ; but at the se-
cond, God will be entirely relented, and all the faithful Mussulmans
shall be.transportfid into a state of glory, while not one excuse or sup-
plicatron in behalf of other nations shall bo accepted. As to the grcal-1

A)'+'h:smx.

iJl

;e8sion ; but at the se-

UL'sd otpaiTi wliicli tliosc among lib arc to uneloij»f), wliu Uhvo been of-
leiiflcrs by transjrre!«sing tlin prompts Al" the Korun, it in known to God
alone, as th n-o is none but Him wlio exactly kaowcth how lonj; the same
is to continue, whether its duratini shall bo more or less than that of
th« ex;irnination or jml^'nient. But tons itbelongeth to shorten its ron-
•iniiancc by good works, by our charity, and by all the endeavours wo
arc capable of.

IX. — Of the Future Coinpcnsathn at the last Judgment.

\Vc must sincerely believe, and hold as a certainty, that we must e-
veiy one of us give up our accounts before God, concerning the good
iiad evil wc have transnct(!d in this world. All who have been followers
of Mahomet shall be before all others summoned to this examination,
because they it will be who shall bear witness against all other strange
nntioiis. It shall come to pass on that day, that God will take away out
of the balance of hini who has slandered his brother some of the good
works, and put them unto that of him who hath been slandered ; and if
the slanderer is found to have no rrood works, he will then deduct from
i!ie punishment of the slandered, to include them in the list of those of
the slanderer, insomuch that his great justice will be fully manifest. At
loast, then, that wo not run the hazard of this terrible compensation, let
us not think of wronging others, or of diminishing their substance, their
honour, or their good name.

X. — Of the Balance, and of Purgatory.

We must believe from the heart, and confess with the mouth, that all
eiir actions, good and bad, shall one day be weighed in the balance, the
one against the other, insomuch that tliose whoso good works outweigh
ihcir bud shall enter into Paradise ; and that, on the contrary, they
whoso bad works shall outwe'gh their good shall be condemned to the
I ilames of hell. And for those whose scales shall be equally poised, be-
cause the good they have done is equivalent to the evil, they shall bo
[detained in a station situtate in the middle, between Paradise and hell,
where consideration will be made both of their merits and of their de-
I merits, since besides their be confined in that place, they shall have no
pimishraent inflicted on them, nor shall they enjoy any part of the glory
ordained for the beatified righteous. It is true that all those among that
number who are Mussulmans shall be at length released from their cap-
tivity, and shall be introduced into Paradise at the second intercession
of our blessed prophet Mahomet, whos^e great compai^ion will be sv^-
lualized by his engraging', in order to our redemption, to supplicate the
[power and the mercy of the Most High, as well as his justice, already
Isiitisfied by the long captivity of the criminals. Wherefore let as from
Ihenceforward weigh our good works, to the end that we may assidu-
lously strive to increase their weight, and that they may have the ad-
j vantage over the bad.

\S\\.—Ofthe Sharp-edged Sridge,and the unavoidable passage thereof.
VVe are obliged to believe from our hearts and to hold as assured,

!m'

♦«'■.,'

121

Al»i»l!:M;lX.

mh'^

(lint all iiiaiiUiiKl in the vvoiUl must puss oiip (layover the JSIiurp ctlijcil
ISrid^e, wlinso lenstli kIihII becqiuil to that oflhis world, whose bri'tnltli
-uhnll not exceed thnt of oni* ^inn;lethrn>id of mpider's web, and whosn
4ieijrht ohtdl he pri)portlonnble to its extent. The righteous shHtl puss
over it swifter thnn a fliiAli of li^'hininif ; but the impious and the un-
i^odly, shtill not, in ns niuoh tinu; ns the present aiire shall endure, he
ubie to sarmount the difll(;u!tie»< thereof, and that through the want of
gocMl works. For which reason, they shaJI full and precipitate them-
selves into hell-flre, in con*piiny witli tliu intideLs and blasphemers, with
these of tittle faith and biul con^iciencc, who have done fewdeedi^uf
clinrity, because they were voi<l of virtue. There shall he some ainonj;
the good, notwiihstandin/f, who^c passage shall be lighter and swlHer
than that of many others, who shall therein meet with temptations and
obstructions from every precept which they shall have ill-observed in
this life. Good (joti ! how dreadful to our sight will this formidable
bridge appear! V*'hat virtue, what secret grace from the Alost Migii
ehall we not nee j be enabled to pass over it ?

\ll.^ Of raradise.

We are to believvj and to hold for a certainty, that God did a create
Paradise which he prepared for the blessed, from among the number
of tiie faithful, by which are meant the followers of the true religion,
xindofour holy prophet, iMahomet; wherewith him they shall he
l>Inced in perpetual light, and in the etijoyuicnt of heavenly delights:
for ever beautiful in tbe vigour of their age, and brighter than the sun;
and where they shall be found worthy to contemplate and adore the
face of the Most High God. As for those who shall be detained in the
tortures of hell, to wit, the sinners and tr;«nsgressors, who have nevi-r-
theless believed in one only (jod, they shall be released at the second
intercession of the prophet, by whom they shall inmietliately be wash-
«d in the sacred laver, from whence bfing come forth whiter (lion
enow and more refulgent than the sua, they shall, with the rest of the I
blessed, behold themselves seated in paradise, there to enjoy oil the ,
glory they can desire. This is what shall befall the body composed of
clay; and what then shaJl be the state of our souls? To the which it
shall be granted eternally to behold the light and brightness of the j
divine majesty. Let us then endeavour to do works of such a charac-
ter, that we may have no cause to fear hcil-lire. Let us, I say, chiefly I
npply ourselves to good works, let us not refuse to exert our utmost!
strength in the exact observation thereof and of the fast of ourvenei-
abie month of Ramadan, and of the prayers and ceremonies which arej
prdained ; and let us not defraud the poor of a tenth of all our goods.

XlU.— O/Hell.

Wc must sincerely believe and hold for certain, that there is a hell I
prepared for the unrighteous, the refractory transgressors of the divine
law accursed of God for their evil works, and for whom it would have I
been better had they never have been born, and to have never seen |
the light of day. It ia for such as those that a place of torment is ap-
pointed, or rather a fire which burneth without touching them, a fire I
of ice and north winds, where there shall be nothing but snakes andl
serpents, with other venomous and ravenous creatures, which shall I
bite them without destroying them, and shall cause them tofeelgriev [
OU8 pains. That place shall be the abode of the impious and ofthel
devils, where ^Aese shall, with all sorts of cruelly and rage, incessantlyj
♦orUire those.

over the Sitnrp-ctlii^cil
world, whose brt'rullli
ler's web. and whosi^
R righteous ehHlt puss
impious and the un-
aifre shall endure, he
through the wunt of
and precipitate them-
ind blasphemers, with
vo dono few deed;^ of
e shall he some ainonj;
be lighter and swiOer
with temptations and
II have ill-observed in
will this fbrmiduble
c from the Most High

that God did a create
11 among the nuuibvr
s oV the true religion,
ith him they shall tie
of heavenly delights:
bi'ightrr than the sun;
mplatu and adore the
shall be detained in the
iisors, who have never-
'ideated at the second
I ininieiiintely be wa^h-
>me I'urth u hitcr than
U, with the rest of the |
tliero to enjoy all the
I the body composed of
ds? To the which it
and brightness of the |
^orks of such a charac-
Let us, I say, chiefly I
e to exert our utmost |
fthe fast ofourvenei-
I ceremonies which ore |
>nlh of all our goods,

lin, that there is a hell I
isgreseors of the divine
)r whom it would have
d to have never seen |
)lace of torment is ap-
i touching them, a fire I
thing but snakes and I
creatures, which shall!
luse them tofeelgrievf
he impious and of the!
and rage, incessantljfj

«i»i