S^w-

3-/.

AN

APOLOGY
FOR

MOHAMMED

AND THE

KORAN.

JOHN
AUTHOR AND
OP THE
'

/ DAVENPORT,
ALI

BY

LIFK

OP

PACHA

OF TO

JAXINA
THE

'

'

DUDE
OF

VINDICATED

'

'

KOORG

ITS

RAJAHS,'
CLASS

'AIDE

MEMOIRE
AND

HISTORY EDUCATIONAL

INDIA;'
WORKS.

'HISTORICAL

BOOK,'

VARIOUS

Conttnts :
I. II. III. IV. Mahomed The Koran
:

Biography.
and its

Morality.
refuted.

Charges Beauties

against
ok the

Mohammed Koran.

who would nothing of the criticsin these times, deceit generally, Mohammed of deceit prepense ; of conscious or, accuse element of conscious deceit, at all ; stillmore, of livingin a mere perhaps, would have done. Every and writingthis Koran as a forger and a juggler will read the Koran far otherwise than so."" C A.BLYLE's candid eye, I think, Works, Vol. VI.,p. 214.
"

I confess I

can

make

.1. DAW

i^ SONS,

1.S7, LONG

ACRE,

LONDON,

1882.

DRYDEN PRESS :

DAVY

AND

J.

SONS, 137,

LONG

ACRE,

^.ONDO^'.

Jte

PREFACE

rpHE

present
vour

work free

is the
and

an

humble

but

earnest

endeafrom and of
to

to

history
illiberal
to

of

Mohammed

false

accusations his

imputations, regarded
as one

vindicate

just

claim of

be

the

greatest
The thus

benefactors
writers

mankind.

who,
the the

misguided
fair

by
the

blind

zeal, have
of the

assailed of
be

fame have

of
not

Restorer

Worship
to

Unity,

only by
the

shown

selves themthat

wholly strongly

uninfluenced and but

spirit of
inculcated

charity
the

so

emphatically
have

by ment, judg-

Saviour for the

it

himself,
least is
not

also Avould

erred
have

in

reflection from
a

convinced and modern

them

that

Christian and his

but

stand-point
to

that

the and

Prophet

doctrines from
an

ought
Eastern
plated contem-

be

examined in other

criticised,
Mohammed

one

words,
as

should reformer

be

and

judged
in

rehgious
in

and

lator legisafter
be

living
Christ,
and

Arabia
must

the

seventh
most

century

he
as

then,
very

undoubtedly,
man

acknowledged

the

greatest

whom

Asia

iv

PREFACE.

can

claim

as

her

son,

if

not,

one

of the

the world

rarest

and

most

transcendent

geniuses

itself

ever

produced.
I^
^"

f\

ij^
-r-r^

consider

what and

the what

Arabs

were

before

Mohamafter
it
"

med's

appearance

they
the

became

if

te^*^

^"

reflect,

moreover,

upon
^^^^

enthusiasm the

kindled of
the

"H^
^

KA^

^^^
than

^"P*
one

^^^^"

^y

doctrine

in

breasts

more

CJ^J^ j/A'
I
V

hundred

and

sixty
that

milHons

of

human

race"

we

cannot

but

feel

to

withhold

our

admirawould attribute doubt

'^
p

j;^)^

tion be his the In few do

from the

so

extraordinary
flagrant
to
mere

and

so

great
that would

man

U"

most

injustice,
blind of chance Divine

and

to

advent

be

to

over-rding
conclusion,
instances,

power the when

Providence. would of
his

author diffident

state

that,

in

own

powers

to

ample
he

justice
has

to

so

interesting
himself of
aid

and
the

important
ideas
he and

subject, language
the

availed

of

other

writers,
of

an

which and

takes

present

opportunity

candidly

gratefully

acknowledging.

LIFE

OF

MOHAMMED.

CHAPTER

I.

Authentic
birth
"

character

of of

Mohammed's the Arabs date

so
" "

life

"

Condition of the birth descent

of

Arabia and
"

at

his

Religion
"

Corruptions
Mohammed's

Jewish uncertain from

"

tian ChrisThat
"

religions
Jesus Kaaba Christ and in Christ

Exact
more

of

of The
necessary un-

still the

Mohammed's
"

Ishmael

Black

Stone

Burckhardt
;

quoted
The twelve
"

Circumcision prepuces His filial of

Mohammed's
"

case

why

Jesus
"

"

(note)

Death

of
to

Mohammed's his foster-nurse

"

mother
"

piety

Mohammed's
in his

gratitude

He in

accompanies
the Desert
"

his

uncle

commercial the rich in his

expeditioiis
widow life
"

Adventure

Marries

Khadija,
"

Two

descriptions of
to

his that

personal appearance
of Jesus
"

Interval

similar and him

" "

the

one

in

Christ

"

Mohammed's of the

melancholy
Gabriel
to

contemplative
Is declared

disposition
God's

Apparition
"

Angel

apostle
"

Notice Failure
" "

of

celebrated A miracle

visionaries demanded Vizier Mohammed

"

(note)
and
"

Mohammed's
"

first converts

refused

Grotius's

pious

falsehood
"

Ali,
version con-

Mohammed's
"

Mohammed's and his

public preaching
"

Omar's first

disciples persecuted by
the

The

Hegira

or

fiight

Protection

aft'orded

Nejashee

of

Abyssinia.

TT

may

be

truly

affirmed
one
can

that be

of

all

known the

legislatorsand history
of whose fuller

conquerors,

not

named,

life

has

been

written
of

with

gi-eater authenticity and

In

detail, than
of

that

Mohammed. Asiatic

fact, strip his biography

have
ever

the what At

prodigies
remains

which may of
a

writers

affected,

and

confidently defy incredulity itself.

Mohammed's birth
;
a

the
was

period
under

great

part

of

Arabia of

foreign yoke
as

all the

northern and
B

portion Egypt,

xlrabia

Petrtea,

well

as

Syria,

Palestine

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

M^as

under shores

the
of the

sway

of

the

Emperors
the

of

Constantinople. by
the
the of the of

The

Persian

Gulf, the countries watered

southern

and Tigris

the

Euphrates,and
the

provincesof
Chosroes

Peninsula, acknowledged the

Persia. south
of A

supremacy coasts of

of the the Eed

portion of
Mecca Mecca had
of
was

Sea

to

subject to
and the
all

the
but

Christian inaccessible

kings

Abyssinia.
of the
state political

countries The
to
a

interior

preserved

their

independence.

the

determined, country necessarily

belief of the inhabitants. great extent, the religious where the

Greek

Thus,

and the

there Abyssinian authorityprevailed,

had Christianity and that

of

ascendancy ;
both

the doctrines
of which

of

the

Magi

the

Manicheans,

recognisedtwo
in

were antagonisticprinciples,

predominant
else Arabs had heavens

the

Persian

provinces,while
sway. God
In

everywhere
the

idolatryheld
adored and
one

unbounded supreme

the first ages

(AllahTaala) creator
abandoned
of

of the

the

earth, but

had subsequently,

that
sons

worship and
of

raised

temples
These ;

for the the Gods each

adoration

demons,

God, who, residingin

the earth.

planets and
were

fixed

stars,

governed
its

not

adored universally

throughout the country

human in
a

tribe, each
in

family
honour Arabs of the
to

had

particulardivinities, its
even

Lares,

fact,in
The

of

which

victims
future the

were

immolated.
nor

believed

neither

state

in the creation

world, but attributed

its future

formation
to

of

the

universe

nature, and
and

destruction

time. and

Debauchery
since death
was

robbery everywhere prevailed,

as

regarded
so was

the

end,

strictlyso
for

called, of
virtue
nor

existence,

there A

neither
like

recompense

punishment
to

for vice. found

among

moral

and

religious
and the bian the Ara-

corruptionwas
Jews

be

the

Christians
in

who,

for

ages

had

established
there

themselves
very

Peninsula, and
The
from Jews had
come

had

formed
land

powerfulparties.
an liberty

to seek

in that

of

asylum
had

the

persecutionof

the

Ptomans

; the

Christians

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KOKAX.

also fled thither in order

to

escape

the and

massacres

occasioned
It

by

the

Nestorian

Eutychianism*
of

Arian

discussions.

is not

easy to conceive
of

anything more
this
in

than deplorable

the

condition branches

at Christianity

time.f
Asia

The
and

scattered
were

of the

Christian each

Church

Africa the
in

at variance

with

other, and

had
were

adopted engaged
the

wildest

heresies and
controversies

They superstitions.
and
torn to

perpetual
the the

pieces by
and

disputes of
and

Arians, Sabellians,Nestorians,

Eutychians, whilst

simony, the incontinence,the general barbarism

which
were

rance ignoversal uni-

to

be

found

amongst the clergy caused

and religion,

great scandal

to

the

Christian
manners

introduced
In

of profligacy

among

the

people.

Arabia

the deserts swarmed

or

with

ignorantand
in vain in

infatuated
but mobs

Cenobites,

recluses, wastingtheir lives

then their
them

speculations, fiery
into

and

rushing, often armed,

fantasies
in

the

cities,

preaching
assent
to

the

churches, and
The

enforcing by
Jesus

by

the the

sword.

had grossest idolatry instituted

usurped the place of

"

simple worship
a similitude; a

that

of

an

all-wise, almighty, and

and
without

all-beneficent
new

Being,
had

without been

equal

Olympus
There
the

imagined,peopled with
lieu of the ancient
sects

crowd

of

and martyrs,saints,
were

in angels,

gods of paganism.
to

found

Christian

impious enough
and
attributes

invest
a

wife

of

Joseph with
lics and
*

the honours and

of

goddess.^ Eethe most

carved

paintedimages were
famous Greek

of objects
heresiarch

The who

doctrine of
became
nature

Eutyches,a

of the fifth century,

taught that the divine

union,
hmnan the
sea.

of Christ,after their but one blended together to constitute as nature, the so of water is by the divine absorbed as a drop being by one, aud human
natures

had alienated the corruption of the teachers of Christianity t In fact, cles, their saints and their miratheir legends, the popular mind. "Their lies, had their of abandoned behaviour the above priesthood, all, but,

brought p. 501).
t The
Ghost.

their churches

in

Arabia

very

low''

vol. (Bruce's'Travels,' the attempted the

i.

so-called Marianites of
an

are

to ^said

have

even

duction intro-

heretical

the Virgin for by substituting Trinity

Holy

b2

AN

APOLOGY

FOE

fervid

worship on
the

the part of those whom their prayers which the and

to

the word the

of

of

Christ

commanded Such
in
were

to address
scenes

God living Christ At the

alone_
time

Church
in

presented
the

Alexandria,

in

Aleppo,

Damascus.

of Mohammed's their

advent

all had

abandoned

of principles
upon

to indulge in never-ending wranglings religion

dogmas
could

of

secondary importance,and
see

the

Arabian the most

pure
most
a

people
tial essen-

not

but of God

that

they had
that, as

lost

sightof
"

point worship of
and pagan the

every
"

doctrine religious

the

and

true

and

regarded the
upon

disgraceful
their

they were grossestsuperstition,

born at

par with

contemporaries.
was

Mohammed those
of A.D.

Mecca,*
600

in what

year

is

doubtful,

560, 571, 572, 575,

and

620

being assigned
the
most
a

by

different

writers,but

that

which
It

is considered is remarkable
as

authentic similar Jesus

purposes

is November
if not

10, 571.

that

greater uncertaintyobtains
was

to

the

birth of

Christ,which
until
after

unknown actually commencement Eoman

for

chronological
6th

the

of the

century,
it into

when
use

Dionysius Exiguus, a during

of

abbot, brought
Justinian
but
;

the

reign

of the

Emperor

and

the

only result anomaly,

of the

subsequent laborious
born

lations calcuconflicting the

Eusebius, Tertullian,and
"

others, was

singular

Christ

a.m.

3999,

B.C.

5."t
pear, ap-

Mohammed's both
in

grandfather and foreign and

The

his lineal descendants

domestic

transactions,
the

as

the their

princesof
wisdom

their country, but

reigningby
sceptre was

opinion of
afterwards

and

integrity.

trans-

Mecca, sometimes also called Becca, which words are synonymous, ancient is certainly of the most one meaning a placeof great intercourse, cities in the world (seeSale's IntroductoryDiscourse '). Its government, of aristocratic republic, a kind about the time of Mohammed's birth, was each of whom to were assigned administered ten magistrates, hereditary by eldest the one formed over and who senate a presided by particular duties,
*
'

of its members. t See p. 188. Dr. Coverhill's

'

Exposition

'

and

Dr.

Hall'a

'

Analysis, vol.

'

i.

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

ferred to

younger

branch

of

the

Koreish,

one

of the most it did, to Arab the

ber num-

influential tribes
be

as throughout Arabia, claiming,

descended

from

Ishmael,

the

son

of

Abraham.
as

authors,
of

it is true, differ among Ishmael but sixty,

themselves
to

to

from generations

Mohammed,
all agree

some

ing count-

and thirty,
were

others

they
one

that

there of the

twenty-one from
to

Adnan,
and

of

the

descendants
as

Ishmael,
number It for
a

Mohammed,
from

they only
that

differ

to

of those
was

Adnan

to Ishmael.*

from

the five

tribe of Koreish

had

been

chosen,

periodof
as city,

of the magistrates generations,

as

the above-

named

well

the

of priests Before

the

or Kaaba,-|-

holy
this

temple

therein the

situated.

Mohammed's

time

temple was
the

of place of worship and pilgrimage

trous the idola-

Arabs,

and

contained
of
on

not

less than the

of

360

idols,equalling
It
was

number

days
account

in

Arabian the

year.

revered especially been erected

tradition

that

it had it
was

by

Abraham

and

Ishmael, and
ever

because

reputed to
man

be the

first structure the Most

was

raised The

by

the hand

of

to

the
of

glory of
in

High.

Kaaba,
the
were

like the

temple
of the

Delphi

Greece

regarded as
came

sanctuary
eminent

entire

nation; thither

all who

for their skill in

eloquence and by
the the

poetry, the only intellectual

within its precincts
of for

valued qualifications
were

Arabians, and

suspended
in

compositionsdeemed
Its vast

worthy
that
of

being

had

remembrance. its foundation

antiquityalso,
before

historyplaced
*

993

years

the

See
;

'

Mohainmedanism the

Unveiled,' by the Rev. Charles

in Sale's
'

vol. Foster,

i.

p. 139

and

Tables Genealogical

Koran.'

of Mohammedan considered the holiest earthlyobject building, which of aloe-wood, between is supported by pillars hang silver regard, lamps, while a golden spout carries off the rain water from the roof. The with a gold walls are hung on the outside with black damask, ornamented band,which is changed every year at the expense of the Grand Seignior. the Kaaba at the present day,says"" The effect of Buii'khardt, describing of gold and silver, the whole scene, the mysteriousdrapery,tin- profusion the blaze of lamps, and the kneeling multitude, surpasses anything the t This could imagination have

pictured,"

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

temple
insured this
four

of

Solomon,

or

2000

years In in is

before the

the

Christian
corner

era,

it additional is
a

respect.
stone,

south-east

of about
rence reve-

temple
feet

small

set

silver,and
an

fixed

from

the

ground.
of

It who

object of great
it to

with
one

Mohammedans,
stones

believe

have

been

of the Adam

Paradise, which, having fallen

served
afterwards
as a

down

with

from

heaven,

pillow
to have of

for that been

an

patriarch. It
black
woman on

is said to be

white
either of

within, but

turned

the

outside
the sins

by

the

touch
more

impure

or

by

the

people, or

probably, by
Mecca.*
Arabian

the

kisses

of the

numerous

pilgrimsvisiting
in

writers

vie the
hour

with

one

another

recording in
to

glowing language
the affirm natal
among
were

prodigiesthey
of

believed

have
thus

nalized sigthey

their
numerous

future
and

prophet; by

that,

other
at

amazing marvels,
a

the heavens
that light,

his birth of Sama

the

illuminated
dried up

preternatural

the

lake

and instantaneously,

that the

sacred
for

fire of

Persians, which

had

burned
any

mittingly unre-

1,000 years, suddenly and without

able assignof his the

cause,

became

extinguished.
father the
an was

The
mother

name

of Mohammed's
;

Abdallah, that
of

Amina
of

and

on

birth

this

their

son,

brother

the

latter, being
thence
a

cast astrologer,

the

child's
vast

nativity,and
power and

predicted that mighty empire.

heads
of

he
On

would

rise to seventh

found

the

day
gave

after the child's

a

Abd-el-Mutallab birth,his grandfather

the

grand

feast to
on

his tribe, and the

presentingthe
their

child to them

the occasion, as

dawning glory of

conical blocks of stone, or shapeless wayward genius of ancient Polytheism. in the mythology of the Greeks, with a similar form of idolatry "We meet the of that people ; and embellished off and set peculiarfancy by though the neighin the worship which to be found instances of a like kind were bouring Baal." of to or (Schlegel, Philosophy Belu, Syria paid people Hindoos under the name of to the of History'). It is also known "Lingham,"
*
"

The

idolatrous
means

worship
to

of such the

was

by

no

unknown

'

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

race,

gave

him
most
was

on

that

account

the

name

of

Mohammed

or {praised

glorious).'^ scarcelytwo
no

The

child

years

old

when
two

his

father
a

died, leaving him

few

other

inheritance slave

than

camels,
His
sorrows

sheep, and
had
up

female

black

named
but
cares

Barukut. and she

mother had

hitherto
the

suckled

him,

dried

fountains
from

of her
among

breast, and
the Badwuna

therefore tribe.
as

sought a
succeed
women

nurse

for him this

was, set
a

To

in

however,

very

for difficult, their

these

always
with

high price upon

from

services, they
At

turned the the

contempt
a

this heir of

poverty.

length,

wife

of

Saadite
to

shepherd,moved
her
to

by compassion, took
of the Mecca.
near villages

helplessinfant long
with

home

in east

one

Mount been

Tayif, situated
these fears

the

of

He
their

had

not

his been

foster-parentswhen
awakened which

stitious super-

having Djins
f

by finding a they
attributed him
to

mole the
to

between agency
of

his the

shoulders, and
or

demons,

they

carried

back

his mother

at Mecca,

Some

Mohammedan upon

writers this infant

a

assert
was

that the

performanceof

the

rite

from his having been Goropius Becanus, in his * Orithe followingcurious circumstance respecting Godet'roi de the foreskin first the of the Saviour. crusade, During Bouillon heard that of the women Antwerp worshipped Priapus having under the name of Ters, sent them the foreskin of Jesus Christ in the hope out withbut unfortunately of its weaning them from so gross a superstition, of circumcision
unnecessary,

miraculously born without relates gines Antverpianse,'

foreskin.

success."

The the

foreskins
one was

still extant
in the

twelve another

in number:
at

of the Saviour are of the monks possession

reckoned

to

be
;
a

of Coulombs

in Germany; Abbey ; a third at Hildesheim, fifth at Antwerp fourth at Rome in the Church of St. Jean-de-Latran a ; "c. sixth church of Notre at Puyen Velay, in the a Dame,

of Charroux

t Short as retained ever

was a

the

time

he

was

with

his

Mohammed foster-mother, he had received

from

recollection grateful

of the kindness

her. Halim^ the woman's (tliat was name) visited him at Mecca, after his " "a year of drought, m It was," says tradition, marriage with Khadij ah. which cattle perished, and Mohammed spake unto Khadijah, and
many

she gave and she

to

Halim^

camel

trained
home

to carry

and litter,
to

two

score

sheep,
casion, oc-

departed
Mohammed

for her

with

joyful heart.'' Upon

for her her in
a

another
in

spread his mantel

upon

great regard,placing his hand

manner.

sit upon, familiar and

token

of

aflfectionate

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

When her
return

Mohammed
from
at
a

was

six years
and
was

old his mother

son

died, on
to
some

visit she and

her

had
at
can

paid
a

relatives between

Yathreb,*
and

buried

Abwa,

village
a

Medina

Mecca.

Nothing
and

give

better

idea of the
was son a

than sensibility prophet's

resort of his

the fact that her recollections There

is
no

grave
to

place of pious
the latest hour

tender

her

to

existence.
to

doubt

but that this somewhat afterwards could

earlyloss imparted pensive

and
him. distinguished

the

youthful Mohammed
character seventh which
year his

of that
so

meditative
In

he

the severity of appreciate

of

his loss and which

tion feel the desolahe afterwards soul

his

orphan state, a
in

subjectto
Koran,

touchingiy alludes
of

the and

when,

his reassuring

the

Divine
of

favour

and protection, he

recounting the
he
not

mercies thee At
from
some
an

the

Almighty,
and furnish

exclaims, "Did
a

find

orphan

thee with

?"t refuge
on a

subsequent period of his life,when

to

pilgrimage
tomb, and

Medina
of his

Hodaiba, he

visited knew
not

his mother's that Amina

cause

followers, who
weep my

lay buried
"

there, seeing him

inquired the sorely,

mother's
have

This,"
hath
pray to my
me,

replied he, permitted me

for her, but

"is to

dear

grave;

the

Lord

visit
not

it; I
been

sought permission to
of her

it has the

granted; so, callingher

recollection
overcame

remembrance,
and
I

tender

wept."|
his

After
upon his

mother's

death, the

care

of the

orphan
at

devolved time and

Abd-el-Mutalleb, paternalgrandfather,
he also

that
son

and high priest,

dying
of

two

years

after,his

inhabited chiefly colonies of and the Awsites, and by two by the tribes of the Charegites their Arab of a sacerdotal race, and who Jews by introducing among had gained for that citythe fellow citizens a taste for science and religion, of the Prophet. that is, of the Gityof the Book name
*

This

was

the ancient

name

Medina,

which

was

"

Chapter xciii. againstpraying for his mother's salvation X This prohibition and severity of the dogmas of the sternness of instance singular die in of who those ignorance of the faith. respect
t

forms

Islam

in

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

\i

successor

Abu

Thaleb

took
in

the

charge
respect
as

of

the
one

boy
of
to

upon
own

himself, treatinghim
children. indications
to

every that

his

It
of in

was

now

Mohammed

began
much their

exhibit loved when he gence indul-

an

and inquiringmind. intelligent

so so

He that

indulge

meditation, solitary
wished
him
to

his

playmates
"

join in
a

amusements

replied,
in

Man

is created

for

nobler
On
was

purpose

than

frivolous
year,
eve

pursuits."
his of

Mohammed's
a

attaining
for
to

his thirteenth

uncle, who

wealthy merchant,
caravan

being

on

the

departingwith

the be

Syria,
pany accom-

complied with
him, and
his first

his

nephew's request to
to obtain

allowed
so

the

youth acquittedhimself
no

well

in

this
year blishes esta-

journey as
in
a

little credit. circumstance

The

next

he served

a militarycapacity,

which the

the and the

curious

fact from

that

the

of professions

soldier
as

trader, far

being

considered

by

the

Arabs

incompatible with
most

each

other, were
not

frequently, among actuallyunited,

active at

their least

distinguishedtribes,if
alternation.
in

practisedin rapid
the him
esteem both

The

share

taken

by
in

youthful Mohammed superior

confidence and
more

these
and

expeditionsdeveloped military talent, by

these and
were qualities

address

the

procured him
the

still

heightened by
of regularity As

sincerityof
the

his

words
of

and
his

actions, the

his life,and

accuracy

judgment.
him
In

he advanced of his

in years, other

merchants, gladly

availingthemselves
as
one

great

tact

and

employed ability,
his uncle, having

agent
of
at
a

in their commercial

transactions. made with

the

he expeditions
in the

arrived the

monastery

of Syrian desert,the superior

his scrutinizing establishment, fixing gaze upon

young

the

face
"

of the
very

traveller,took
of

Abu

Tlialeb

aside,saying, Be
from

careful

thy nephew, truly

he
is

and
born
to

protect him
unto
some was

Jewish
"
"

treachery,for
troubles and

great things
writers,
ordained the
of

prophetic warning,

according

the

oppositionwhich

it

future

10

AN

APOLOGY

FOE

prophet
It

was

to

encounter

from

the

descendants

of Abraham.

was

while

engaged
in

in

his
of

commercial the various

journeys
at which

that
at

Mohammed

frequented many
several
of the Arabs

fairs held

different times

parts of Arabia, and

were

the

popular traditions
faiths religious the
of

recited, and the vario.us enforced, and

vinced subjectscon-

the

country expounded and

experience he
him
more

thus and

acquired upon
of

these

more

the

grossness

and his

absurdity men. country-

of the

idolatryand
this time

of degrading superstitions

About
was

the

Kaaba, having been

the
course

injured by fire,
the sacred
it disputes,

in undergoing repairs,
was

of
to

which avoid

stone
was

to

be that

and replaced, the

honour
to

in order of

agreed

laying it, for

first entered whom

the the had

second sacred
ducted con-

time, should

belong
this
was

him

who

precincts ;
to

Mohammed,
He

chance

the

spot.
ceremony,

accordingly deposited the

amid

stone

with

all due
thus

the

acclamations devoted the

not

of

the

standers by-

a temple consecrating

to

the

service

of the very his

which

idols which
to

it

was

afterwards
that it
was

chief

objectof
a

mission
he

destroy; laid,but
was

so

merely
new

stone

thus

the

foundation the head and

of

of religion

which

he himself

to be

the

pontiff.
until his the
of

Mohammed

continued when

in his uncle's
one

employment
men

twenty-fifth year, dying,and

to

of the

leading

city

his her

widow, by

name,
was

Khadijah, requiringa
recommended
to

factor
as a

manage

business, he
purpose.

her
terms
at

fit person offered

for the

Having accepted the

for

she
mascus Da-

him, he
and

traded

her

during
upon that he

three

years,

other

places,and

returning to might report

labours.
The

Mecca,
to

proceeded to Khadijah'shouse
in person
was

her

the

result of his commercial with

and

widow
was

highly satisfied
charm in the

the

balance eye,

sheet; but there

in

dark

pensive

the noble

features

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

11

and

gracefulform
attitude
did
at

of her

assiduous

agent, as

he

stood

in
even

submissive
more

before
increase time

her, which
of

delighted her
wealth.
of

than
was

the this

her

The she
a

comelybeen

widow twice unable

forty years
borne of
two
so

age, and
a

had

married, and
to

had

sons

daughter, yet
and
it
was

resist the
of
so

charm and

manly
in

person

the
not

attractions

sensible

enthusiastic
to him

mind,

long ere
At

she

presentedher
Mohammed

hand
was

marriage. pride of manhood

features
:

this

time

in

the

his

was figure

commanding,
most

his

his aspect majestic, eyes black

well
were

regularand
nose

his expressive, mouth

and

his piercing,

his slightly aquiline,

formed

and

furnished robust

with

pearly teeth, while

Art

his cheeks
to

ruddy
His

with

health.
hair

had
a

imparted

his

naturallyblack
hue.

flowing

and
his

beard

lighterchestnut
sonorous

captivating
of his
he his

smile,
his

rich and

voice, the gracefuldignity of

and heartiness
of

gestures,the apparent frankness

sained
He him

manner,

the

favourable

attention of
a

all whom

addressed.

possessed talents quick

and

superior order"

was perception

active, his

memory

capaciousand
whatever his

retentive, his
clear and may be the
his

imagination livelyand
courage
as

daring,his judgment
of sincerity the but

his perspicuous,

dauntless, and

opinionof
his all.

some

to the

tions, convic-

tenacityof purpose

in the

of pursuit
cannot

great object
extort

of his life,and admiration the

use

patientendurance,
His

the

of

natural
of

eloquencewas
Arabia, and

enhanced
adorned

by

of the

purest dialect
favourable

by the

charm Not

of

elocution. graceful
is

less

the

following descriptionof
his
was

Mohammed
pen
of

at

later
"

period of

life,from

the

graphic
the

Gibbon:
of his

"

Mohammed
an

distinguished by gift which

it has
on

beauty
Before

person,

outward whom

is

seldom refused.

despised,except by
he

tliose to
orator

been

spoke, the
of
a

engaged
a

his

tions side the affec-

whether

public or

private audience.

They

12

"

AN

APOLOGY

FOE

applauded
his

his

commanding
his

presence,

his his

majestic aspect,
his of his soul, and the

piercing eye,
which that

gracious smile,
each

flowing beard,

countenance

painted every
enforced offices of

sensation

the
In

gestures
the
grave

expression of

tongue.
to

familiar and

life,he

scrupulouslyadhered
his country ;
was

the

ceremonious
to

of politeness rich and

his

attention respectful

the

powerful
the concealed
were

dignified
of

by

his condescension
;

and

to affability
manner

poorest citizen
the

Mecca of his

the

frankness the

of his habits

artifice
to

views, and

of

courtesy

imputed
; his memory his social,

personal friendshipor
was

universal

benevolence wit easy and

capaciousand retentive,his possessedthe

his first idea the of both

gination ima-

sublime, his judgment clear, rapid and

He
courage

decisive.

of

thought and
of his

action with

;* and
success,

although
the bears
son

designs might gradually expand

which of
an

he

entertained

divine

mission

stamp

originaland brought
of the
was

superior genius.
in

The the

Abdallah
race,

was

up

the

bosom

of

noblest the the

in the

use

purest dialect of Arabia, and

corrected and enhanced

fluency of
of practice
to

his

speech

by

discreet and

seasonable
the

silence."
common

As

acquired learning,in
that other education

acceptationof
had
was none

the word, it is confessed

Mohammed than what

at

all,t
in
we

having
his

had

no

customary

tribe, who

neglected and, perhaps,despised what

no

call literature,esteeming their own,

language

in

comparison
use

with
not

their skill in which

they gained by
moreover, to

and

by books, contenting themselves,

their
of their

with

improving
such
use

private experience by committing

poets
The
were

memory

passages them
*

as

they judged might

Arab, therefore, who
not
men

be
never

of

to
a

in
"Moses

active
and
It
was

life.
Mohammed
in

had

of

speculation ; they were

countrymen

men

of action.

proposing action to their fellow they governed humanity."

and
"Life

to

that their contemporaries,

(Renan,

of

Jesus,"chap, iv.)
xcvi. vii., xxix., chapters t See Sitrass,

14
mind

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

on

one

subject, accompanied by
not

fervent

enthusiasm
upon

of

could spirit,

but

have

powerful effect
and

his frame. For

He

became

subject to dreams, ecstasies

trances.*

six months he
had

successively, accordingto
constant

one

of his the

biographers,
his

dreams

bearing
character
were

upon

subject of

waking thoughts.
What
was

the

real

of

Mohammed's reveries
a

ecstatic
of

periods; whether
or meditation,'

they

simply
with

profound
be

swoons
or

connected

morbid would the

his

excitability
difficult
of

of
to

the

mental
;

physical constitution,it
but certain it is

determine

that
him

at

moment countenance
one

inspiration, anxiety pressed upon

was

and

troubled.
or overcome

He

would
with

fall to

the
on

ground
the

like

cated intoxi-

sleep,and^
with that if he

coldest
of

day, his
astride

farehead

would
even

be

bedewed

big drops
would

perspiration,
to

Nay,

it is

asserted
so

happened

be

his camel affected

when

excited,the animal
restlessness
"

itself become her

by

wild

now

falling upon
one

haunches,
feet about The

then

starting up
the

again ;
and

at
anon

time

fixingher
her

rigidlyin
as

ground,
often

throwing
Mohammed
of

legs

if

wishing to

rid herself

of them.
was

assertion,so

repeated,that
a

is fits, subject to epileptic who

base
that stain

invention morbid upon

the

Greeks,
to

would
a

seem

to

impute
as a

aff'ection

the

of apostle

novel

creed

his moral
of

character Christian
have
flected re-

deserving the
world.

reprobationand
had

abhorrence

the

Surely, those
that if Mohammed

malignant bigots might

been really

afflicted with

that

dreadful them
to

malady pity his

Christian
misfortune

charityought to
rather
a

have

commanded

than

over rejoice

it, or

affect to

regardit
was

in the

lightof

sign of
;

Divine

wrath.

Mohammed
no

sorrowful
never

in temperament

: continually meditating

he had

rest ;

he

silent ; he many

opened

and
in

spoke except from ended his speech from

the "Katib al

necessity ; he
the
corners

used

to

be

long
;

of his mouth
too

he

expressedhimself
words."

pregnant sentences, using

neither

few, nor

too

(From

Wackidi," p. 81| c.)

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

15
as passing,

It above

was

in the fortieth year month

of his life, that while

of

the described,

Eamadlian,* he laywrapped
of

in

his mantle heard

a

during

the

silent watches

the

night,that

he

voice

him calling in upon

by
him

name.
a

Uncovering his head, there

of light away.

suddenly broke splendour and

his senses,
an

flood of he swooned

such intolerable
On

that intensity

recovering

angel, in
a

human

played form, approaching him, diswith

to his view

silken cloth covered

writing:
"

"Eead!"
"I know

said the anoel.

not

how

to

read/'f
of
a

"Eead, in the
who made
man

name

Allah, the Creator

of

all

things,
of

from who

clot of blood ! the

use

Eead, in the
of the hullam of

name

the Most

High,
can

taught man

(pen),
J^ and

and^who
he

dart into his soul the beams mind

ease,
was

knowledge."

Mohammed's

instantaneouslyillumined, writing on
the
silken

read, with
the

the of
an

cloth; then,

under

influence

irresistible innermost heard

a

excitement, he rushed
recesses

forth and
from
"

plunged
! thou

into the he the

of

the

forest, ?
"

all sides

whereof
art

voice

crying aloud,
the

Mohammed

Apostle of by

God

Most

High,
for

and

I, I

am

the

angel Gabriel."
that it is
no

If it be

considered when
in

means
as

uncommon

the mind

to embody, solitude, to

it were,

the

toms phan-

of the
for absolute
women,

imagination,and
existences, and,
even

mistake

its

own

creations
and
times some-

moreover,

that men,

of

the

are strongest intellect,

larly particughost of
fore-

hable

to such

as impressions,

in the

case

of the

Caesar in the tent

of

Brutus; J
from

the

which gigantic figure

* so

The called

word

Ramadhan

comes

Ramad

time

the solar year of the ancient of the greatest heats.

in because,

the month (burning), it Arabs, occurred

being
at the

t See page

12, note
a

f.

he (Brutus) left Asia, he was alone in sitting and at a lute hour, the whole army light, lay in sleep in the general, he meditation, thought wrajit perceived something enter his tent ; turning towards the door,he saw a horrible and monstroas spectrestandingsilently by his side." (Langhorn's Plutarch ') his tent, by a dim and silence, while
'

i "Thus,

little before

16

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

told Madame

Cromwell's de

greatness

and

in

later

times, Molinos,t

Guyon,| Swedenborg,"and
than

Madame far from

Krudner,||
Mohammed

it becomes

more

probable that
a

so

having been
that the

guiltyof
he

falsehood commanded

in

afterwards him
to

announcing
the

angel

Gabriel

undertake

prophetic mission,
himself On
to be the

really and
the 24th

believed conscientiously God. peared apin

divinelyinspired Apostle of
of

the

morning
his called out

Eamadan,

Mohammed

before mind. with He cold

wife, apparently,greatly disturbed

to her to
"

wrap
was

him

up, to affuse him

!
"

water,
stories

as

his

soul

greatly troubled
enthusiasm

and

Many

are

told of Cromwell's

in this,tlie

early

shall mention. of which we one part of his life, Lying melancholy upon his bed, in the day time, he fancied he saw which told him he a spectre, should be the greatestman in the kingdom." (Chalmers' Biographical

Dictionary').
and was the author of Molinos, a Spaniard,was born at Saragossa, of mysticism called Quietism, a system afterwards species espoused in France by Madame Guyon and the virtuous Fenelon, Archbishop of He taught,in his 'Spiritual Cambray. Guide,'that the pious mind must in order to its secure quietude spiritual possess progress ; that for this it be must abstracted from visible objects purpose ; that being thus drawn within itself, it becomes of influence that the susceptible heavenly ; and of functions intellect of the and the will are special merged wholly in God. Molinos was thrown into prison in 1685 of these doctrines, account on and notwithstanding in 1687 condemned his recantation of them, he was in 1697. to perpetualimprisonment, and died,imreleased, t that

% Madame
Fenelon reduced
at

de

Guyon

was

born

at

Montargisin
converts to

1648.

The

amiable

and

Madame

de Maintenon

were

her doctrines, which

the

all religion to a pure love of Bossuet,she instigation

of God.
was

After six
to

banished

years' imprisonment ; and near Diziers, Blois,

His vast

died

there in 1717.
at

" Swedenborg was born general literature and and he became reputation,
in seized abandon which in 1745 his
was

Stockhohn

natural
a

member

acquirements a philosophy procured European of several learned societies. Suddenly

him that he
a was

in 1688.

with

the conviction

destined

to

regenerate

he declared Christianity, he

that,warned

by

divine

and devote uncompleted studies, called. He imagined that he not only saw and discoursed with spirits, but that he actually lived with them as a spirit, seeing all He died in 1772. things in the spirit world, as one of themselves. A celebrated mystic,born in 1784, and who, after living pated dissia very II life gave herself up to an extravagant devotion, imagining that she had
to
a

he would appearance, himself to the new office to

mission
so

fron
an

heaven influence

to

regenerate Christianism.
the

In

1815

she

obtained
as

great
had
a

over

Emperor

of

Eussia,Alexander

I.,

She

great share in the died in the Crimea in 1824.

have

formation

of the

"Holy

Alliance."

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

17 his amazed she tate hesi-

having
spouse
one

recovered the
secret

himself, proceeded
of his divine
to

to break

to

mission.

Nor

did
no

moment

believe his

it

and implicitly; be
it
to

wonder,

for Mohammed,
a

to

honour

written, had
her
want.

proved
affection had
stained, ab-

most

kind

and
him

attentive above the

husband pressure

whose
He

had

raised

of
to

and, till her

himself
tridh
to

death, continued

abstain
He had

from

ing availhis she

of

the

right of polygamy.
affection word be
were
a :

proved

her

by unvarying
doubted the
next his to

how, then, could

therefore

possibly have
and believed The he will.* whom
son

She

regarded
of

vision

real manifestation

God's

converts

Zeid, his
and his
own

Arab

slave, to

granted his freedom,

He
to

cousin,Ali, the
himself,
of and

of Abii-Thaleb.
success,

then

addressed
man

with and and

complete
influence

a Abu-Bekr,-f-

wealth

among

the

Koreish,

and

by

his of

example
Mecca

exhortations, other
converted
It is to the
new

principalinhabitants
faith.
of

became

stronglycorroborative
to

Mohammed's
his bosom

that sincerity friends and

the the with those

earliest converts

Islam

were

people of
his

his

household, who, all intimatelyacquainted

not

could life, private

fail otherwise
more or

to have

detected

discrepancieswhich
the of pretentions
at home.
a

less

invariably exist
and his

between actions But convened Mohammed

announcement

the

deceiver hypocritical

check
a

soon

followed
of

this first success, chief members

of

for his

having
tribe,
the

meeting
no

the

sooner was

declared received

to them

his mission and

than

with

coldness

incredulity,

"I do not any

as

remember

to

have that

3),"in

Eastern

writer

read," says Khadijah

of

Sale
ever

Disc.,' ('Prel. p. 58, note rejectedher husband's

pretences

him or delusions, suspected

name orijjinal changed was

imposture."
(servant of the Kaaba)
;

+ Abu-Bckr's this he afterwards

Ahdel-Kaaba of

daughter Ayesha to the distinction,

the
name

Abdallah, but after giving hia able in Prophet, marriage,he assumed, as an honourof the of Abu-Bekr Virgin). (father
for

that

18

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

but

when,

not

content his
own

with

insisting upon
overthrow

the

unity of

the

Godhead that it
was

and

he Apostleship, to

informed

his auditors

his intention back

to the

and idolatry their

bring his tion indignasilence

countrymen

of Abraham, religion

burst forth him

at
once

from
were

all sides, and

any
more

it

was

proposed to
in

nor

violent
own

this their opposition

than

the other
he

families of his did not become

tribe.

Abu-Thaleb,

however, though
his
to protection

convert, still continued

his few

nephew.
years Mohammed's which insult, his life was extended

For
state

the next
of

passed
made his Koran

in

persecutionand
of

itself to his offers of purpose

known
a

few

disciples.Once, indeed,
or

adversaries abandon the

wealth but he
as

leadershipif

he

would

that portionof repliedby reciting

the 41st
:
"

Chapter,and
from

from

which

the

are following

few

extracts
"

A but

revelation
a man

the

Compassionate,the
you. It is revealed
unto
as

Merciful
unto Him
me

am

like unto
one

that
plore im-

your

God His

is

God;

go

then straight
woe

and Gods

pardon.
the
:

And

to

such

join

with

Gods:
"

Wlio

pay

not not

alms

of

and obligation,

in the life to

come,
"

believe But

they

who

believe
a

and

do

the

things that
who,
in

are

right, days,
?

receive shall, assuredly, "Do created Lord

"

never perfect

failing recompense.
two

ye,

indeed, disbelieve
do ye
!

in

Him

the earth ? and Worlds

assignunto
the
firm

Him, peers
mountains
in

The

of the

is He

He

hath

placed on
;

the He

earth

which

above

it tower food did

but

and

hath

blessed the

it,and

four all.

days
which

distributed
"

throughout it,for apply

; and

cravingsof
the the earth
or

Next
were

He smoke

Himself
to them

unto and

Heavens

then
"

did he say.

Come

ye, whether

in accordance
'

with

againstyour

will,'

and

: they both replied

We

come,

obedient.'

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

19 take thou

"

If

lure from

Satan

entice

thee, then

refuge
not

in

God, for He
"

is the

Hearing the Knowing.

whatsoever
is
a

Falsehood, from
It

side missive

it

cometh, shall
down from

approach.
"

(theKoran)
been

sent

the

Wise, the Praise-worthy.

Nothing
been Lord

hath

said to thee
to

(Mohammed)
thee. Him

which

hath

not

said of old is

before apostles with

Verily,with
is terrible
tribution." re-

thy

forgivenessand

Mohammed's
to

opponents answered
miracle in

this
divine

by requiringhim
mission
:

work

proof of
was

his
to

but

he

refused, saying that he

miracles
;

sent
same

preach truth,not
time,
to

to work

at appealing,

the
to

the
work

Koran, he
that could

challengedhis
rival it in
No at any

adversaries

produce any
been adduced
or

beauty and sublimity.*

ever

indeed,has proof,
time descended his doctrines
on

that Mohammed
to pseudo-miracles

to any
or

artifices his

enforce
appears

establish
to

apostolicclaims.

He

the

contrary
to

have

relied

entirely upon

reason

and

eloquence,and
in was, in

have

been

supported by religious
of

enthusiasm enthusiasm

this earlier

stage

his

career.

Religious
it

fact, Mohammed's action,and

ruling passion;

appeared in
It is

his every

displayeditself

in every

stage of his existence.

singular that
fathered

although Mohammed
powers,

so

expressly
of

disclaimed all miraculous

has been the true
upon

yet every kind

that the
true

miracles

him,

and

and history
as

teachingof

the

prophet should
comments,
saint.
as

have

been

much ing teachin

disfigured by
of
*

fable and Christian

as

the

historyand
notices

any

In

fact, the
We

the
down

"And
our

if ye be in doubt
servant

to that which

unto

(Mohammed), (cliap. considered the unprecedented union of the Aralis, under ii). Mohammed he the his for in of truth him, as testifying mission, chapterviii., says If thou (Mohammed) hadst expended whatever riches are on the eartli, thou could'st not have united their hearts, but God united them, for He is
a
"

then

(God)have like unto produce chapter

sent

it"

mighty and

wise."

c2

20

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

Koran
as

are

almost

as

unlike
of the

the

legendaryhistoryof
from

med Mohamfanciful

the narrative

Gospels differs
with
:
"

the

ideas of Buonaventura.*
Gibbon

has favoured

us

the

account following

of

one

of these attributed
"

marvels

The

Christians, rashly enough, have

a

ascribed
from

to

hammed Mo-

tame

pigeon that
his
ear.

seemed
As

to descend

Heaven
was

and

whisper

in

this

pretended
veritate

miracle

brought
of
to

forward Arab
names

by

Grotius

{De

Chrisreligionis

his tiance), him the

the learned translator, of his

was

Pococke,
Grotius
was

inquired obliged
selves. them-

authors, and
to the

confess

that it

unknown it should
was

Mohammedans their

Lest, however,
and

provoke

indignation
sion, ver-

lie the jpious ridicule,

suppressedin

the Arabic the

numerous

but

stillmaintains

conspicuousplace in
enemies Abu-Thaleb
purpose any

editions of the Latin

text.f
still remained dissuaded earnestly
most

Seeing
inveterate

that

Mohammed's

against him,
the
moon

his

nephew
"

from

pursuing his

further,but
arm

his

reply
the

was,
sun

Though
the

Koreishites

should the
on

againstme,
which and from

and

(alludingto
one

divinities
my

they
the
my

the ignorantly worshipped), other

on

right hand
shaken

my

left, I

would

not

be

resolution."

Nothing
assembled
a

daunted,
few

therefore, by

opposition,he
own

again
tribe

belonging to his guests, chiefly

is

placed before
and, after
the

them, it

said,a
rose

lamb up, time

and

bowl

of

milk,
sacred

frugal meal,
the
treasures

declared and
of

his

character,offered
whomsoever address

of

eternityto
an

should

become
for

his

and disciples,

concluded
the

remarkable

its native

eloquence, by

demand,
He came be-

celebrated

doctor

of the Catholic order. the

of the Franciscan general

mysticism,procured him
t Gibbon, 'Decline
and

Church, born in 1221. works, remarkable the of SeraphicDoctor. appelation

His
5. p. 511

for their

vol. Fall,'

(note). Bohn's

edition.

22

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

he

became

Mussulman

on

the

spot.
castle of

He

then

immediately
the

ran,

armed

as

he

was,

to

the

Safa,

asylum
exclaimed,
remain

of

Mohammed,
"

who,
comest

upon

seeing
0
Omar

him

approach,
Wilt thou

Whence

thou,
beneath

here

until

crushed

the

vaulted

roof

that

will

fall

upon

thee

"

"I

come,"
in

replied
thee,
his

Omar,
chosen

"

true

believer

in

the

true

God,
The

and

apostle
Mohammed

!"

Koreish,
in the

finding promulgation
violence,

that

still

zealously
what

sisted per-

of

his

doctrines,
followers

tried

they
that

could

do

by
not

treating
them
to

his

so

cruelly whereupon
not

it

was

safe

for

continue

at

Mecca,
had

Mohammed

gave them
to

permission
seek
for

to

such

as

friends

to

protect
and found

refuge
This

elsewhere,
first

which

they

did,

it

in

Abyssinia.
took

hegira,
year amounted

or,

more

properly,

hedjira
mission.

(flight)
The

place
of

in

the

fifth

of

Mohammed's

number

the

refugees
and
a

successively
children. The

to

eighty
were

men

and

women

few

fugitives
country,

kindly
refused

received

by

the

Nejashee,
up
to

or

king parties

of

the

who

to

deliver

them

the

sent

by

the

Koreish

to

demand

their

extradition,
a

becoming
Islam.

himself,

as

Arabian

writers

assert,

convert

to

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

23

CHAPTER
Death of of

IL
situation of the

Prophet Death recollection grateful Khadijah Her tomb (note) Mohammed's the of her Prophet Ayesha reproved Further persecutions
of Mohammed's
"

uncle

"

Perilous
"

"

"

"

"

Mohammed's Mohammed
Yahtreb the
"

numerous

wives

"

Charge
"

of month

sensualityrebutted
"

"

preaches during the sacred The miraculous nightjourney

"

Converts

made

at

Prophet
upon of and

He

flees from
"

Mecca

"

Ali's

against conspiracy devotedness The Prophet's

Koreish
" "

reliance

God

His

miraculous

escape
"

Arrives

at Yahtreb

"

Name
forms

that

The city changed to Medina Mohammed of ceremonies worship

"

Prophet
at
once

establishes

monarch,
Battle
"

general,judge

and
"

priest
"

His

simple
defeated

mode

of life
"

and Ali's
to

victory of
courage and assassinate Jews
"

Bedr

Mohammed
"

by
"

the

Meccans
"

reward the

The
"

four Medina
"

holy

women

Treachery
the Koreish
"

Plots and

Prophet
are

besieged by

the

They
"

defeated accused

Cold-blooded and infidelity

massacre

A
"

calumny
of the of

refuted Moat
"

Ayesha
Narrow
towns
" "

of

acquitted
poison
" "

War

escape

of the

Prophet
march
to

from Mecca

Submission

Jewish

Mohammed's

Terms

proposed by

the Koreish

Treaty.
year of his

In

the

second

mission,
at

Mohammed's the

party

growing powerful and

a

formidable
more

Mecca,
to

city passed
his while lowers. folhis
two

decree

forbiddingany
lived

citizens
not

become

This, however, did

uncle years Abu-Thaleb
to

much

affect him
but

protect him,

he

dying

Mohammed's after,
as

positionbecame
influence

very

inasmuch critical,

the hands

property and
of his than

of that

relative

passed being
while

into
now

the
more

(Mohammed's) enemies, who,

ever,
were

powerful

the

more

inveterate

him againsthim, insulting

upon

every sorts

occasion, even
his

he and add

was

at prayers,

throwing all
with every

of filth upon
of

food,
To

him harassing
to

other kind had wife

contumely.
dead
a

these the

misfortunes, Thaleb

only been

few

days

when

prophet'sfaithful

Khadijah expired in

24 The death

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

his
a

arms.

of this his beloved

partner

was

indeed
years his

heart-rendingcalamity
been
his

for

him.

For

twenty
now

she soul

had and
at

counseller had
an

and

supporter, and

his hearth
so

become age she had

desolate.
must

Notwithstanding that
lost every

advanced

have

youthful
wives.
to

charm, last,and

yet Mohammed

remained

faithful to her to the

as refrained, alreadysaid,from was

taking other
at

Khadijah
the the
is

buried of the

in the

cemetery
and
we

Mecca, situated

north-west celebrated

city; by

learn from

Burckhardt,

that her tomb traveller,

is still remaining and

regularly visited
that it

pilgrims, especially on
no

Friday
Cufic of the

mornings, but
the

presents
has
a

except objectof curiosity

fine
from

tombstone,

which

inscriptionin
the

characters, containing a
Koran

passage

chapter
survived

entitled

Souret-ul-Kursy. gratitude to
The her
memory of

Mohammed's
his

her

to

latest hour.

tenderness the

this his

recollection

of

her

having
the

aroused
most
"

reproachfuland
she
a

insolent
of

jealousyof
wives
not

Ayesha,
had

youthful and blooming

"

the has

who

replaced her
a

Was

not

old, and
" "

Heaven God
"

giving thee
cried
never

fairer and
in
or a a

better ?
of

No, before
emotion,
she believed

!"

Mohammed,
was a

burst

generous
:

there
in
me

better

kinder

helpmate
of
men

when

was
me

despisedand
when
I
was

mocked poor,

; she comforted

and the

relieved world." The

despisedand persecutedby
Mohammed
from

to persecution

which he was,

was even

now

subjected,
time been
so

wholly unprotectedas
who
were

such
had
a

of the Koreish
one

his

near

relations, or who
him
to

at

his

friends, compelled

seek

place

of

refuge;
small and

that, followed
of

by

his faithful

Zeid, he fled
to

to the

town

Tayif,about
another
he of

sixty miles
uncle of

the east of Mecca,

name,

where

resided there
men

his,by

Abbas.
to

Upon arriving
three

immediately
the

addressed

himself mission

principal

place, explaining his

and

them inviting

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

25

to

merit the honour in

of

supportingthe
he failed in the him
common

new

faith and

assisting
;

him

but propagatingit,
in

producing conviction objections of protectionelsewhere.

was

they
own

cast

his

teeth

his

people,and

advised

to

seek
one

He, however, remained

with
some

there for

month, and

treated
more

little respect
of

by

the
at

better

disposed and
with

considerate lower chased

as

the
rose

people,but
three

length the

slaves and stones,

the and

classes him
as

againsthim, pelted him

or

for two

miles

across

the the
of

sandy plain city. There,

the
numerous
a

far

the foot of the hills that

surround
one

weary

and

exhausted, he took refugein

and rested he
its
man

orchards
after

himself his

for

some

time
to

under

vine;

which
in
a

resumed

journey

Mecca, and
to
was
secure

having
ab

arrived Ebn

vicinity, despatched a
of

message

Mota'

Adi,

much

and who influence, he His would

favourably
a

disposed to him, entreatingthat

entrance for

safe

him

into his

the
sons

city.
and

request

was

granted.
which

Mota'
to

ab

assembled their

retainers, ordering them

the Kaaba.

take

stand, armed,
Zeid entered
or

by

Upon
be the

Mohammed that them

stone

and
ill the

Mecca, his protector forbidding

violence should offered sacred his

any
; and

treatment

prophet, then
to his

advancing, kissed

and

returned

house, escorted by Mota'

ab and

party.
About two

months
a

after the death

of

Khadijah,Mohammed
at

married

Sawda,
the

widow,
and

and

nearly

the of

same

time bosom union ment. attach-

Ayesha,
friend

young

beautiful

daughter

his last

Abu-Bekr,
to

the still

principalobject of
more

this

being

cement

strongly their
have taken
or

mutual

Mohammed

is said different

to

after

the

death

of
out

Khadijah, at
of fifteen is
or

eleven periods, had

on

twelve
to

wives,

thirteen who

been

betrothed

him, and he

constantly upbraided
who adduce

this account circumstance

by
as

the controversial
a

writers

this

demonstrative

26

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

proof

of

his

sensuality. But
time

over

and

above

the

tion considera-

that
was

polygamy, though
of

it is forbidden

by European law,
Arabia and
an

in Mohammed's

in generally practised
was

other

parts

the East, and should

far from that

being counted
he lived from

it immorality,

be recollected that
of at

the

age
one

of

to five-and-twenty

fifty years
the age of without
a

satisfied with he sixty-three issue ; and

man,

wife ; that until

no

she

died

took it may
a

other,and that she left him

then be

male

that asked, is it likely

very

sensual

of

country where
contented
for years

polygamy
older than

was

common

should practice, with

one

be

five-and-twenty years
himself took
of

wife, she
far
more

being fifteen probablethat

the

; and

is it not

Mohammed
years

the many life

wives

he did
a

during
of

last thirteen

his

from chiefly

desire

havingmale
The
to

issue ? month
a

sacred
was

in which

the

caravans

of

pilgrims came
it lasted
came

Mecca

season

of universal
were

peace

; while

the

fiercest animosities every

suspended, and
to

crowds annual

from fearlessly in the

quarter

celebrate

the

jubilee
so

national
an

temple. gained
on

Mohammed

eargerly seized
to

favourable

opportunity for preaching

several their return home

the

assembled of

multitudes,

and

inhabitants proselytes,

Yahtreb, and who

of the friends
success

spoke
the
new

in

mendation high com-

new

religion, zealously exhorting their

to

and
was

fellow-citizens the
at

embrace

same,

and

their

greaterfrom
for

the fact of the

being religion
excited
a

unpopular

Mecca,

commercial the two

jealousy had
Mohammed

of rivalry between spirit

cities. related the thence the the xvii.*

In the twelfth

year

of his Mission

historyof
to

his
on

nightjourney {maraj) to Jerusalem, and

the
creature

heaven,

called

Bl

Barak,

and

under

guidance
Koran
*

of the

angel Gabriel, and

some

respectingwhich
in

contains
is

obscure
"

intimation

Chapter

The passage
from

as

follows

Praise be to Him

by night

the Sacred

Temple

carried his servant to the farther Temple, the environs of

who

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

27
that

The
as

account,
he
was

as

given by
door,

the

prophet, was,

one

night
heard
a

asleepby
his

the side of his wife

upon

Ayesha, he
to him

knocking at
there the
a

which, having arisen, he found

angel Gabriel,and
with
a

standing close
a

Al
ears

Barak,
of
an

mysterious animal,
neck of

human

face, the
a

the elephant,
of
as
a

camel, the body of

of
a

horse, the tail

he
was

mule, and
as

the

hoofs

bullock; in colour

white

milk

; and

his swiftness

equalledthat
his seventh
upon Al

of

ning lightBarak,
there

itself.

The

now angel,

expanding

pairof

and wings,took flight, followed him. Arrived and

the
at

prophet,mounted
whom Christ, them

Jerusalem, Mohammed

met

Abraham, Moses
them

Jesus

he saluted, calling in prayer. After found

a

brothers,and

uniting with
with
for

this, leaving Jerusalem

ladder
of

Gabriel, Mohammed
them, and which
El he Barak

light ready fixed

in

diately they immeto

an

ascended, having first fastened

iron their
duced introinto

ring

rivetted

the

solid rock, that the

might

await

return.

Having
his

reached

celestial abodes, Gabriel

as Virgildid Dante,* companion successively,

the the
manner

different first one, of

heavens, seven
Mohammed
"

in number,
saw a

and

on

his

entering
all

multitude
a

of

angels of

shapes
others in birds he white
to

some

in that of of leasts
a snow

man,

others in that of

hirds, and
among

that
saw as

of every of
enormous

description ; and
size and with
come

the
as

cock
;

plumage
from

all the with God

angels having
for

the

earth

intercede

all the

living

creatures
to

dwelling thereon.
where the sacred

At Lotus

length the
tree

travellers penetrated

stands, marking the

him

which

we

have will be

that Ijlessed, found in

we

might
seeth."
'

show of

Verily,he it is that heareth journey

ii. p. 334.
*
"

and

A fuller narrative

Taylor's History

signs. night Mohammedanism,' Appendix

some our

of

of this

"

Ond' Che

io per lo tuo me' penso e discemo tua guida." ed io saro tu mi segni, 'Deir canto Inferno,' primo, 1. 112

"

113.

Will

devise, pondering now (I for thy profit lead thee hence, and be to thee a guide.)

28

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

limit to the
so
an

garden length

of

delights ;
one

the fruits of this tree suffice to

being
for

enormously large that

immense with
a

only would impassable

from

feed

of

time, all created

beings.
to any

Here

they

met

barrier

hitherto heavens
new
was

mortal, and
throne.

which At the

separates the
Lotus
tree
a

the

Almighty's
was

angelicguide
led
over

awaitingthem,

by
and

whom

Mohammed

infinite tracts of space

through myriads
in

of

celestial

incessantly intelligencies
God.
was

employed
entered

singing the
beatific
two

praises of
and

At

length
to

he proach ap-

the within

presence,

permitted
throne of the

bows'

length

of the
in

of the Most

High,
of his

on

which formula
"
"

he

beheld, graven
he afterwards is
no

characters
as

flaming

fire, the
his

adopted
but

symbol
is His
to

faith

There The
not

God

God, and Mohammed

the
are

Apostle."
could
that

words
be

spoken by
;

Almighty

servant

revealed

all

we

told is,that God

a

ordered that the

Mussulmans the

should advice
to

pray of

times fifty

day, but
the
was

prophet,by might
be

Moses, begged that

number

reduced

five, a

request which

granted. KejoicingGabriel,both
to

of them the

set

forth

on

their return

Mecca.
was

At

Jerusalem animal mundane consumed of

prophet
safe

remounted home

Barak,
So

and brief

by

that

brought
time in this

again.
some

portion of
been

having, accordingto
so

commentators,
that
a

marvellous

journey, by

pitcher full
when the
ere a

water,

overturned accidentally
his

Mohammed
not

risingfrom
floor
on

bed

to
so

join Gabriel, had

that

reached

his

return;
been

he

actually
in

replacedit
This tradition

drop had single

of

spilled.
"

narrative revels
to

the

"

nightjourney

is The Both

one

which been

with
a

congenialecstasy.
decked and

rein

has

given
and

loose

pious imagination.
Heaven
are

the

journey
travagant ex-

the

ascent

to

out

in

the most

colouring of drapery that fancy

could

romance,

in

all the

gorgeous

conceive.

30 the above Islamism. time

to draw

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

city
In

as

his twelve

there apostles,
so

to

propagate
in
a

this
over

they laboured
to the
new

as successfully

short

faith the
of

greater part of the

Mohammed
was
no

inhabitants; a
sooner

circumstance than
so as

which
to

informed
more

he

resolved

repair thither
Abu-Thaleb been

imm-

the diately, and Governor

of

Abu

terate Sophian, the Prophet's invehad it succeeded

as

implacable foe,
Mecca
; and
as

had,

moreover,

mined deterof

by ridding
influence The he and

the

Koreish of

to
an

employ
enemy

assassins with whose

the view

themselves
were

popularity and

dailyincreasing.
of this friend

secret

beingbetrayed to Mohammed, conspiracy

Abu-Bekr

his

escaped in
the

the

silence

and

darkness

of the
cover

night,Ali being directed

himself
After

to lie down

in his

place
green

and

with

Prophet'swell-known
the assassins of their purposed

mantle.

surrounding the house,

it, but
instead finding,

then

entered forcibly

victim, the

youthful Ali, calmly

intended
for his

and much

resignedly
devoted-

awaitingthe
ness was

death the

chief,so
men

excited

pity

even

of those

of

blood, and Ali

left unharmed. In the

meantime, Mohammed
one

and

his friend
a

had

taken

refugein
from Bekr's

of the and

caves

of Mount

Thor, at

short distance

Mecca,
son

here

they
thus

remained them

three

days,

Abu-

and food.

daughter bringing
Wliile
in such
can
we

and intelligence Abu-Bekr

suppliesof
and
"

lying concealed,
very
are

seeingthe Prophet
said,
"

became great peril,

escape,
"

dejected
two"
a

How

for

we

but

Not

so," replied Mohammed,

for

there

is yet

third,

God

himself,and

He

will protect us,"

The

still assassins, but

arrived continuing the pursuit,

at

before the cavern, crossed

seeing
to

its entrance

pigeon'snest

by

web spider's the

cave

(bothmiraculously placed there), they concluded

be

empty

and

renewed and

their search
his

in

different direction.
left

On

this Mohammed

companion

the

cave,

and

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

31

taking
followed
or

by-road, arrived
them three

safely at
afterwards.
pace
on

Yahtreb, whither
This

Ali

days

second 16th
of

flight July,

emigration (hegira) took

622, thirteen
years after

the

A.D.

Mohammed

had

announced
Paranis

his in

mission, and Persia,* the

Mohammed

during

the

reign
at

of

Khosrou

Prophet being
was

the time

fifty-three years
at

old. the
name

welcomed enthusiastically
of of

Yahtreb,
ancient

citizens,in
of

honour that

him,

changing
Nabi

this

their

cityto
he

Medenat-el

(the city of regal office,

in
a

the

prophet).
Medina assumed the sacerdotal and

At and

there, leaning against a

palm-tree, or
such
in

rough,
his

unadorned

of pulpit,he inveighed againstthe idolatry into

nation, breathing
enthusiasm without
were

his

hearers

spiritof zeal^
the
camp

and the

devotedness, that, both

the the city, that he

and Mecca

walls of

ambassadors
was

from with

compelled to

confess

treated

greater
even

respect,and
the Chosroes Hitherto
but

commanded
of Persia
or

more

implicitobedience
been

than

the Caesars of

Constantinople.
doctrinal exclusively it upon
a

the

new

had religion necessary devise and

to

it

now

became

place
of

firm

and

unalterable

basis, to

forms

worship,and

institute
pointed apto be

practical observances,
the

accordingly, Mohammed
at which

dailyprayers,
the
to

the hour the

they were
which this time
At

recited, and
faithful
were

point
turn

of

heavens

toward

the also

in

their

worship.f

but emigration,was not, as we have seen, the first, first The most was Hegira was appointed by Omar, the third Caliph or Emperor of the Saracens, and dates, as is said in the text, the 16th of July, 622. from left Indeed, the day that Mohammed the first of the preceding Rabia, and he came to Medina Mecca was on the 12th of the same on month, that is on the 12th of our September ; but months the Hegira begins two before, from the 1st of Moharram ; for Omar of the Arabian would that being the first month make no year, the computation 59 days, that he alteration as to that, but anticipated his era from the beginning of that year in which the might commence of Mohammed happened,and from which it took its name. flight
*

This

or flight,

it

the

famous.

Among

the Eastern

nations,this point is called the Kebla.

Among

32 the
most

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

first mosque

was

built,a

structure

of the

simplestand
worked
at

unpretending character; Mohammed

his
of
own

it

with
custom

hands.

Now,
the
one

likewise,
faithful
of is
to

was

introduced

the

summoning
voice,
"

prayers

by
cried

muezin aloud
but !

who, ascending (criers),

with
one,

the

minarets

stentorian and
is

God

great ; there
Come Mohammed person

is

no

God

Mohammed

is his the

prophet.
one

to

prayers
may
now

God
be

great, and
as

only
in

!"*
own

regarded

uniting

his

the

of"ces

of

monarch, general,judge, and

was

priest ;
ever

his Divine
was

inspiration
devoted;
so

generally acknowledged, nor equal

touched
of
to

there

ness

that
was

received the

by

him

from

his followers that

great, indeed,
had

reverence
was

paid him,
deemed sacred. power,

whatever

his
more

person than

But, although

possessed
exceed told
own

imperial

nothing
we

could
are

the

prophet'ssimple style of living;thus

that he

by Ayesha,
fire,and
of dates

swept
own

out

his

own

chamber,
his

lit his
sisted con-

mended and

his

clothes ; that with milk

food

barley bread,
him

and the the

honey,

which
But

were

supplied to
thus
not

by

the

charityof

faithful.-jprophet's Having
camels,
from
an

while
was

matters, engaged in spiritual

the less directed
a

attention received and

to

secular
of
a

ones.

that intelligence the

for

rich

caravan

thousand

under

command whose chosen

of Abu

Sophian,was
Meccans resolved

coming
had
to

Syria,and
escort of

protectionthe
men,

sent

950

Mohammed

attack

it,

although he
and
two

could

muster

only
post

313
near

soldiers, sixty camels,

the well
of

horses.

He

took

Bedr,

on

the
the
*

Jews

it the

was

towards the

the

temple
;

of Jerusalem towards

the Mohammedans the meridian

;

towards

Kaaba towards

of Mecca

the

Sabians

and

Magians
Mohammed

risingsun.

that of sumthis custom, as he considered moning and trumpets, of the sound of drums believers to prayer by means the Christians, unsuitable or by that of the ringing of bells,as among to the solemnity of the occasion. " of the earth, t God," says Al Bokhari, " offered him the treasures them." but he would not accept instituted

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

33

the Mecca
drawn up of

road,
his

not

far from in

the Ked
of

Sea, and
when the
were

had
the

scarcely
advanced
in

troops
Meccans

order

battle
over

colunm

the their the

appeared

rising sands
concealed
was
as

front, but
the
alive

numbers greatlysuperior

by

fall of
to

ground behind.
and situation,

Mohammed well

perfectly
he

his very
to

critical

knowing,

did,

that

the

fate of Islam and

hung

upon

the issue,he lifted up

these
earnest

his hands
"
"

Heaven,
I beseech ! victory

poured forth
Lord, should

prayers

Lord,
of

thee, forgetnot
0

thy promise
this little band
and
now

both
be

of comfited, dis-

aid

and

and will prevail, idolatry of Thee

cease

the pure

true

worship
the fire-

throughout the
in

earth !"
w^hich

And

began

deadly contest, flashing eyes

open
to all who

the midst loud

of

the the

prophet,with
of God. I
see
"

and

voice, declared
die in the sacred
"

gates of paradise
The

should

cause

angels,"shouted
towards his smiteth
of
us

he,
!

are

on

our

side. the

them

vancing ading callwhich

Hark

! I

hear
the and

angel Gabriel
of up

charger Hissoum
!" he

! it is

sword

God
a

Then, stooping down

cast be

taking

handful
"

sand,

it towards
!"

the
The

Meccans,

exclaiming, fury

Let the torious vic-

their

faces

confounded

enthusiastic Mohammed

of

Moslems
to
was

and proved irresistible,

returned

Medina,

where
among

the

immense

spoilhe
followers.

had
The and

taken

equallydivided
is it gave prestige

his faithful
in that

battle
it is to

of Bedr the

mentioned frequently Mohammed

the Koran,
he
was

indebted largely

for his The

subsequent success.
next

year, of
a

a.d.

624,

the

fierce

resentment

of

Abu

Sophian
who

and

the

Koreish
of 3000

brought
men

into

the

field,against
Abu where
on

Mohammed,
advanced the Ahed.*
*

body
to

headed
of

by

Sophian,
he
countered en-

within

six miles the

Medina,

Prophet at
Koreish

head

of 950 in the

followers form of
a

Mount

The

advanced
this

crescent,
on

Ahed

o)ie signifies

name

of its standing isolated

in the

being givon t"i tliemountain plain.

account

34

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

the and had

were

rightwing
most

of the

cavalrybeing led by Kaled,

of the Arab warriors.

the

fiercest

redoubtable

Mohammed

made

his

with dispositions
at

considerable
the

skill ; his
centre

troops
; but

successful
eagerness

first and

broke

enemy's
ranks

their and

for

spoil threw

their them

into

disorder,
and
rear.

Kaled

immediately attacked
was

in the flank with

a

Mohammed
of

wounded
were

in the face

and javelin,
Kaled
was

two

his
a

teeth
loud

shattered that
the

by

stone.

exclaimed

with

voice

lying prophet
ascertain
a

slain, upon

which, without
of

stopping to
the

the truth, the followers

few of

Islam

fled
of
a

while panic-stricken,

the most and

devoted

adherents
him
to

prophet gathered round

In order in this in
rare

him reward fierce

conveyed
disastrous

place of safety.
his
cousin

to

the heroism and

displayed by

Ali gave

engagement, Mohammed

him,
of in

his marriage,

beloved
virtue

daughter Fatima,
that
women

maiden her

such

beauty
of

and

the
"

Arabs

included

the number

the four

holy
and

Pharaoh's

wife, the

Virgin Mary, Khadijah

instituted several
to

herself. The feast

year of

after

this
*

marriage,Mohammed
About been
two

the Arab

Eamadan.

-fthem

this

time

tribes, pretending to have

Mohammed
of but the
to

converted
of

Islam, desired
the purpose

send

his

for disciples of

them instructing missionaries had

in
so

the
sooner

doctrines arrived
The

his

religion,
were

than

they

treacherouslyand
*

cruelly murdered.

Jews,

likewise,

See

page

15, note*.
for the violation of this fast
those the who
can
"

is

punishment assignedby Mohammed lenient and reasonable And : particularly

t The
do

keep

it of

(the
one

and fast), poor man"

on

not,

must

redeem

their

neglectby
the

maintenance

('Koran,'chap, ii.)
the

Under

Christian

Emperor

magne, Charle-

late as the 17th century, the breaking even so as punished with death by decapitation, appears the Saint of Claude tion, Jurisdicthe Chief from a sentence Judge passed by of having eaten, on the 1st April, Claude Guillon,convicted upon one which had been killed and left in a meadow of horse pieces a ; 1629, some of the followingJuly. On executed the 28th that was on duly a sentence which humanity and civilization ? side,it may be asked, were

contrary, and
fast
was

of the Christian

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KOUAN,

35

opposed
but

the

nascent

religionin
were

every

way;

plots for

the

Prophet's assassination
were

continuallybeing concocted,
his

all defeated

by

imperturbablecoolness
was now

and fluence in-

incessant

vigilance. So
that he succeeded

great
in

Mohammed's
use

the abolishing
to be

of

wine,

causing the juice of

all true Mussulmans.
necessary under

the grape This

held

in

abhorrence
was

by

moral
to
save

ascendency
Islam and
from bitter

pensably indis-

in order

succumbing
enemies had

the it

assaults
was

of the

numerous

by
now

which united

surrounded. with their

the

In

fact the
;

Koreish
Arabian

themselves
from

Jews

many

tribes

also arrived
common

deserts,and

all these forces

making
where mined deter-

cause

advanced together,
them
a man

against Medina,
support
than the

Islam

awaited will and of

an

with of

no

other

genuis,an

enthusiasm, inextinguishable devotedness. After

every

invincible the

constancy and

All sortie

the

efforts

of

besiegersfailed.
Medina

Mohammed

re-entered

triumphant, and
directed in
a

the

siege

being
the them
It
a

at

length raised,Mohammed
Coraids, and,

his army

against

tribe of the

pitched battle, defeated

view

utterly.
is necessary
to

notice

here,

with

to

refutation,

malicious

charge brought, about

his enemies the these
"

this

hammed, time, against Mo-

by
real facts it
was a

that wife

of

having
his

committed
son.

incest The

by marrying
are

divorced
:

of
the

adopted
if any
no

long before

promulgationof Islam,
that
person

custom

among

the Arabs

pened hapthe
a

to

call his

wife, mother, he could

or

longer continue youth,son,

been

to

cohabit

with

her ;

should
be

he

call any to

latter would real

one.

thenceforth both
a man

entitled
customs

all the

rightsof
to

Now,

these

having
called
son

abolished live
or

by

the

Koran,
his

might
after
of

therefore had

still continue

with
could

wife,
the

even

he

her
upon

mother,
her
a

marry

wife

his

adopted
a

being

divorced.

Mohammed

having

great

esteem

for
D

maiden

36

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

named for

Zainab,
whom
a

proposed
he had
a

her

marriage
esteem.

with

Zeid,

youth
not

also

like

The
upon of
a

marriage

proving

happy
all

one,

Zeid

determined

withstanding divorce, not-

the that

remonstrances

Mohammed. blame in

The

latter,conscious

he

himself the

was

to

having by
the

recommended originally tears and

marriage, and
to

moved

distress of Zainab, resolved

power, Zeid. that It
was

make her

her the himself

only
after

reparation in his
her divorce
upon from

of

marrying

with

he difficulty such

determined

this step, being apprehensive that

who still retained of

of his countrymen
would
overcame

the
a

custom

above
sense

mentioned
of

accuse

him

incest, but

strong

duty
wife

these

objections,and
the
so

Zainab

became

the

of

the

Prophet.
At

close of

successful of

againstthe tribes, expedition

the

Ayesha, having
name

dearly beloved
but her

Prophet, was
with
a

accused officer

of

been

guilty of adultery
artless

young

by

Sawa,

and

unreserved
of
tears

explanation,
and

aided sufficed
accusers

by
to

the

irresistible

eloquence
of

beauty,
her

convince

Mohammed

her

innocence, and

were

punished by dwelling in
attacked the
Meccans the

receiving, severally,eighty
Mula Medina

stripes.
The Jews been
to

neighbourhood of severelytreated
aid,
and

having

and

by Mohammed,
received
med, Mohama

applied

for

having
rendered

strong auxiliaryforce, marched

whom the the

against Medina.
had

defeat
of

at
a

Ahed

cautious,
a

having, by
round the open the

advice its

Persian

convert,
the

dug
to to

moat

cityfor
country,

defence, allowed
which

enemy

pillage

the
to

after

they proceeded

lay siege

city,but being repulsed in

dissensions

several attempts to storm

it, and
their
"

also
and Moat"

arisingamong
returned took
home.

them, they
This

broke

up

encampment
war

war,

called

the

of

the
of

place a.d.
Mohammed

625-26, being the

now

fourth

year

the

Hegira.

assumed

the

38

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

had

long

been
a

the desire
as

pious
which he

and

devout

wish

of

every
to

true

Mussulman,
utmost,

Mohammed
was

encouraged by
the
of

the
quering con-

impelled
and monarch
so

himself

hope

of

converting Mecca,
a

and he

entering formerly
to

as

victorious

city
lost the called

where and
no

had

been

subjected to dangers.
at

many

insults

exposed
time in

such

great

He head

therefore
of what

placing
the

himself
of

the

all he

faithful
a

for

purpose

undertaking
Kaaba,
every

peaceful pilgrimage to
with and
the its

the

and, although he

met

opposition at
his thousand

almost

step, nevertheless, he
towards victoriously the
the walls very

followers
moreover,

advanced
had terror

city. Islam,
secret of

already within inspired by

said
induce
to

and partisans, added

the
to
tributed con-

name

Mohammed,

the

marvels
to

have
the

accompanied
Koreish which
to

his mission, all

the in
a

be

first to

propose

terms

of

accommodation,
and
"

ended

treaty between
of

themselves

the

Mohammedans,

the

conditions

the

treaty being :
1. A
truce

of

three
the

years

shall

be

observed, faithfully

and
2. with 3.

kept
The

between

contracting parties.
to liberty

Arab

tribes shall be at
or

take

part either

Mohammed Mohammed

with and

the Meccans. his followers shall

quit

the

sacred

within territory
4.

the

present year.
may, the

The

Mohammedans
as

during

this year,

visit

the

holy placesknown
5.
arms

Eleeda. shall swords. three

enter Mecca with
no

The

Mohammedans
their

other

than
6.

sheathed

They
any above

shall
citizen

sojourn therein
to the

days, and
will.
success

shall not

compel
The

quit it againsthis
was

treaty

greatest
the

hitherto himself

achieved

by Mohammed,
return to

for

although

Prophet

might

Medina

after

having duly performed

Islamism

the

ceremonies

enjoined by

the Koran,

still remained

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KOKAN.

39

firmly
idols*

established

there,

and

the

power

of

eacli

of

the

360

was

sapped standing

to

its

very

foundation

as

soon

as

the

Prophet,
Kaaba,

erect

beside

the

Black

Stone,
true

in

the

proclaimed

aloud

the

name

of

the

God.

The
its

ancient
idol.

year

of idols

the

Arabians

contained
men,
most

360

clays,
lions of

each and the

in

of

which

had
among

These stood of without

represented
the

eagles, popular artist,

and

antelopes,
statue

which fashioned
arrows

conspicuous
red

them,

of

Hobal,
seven

agate
heads
or

by

Syrian
the

holding
and

his

hand
of

feathers,

instruments

symbols

profane

divination.

40

AN

apolo(;y

foi;

CHAPTER

III.

Embassies

from

princesto
"

the
to

Prophet
the

"

King
of

of

letter Abyssinia's

"

The

Prophet'sseal
" "

Letter

King
of

who Persia,
"

insults the

Prophet
"

Mohammed's

denunciation the the

him
"

Expedition against Besra

Heroic deaths
"
"

Merciful and

injunctionsof
"

Prophet
"

of

Zeid, Jauffer
violate
at

Abdoollah
"

Khaled

Sword

of God
"

The

Koreish

the treaty

Exj^editionagainst Mecca
demolished

The
own

city surrenders
hand
"

cretion"Idols dis-

by

Mohammed's of

His of

clemency
Moseilama

to

the

conquered
of Yemen
"

"

Restitution The Arabia

spoil" Proposal
"

Prince

Prophet's indignant reply

"

pated Idolatry extir"

throughout
Death rebukes death
"

Successful
son
"

expedition against Syria

the
sun
"

of the the

Prophet's only

Eclipse of
"

Mohammed

of superstition

his followers

Particulars
"

of Mohammed's of the Beast,

his Story respecting

to

coffin refuted
"

The

number

666, applied
character
"

Mohammed
vastness

Thos.

view Carlyle's founded

of Mohammed's and

Tlie

of the
"

Empire

by him,

rapid

progress
ones
"

of his

religion
Church

Christian of St.

relics

replacedby

Mohammedan

Omar

in the

Sophia.
embassies
arrived
at Mecca

In and

the

ninth

year from

of all

the

Hegira
The
a

Medina
to

parts

to tender

the submission
of

of various whom

princes
Mohammed
"

the had

Prophet.

king

Abyssinia, to
the
that

despatched
God,
the Saviour

special messenger, King,

I
attest

re]3lied,
is but

Peace

be

to

Holy
!

faithful, true,
there The

powerful
one

and
and hath

mighty
that written

God,
God

Mohammed
to
me

is his
to

prophet.
ask,
in

Apostle
my and

of

marriage,
his

daughter, Omome give,as

About

Hababa.

joyfully fulfil
had
the

wish,

her

dower, 4,000 gold crowns."

a

this time, also,Mohammed

seal

made,
of

ing bear-

this
This divers letter
was

inscription, Mohammed,
"

Apostle
Islam.

God."
him
to

to

be

used

in

the sealing
to

letters written
embrace

by
of

princes, inviting them

to

His

first

this effect

was

sent

to

Badham, Viceroy

Yemen,

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

41

to be forwarded the

to

Khosroes, King

of Persia.

Khosroes
to restore

tore

letter in

pieces,orderingBadhani

either him
to

the
As

Proi)het to
soon as

his

right mind,
was

or

to

send

his head. the the

this
"

insult Thus

made

known
tear

Prophet, he
kinodom
was soon

exclaimed,
Khosroes,
after became

shall Allah

asunder

of

and

Khosroes rejecthis supplications."

murdered

by

his

son

Sirses.

Badham,

with

his
him
as

people,
in his Arab him

Mussulmans,

and

INIohammed

continued

government.
historians

Herodius, the Roman

us,

Emperor, who, epistleadtlressed

to the

assure

received the

an

to

by Mohammed,
his Two of Islam for

with

utmost

respect, placing it

under rich

pillow, despatched an
other their
at
own

embassy
accord,
feet.

Prophet, with
and

presents.
had
come,

Hawansa sovereigns,
to

Elmonda,
and

visit Mohammed,
success was

embrace

his

Such

is

counted easily ac-

by

the fact that

in Mohammed of rich

to be found
a

united,
power that

not

only great
sword,

elevation also his

a

character

and

mighty
force

of words

the

but

persuasive eloquence,so
all

fallingfrom
the

lips having

the the

of

made inspiration, of

deepest impression upon being repeatedfrom

parts. The
and
to

tion imaginato

the Arabs, and the

remotest to

mouth

mouth,
hammed Mo-

reached

Booh, also,
the
a

which

offered
was

them

whole

Eastern
moreover,

world,
which
an

full of

magnificentpromises;
rewarded

book,

exacted

little but

much,

and

whence

emanated itself. and Medina

irresistible While the the

authority attracting everythingto

Mecca

a establishing sovereigntyat

Prophet people

had

endeavoured

to

extend

the

revolution
; but

to

and
to

princes of
the Governor

the
of

adjacent countries
Bossa,
near

the
was

messenger taken

Damascus,
an

prisoner and
and Arabian

murdered

by Sherheil,
but trifling,

emir

of

Christian Greek

tribe, tributary to

Heraclius, the
the insult
w^as

emperor.

The thousand

injurywas
men

great. Tlirce
the

were

immediately equipped ;
courage
in the

Prophet

exhorted

them

to

displaytheir

42 of the
Most

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

cause

High,
an

and

painted

to

them,

in

glowing
slain. collect
from

colours, the joys of

reward At the
of

earthly and
who
were

the heavenly paradise, victorious

or

such

Moslems

were

same

time, however,
not from

he
of

enjoined them
the

to

their the
my

booty

the
of
"

tears

but provincials,
state
"

public treasuries
seclusion
at

the

conquered
not

In

avenging
votaries softer
course

said he, injuries,"

molest the

the

harmless of the in the

of

domestic the
infant
are

; spare

weakness those
scene

sex,

the

breast, and
this

who,
of

of

nature,
from

hastening from
the
not

mortality.

Abstain

demolishing
and

dwellings of
the
means

the of
so

tants, inhabiunresisting

destroy
nor

subsistence; respect
useful
to

their fruit trees,

its shade The

injure the palm,

Syria for
cluding (for,in-

and Greeks the

so

for delightful

its verdure."* number

army

being vastly superior in

had
an were

auxiliaryArabs, they men),

the

of about

hundred
first

thousand

Moslems

repulsed in

the

attack, and
and

lost

three successively

of their

Zeid, generals,
to

Jauffer each

AbdooUah,
in
case

appointed by
loss. death Zeid
of

Mohammed
a

replace
the and
he his

other

of
The

fell like Jauffer severed

upon

soldier in heroic the

arm,

foremost memorable shifted

ranks.
; his

was

right hand
to

being
the

from

the

standard he

his

left, and

losing this
banner

remaining hand, bleeding stumps

wounds.
"

embraced

sacred
with
vacant

with

his

until

transfixed the

fifty honourable
cried aloud, place,
own

Abdoollah,
; and

filling up

Forward

victory or Paradise
the

is

our

!"

Greek

lance
was

determined seized
in

alternative, but
a new

the

fallingstandard
swords and
were

by Khaled,
his

proselyte ;
valour of the
so

nine

broken the
at

hand, and his

withstood the

repulsed
Victory
Khaled
to

almost

overwhelming
declared and

forces for

Christians. and

length

itself

Moslems,

whose
*
"

skill

had intrepidity
the

greatlycontributed
palm
was

Revere,"

says

made

of the remainder

your aunt, the of the clay of which Adam

Koran,

"

tree

for it if

formed."

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

43 The

insure sword The

it
of

had, God,"

as

reward, the
upon him

honourable

title of

"

conferred

by

Mohammed.

Koreish

had

broken

the
to

treaty entered
the
to

into, as
of

above

aid narrated, by affording

and

enemies reduce

Mohammed,
to

it therefore After

became the

necessary

them

tion. subjecthe

making
at

Mohammed requisite preparations, of ten thousand

men

left Medina
of

the head

; but

cess suc-

the

expedition
a

was

nearly compromised by private

servant, had
letter to been
sent in

treachery. Sarah,
master, Haleb,
he Ali his informed
to

female
a

by

her

convey
of the

the Meccans, threatened

which
but

them learnt

danger

that

them,

having

the

circumstance and
any overtook

just in time, mounting

the about messenger. She
upon

horse, pursued
denied

stoutly
thus the her words The
arms

having
was

letter found.

her,

nor,

searching her,

it to his

be

Ali, enraged
was

at

being
over

drew baffled,

scimitar,and

brandishingit
terror, she

head, when, trembling with girl's

loosened

long tresses, from

"

which of

fell

letter the
to

containingthese
"

:
"

Haleb,

son

Batten,

to

Meccans
attack

^liealth!
! To

apostle of
!"
was

God

is

preparing
Mohammed's before

you

Such
was

the

of celerity

movements had

that he
any

at the

gates of Mecca
The
in Al
a

the Koreish
at

idea

of

his

approach.
clad

city surrendered
scarlet robe and
entered

and discretion,
on

Mohammed,
favourite

mounted

his Abu the

camel,

Kaswa,
before Islam.

it in

triumph.
life upon

Sophian being brought

condition
to

him, purchased
Mohammed

of

embracing
with

next

proceeded
the

demolish,

his
seven

own

hand, the idols

times
"

in

temple, gated promuland his the

and

having ridden
the
sacred

round

the is but
went
same

Kaaba,
one

formula,

There He

God,

Mohammed thirst
at

is his the
shown

prophet!"
of

then the

to

quench
which

well
to

Zamzam,
in

angel
he

had
to

Hagar

the

wilderness, after which

the 48th

read

the

assembled

people

chapter of

the

44

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

Koran.*
time broken

Then,

when
to

he

heard

the when

Muezin the

for

the
of

first the

call the
idols

people
had

prayers,

fragments
all

been
"

removed,
said

and

the
ask

multitude
of
me

pressedaround
"

him,
us

What,"
as a

he,

"

do

you

?" pliant supthe

That

you

treat
"

father," replieda
the you Havazen
"

thousand may

voices. of blessing In the

Go,"
rest

was

answer,

go ; and

Allah meantime

upon the

!" and

Koreish
at

tribes

manded com-

by Abalak,
sacred

being deeply
took up

incensed
arms

seeing their appeared

miles in from

idols
array

demolished,
in the

and

battle
Mecca.

valleyof Honain,
thousand
men,

about

three
two

Twelve

including

thousand
an

Meccans,

recently converted, promised

those tribes with sudden
so

themselves
;

easy

victory over

inferior
a

in numbers of

but, being

unexpectedly assailed
army,
a

storm
an

darts, the
was

Mussulman
to

terrified

by

so

attack,

about

make

retreat. disgraceful
was

Under
than The
to

such
invoke
arm,

circumstances the
as name

something
of

more

necessary

Allah,

or

call for head

was

angelicaid.
of

active

well

as

the

directing
into

required. Mohammed,
the
and fight,

therefore, rushed
his

the

thickest
valour

by

and personal intrepidity

arrested
his foe.

the

of flight
a

his

troops,
and

and

feated deultimately

After

long

vigorous pursuit,the
and the Abalak
new

Havazens

tendered
to

their

submission,
of

set

the Six

example
thousand

his

people
the

embracing
thousand of

faith.
four

twenty-four prisoners,
and

horses,
ounces

sand thou-

mouhars,
into

like number
The

of rich

silver,fell

the

victor's hands.

division

of

this

spoilwas
a

"

Verily,
"

We

(God)

have

won

for thee

(Mohammed)

manifest

Victory
"

In token

that God

His
"

goodness to thee,and
And He that God
it is who

forgiveththy earlier and later sins,and guideth thee on the rightway,

thee
a

fulftlleth

succoureth sendeth

with

mighty
secure

succour.

"

down and

of spirit

of the faithful that armies

of

they might

add

faith to their

into the hearts repose faith (for God's are the

the

heavens

of the

earth) ;

and

God

is

knowing

and

wise,"etc.,etc.

46

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

Thus

was

Islam

established

and died

idolatryrooted
the
very next

out, in

Mohammed's

lifetime
;
nor

(for he
was

year),
to

throughout Arabia
warlike well
as

this
also

success

attributable

his
as

genius alone,
a

but

to

his

being
he

reformer

conqueror, of the

to

the

which religion

promulgated
his system
tians, Chrisporary contem-

being that
of

of old, and, lastly, to patriarchs

which, morality,
was

however
itself when

it may

appear

to modern

purity

compared
Add
to

with

the

practice of
which
of
a

Arabia.

this, that
the
a

his

law

without prohibitedretaliation, trial and

a

previous sanction
bold

sentence, judicial

was

and

laudable

attempt
so

to bridle the vindictive

passionsof
to the

his countrymen,
and for that

long
The

fostered

by

the

of private practice war,

same

very

reason

conduced materially
of the

end.

conversion
as

Arabs, therefore, was

and their

probably as
enthusiastic
in

sincere
now

it

was

general;
into
to die

religious spirit being

their the

thoroughly aroused,
was

every
one

feelingof
channel
:

nature
cause

turned

to

conquer

of

God,

or

in

his unity and greatness, asserting

was

the ardent
of power of

and
or

ever-present wish
of

of every

Mussulman
even

the love the this

the spoil,

thirst for
to

glory, and
swell the

hopes

Paradise, only contributed

tide of

absorbingpassion.
whole of
Arabia

The

being, as
Mohammed
his

above

from said, purified formula

"
"

idolatryand
is

acknowledging
God,
and turned

Mohammed's is His
anxious of

There
"

but

one

prophet thoughts

"

this the

religiousconqueror
from which
was

to

with subjugationof Syria,

the view

wresting that country

therein
a.d.

the he
to

Greeks

and

establishingIslam
in the year

project
No time
paign cam-

publiclyannounced
lost
to

639. A
were

be
was

in

executing his
when

intention. the

long
still
now

be

commenced

fruits
sun

ripening,
more

the harvests

were

ready,and
sands than

when

the

heated
It
was

intenselythe burning
more

of Arabia.
ever

that

implicitobedience

was

paid

to

will the

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

47 from God.

more

powerful because
thousand
and

believed
ten

to

have

come

Twenty
armed

infantryand
the
and

thousand
under

all well cavalry, the

command of

appointed, set
from

forth

Mohammed,
But the
most

peacefulwalls dangers of
the

of the

cityof

Medina.
even

obstacles sinister

march

surpassed
unheard

the

forebodings. After

hitherto

of

and sufferings

the expedition at length reached privations,

Syria,
whom

where
a

scarcely any
few

opposition
all

was

encountered,

for, after
that camp

skirmishes,
was

the

petty princes among

into the Mussulman
at

country
and

then

divided,came

prostrated themselves
of

the

feet of
to

the

Prophet, the
them. but in

fame

whose

exploits sufficed
tribute and

vanquish
ransoms,

Mohammed
every

imposed
it is

exacted

instance

belief respected the religious

of

the

conquered, always,
but
never

true^ recommending
law the
; thus

his

religion,

enforcingits adoptionby
what he had written
in

carryinginto
"

execution the
blind

Koran,
you

Say

unto

'Embrace (in spirit),

"

Islam, and rebels,you

knoweth
are

shall

be

enlightened.'
with his servants Mohammed's
from !"*

"

If

they
them

are

only charged
to

preaching unto

; God

how

distinguish

success

in

this

instance

principallyarose
to

the
from

clemency
whom returned

and

moderation

he showed moderate

the Christians,

he claimed
to

only a

tribute.

Thus,
had

when

he

Medina, he left in the country he

astonished
at

subjected every religion.

About this

heart

the

clemency

of

his

period
in

of

Mohammed's

history, an
every aU

event

occurred

which,
mind,

the

opinion
him has

of

candid

and

partial im-

exonerates which

from

the

imputations of
His

imposture with
Ibrahim,
when he whom
was

he had

been

assailed.
a

only

son,

he

by Mariyeh,
of
age,
an

Coptic slave-girl, just died

when
for

sixty-one years
old.
See

had

seventeen

years
*

It was,

indeed,

agonizing loss

xlv.,ami chaptersii.,

l.xxxviii.

48

AN.

APOLOGY

FOR

the
who

father could

thus

to

see

extinguished in posterityso

him

the
a

only
hour

one

transmit

to

illustrious
the

name.

An of

eclipseof
the
a

the

sun

at occurringprecisely
common

very in this the

youth's decease, the

token but
so

people
themselves

saw

prodigy general

sure

that the
far his of from

heavens

shared

grief ;
on

feeling encouraging this superstitious

"

the

part of
voice

ignorant followers flattery Mohammed

"

so

far

from the

listening people
sun

to

the

called

together,and
the
stars
are

said
the

to

them of

"

Fellow

citizens,the
but

and

works
to

God's

hands,

they are
or

neither death
of

eclipsednor
mortals."*
in

effaced
From

announce

the birth
was

the

this time

Mohammed
of in that all w^ho

occupied chiefly
to

receiving the
the
the

homage
and of
one

came

Medina and

to

reverence

Koran,

enacting the

laws
was

lishing estab-

institutions itself
over

einpire which
that,
the

destined

to

extend
the

half, and
a

fairest
to

portion,
impress
for

of upon the

globe. Wishing, by
the minds
of

strikingexample,
a

the

people
he

due

regard
caused

and
it to
a

respect
be

external

rites

of his
that

he religion,

where every-

announced
to

intended had

performing
some
was

pilgrimage
it
it

Mecca,
be
most

and,
his

as

if he
one,

had the

presentiment that
careful
ever

would
the

last

Prophet
that

to

make

splendid ceremonial
city.
A is

had

been

witnessed
upon

in that this

brief outline here

of

the

forms

he observed
rules

occasion
to

given,they being
are

the

by

which

pilgrims
Having

Mecca

guided

even

in

the and

present day.
shaved
his

performed
made

the

prescribedablutions
to

head, Mohammed Stone,

seven

proceeded
times walked

the

Temple,
of slow in

kissed

the Black
; then

the with

circuit

the

Kaaba

leaving the
the hill of

he city,

and
the

solemn direction

steps
of

to

Sufa,

and

turning himself
issue

the

This

of privation

male

was

never-ceasingsource
as

to Mohammed humiliation, and mortification ; inasmuch the of Abdar nickname him his of envious success were gave tail ha.s been cut off) that is to say, childless.
"

those

of regret, who whose

(one

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

49 is great ; there
to

Kaaba,
is
no

exclaimed God
but

with God
!

loud

voice,
no

"

God

He

hath and

companions ;
!
"

Him

alone

belong might, majesty

!

power
!" and

Praised

be

His

holy name
stations each
slaves.

There
same

is

no

God
at

but God Merva

Leaving Sufa, he
the
other

repeated the
:

formula

sacred
one

he lastly, of
his

sacrificed life
and

camels, sixty-three
liberated the

for
of

year

like number

Mohannned

now

returned

to

Medina, where

death

awaited

him,

in

the

midst

of all the

stillmeditated mighty projects

his

by
was

that

inexhaustible

genius. Shortly after

not

arrival

he

attacked

by

bilious

that it would fever,and believing

was

prove

if dangerous,

he fatal, he
^

desirous

of

being
He

rounded sur-

by
his
His

those whom

most

dearlyloved.
of

chose

as

dying placethe apartments

agony often
was

his favourite

wife,Ayesha.
paroxysms,
is

long
"

and

and, during the painful,

he
me

cried out

It is the Jewish in full my

poison

that

killing
much
dition expetrusted en-

; I feel every

vein

heart

!" cracking

He

retained,

the notwithstanding,
so,

of possession

his faculties, so
of

indeed,that he arranged all the details

into it to

another

Syria,blessed
the the

the

standard valour

of of

Islam, Omar,
before

and who

and zeal,fidelity

was

to command

troops. Till the third day

the
as

his death,

he
but

regularlyperformed
when he
was so

ceremonies
to enter

of

public worship ; restingon

to
on

ill

the

mosque

the

shoulders

of

his servants, his feet

and

dragging after him,

read

he ordered the service.

conclusion and

his ancient On
of the

faithful friend Abu-Bekr

of his

the

last time he his

attendance, and

the

prayers,

edified all present

by

mility the hu-

of sincerity

penitence,in
I

thus

addressing
any
one

them
you

"

:
"

Men

and

brethren, if

have

caused
my
own

of

to be

I unjustlyscourged,

here submit
I

shoulders
name

to the lash of retaliation.

Have

aspersedthe good
his

of
gregation con-

any

Mussulman
!

? let him Has any

one

proclaimmy
been

faults before this

despoiledof

goods ? the
E

50

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

little that
and

have One

shall

discharge the debt,

old

both
debt to

principal
of

interest !"

present claiming an

three

drachmas, Mohammed

immediately
rather His bed
blush in

caused

him

be
in

paid,
that

saying, "I
which
to
"

would
come!"

this world
came

than

is to

daughter Fatima
"

frequently
he with
women

sit

by

his

dying
thou in

Daughter,"
thou
not

said

to

her,

wherefore
on

weepest
and

? art

satisfied

being,
?"

both He

earth gave

heaven, the chiefest amongst

his

then

to liberty

slaves.

To his
to

his other

relatives,

who, bathed
shall
now

in

tears, surrounded
what
corpse, you
are

couch, he
do after the

said,

"

instruct you washed my

my

decease.

Having
whicli these

wrapped
it
on

it in

shroud, and
of I

laid it in the coffin, you

must

will rest

the

edge
where

the grave,
now am

be

dug beneath
will

the then
will

spot

duties

fulfilled, you
"

depart."
come

After for

pause,
me

he continued be
my

The

first who

to

pray

will

faithful

friend

Gabriel, followed

by Asraphael
Death
you
me

and

Michael, and

after

them, the
their

Angel

of

accompanied
may

by

his

legions. Upon
to

departure implore
on

enter, in
peace

groups, heaven.

pray

for

me

and

for

the

of

My
to be

family must
followed
are

put

mourning, thus My

settingan
earnest disturb

example
wish my and

by
no

all the faithful.

most

desire

that

wailings or
now

lamentations
for "I
a

repose."
which

Mohammed

became,

few
will

moments,
dictate
a

unconscious, but
book
on
"

having recovered, said,

prevent your
ever

shall

into error;" backsliding

which, Omar
The book beloved he

holdingup
!"

the Koran, After this

immediately exclaimed,
all

is written

quitted
the

the

room,

his

Ayesha
bathed soul
his

only excepted.
hands
in

On

day
"

of

his
!

decease

water,
of

crying out,
death his his his
!"

God
after

fortify my
he became

against the
"

terrors moment

Soon

faint.
come.

The
I
was

of

agony,"
he
a

says

Ayesha,
them

"was

seated

by

side, his head

eyes,

on reclining

my

lap. Suddenly opening

the roof
of

raised

towards

the

house, and

with

steadfast

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

51

look, but
articulate

voice,uttered faltering words,

'

these last broken, my

to
a

although
Ah,
my

God,
attend

pardon
thee

sins !

I companion (Gabriel), and

the

realms

above,'
on

he

then

expired on peacefully
died the 13th

carpet spread

the

floor." Mohammed eleventh

year
on

Raby,

the

first
to

day
the

of the 8th of last

of
a

of the

Hegira, and
age he
at

answering
the

June,

632

a.d., at

the

of

sixty-three, during
assumed
not at Mecca

the

twenty-seven

of which
was

had

character

prophet.
is not of

He

buried
in

Medina,

; his coffin

suspended
power,
as

the has

air

by
so

the

attraction

of loadstones

equal

been

asserted,* but ridiculously

is

in deposited

the

ground, to

the

rightof

those of Abu-Bekr

and

Omar.-|death

Mohammed's

produced

generalconsternation
"

; the

question was
that Moses for
an

everywhere asked,
could
not

Can

the

survive religion Omar the

him, seeing that the livingletter is dead ?"

the

replied,
cases

Prophet
Jesus

perish.
"

"

As

in

of

and

Christ,"said he,
it will return the
was

his soul has

disappeared
of

instant, but
It

into the midst

Abu-Bekr

the faithful."
to

required all
Omar Is The
a

of authority

combat

the

which opinion,
"

ready to
or

maintain that

at the sword's

point.
Omar
?
was

it of

Mohammed
of

of God

you
; but

speak,0
med Mohamwe

God
man

Mohammed
one

is immortal of us, and

some

like unto Abu-Bekr

perished as

ourselves

shall."

had
at

still

in difficulty

allaying the
*

tumult, but

length

succeeded

by reading

lib. xxxiv. ('Hist. Natur.,'

doubt, taken from Pliny the Elder, who states who 42) that Dinocrates, the Greek architect, rebuilt the famous of which had been Ephesus, temple destroyedby had begun to roof the temple of Arsinoe,at Alexandria, with Erostrates, in order of that the that which of made loadstones, image was queen, in the to air. iron, might appear hang
was,
no

The

idea

Mohammedans t The the end at of the world raised again. A vacant tomb
at

believe
;

that Jesus

Christ

will

return

to

earth be

Medina.

die, and slay the Anti-Christ, med's place is reserved for Christ's body in Mohamvol. ii.) (See Lieut. Burton's * Pilgrimage,'
that

he will

e2

52

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

those

passages

of

the

Koran

wherein

the

prophet himself
Abu-

asserted his The

fonr

mortality.
immediate
successors

of

Mohammed

w^ere

Bekr, Omar, Othman

of

and

Ali, who

all

reignedunder
sword
was

the title

Caliph.*
It may

here

be

remarked

that

the

which
never

had

been

so

irresistible in the hand his

successors

of Mohammed

sheathed

by

till it had

established

vast

prising empire,com-

extensive

portions of
of Omar,

Asia,

Africa, and

Europe,

Under

the banners

Khaled, and other chief captains

of Mohammed,

victory followed Egypt

submitted
In twelve in

victory. Persia, Palestine, rapid

years succession reduced
to to

Syria, and
Saracenic

their

invaders.

they
or

dience obe-

thousand thirty-six
four

cities,towns
churches
to

castles ; built

destroyed
dred hun-

thousand
mosques

temples
dedicated

or

; and

fourteen

the

religionof
until

their

foimder;

nor

did

they stay
and

their

progress
all the

they had
of

subjugated
tO'

the

Moors,

brought
with

Africa, from

Alexandria

Tangiers, together
their On
of

greatest part
of gifts dwell

Spain, under
to

lordlysway.
the graces
the

and

intellectual

nature with

the

son

Abdoollah,
fondest

Arabian

writers His and

him

the

proudest
great, his
the
plause. ap-

and

satisfaction.
the

to politeness

the

to affability

humble,

his

dignified bearing to
admiration for of

presumptuous,
His

procured
talents
were

respect,

and

equally fitted
in

persuasion or
nature,

command.

Deeply
witli the

read

the

volume could

though
troversy con-

his entirelyignorantof letters, acutest

mind

expand
or

into

of his

enemies,
of

contract

itself

to

the

apprehension of
wherein

the

meanest

his the

disciples.His expressionof
was

simple eloquence, rendered

a

impressiveby
of

countenance
*

awfulness

majesty

tempered

nienioir naturally and properlyterminatingwith biographical reader is referred to the controversial writers, the Soonites and the Sheahs of the account for an disputes between the succession to the Calipliate. lespiH-ting Our the

Prophet's" death, the

54

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

Nature walk
in

herself

has

appointed
and could

to

be

sincere.

While
to

others dwell
:

formulas
man

hearsays,contented
not
screen

enough

therein,this
was

himself the

in formulas

he

alone

with

his
of

own

soul and

of things. reality in upon

The its that

great mystery
terrors, with

existence

glared
no

him,

with hide

its
'

splendours;
Here
am

hearsays could
Such
as sincerity

unspeakable fact,
it
man

I !'

we

named,
a

has,
is

in
a

truth, something of divine.

voice direct from Nature's
own

The

word

of such Men

heart.
; all else

do and
in

must

listen to

that, or

to

nothing else
a

is wind
in
'

comparison.
and I ?
men

From

of old,

thousand been

thoughts
man.

his

grimages pilam

wanderings had
What
? of

in this

What

What
name

is this Universe
I to

unfathomable
?

Thing
is Life ?
am

live

in,

which ?

What do ?
stern
'

is Death The

What rocks

am

believe

What Mount

to

grim
tudes soli-

of

Mount

Hara,
not.

Sinai, the great heaven

sandy

answered overhead
was
no

The

rollingsOently
not. of

with
answer.

its blue The

glancingstars, answered
man's
to
own

There God's

soul, and
!"*

what

dwelt there, had inspiration

answer

Mohammed,
upon
as
a

private man,
his
own

made

himself

to

be
a

looked

prophet by
the

family. Mohammed,
and

simple hungry body,

Arab,

united

distracted, scanty, naked

one

tribes of his and

country into
with of the
new

compact and
attributes

obedient
a

presentedthem
the

and

new

character

among
one

people
has
even

earth.

In

less than

thirty years
the

of whom

pretendedto
(Rev.
thus xii.)
M A

find in the
:
"

ByzantineMaomeths

number

of the Beast

40
1

O M
E

70
40
5

T
H

300 10 200

S Number
*

of the Beast, 666 vol. vi. p. 225.

Carlyle's Works,

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

55

this

system
the

defeated

the

Emperor
subdued

of

Constantinople,

threw over-

Kings

of

Persia;
its
to

Syria, Mesopotamia,
from the

Egypt

and

extended and
its

conquests
Oxus
;

Atlantic

to

the

Caspian
twelve

Ocean, centuries,
of

the

from

which
never,

limits, during
with has the
ception ex-

political
receded this
on

sway

has the

Spain only,
and

while

faith
in

continued

to

extend,
Central Such
was

is, at

hour,
the the

extending

Northern

Asia,

in

Africa, and Mohammed,

founded
a

Caspian. hero-prophet,
was

whose
to

enthusiasm the
to

and

genius
of

religion which
a

reduce

lowers fol-

Zoroaster overpower

to

few

scattered

communities,
as

invade
as

India,
more

to

the

ancient

Brahmanism,
even

well

the
to

wide-spread
her
most to

Buddhism
ancient

beyond
venerable

the

Ganges;

wrest

and

provinces
the
from its

from of
to

Christianity,
Eastern Straits
to

subjugate
and
to

by

degrees
Africa,

whole

her the

dominions of

Eoman

Egypt
western

Gibraltar,
possess of
for

assail

Europe
part
which
of

at

mity, extre-

the the

greater
Loire,

Spain,
was

and make

to

advance the elder

to

the

borders tremble

to

Kome itself in

her

security, and,
the
new

finally, to
of

establish

triumph,
the

within

Eome

Constantinople.*
Mohammed's
;

Among (burda), and

the church into Jesus Jerusalem church

relics,Constantinople
banner called Okab St.

still preserves

cloak in

black of
a

(black eagle)
Church and the of nails relics the

these, replaced
Lower
true

Sophia
was

(the
the

Christian

the of

Empire,
Cross
on

changed
which from
same

mosque),

remains
;

the had

Christ

crucified mother

and

which

been It
a was

brought
in this

by
of St.

the

of Constantino
of its

Great.

made

Sophia, on one appears the into the ch\irch, on who, riding his war-horse by Omar, with his marble the bodies of the Christians slain, dashed heaped-up God's mark of the it to tion indignahigh-water show, as bloody hand, were, against a perverse generation, which, having had the truth delivered to weakness, to it,fell away wickedness, folly and lust.

pillars, that

mark

"H-"

i
AN APOLOGY FOR

Translation

ofan Arabic poem entitledthe "Borda," written in Al-Basari. by Sharf-ood-din praise of Mohammed
is the Prince of both the
of
men

Mohammed That

worlds,
worlds

(Vv^

and

that of Genii. of the two

is he Sovereign, likewise,

Of Arabians He
is
our we

and

of barbarians.
unto
us

who Prophet, should Mohammed

prescribeth
we

What Of all men

do and what the most

should

avoid.

truthful is, he

Whether He

he aflftrmor whether

deny

is the friend of God On which

in him

alone alone
most

our a

; his intercession it is every hope is based ;

Ajid

the Against To know

sought of dangers. appalling

sons

defence is to be

It is he that hath called the the true, the shall

a

of

men

only God

Whosoever

lay fast hold

upon hath

him

Graspeth
All other

cable that will not

part asunder.

surpassed By qualities By his moral and intellectual gifts. him. In virtue and in knowledge none approacheth From God's apostle every soul soliciteth One draughtfrom out the ocean of his knowledge, showers of his virtues. One drop of the copious Near Mohammed each filleththe rank befitting him, For as a pointor accent ifito the written word. So are their knowledge and virtue in comparisonof his, and estimable He it is who is alike perfect and graces of the heart and person. By the qiialities
the excellence of his external The No Creator of the soul selected him for friend ;
to share with him earthly being can aspire and boundless virtues. incomparable

prophetsMohammed

His His

alone is the substance of their dignity

of excellence itself.

/Let the The

be,of Christians, prophet

and fallacious boast ; profane But do thou,excepting only the Divine essence, of the Prophet ! the praises Sing,unrestricted, Extol to the utmost the excellence of his valour ; of his merits ;
;

Applaud
Nor
are

to

the full the eminence

For the excellence of God's there words

is boundless apostle
to set

wherewithal

it forth ;

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

57

Vainly
The Just
as

would

men

strive to of his from

comprehend
endowments,
of
,

excellence when
enormous seen

mental far

day'sbright orb
apparent,

The But Of
How

magnitude
and confounds
near

is not

dazzles him
can

the vision
it.

who

beholds

mortals, plunged in oblivious

contented this with

sleep,

And

Attain, in
Of That The How what he is
most

idle dreams, imagination's ken world, to the perfect

God's
a

prophet truly is
and of all God's
of him is the

?
creatures
we

man,

excellent,is all
of admiration the charms every

know,
enhanced
;

worthy

face, prophet's
are

Of which In him
But

by

virtues

is centred for his

captivating grace
distinctive

real,and beaming beauty

is his

character candour.

Are

features

with

amiabilityand
unite

Verily,in
The "With Vast As Such
as

his person

he doth

delicate the
sea

of the flower

of

spring
moon.

majesticgrandeur

of the

the

time

his designs generosity, extensive and enduring. itself,

is the
even

majesty
when

of the

countenance. Prophet's
his presence redoubtable is

That Unto
As

alone
as

every
at

beholder the head of

when

of

mighty armies,
which covereth his bones

Or The

in the midst

conqueringcohorts. perfumes.
who

fragranceof
thrice
who

the earth the richest those

Surpassethfar
Happy,
And Now
As

happy,
the

inhale

that

fragrance,
!

moisten

the soil with

their kisses oracles.

let in
some

me

hymn

holy Prophet's
shines from of the moonless
some some

loftymountain
the darkness

far, night,

Amid A

tire beacon

lightedby

kindly

hand

To So

lead the traveller to

friendlyhearth,
their beams sinful world. oracles divine
;

do those The

oracles irradiate with and darkness did

come

gloom

of

From

mercy's God
born of Him

those been

In time But

truly have

they

produced ;
is
are

whose

essence

eternal,
;

Therefore Neither From

can

themselves, eternal
any
we

mortal learn

epoch
on

be

to

them

assigned.
day,

them

what

the last tremendous

58

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

MOHAMMED

AND

THE

KORAN.

The Shall What O

day
come

of
to

retributive pass
;

justice,
them
we

from the

learu and Iran.

happen'd
who
! for

in

days
this

of Ad

thou

enjoyest
thou hast

happiness
the cable

supreme,

Eejoice
Which Beware Shouldest Safe The Will from

seized God
"

is the

Almighty
it to

himself

permitting
thou Hell's

escape

thy
to

grasp
a

therein

read,

find

refuge

scorching
waters

heat,
the th' Book infernal divine

refreshing
cool
as

of of of

the is the

ardours

pit.

Straight
Just The These Of Marvel
as

bridge

Sirah,
are

is the deeds oracles

balance of
are

wherein who live.

weighed

all

the

sole,
among

the

only
the be this
sons

source

right
not

and

justice
worth who of
to

of

men.

their
men;

should
act

denied
as

By

envious

in

if insane. discernment. with

;

Although
Seest The And thou

possessed
not

knowledge
the eye orb

and

that of

bedimmed
seems

age

brightness
that the

day's
of him

overcast

palate
not

who's of

sick the

Appreciates
0 To thou whom In that
most

the

flavour of all

clear, pellucid beings

!

stream.

excellent but thee

can

created for
to

I flee terrible
!

refuge
every will mortal?
not

moment

so

0, Apostle By
In

of

God

thy
thou

glory

be

tarnished
me

whatsoever tremendous shall

aid

may'st
wherein
as

vouchsafe
the

that Himself

day
manifest
as

Almighty
!

the that of

Avenger
which

Verily
Are And

this the

world,
wondrous decree

well works

as

is to

come.

his

beneficence pen

every

traced of the

by

the

eternal

Upon
Form

the

tablets of

Most

High, knowledge
!

part

thy

transcendant

PART

11.

THE

KORAN.

62

THE

KORAN.

Furkan
from

(that which
what
is

distinguishedwhat
and false),

is

good

and

true

evil and

Tamil

(descended from
be

heaven).
The divine
as some

Koran

is held also

by
as

Mohammedans eternal
very and
essence

to

not ;

only

of

but origin, express

uncreated of
of

remaining,
on

it, in the
made

God,

which
to

account

the
in
an

Almighty
inimitable

the

miracle

Mohammed
in

consist The God's the

style,as
it has
a

exhibited
from
vast

the

Koran.

first

of transcript
on

been
of

near everlasting,

throne, written
on

table
are

dimensions, called
recorded Mohammedans created
or

TahU, preserved
"

which
and
to

also

the

divine also

decrees believe

past, present,
that
before all after

come.

other

things God
Kullum,
of
vast

this Table
:

of His decrees,and
table that is the the
one

that His

pen

that this and

entire

precious stone
of
one
as

magnitude,
whose

pen

consists

pearl,from
the true
and

tilled slit is dis-

lightthat
or

serves

only ink employed

to

by God,
from

rather

by

the

angels,in
words

obedience deeds
on

His
men.

mands, com-

in copy

the registering this table, in

one

and

of

volume,
sent
on

paper,
to

Avas

by the
lowest power
;

ministry
heaven,
from
some

of

the the

angel Gabriel,
month
of

down

tlie of

in

Ramadan,
it to
some

the

night

whence

Gabriel

revealed and of

Mohammed,
at

piecemeal,
at

portions at during
of

Mecca space

Medina,

different
as

times,

the

twenty-three
in silk

years,

the

exigency
the with
a

circumstances
of

required; giving him, however,

and ornamented of

consolation
the

seeing it,bound
doubled

preciousstones
was

Paradise, once

in twelve

months,
of his

privilegewhich

during

the

last year

life.
Sale's translation known and

burnt valuable
A

by order of the Pope. is well introduction,

translations,one

also French
translation

by Du

into English, with its duly appreciated. There are Ruyter and the other by Savary.

Marraccius allowed to appear, unless not was by Ludovico ad Prodomus a Not refutationem Alcorani, accompanied by Padua, 1698. edition is now of Paganini's in any library. to be found a singlecopy

THE

KORAN.

63

It
most

is said

that

few

chapters were
in

delivered

entire,the
written
in to is

part being revealed

from

detached

and portions,

down such

time such
a

to

time, by the Prophet's amanuensis,

and

chapter,
The

until

completed, according
was

Gabriel's

directions.
to

first

part that
the

revealed
verses

generallyagreed
96th
"

have
:
"

been

first five

of

the

chapter,as
thou, in
man

follows
the from
name clots

Recite

of
of

thy

Lord
!

who

created

Created Recite Who Hath thou

blood

! for the Lord

is the most
use

Beneficent,

hath

taught tliee the

of the pen he knoweth

(torecord Revelation),
not."

taught man
the

that which

After

newly-revealed passages
taken
down in

had

been,
his

from

the

Prophet's mouth,
were

writingby

scribe,they
took

publishedto
heart. The
a

his followers, several

but

of whom

copies

for their

private use,
into

the

far greater number

got them

by

when originals,

returned, were
order passages of

cuously put promisrevealed.

very
equal un-

chest, observingno
when
many into
us

time, for which

reason

it is uncertain

were

The

Koran

is divided

114

of largeportions
suras,

length, called
Arabians
sowar

by
the the

chapters,or

but

by

the

in in

singular,plural, sura.'^

These

chapters are
the numerical

not

by manuscript copiesdistinguished by
titles taken, sometimes, from
a a

order, but

peculiarsubject treated
but
two
some

of, or

person

mentioned Some

therein,

usuallyfrom
or

the first word

of note.

chaptershave
of the

more

titles occasioned

by

the difference
to

copies,
at

of

them and

having

been

said the

have

been which

revealed

Mecca,
makes
a

others at Medina,

noting of

difference
into smaller

part of the title. Each

very
be

chapteris divided
are

portionsof
*
""
"

unequal length also, which

or

commonly
intended

not

public
to

tliat all the suras, WvAt they for readers, but for hearers" the as was left, rccitaZ" and that much
It must

remarked

were chapters,

were

all

promulgated by
show,
'
"

imperfectsentences

the

manner

and

suggestiveaction
J. M.

of the

speaker." The

Koran,'

translated by the Rev.

Rodwell, M.A.

64

THE

KORAN.

called verses,
Next

the Arabic
at title,

name

being Ayiit(sign or
head of every

wonder.)

after this ninth the

the

chapter,excepting
form, called
name

the

solemn the following only,is prefixed

"

by
Most

Mohammedans

Besmallah"

"

"In

the

of the

High."*
Koran

The
as

has

always

been

held

by

the

Mohammedans

the greatest of all miracles, and

act

equallystupendous with
miracles
of

the

of

raisingthe
say,
were

dead. transient
and

The
and

Moses

and
of

Jesus,t they
Mohammed

temporary, but

that

is permanent

far and, therefore, perpetual,

events

superiorto
In work
a

all the miraculous of

of

preceding ages.
is the most in the
a

literary point conformably to

view, the Koran

poetical rhymed
remotest It

of the East.

The

greater portion of it is
the
taste

prose,

which

has, from
the

times, prevailed in

the
to

above
be

portion of
with

globe.
utmost

is

universallyallowed
and

written
in and

the
of

purity
but

elegance of language
most

the

dialect

the

tribe of the

Koreish, the
with
some

noble

polite of
of

all the

Arabs,

mixture, although very

standard
with

of rarely,

other

dialects.

It and

the is, confessedly,

the
and

Arabian the

language,
phors meta-

abounds
;

splendid imagery

boldest

and, notwithstanding that

it is sometimes

obscure

and
*

vergingupon
The from The Are One One One And Five One

is generally tumidity, vigorousand

a

sublime,

is following
a

metrical

account
once

taken

very

beautiful
now

copy,

the

of the verses, etc.,of the Koran, property of the luifortunate

"

Tippoo Sahib, but

verses

public libraryat Cam1n-idge : good and heart delighting, six thousand, six hundred and sixty-six ; thousand of it command, thousand one stronglyprohibit, of it promise,one thousand thousand of it threaten,
of the is thousand

preservedin Koran, whicli

the

know,
hundred hundred
an

one

of it read in choice stories ; thousand of it to consist in instructive parables, of it in discussions, lawful and unlawful, of it in prayers for morn I have now told you
and even.

Of such

one

the whole.

t Jesus Christ is revered by all the doctors as tlie greatest of the phets probefore the Arabian of nations and the legislator ; as the Messiah is regarded as predestined to return The Saviour in the Spiritof God. of to reassemble in unitv all men of one plenitude belief. ages,
"

(D'Obson,

vol. i. p. 305.

See note

(t),p. 38.)

THE

KORAN.

(35

SO

as

to

the justify
is
a

observation
with whose

of the celebrated dulness

the

Goethe,

that

the

Koran

work

reader is at first
and

afterwards disgusted, ravished by irresistibly While sheets into

and
a

attracted

by

its charms,

finally,
in

its many lived the

beauties.
Koran
was

Mohammed

kept

loose them

only.

His

successor, not

Abu-Bekr,

first collected

volume, single
shoulder-bones
but

only from
mutton

the

palm leaves, skins, they

who the had had

of

whereon of when those

been
mitted com-

written,

also from
to

the
;

mouths

them

memory of

and,
it
was

was transcript

completed,the keeping
of Omar, daugliter
one

entrusted

to

Haphsa,

the

of the
as an

widows

of

Mohammed,

in order
a siderable con-

for its

being

consulted of

original.As, however,
found
to

degree
the several

diversity was

exist

between
tlie provinces,

copies already dispersed throughout

the
successor

Othman,
year taken of

of

Abu-Bekr,

in of

the thirtieth
them
same

the

Hegira,procured a great number

that
not

to

be

from

of

at Haphsa, suppressing, to the

the

time,

all the others

In

conformable

original.
of the

order
be

properlyto
considered

estimate

the merits the

Kenyan, it

should
of and

that when

Prophet arose
were

eloquence
cultivated,

expressionand
that
"

purity of
oratory
of its

diction held

much

poetry
The
"

and

were

in the says
a

tion. highestestima-

miracle
in

the

Koran,"

Mohammedan

author,

consists

elegance,purity
so

of

diction, and
who
hears

melody
recited

of its sentences,
at perceives
once

that

every

Ajemer
in

it

its
sentence

over suj)eriority

all other Arabic

a

compositions. Every
however
a

of
a

it inserted

tion, composishines
as

is elegant,
most
as

like

brilliant

ruby,and
in

gem

of the

lustre, while dazzling

to have
ever

its diction astonishment

it is
to

so

inimitable

been

the

of subject

all learned
It
was

men,

since its first promulgation."

so

to the Koran

considered
as

as

permanent

miracle of
men

that

Mohammed

appealed

the

chief confirmation
most

liis in

mission, publicly challengingthe

eloquent
F

66

THE

KOKAN,

Arabia, then
ambition
to

abounding
to excel
one

with
in

persons

whose

sole

study

and

it

was

eleganceof styleand composition,

that

produce
Accordino-

even

single chapter
Abu

might compete
native of

therewith.*
to
one

tradition, Lebid
of the
seven

Eabia,
verses

Yehmen,
Maallakat still law.
is
an

and

whose

constituted the

(a
of

series of
when

prizessuspended
Mohammed

in the

Kaaba), was publiclyhis

"

idolator
One the

announced with the

verse,

poems

began
not

All

praise
that
time

vain

which

referreth
from be

unto
a

God,

and

all
For
at

good
some

not proceedeth
no
^

Him
to

is but

shadow."

poet could

found

compete with it, but

was

length the
a

chapter of
the
few
same

the Koran

entitled Barat Lebid

was so

af"xed

to

gate in
the first

^^^^

temple, and
as

overcome

by only

verses

to

declare

that

they
God

could

have

been

produced by
embraced
The
was
"

the

of inspiration

himself, and

he forthwith

Islamism.f
from
"

passage

the Koran

which

effected this conversion

the
There

following:
is

nothing doubtful
believe
the

in

this book

it is

direction
observe
out

to

the

pious who
We

mysteriesof faith, who

who upon sent

the
what

appointed times (God)

have

of prayer, bestowed hath

as

distribute
them down
; who

alms

of
in

believe thee

the

Eevelation
as

that well

been that
a

unto
unto

hammed), (Molife to

in have

delivered
firm

the in of

Prophets
the their

before
come

thee, and
;

who

assurance

such, verily,are

under

the

guidance
like

Lord

and

they shall prosper."

"As for unbelievers
....

they

are

unto

one

who

that Mohammed composed the Koran by the aid of for AbdaDah Salam, a Persian Jew, refutes itself, monk, a that the excellence of the Arabian to be credited it is not language of whom the one two be derived from should was a Syrian foreigners,
*

The

statement

Christian

and

and
t

the

other
was

Persian. afterwards invectives that of of great service to Mohammed m answering and against him and his made were upon

Lebid

the satires and tribe of

and religion by the infidels,

by Amri, particularly
one

at

Asad,

and

author

of the

seven

poems

Kais, prince of the called Al Maallakat.

THE

KORAN.

67

kindleth

and when fire,

it hath his
in

thrown eyes. darkness

lightupon
God
;

thing everyaway

around

him, shutteth
leaveth

taketh

their
see

and light,

them

they
from

shall not

they

are

deaf

and

dumb,
a

and

blind ; therefore, will

they not repent. Or, fraught

their with

like unto
thunder

storm-cloud and

heaven,

darkness,
their of

lightning, they put

of

fingersin
for

ears,

because God
blast

the

noise

of

the

thunder,
the

fear

death. all but

compasseth
them
with

the

infidels ;
; so

lightningdoth
as

blindness

long
the

it

them, they walk enlighteneth

cometh with
to the

therein, but
*

when

darkness

on,

paralyzedthey stand."
the
of reading of its

The

admiration
is due

which

the Koran
to the

inspires
care

the Arabs
which

magic
his

and style,

with of

Mohammed

embellished

his prose

by

the introduction march

poetical ornaments; by making

for

givingit a
; its

cadenced

and

by

the

verses

rhyme

also variety

is very

striking, paints,in
and
dise Para-

sometimes,

quittingordinary language, he
the

verse, majestic

Eternal,seated
;

on

His

throne, dispensing
melodious

laws

to

the

universe

his

verses

become

when thrilling
;

he describes

the

of everlasting delights

they are
of hell. Koran and

vigorousand
is

harrowing when
Mohammedans
more

he

depictsthe
the

flames The
reverence

held

by

in

greatest
dare

respect. The

strict among
or

them

not

touch

it without

being first
the

washed

purified,f legally
its

times which, lest they should do, through inadvertence, they some-

write
"

these words touch

on

book
who

or itself, are

on

cover

None it

shall

it, but

they

purified."They
their
carry

read

never reverentially,

holding it

below

girdle ;
it with
from it
;

they swear
them
upon
*

by it,in

all affairs of

importance;

in

militaryexpeditions ; inscribe
; adorn

sentences

their banners

it with

stones gold and precious

Chapter

II. for their

ive a like veneration t The Jews have touch it with unwashed washed hands.

book, never
F

presumingto
2

68

THE

KORAN.

and, knowingly, never

unbeliever. and
It is made

suffer it to be in the the foundation

are

possessionof
their
to

an

of

education, it,and
where every-

the children the whole

as

in all schools of it to of

taught
It

chaunt

commit

memory. and
are

is admitted

the standard it.* find

where All

all law

practice. Their judges

bound their
to

swear

by
to

Mohammedans the

study it,in
have

order mosques

therein the whole

light of

life. They

is read
up

relays thirty through,daily,

in

of Korra hundred

(readers) taking it
years

succession. book
ears

For thus

twelve

has

the

voice

of this

been

kept
of
so

at resounding,

all moments,
of
men.

through the
are

and

hearts

many

millions who

There

instances

of Mohannnedan times.

doctors The
to

had

read it

through seventy

thousand
in
one

Koran
His

repeatedly enjoinsbelief
will, and

God, resignation
His

perfectobedience
from

to

commands,

mildness, charity,

abstinence

and spirituous liquors,

to

merit toleration, ascribing particular

dying

in

the

cause

of

religion ; while,
to

as

to

duties, besides practical

the first which
are

the

obligation
in the

propagate
are

Islam,

inculcated

Koran,
at

prayers

directed
hours and

towards

the

temple
the

of

Mecca,-fthe

five

appointed
of

of the

J during day ; fasting

to

mouth

Eamadan

alms,
must

which be

one-fortieth

part

of

person'sproperty
upon foes and

appropriatedand
creation. prayer

stowed bethese

even

the

brute

Of
so

three

chief and

duties

Mohammed
that he
;

considered
used
to

pensable indis-

necessary

call it the 'pillar

of

and the hey to Paradise religion

be
*

also declaring there

was

that there could

no

good

in any
was

wherein religion
introduced

no

prayer."
constructed
tor

This This

custom

point is
no

called the
other

by the Emperor. Kebla, and tables have

is to be had.

been

(See page 31, note f-) divines,there are three degreesof J According to the Mohammedan 1. The restrainingthe bellyand other parts of the body from : fasting the ears, eyes, tongue, hands, t satisfyingheir lusts. 2. The restraining from sin and The fasting of the heart from members 3. other and feet, ; the from and thoughts everything but God. refraining worldly cares, it is said of these three duties Prayer " Of the comparative efl"cacy findingit when
" "

indication

leads half-way to heaven ; Fasting carries the faithful admittance. and Alms-giving gains them

to

heaven's

gate

70

THE

KOKAN.

criminal, penal mercial,military, judicial,

from everything, the

code

; it

regulates
of

ceremonies

of

to religion

those

daily
body
the
; ;

life ; from
from

the salvation

of the soul to the those of of each

health

of the

the

rightsof
man

all to

individual

; from

interests of from
The

to those

society ;

from

moralityto
come.

crime

punishment

here to that in the life to

from differs materially Koran, consequently,

"

the Bible,

which, according to Combe,

but is

contains

no

system of theology,

sublime of narratives, descriptions, composed chiefly

of devotional
no

effusions bound is

emotions, and

much

sound

morality^
*

together by
like the

strikinglogicalconnexion."
be

Nor
as

it,

Gospels, to
the
its
; for

considered

merely

the

standard the

by

which

opinions,the worship, and religious

are

practiceof

followers
on

but regulated, the is

it is also itself

political system
erected; hence
this

this foundation
law of

throne

is

every

the

State life and

derived, and

by

authorityevery

question of
alive

property is finally

decided. Mohammed
in
was so

to

the
of

hoods danger attendingpriesttheir

States, and political

he

tendency
the
every le his but

to

corrupt
of

all
any

governments, that
such

disapproved of
desired the the that

allowance Mussulman
own

institution,and
a

should
a

possess

copy

of

Koran, and

priest;
tlie

wise

wish,

in

which

Prophet
the

did

imitate

divinely inspiredJesus
the latter external
was a

; for

only religionfounded
the

by

pure

without worship,a religion

and priests the

observances, restingsolely on
the
a

feelingsof
says
never

heart,
"

on

imitation
man

of
a

God.

"

Never,"
Jesus
;

M.
was

Eenan^
there

was

there

less than of

than priest
to

greater enemy
the

he

those

forms

which
"

stifle religion
No

under

pretext
called other
'

it." protecting in the

new

Again

hierarchy
were

properly so
call each

existed

sect.

They

to

brother,' but

Jesus

absolutelyproscribed
and

'Essay

on

the Relation

between

Science

Eeligion.

THE

KORAN.

71

titles of

such superiority,
'

'

as

Eahbi,' master,'
'

'

father
'

'

he

(Jesus)alone being
the

master,' and
a

God

alone

being
the

father.'
of

is witliout Islam, therefore,

priesthood. The

doctors
law

law
:

are

the

doctors
are

of

because divinity,

is the tions func-

Koran

but
not

they

not

supported by
from

tithes ; their wealth

are

Their sacerdotal,but judicial.

is derived from in

neither

from

Church

property,
are

nor

tithes, nor

State

pensions. They
of

supported by judicialfees
to

litigatedcases,
revenues

amounting
indeed, form
in

2|

per

cent., and
mosques.

by
The

the tors doc-

lands

appropriated to
a

the

of the law, than there is

no

corporationno
with this

tative less authorithat difference,

the

Church

England,
likewise is
a

dissent. creed and the

was

Mohammed's

free

from

suspicionand
to

ambiguity, unity
is born whatever rational eternal of stars and
must

Koran

glorioustestimony
of idols and that principle

the

of God.

Eejecting the worship

the rational whatever die ; that

men,*

planets,on

whatever that

rises must

set ; and

is

must corruptible

perish and
and

decay,Mohammed's
an

enthusiasm

confessed
form
most
or

adored

infinite
or

and

Being
present

without
to
our

without place,

issue

tude, similithe all in

secret

thoughts,existingby derivingfrom
himself

necessityof
intellectual the held

His

own

nature,

and

perfection. These
of

subjects thus
defined

announced,

language
and

the

2, 57, 58), are Prophet (chapters

his the and disciples, with

firmly
matical matheof the

revered

by

precisionby
Koran. A

and expounders interpreters subscribe

the

theist might philosophical

popular
all His the been

creed The

of the Mohammedans. God

of

Nature
law
one

has
in

written

His of

existence
man.

in

works, and

His of the

the the

heart

To

restore

knowledge
*

and

of practice

the other

has

"

The

Mohammedans

never

image, holding it the highest of attempt to give any description

say that God impiety and God's

created

man

after his any

own

presumption in

one

to

form.

72

THE

KOKAN.

the the
same

real

or

the

pretended aim
Mohammed
he

of

the

prophets of
to

every

age ;

of liberality

allowed
for

his

the predecessors the claim

to the

credit which

claimed

himself, and

to

was inspiration

prolonged from
For

the fall of Adam

the

mulgation pro-

of the Koran. Mohammedans

are

author

of

the Christianity,
to

taught by
not

the

Prophet
borrow

entertain

high
Latin

and

mysterious reverence
has

(chapters7, 10),* and

to

the

Church

disdained

from

the Koran

the immaculate 600

years the
was

of conception

Christ's

virginmother.f During insensibly

Moses The of
;
a

the way
of

of

truth,but the Christians

founder.
assurance

forgot
and
more

example

their the

piety of
future the

of

Christ

rejoicedin
than Paraclete the
name,

prophet

illustrious

themselves
or

and

Evangelist's
was

promise
the

of the

Holy Ghost,

the Comforter,
the person,

prefiguredin
The
first and

and

accomplished in prophets.
of the Koran of certainty

of

greatestand the

last of God's

article principal
and the

is, as
the

we

have of
and

of God, said, the tmitij

mission

Mohammed,
messenger
or

who

gives himself
as

the

title of the

prophet
the
"

of God, the

understood
of his

by Mohammed,
fallen into

chief,
The

rather

only

cause
"

prophetic mission.
error,

Christians," said he,

this

having

corrupted J Trinity;
be

dogma by introducing the

As other

doctrine

of

the

one

among

many

of this, the followingfact proofs

of Mahomet

may

Vizier

same IV., During the reign in 1683, but defeated was by John Sobieski, besieged Vienna of Islam, and, profession King of Poland, a Christian priesthad made him the epithet of his zeal,reviled our to prove Saviour, applying to to give to Mohammed. accustomed he had been "impostor," which

adduced.

the

whose

Grand

The and

Mussulmans,
he
was

shocked

at

the

outrage, carried him

execution.

before the Divan,

ordered

for innnediate

%t^ ^
"V
'

\A
v^

d. St. Ambrose and t See Sale's 'Koran,' chap. iii.p. 39, and note most have the the fathers of St. two Church, employed Augustine, g this mystery ; so much in their disputation obscene terms respecting so, that decency will not permit us to quote them.

X The
the labours

celebrated
of

text

of the

three
of the

foundation

the doctrine

witnesses (John i. v. 7) which Trinity,has been proved, by

is the

of Newton, Gibbon, Porson, and others, to have been an himself acknowledges that this verse is not ; and Calmet

polation inter-

found

THE

KORAN.

73

and

God,

who

would his

not

leave
to

the

essential truths them.

without This is

testimony, sent
the
reason

prophet
"

re-establish

why,
the

in the

Koran, the Mohammedans Unitarians,"

"

selves give them-

designationof
"

in
are

opposition
denominated

ta

the
"

so-called

Orthodox

Christians

who

AssociANTS,"
with God Thus
"

because, accordingto Mohammed,

other

they
and 0

ciate asso-

objects of
0

adoration

religious
"

worship.
of
not

(in chapter 3)
that
is to say,

Mohammed
"

says,

people
that

the

Book,"

Jews

and
; say

Christians, let

your

worship transgress just bounds

to

naught
;

is

contrary

truth, when
son

you is

speak
and
Set all His

of

God

Jesus, the
a

Messiah, the
of God.*
no

of

Mary,

nothing more

than

prophet
make courses. disGod

Believe
of God is

then

in God

and prophets,
to

mention

the

Trinity.
God
;

just bounds

your

only one

praisehe
Koran

unto

Him

hath

no

son."

Another

great object
the and and

of

the

was

to

unite followed

the
in

professorsof
the
of

three

different
of
one

then religions

knowledge
certain laws novel

worship

God, under
ancient

the and

sanction

ceremonies enforced
both

partlyof by
the

partly
of
wards re-

of

institutions

consideration
and

and

punishments
of

temporal
after ages,

eternal, and
as

to

bring them
and

all to the obedience

of Mohammed

the

prophet
last to

ambassador and
and

God,
of

who,
former

repeated admonitions,
was

promises
establish
to

threats

sent

at

propagate God's
as

religionupon
in

earth, and

l)e

acknowledged

Cliief Pontiff

spiritualmatters,

i)i any

Jesus taught the belief in One God, but ancient copy of the Bible. who with the was a Platonist, Paul, Apostle John, despoiledChrist's reliall its and of "!\o\\ unity simplicity, by introducingthe incomprehensible Trinity of Plato, or Triad of the East, and also by deifyingtwo of God's
attributes His
"

the Agion Pneimia of Plato ; and or namely. His Holy Spirit, called by Plato the Logos (Word), and applied Intelligence, un"ler this form to Jesus (John i.). * if Locke The Mussulmans because reasons are Christians, justly, believe the immaculate divine character and tlieyfirmly conception, miracles of the Messiah." William 'Asiatic vol. i. Jones, Review,' (Sir p. 275.) Divine
"

74

THE

KOKAN.

as

well

as

supreme of

prince
the
Koran

in

temporal
is the

ones.

The of chief
never

great God,
end
was

doctrine, then,
restore

"unity"
was

to

which,

Mohammed

asserted,
down
one

the

of

his mission, it
nor ever can

being laid
be
more

by

him

that

there

than

true, orthodox
or

that religion,
are

although

the

laws particular

ceremonies

only
the

porary tem-

and

subject
the

to

alteration, according to
of it

divine

direction, yet
liable that in
to

substance but

being

eternal truth, is not the

same,

change,

continues

immutably
re-inform

and

whenever

this

became religion
to

neglected or
and whom

corrupted
Moses

God essentials,

vouchsafed

re-admonish and of

mankind

thereof
were

by several
most

of prophets,

Jesus

the

till distinguished,

the

appearance

Mohammed. Mohammed
new never

gave
on

himself

out

as

the

founder

of

but, religion,

the contrary, he be

maintains of

2, (chapters
which Gabriel
of
recting cor-

to 3, 16, 26, "c.) his religion

was

that

Abraham, Angel
is that

revealed

to

him

(Mohammed) object of
the

by

the

(chapter33).
the Christians
his
to

The

sole

Koran

Scriptures,which
of

he

accused

the what

Jews

and

in especially having falsified,

concerned

mission

(chapters2, 3, 6, 10, 11, 12, 16, 37). According

book

tradition, the

(Koran)
upon

was

brought
of

to
ram

him

by

the

Angel Gabriel, by
Abraham in

written the

the
his

skin
son

the

sacrificed ornamented another

posed com-

place of

Isaac, and

with

gold,silk
with

and

preciousstones, but, accordingto

among Jew Persian

version, almost

generallyreceived
a

Christians, he
named Eabbi

the aid of
and Adol of
a

Warada-

Ebn-Nawal,
convent very of

Christian

monk.
in

Abbot

of the Nestorian This

Kaisi,
we

at Bosra
see

Syria.

opinion
and

is

ancient, since

Mohammed

opposing explicit manner,

nantly indig-

it (chapters 10, 11, 16, 25).* repelling The Koran of

one

teaches,

in the most

the existence

only God
*

(chapters2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17, 18, 34, 37,

See

note, page

66.

THE

KORAN.

75

39, 40, 42, 59); eternal, who children;

without

was

imbegotten and
of all

has

no

equal (chapter112),Creator
and
are

things ters (chap-

(chapters16, 17), good

those 40),protecting who

merciful
not

(chapters3, 5, 6, 10,
Him
offend Him
at

ungratefulto
who

3, 9, 64), pardoning

those

provided
the

25, 110),Sovereign Judge they repent (chapters

of

day

resurrection
to

render

every

(chapters 2, 14, 16, 17, 18, 22); He will 2, 3, (chapters according to his works one,
is,to the good, and
to

4, 10, 28),that
die
in his
cause

those

who

fightand tuous volupcreated

(chapter 22) ;
which
may,

eternal
for

the felicity,

of description with

beauty,
has

be
ever

compared

all that

the

imagination of

poets

27, (chapters 4, 7, 13, 15, 18, 32, 35),and especially (chapters eternal punishment 38, 45, 52, 55, 56, 76, 88) to the wicked
in
a

heU

beyond conception horrible.*

of
a

With those

the

dogma

of

the

existence

God

are

joined
and

of

Providence

15, 16, 23, 29, 32) (chapters

13, (chapters predestination

the that existence these
as

114).

The

Koran

also

teaches

of

angels
as

(chapters2, 7, 9),but Prophet

man

it forbids

well

the

should
two

be

objectsof

adoration

(chapter3). Every
over

has

who angels, protecting Demons

are

watch

his of

actions
human also

(chapter 35).
kind

the

natural

enemies

(chapters35, 36, 38).

in the existence of demons of

The

Mussulmans and
bad

should

believe

good

different genii,

degrees of angels and

all,in the divine
hiiu
as

(chapters26, 55),and
Mohammed,
men

above
garding re-

mission

but

without

to superior

other

in

respect

of his nature

17, 29). (chapters

The attacked
excesses

morality of
than of its

the

Koran It

has

not

been

less

unjustly

dogmas.
kind

condemns

debauchery and

every

(chapters4, 17),usury

(chapter2),

being made to punishments of hell consisted in the damned breathe and to but a nd nothing but nothing Vjoiling stinkingwater, in winds to dwell for hot tcrrilde most (things Arabia) ; exceedingly be and surrounded in continual and to ever hre, intensely burning ; by enveloped in a black,hot,salt smoke, as with a coverlet.
*

The

drink

76

THE

KORAN.

avarice

and

pride (chapters 4, 17, 18), slander

covetousness

and

calmiiny

(chapter 104),
100, 102) ;
it

(chapters 4,
the

oo),

hypocrisy

4, 63), the (chapters

after worldly goods (chapters thirsting

on

ordains,

contrary, alms-giving(chapters

2, 3, 30, 50, 57, 90), filial piety (chapters4, 17, 29, 46),

gratitudetowards

God

to engagements (chapter 5), fidelity

(chapters5, 16), sincerity (chapters6, 17, 23, 83), justice towards 5, 6),especially (chapters orphans (chapters13, 90)
and

without
even

respect
in

of

persons

(chapter80), chastityand
of

decency

words

(chapters24, 25),the ransoming

benevolence

captives (chapters 13, 90), patience (chapters 346, 374),

submission
of

(chapter 3),
evil

(chapter 28), forgiveness returningof

the

injuries(chapters3, 16, 24, 43), the

good

for

(chapter23), and
the

the

walking
God

in

path

of

virtue, not world,

The but but

with for

view

of

obtainingthe approbationof (chapter22).

the

unto being acceptable

as

Koran,

alreadysaid, is
addition,
the contains

not

code, only a religious

laws of of of to

contains,
as

in

civil

the the

dans, MohammeJews
to ;

the

Pentateuch

those
number

it

restrains

the polygamy by limiting

wives

four at

(chapter4), prescribesthe
of the for married

ceremonies
the the

be

observed

2, 6),determines marriages(chapters

matrimonial

duties the time

pair(chapter4), even
of

length

of

suckling(chapter2),that dowry
be and

widowhood

(chapter2),and
well
as

regulatesthe
the
course

2, 4), as jointure(chapters
in

to

pursued
the

and separations

divorces

ters (chap-

2, 4, 65), Inheritances, wills,guardianships, contracts

have
of
not

escaped
in the
are

attention

of

the
last

Prophet,who
mentioned.
witnesses

treats

them

same

chapters as

Lastly, (chapters

punishments
theft

pronounced againstfalse
*

in judges (chapter 5),fraud 5, 9),prevarication

(chapter4),
and

(chapter5), homicide

ticide (chapters 2, 4, 6, 25), infan-

(chapters6, 17), incest

(chapter 4), immodesty

Here Mohammed
in the

4, 19, 24, 25). adultery(chapters

*

exhibits
it may

As

proofof

the great

humanity

inculcated

Koran,

be

78

THE

KOKAN.

are tradition,constitution,right, legality,

one

all included

in

that

word

"

Islam!
many
two

Among
boast
tone
are

excellencies

of

which

the

Koran

may

justly
the
when
never

eminently conspicuous;
and
reverence

the

one

being
it

of

awe

which
the

it

always
the

observes

speaking
attributes
absence

of

or

to referring

Deity, to

whom other and

human

frailties and
it of all

passions ;

the total
indecent it

throughout
be

impure, immoral

narratives, "c., blemishes, which, ideas, expressions,

much
the from
to
are regretted,

is
in

of So

too

frequent
indeed,

occurrence

Jewish

Scriptures.
be

exempt,

is the the

Koran

these undeniable
may
a

defects, that

it needs

not

slightest
to

castration, and
without itself.
The

read,
to

from

beginning
the cheek
of

end,

causing

blush

suffuse

modesty

religionthus
monotheism
its in

established
:

by
the

the

Koran abstract

is and

stern

and

severe

it

has
of

nothing

tinct indisso

primary
a mere

notion

Godhead.
cause

Allah,

far

from

being by
It

philosophic first
laws, while
is
an

regulatingthe
aloof

universe

established

itself stands

in

majesty ; unapproachable
energy. is
a

ever-present, ever

working
all
troversy, con-

religion, moreover,
the

stripped of
mystery
men

and
to
reason,

which, proposing no

to

offer
to

violence

restricts
a

imagination of
zeal

the

being

satisfied with
the them

plain,invariable
blind

worship, notwithstanding
that
so

fierypassionsand

often
a

transported images,
sion seclubears

beyond
all

themselves.

Lastly, it

is

religionfrom
monastic which
and
state

which
all

worship of

saints and

martyrs, relics and

aU

mystery and
and

metaphysical subtlety;
is banished

enthusiastic penance

; and

internal

proofs of having been

upon the
nature

the
of

result

of

long
the

deep
and
upon

meditation condition the

reason.

things,upon
at that

of the nations of the

of the world

time, and

reconcilement
No

objects

of

with religion such

a

those

of

wonder,

therefore, that

worship

should

THE

KOKAN.

79

supersede the
of We

idolatrous

ceremonies

of

the

Kaaba,

the

rites

Sabianism, and the altars of

now

Zoroaster.
a

proceed
as

to

offer

few

remarks

upon

medanism Moham-

based
never

upon

the Koran. with the

Islam
"

has

interfered

dogmas
an

of any

faith

never

never persecuted,

established
It offered

never inquisition,

aimed enforced
"

at

proselytism.
it.
"

its

but religion, in

never

Let who

there believe

be

no

violence those believeth

is who in

* religion."

Surely

those

and

Judaize, and
God, and
shall any

and Christians,

Sabians, whoever
doetli that which
; there

the
have fear

last

day,

and

right,they
shall not
come

their reward
upon

with

their Lord shall

them,
of

neither

they

be

f grieved."
the

The

ance accept-

that

religion, moreover,
and wldch

conferred

equal rightswith

the from

compieringbody
the
up

emancipated
every of

vanquished states
since had the

conditions
to

conqueror,

world

existed

the

period
an

Mohammed,

invariably prevalentin
the slavery,

imposed.
the

Islam

put

end

to infanticide

then
to

surrounding countries.
the soil.
who

It

put

an

end

to adscription not

It administered

even-handed
to

justice
those

only
were

to

those

but professedits religion, its

state
arms.

who

conquered by
tribute
to

It

reduced

taxation,
It

the freed

sole

the

consistino- of and

one-tenth.

commerce

from

charges

impediments,

it freed
to

of professors

other faiths from

from clergy,

all fixed contributions

all contributions
a

their
to

church

or

their

whatsoever

the dominant the

creed.

The

of repetition

singlephrase was
from

only

form

required or
was

pledge

exacted

proselytes ;

for circumcision

not, as is generally supposed, imperatively

insisted upon.
A

full

explanationof
of Mohammedanism

the

causes

which

contributed

to the

progress

is not,
; but

perhaps, even
it is

in

the

present day,completelyattainable
out

to point possible

several

of
*
'

leadingimportance.
Koran,' chapter ii.

In

the
t

first
Ibid.

those place,

80

THE

KORAN.

just and
duties

elevated

notions

of

the Divine

nature

and

of

moral

which

pervade the Koran, and

strike
a

that

were

particularly
Jewish and

to qualified

serious

and

already, reflecting people,

with their

perhaps,disinclined
Christian
fellow
next

by

intermixture the

to citizens,

of superstitions

their ancient

idolatry ;
and

the from

of tenets, usages judiciousincorporation

traditions

the

various

that religions

existed the

in
cepts pre-

the Arabia; and, thirdly,

of business the Koran To
to
to

extensive

of application

all the
causes

legaltransactions
some

and have

all the

of life.

these

authors
an

added

the and be

indulgence
candid
found

voluptuousness. But
will

unprejudiced
it will

mind that

rejectsuch placed
diffusion

for supposition, reliance upon It

Mohammed for the Christian be

as

no

ments induceis not

of this kind

of his

system.

by
this

the

rules

of
to

purity or
If

European practice that

was a

point is
in
no

judged.
it license
to to

polygamy

prevailing permission
Mohammed

usage gave who

Arabia,
additional found
manners* of

unquestionably was,
the narrowed
the

its

of proselytes

will be

have

unbounded
his decided

liberty
demnation con-

of Oriental

in this and

respect, while
of

adultery

incestuous does
A

connexions
not

so

frequent
lax and

among

barbarous

nations

argue Mussulman

any

accommodating
much
nor can more

morality.
stoical read
an

devout
the

exhibits
;

of the
any
one

than

racter epicureanchawithout

the

Koran and

being
little
vices

sensible
In

that

it

breathes
of
a

austere

scrupulous spirit.
sect

fact,the

founder

new

or religion success

is but

likely to
and
Mohammedan

obtain of

permanent
mankind.

by indulging the
therefore, of severity,

luxuries

The
be

the
the

disciplinemay
also be taken

reckoned

as

among

It must

into consideration

that

man,

in order

to

avail

himself

be rich in permission to have four wives, must them his order to maintain condition to according except ; few, therefore, of the privilege, for great lords and wealthy persons, avail themselves wliich wives does of much not reason a plurality produce so injury in Muhauuiiedan states, as we are generallyin the habit of supposing.

of Mohammed's

THE

KORAN.

81

other

causes

of

success.

Precepts
observation has Thus and

of

ritual less

observance

being always
tlian

definite and their

moral

are unequivocal,

likelyto

be

neglected after
those
of

been
the

acknowledged,

virtue.

the long fastings,

constant

the regular prayers pilgrimages, the almsgiving, abstinence

a

ablutions, the

from

enjoined liquors stimulating

of

by

the

Koran,
and

created

visible standard
continual

practice among
their
may

its

followers The

preserved a
that the the

recollection of their law. connected the Koran

merce com-

fact with

Mohammedans
of for

advancement
cause,

also

be

regarded as
in the

another introduced
a

the

settlements
of

they

made

East

it to

the

knowledge
of any

princes who religion.On

the
of medans Moham-

had, before, only parts

of

very

imperfect idea
coast, and
at

the
were

Malabar

Malacca,
The

favourably received.
other Eastern ruled when
many

kings

Ternate

and

Tidor, togetherwith
the

adopted their princes,

Candahar, Cambay,
had hitherto
appear
to

creed ; and

Moguls

over

Gujerat and jealous of

obtained When Mohammedan the Hindoos.
emperor, than 600

other

kingdoms, which
the Koran.
in India

been
have

the

Mohammedan
to proselytes

influence, they

some

the

Portuguese
It

arrived

they

found

the

amid flourishing religion

was

the

of superstitions Zamorin
more or

recorded

that
was

the
at

ancient

whose
years

residence principal before their

Calicut,had,
the Moors
them

received arrival,

with into

the

and greatest hospitality,

in

having
at

introduced embraced

credit Sarama
Arabian

his

kingdom,
the end his

had

last

their faith.
in
an

Payrimal,
vessel
to

last of

these

sailed princes,

days
has those

at Mecca.

Mohammed's To

intolerance
or

been who
was

designedlyexaggerated. acknowledge proposed

"

idolaters, indeed,

no

special
termed

one revelation, or

alternative
"

only
the

conversion
are

the

sword

the
or, the

people of
four
sects

Book,

as

they
their

in the and

Koran,

of

Jews, Magians Christians,

adherence
to

Sabians,

w("re

])ormittedto

redeem

82

THE

KORAN.

their ancient
marks

law, by the payment

and

of

tribute But the

and

by

other

of humiliation

servitude.*
had word

limits

which
were

Mohammedan

intolerance the transgressed,

prescribed they pledged

all their
were

to to

itself

seldom
was

unbelievers
and

rarely forfeited, and,

Moslem those

with

insolence

the oppression,
in and with

conquerors
who much if the the

mild
the

and

tolerant

comparison with
certain of
Asia

obeyed
so

Pontiffs of Rome
be

Constantinople. So
truth, that
instead
have

that

it may

affirmed
lieeii

Western Saracens

princes had
and

lords would

of

Turks,
as

they

not

tolerated

Mohammedanism

medans Moham-

have with the

most

tolerated

since they persecuted, Christianity,

relentless

cruelty,those
"

of may

their be

own

faith

whom
observes

they
M.

deemed

heterodox.f
"

It
no

truly said,"
between and tliat

Jurieu,
the

that

there

is

comparison
Christians
In
on

the
of the

crueltyof
Vaudois,
was

Saracens
true
massacres

against the
believers.

Popery against the

or

the

wars

against

in the
more

alone

St. Bartholomew's of
than religion the

day, there
was

blood

spilton
in

account

shed

by

the
is

Saracens

all their
cure men

of persecutions

Christians.

It

expedient to
to

of this

prejudice,
was

namely

that

Mohammedanism

is

cruel

sect, which
of

propagated by putting men

conduct
of

their choice
is in
as no

death

or

the the in

of Christianity. This abjuration

wise

true

; and

the

Saracens
that of

was

meekness evangelical
which

comparison with
of the cannibals."

Popery,

exceeded

the

cruelty

vohmtarily or by former privileges, were of their religion. When sented a sovereign conand became his he retained territory, only subject to pay trilnite, of a tributary prince." (Elphinstone's History to the usual relations of India,"p. 261.) tribes," the Saracens, Turks, and other Mohammedan Had says + the conduct same "adopted 311), R eview,' Chatfield ('Historical p. towards had practised the European nations the Christians as towards that the Christian it is religion the of probable Koran, the followers
*
"

When

tribute

was

once

agreed to,
entitled

whether

compulsion, the inhabitants including the free exercise

to

all their

"

"

would

have

been

in extinguished

the

East.

THE

KORAN.

83

The

of Mohammed, religion
and and practical,
across
a

if not
it
was

was spiritual,

at

least
a

consistent firm

laid
of

down,

like

causeway

quagmire
name

superstition and
was

gnosticism,wherein
the
no

the

Christian

profaned and
so

morality of
exaggeration
have history
any

nature in

put

to

the

blush,
never

that the

there
course

is
of

assertingthat

in

their with

Mohammedans

been
was

brought
not too

into contact

form

of

that Christianity
its

degenerate
worthy
of

in its rites,its their esteem.*

and doctrines,

effects to

be

It is pretty clear that the Israelites alone, and

any it
was,
so

mission
far

of Moses

was

to

the
f.r

from

being

intended

other

nation, that
a

the

law
to

made proselytes respecting be

difficult for
of

stranger
sons

admitted

into

the

gregation con-

the

of

Jacob, and
the

it is also

plain from Apostles

to

the had

books
some

attributed doubts into the

to

that Evangelists
but
new

the
were

whether

any

the

Jews

be

admitted upon
a

benefit of their
it
was

though dispensation,
that

consultation have the

determined

the

Gentiles

should
from

Gospel preached unto

authors themselves established

them. that
at
as

It is evident
soon
as

Christian

tlie

Christian
very in

became religion

court, it retained
are

little of that

and simplicity

purity which

visible

the

Gospels. Pride, avarice, feuds, and

of

factions divided
wars were
"

the

teachers

it,
pens

and of

never-ending
the writers
of
"

menced com-

by the
before

all sides. the

Lon"T

Constantine's

time," says Milton,

"

of generality

"

Smith
"

and
of

vol. Dwight's Missionary Researches," the

"

ii.p. .3,34. of

Each

four

Gospels," says
its head the

M.
name

Renan
of
a

('Life

Jesus,'

Introduction, p. 8), bears at either in the Apostolichistory, or

four personages
are

known personage in the Gospel history it.self. These

to
us as

not

strictlygiven
"

the" authors.
"

The

to St. Matthew, accordingto St. Mark, according 'according not to St. Luke," -accordingto St. John,'do imply that in the most written from ancient opinion these recitals were beginningto end by that theywere the Matthew, Mark, Luke and John ; they merely signify tradition, proceeding from each (jf these Apostles,aiid claimingtheir authority."

formulas

g2

84

THK

KOKAN.

Christians

had

lost of

much

of

the and

primitive sanctity
manners.

and

both integrity,

their

doctrine
the

Afterwards,
to fall in love

when
with
went

he had honours
to

enriched
and

church, they began

and the

civil power,

Christian

religion
East

wreck."

In the sixth
settled of his

century Mohanmied

appeared in
of

the
a

and

idolatry out extirpating religion,

great part

Asia, Africa, and

one

Egypt, in
remains
to

all which

parts
The
as

the

worship of
of the

the

true
were

God

this

day.

minds
as

multitude

tempted by
Arabian

the

invisible

well

temporal
that of
an

of blessings many the of truth

the

prophet, and
a

charitywill hope
serious
In

the
and

entertained proselytes

conviction
the of the eye of

sanctityof

his

revelation.
appear pure law

it inquisitive polytheist and

must

worthy
than
of

the

human of

the

Divine
more

nature.

More

system

Zoroaster,
of

liberal than

the less
and

Moses, the religion

with
reason

Mohammed the creed

might
of

seem

inconsistent

than

mystery

which superstition the

in

the

seventh
The

century disgracedthe
most

of simplicity

Gospel
found in the

convincing proof of
the minds
Islam of its is old

the

power

of Mohammed's be

over religion

professors may enough

"

fact

that

although
of the

to have

experienced
creature

that
in

decrepitudeof place
the

all other

beliefs
"

the

puttingthe
have

the

Creator
of

its followers

stood firmlywithof

temptation
to
a

reducing the
the
senses

object
and

their

faith

and

devotion

level with remained

the

imagination

of men,
never

and

have

free from

bigotryand superstition,
of the

disgracingthe
"

intellectual
in
one

image
God, and

Deity by

any the

visible idol,

I believe is the

in Mohammed

apostleof God,"
Islamism.
It is
a

simple

and

invariable

professionof
have

monstrous

error

to

suppose,

as

some

done,
Koran

and
was

others

still do, that the

the

faith

taught by
for it wiU that

the
be

propagated by
by
all

sword

alone,

readily

admitted

unprejudiced minds,

Mohammed's

86

THE

KORAN.

CHAPTER
Reverence of the Arabians for

II.

learning" The

Saracens the

and

the Moors
"

of

Spain the first movers quoted Intellectual

"

of

and philosophy

sciences

Mosheim

of and
of

the

Greeks
of

or

the

rapidthan that progress of the Saracens far more Romans" Abu-Giatlar Almansor, the great Bagdad
"

patron

learning, founds
literature

Haroun-al-Raschid"
MSS."
The

Grecian

Roman

revived

in Arabian

Alidalrhamans

andrian Spain" Omar exonerated from the charge of burning the Alexdue from "Debt of gratitude library Europe to the Saracens
of

"Vandalism
from

Cardinal
"

Ximenes"

Baconian naval

philosophyderived
"

exploitsof the Mus.sulmaus" trast ConComparisons" Mohammedan sovereigns in India rule" of Mohammedan Christian and Oppressive Character of British rule- Lord Clive, Warren Hastings" Mill quoted" The of Lord Oude Mr. case" Dundas, afterwards Melville, Speech Turkish faith of State paper quoted English good opinion Truthfulness and honesty of the Mussulmans Their toleration and charity Their humanity towards the brute creation.
" "

the Mohammedans

Militaryand

"

"

"

The

correctness

of the observation be

with

which
more

we

concluded
from

the the

foregoingchapter will
facts following

rendered

evident

and

considerations.
existed
reverence

No

nation,perhaps,ever
late,a

which
for

felt and the

cause

expressed,
of

earlyand
than
the
"

deeper

learning

Arabians.
I
see
a

"No

sooner," says
man

Mohammedan
to

poet

do

learned

than

long
aid

prostrate
Both the

myself
written

before him, and and the

kiss the dust

came

of his feet."
in
to

traditional law
"

this
ink

worthy praiseof the

to

sentiment:
doctor and

"Equally
him his

valuable

are
"

the

the

blood behind

of the martyr pens

;"

Paradise his

is open in

him

who

leaves

and
his

ink,"
to

other scendants de-

words, who
"

commends
The

learningby
is

example
four

his

world and

supported by
of justice

thingsonly,the

learningof

the wise

the

the great, the prayers

THE

KORAN.

B7

of

the

good

and

the valour the

a

of

the

brave."

But

what

is still
in the

stronger,they introduce Koran,

Supreme Being Himself, learning an

recommended
it with

callingriches
Mohammed

but trivial,

invaluable,

good.
of

himself

singular justice
and riches

earnestness, and
the

his son-in-law, Ali,acknowledged the withheld

of

which dispensation providential The

im[)artedknowledge.
the

first revivers

philosophy and
termed,
between

sciences, the
and
to

link, as

they
of

have
were,

been

ancient

modern every Moors

literature,

most

undoubtedly,
Saracens of

according
Asia

species
of Letters

testimony, the
under the
came originally

and

the

Spain
which

Abasside
to

and

Ommiade
from

Caliphs.
East
were

Europe

the

brought thither, a
It is well the
us,

second
known for

time, by the
that arts and

irenius of Mohammedanism.
sciences flourished whilst
among among

Arabians rude

almost

dred six hunand

years;
literature
"

barbarism

reigned

became
to

almost
the

extinct.

According
the
most

unanimous

accounts,"

says

Mosheim,
be
more

"

of

credible

witnesses, nothing could

the

melancholy
in the western

and

deplorablethan
world

darkness

that

reigned
be

during
of

this

(the tenth)century, which,

with called
of the

respect
the

to

learning and
age

philosophy,at least,may
Latins than

iron

the
no

The the upon

It is

philosophy
of

Latins

extended

further

singlescience
as

logicor
substance Arabian
in

which dialectics, of all human

they looked
wisdom.

the

sum

and the

certain
numerous

that

had philosophers

alreadyfounded
numbers

schools after

Spain

and

Italy,whither
and

of

enquirers
Arabian into the

knowledge repairedand
tenets

having adopted again,

of
"

the

sophical philotian Christhat all

systems, introduced
It
must

them
be

schools."
the
or

And,

owned,

knowledge,
mathematics
was

whether which

physic, astronomy,
in from in
a more

philosophy
the tenth

flourished

Europe
the

from

century
and
that

derived originally

Arabian

schools;

the

Spanish Saracens,

manner particular

88

THE

KOKAN.

may To of
to

be looked the

upon

as

the fathers

of

European
for

philosophy."
its first bud

Arabs, modern

Europe

is indebted of

poeticimaginationand good
account

of its visions

romance.

Turning
their
con-

the

advantages obtained
was

from

tjuestof other nations, it

not

long
own

before
; and

they
when
was

formed
so

language and
the with
It
was

literature

of

their

having

done,

rapidityof
that of

their
the

intellectual

progress, them

compared
wonderful.
Greece
was

peoples preceding
before the for

eisht centuries
as

literature

of
Eoman

formed;

many

were

necessary and of

the

world
same

to

produce
South of its years
of
own.

its

great
the

writers

poets.
the
Roman

The

period
the literature and
a

elapsed from

formation
that

provengal of
boast
a

France, until
It
was

nation

could
one

barely more
that and the

than

hundred become
of

fifty

from

the
in

Hegira
letters

the Arabs
conservators

had

people sophy, philo-

advanced

ancient

poetry and
It had

art." the
Roman of

occupied

and
two

the

Goth

each
years, years

period,
to
plete com-

including the greater part

the had subdued
into
was no

hundred

subjugationof Spain.
the

In

twenty

the the
in

Arabs

peninsula and
of France.

advanced

across

nees Pyre-

the

heart

Their
than

influence their
arms.

learning
of

less

rapid and
of

remarkable the

Ali, the nephew

Prophet, and
patronage
whom the in

the and

fourth

the

Caliphs, first
letters.

extended

his

protection to
of the Greeks. the

Under

Moawyah,
Arabs

the

Caliphate became caliph of

the

hereditary,the
After

collected

sciences the second lead

in

him, Abu

Giafar

Almansor,
to

Abasside
of

dynasty,seems
the

take

the

patronage

learning and
many for

sciences.

Amidst he

several

insurrections
taste

and
money
a

splendid conquests,
a

still found
of the for
to

time,

and

liberal

encouragement

arts, and

founded
and his

metropolis, Bagdad, unequalled

which above

magnificence
be

population,and
descendants
for

continued
five hundred

the

seat

of

years.

His

grandson,

THE

KOKAX.

89

TTaroun
and

al Easchid,

so

dreaded

by
for

the

Oreeks in

for his valour and peace,

more

militaryskill, was
celebrated
of

better there
his

known tlie

Europe
of of

deservedly
love
was

arts

his He the

science, and
friend and

encouragement
of

learning.

the

correspondent
liberal into
to

Charlemagne, importer of
nations
son, must

studious mechanical

enquirer,the
inventions him.

patron, the
tlie

ust-ful that be

barbarous his

lay beyond
awarded the
fame literary with
court.
were

But of

Almammon,
laid the

palm
of
were

having
be
to

foundation
of camels

of

the

tlie Arabians.
to
seen

Hundreds contiuuallv their

laden
at

MSS. From

arrivin"i

his

Seville

Ispahan Bagdad
the

literarytreasures
with
and of

quickly spread.
Fez

and

Cufa,

Bassora, Valencia,

Cairo,
with
and

and

Morocco, Cordova, Granada

Seville,ere
the

long,heard
of

eloquence
more

the

academy
the almost

pulpit. Philosophy spread god.

and

rapidly to
the
Arabs

West,

that especially
as a

Aristotle, whom
The
Eome
to

worshipped

sciences lived the

were

cultivated, the
Arabian

literature of Greece

again in
well the
schools

MSS.

Poetry, confined, however, love-songsinnumerable

immediate
whicli
to the
were or

lyric and
as as

didactic, with

abounded,
Such Arabian

rhyme,
brilliant
from the

either

alternate.
from

were

lights
ninth

shed

the

fourteenth
next most

centuries.

The

distinguishedMohammedan
Abdalrhamans
established Of of

patrons

o1

learningwere
Abdalrhaman, country
been that who the
soon

the
who

Spain, descendants dynasty

appears and third
was

of

the Ommiade

in thai
to have

in

a.d.

749.

these

princesthere
was

three, of whom
name.

the the

greatest

the

last of the first

of

He

was

eighth Caliph, and

Almoumenin

assumed

the title of Emir his

to

(Commander

Faithful). In
proved
fatal

divisions reign those political

which

the

dynasty
and

had

risen

to

an

alarming
and
rage cou-

and height,
; but

afforded
he found

sufficient trial to time

his wisdom

on opportunityto practise,

all

90

THE

KORAN.

occasions, a

zealous
than

attachment

to

learning.
in

The the

long
tenth

reign of

more

fifty years,

happening,too, in
the the
of

century, when
while
own

Europe lay plunged

it

rance, grossest ignoof

advanced necessarily
some

literature
our

his

country,

diffused

gleams
of

light on
distant

lectual inteland

darkness.

The

schools

Bagdad, Bocchara,
too to

Bassora, however

celebrated, were

tempt
had

the
not

of European curiosity

travellers and

students; and

Spain, under
and been

this

generous benefits

protector, opened its academies

of Arabian

the seminaries,
or faintlyfelt, was a

learnintr niie:ht have Of

in

lost. irreparably

the the

arts

Abdal-

rhaman
of his

splendid cultivator,and
of

magnificence
the

courts, the architecture

of his

his

and palaces,

sition dispoEastern from of

if gardens,he equalled,

not

his excelled,

competitors. The
Cordova,
six
was

Zehra,
labour

cityand

three palace,

miles

the

of

twenty-fiveyears, seraglio comprised

persons, army of and

at the
an

cost

millions of

sterling.His
above
were

ment establish-

six
a

thousand

his

hunting
thousand

attendants cavaliers.
A short

formidable

twelve

digressionis
the year

here

necessary

for

the

purpose

of
of
to

refuting the charge brought against the having,in destroy

M8S.
a

Caliph Omar,
Amrou its of

a.d.

641, ordered

his lieutenant

the
as

Alexandrian fuel for

more

library, by making
it is well
or

valuable

serve

heatingthe public baths

as

that

city ;
that

charge

the

preposterous, Ptolemies,with
was

known

the

library of
Julius

the

its four

seven

hundred

thousand
of

volumes,
Caesar.
one

burned this
after

during

militaryoperation
so
peated confidentlyre-

That

accusation,

by
is
moreover

historian

another, is wholly unfounded,

the fact of

proved
"

firstly, by
the
the

that

such

deed which and

never

would

have

been

violation

of the law

Mohammed,
of

expresslyenjoinsthat
Christians be

books religious

the

Jews

acquired by
that

right of conquest,

should

and destroyed,

the

productions of profane science,

THE

KORAN.

91

history,poetry, philosophy, etc., may

of for

be

lawfullymade
burning

use

the benefit
"

of

the
"

faithful ;

that Albufaraj,* secondly,

is taken, of been
a

from

whose

dynasties
after

the relation of the

lived 600 much

years

the

allegedevent,
and natives

whilst of

annalists

earlier date, Christians

on

Egypt, have
Saint
the

silent perfectly who

the

that subject; thirdly, researches

be
a

Croix,

published his

learned

upon

libraries of

Alexandria, pronounces
and
most

it to

mere

fable,for the oldest

did
not

considerable than

libraries at

Alexandria

exist

further back That

the fourth authors

are

century.
to

modern
is the

be

found
the
on

still

repeatingthis
Gibbon
own

myth,
has

more

surprisingsince
upon the

historian

thrown

doubt

story,
of

account

of its

and improbability

its absence
or

contemporary
; and

for authority

it,either
"

Christian

Mussulman
of Arabian in

lias said

that, even
troversy con-

if the

ponderous
were

mass

and the

Monophysite

indeed

consumed
a

sopher public baths, a philodevoted ultimately

may
to the

allow, with

smile, that it was

benefit

of mankind."
to

But

supposing it
who

be

true

that
can

the

Saracens made the

did
a

burn

the

Alexandrian
those

Hbrary, how
evinced
of
no

this be

charge
history,

by

indignationat
the Arab

burning, by
on

Cardinal
medicine Alcorans

Ximenes,
and
; or

all

works that

on agriculture,

the

ground
of the vandalic

they

were

at

like

destruction
that

Summer

Palace,

and

the

still far

greater loss,by

act, of ancient the Chinese

monuments

and "c. ?
:

uninterrupted
Europe
to

records

of

Empire, "c.
But
to

resume

is still further that the

to

indebted the

to

medanism, Moham-

for, not
the

mention
owe

during struggles
of

Crusades
of

we

mainly

abolition the

the

onerous

parts
*

the

feudal

system, and
not

destruction
so

of

those

The had

tale of
it not

Albufaraj would
served the the

have

been

purpose

of those who

the barbarians vol.

of Rome
note

vi,p. 6G,

guiltof darkening the Bohu's edition.) Editor. by

lated, circuindustriously to impute to world. (See Gibbon, wished

92

THE

KORAN.

aristocratic

despotisms
of
our

on

the

ruins

of

which
is to be

arose

the

proudest bulwark
that link

liberties, Europe
the followers
and of

reminded
as

she which

is indebted
connects

to

Mohammed,
literature

the
the

ancient

modern Western

; for

preservation, during a long reign of

works of of many
some

darkness,
and

of the

of the Greek of

philosophers ;
important
are

for the cultivation

the

most

branches

of science, indebted the

to
series nur-

mathematics,
their labours.

medicine, etc., which

highly
were

Spain,Cassino, and
and

Salernum

of the literature of the

age ; and

the works
new

of Avicenna,

Averroes, Beithar,Abzazel
direction
state to

others, gave
who
were

vigour and
from
a

the

studies

of those

emerging
found its

of barbarism.

Their them

zeal in the
to

pursuitof geographical kingdoms brightest

Avas,

knowledge impelled
even

explore and
Africa.

in the

desert
even

regions of
from its
to

Through
Mohammed

periods,nay,
said
a
"

origin,Mohammedanism
literature.
was

favourable comparatively,

himself

that

mind

without

erudition
not

like

body

without

soul ; that
he

glory consists
his
of the

in
to

wealth, but
seek for

in

knowledge ;"
the

and

charged
parts

followers

learning in
by

remotest

globe.
held, for several
among the most
ages,
a race

The monarchs
any

Caliphate was
who rank
has I

of

accomplished by
man,"
said the

whom
were

sceptre
"

been chose

swayed.
this

Eeligious differences
Christian
a

: forgotten

learned
a

Caliph
he
was

Almammon,
blamed
"

speaking of Mussul, making

my

whom

for
to

president of
in

college at
but

Damascus,
to

not

be

guide
mourned fall of

matters, religious

be

my

teacher Who
of Who that

of science." has
not
over

the

fate

of the

last remnant
in

the chivalry,
has brave
not

the

Mussulman swell with

empire
admiration

Spain ?
towards

felt his

bosom

and
is

generous observed
a

nation
even

of

whose
the of

reign

for of

eight
their

centuries, it enemies,
that

by

historians

not

single instance

cold-blooded

cruelty

94

THE

KORAN.

when

quarter is

burned the mosque

or

down, which
inhabitants
is
not
are

is

by

no

means

an

unfrequentoccurrence,
the

obligedto
until

rebuild

school,
its
own

but

the

restored

provided
despotic
as

by

endowments,

by
that be

some

pious persons.* Turkey

as

Another

viz, assertion,

modern

is

country, will,if examined,

one

found

void

of truth in

the

above,
is their

for
not

"

Turkey

is the

only government
its

the world
from in

which them
an

strugglingwith
confer

people
the

to

wrench

privileges.It is, on
to

contrary, engaged
can

attempt
no

them.
no

A
war,

Sultan contract

impose
no

no

tax,
the
any but

make

law, declare
of Islam

debt.

If

constitution

were

translated
be

and

applied to
a

country

in

Europe,

it would

considered freedom. the

beautiful

impracticable theory of Utopian

As for

"f

the

of military exploits
most

Mussulmans,
in

they are,
the
as

without
can

doubt, the
found
more

recorded glorious than the

one

history. What
cens, Sarafar
on as

be

wonderful from
on

the

empire of

which
India ? See who
!

extended the Turks

Straits of Gibraltar
side and and

the Tartars the

renown

the hammed Mo-

other,

preserve

the
if it

grandeur
be be the

of

Find,

possible, among
can

the

conquering
with
Amuthe

Christian the

princes, any

that

put

in the

balance

Saladins, the Gengis Khans,

Tamerlanes,

raths, the
Did
not

Bajazets, the

Mahomets

II.,and

the

Solymans.
the bounds

the Saracens

confine mountains
as

within Christianity ? Did of

of the and Turks the

Pyrennean
as

they
France?

not

assail

Italy,
the and

proceed
extend Gulf

far

the

heart

Did
of

not

their conquests to the

? The

confines

Germany
of the

of Venice those of
men

the leagues,

crusades drained
be

Christian Latin
to
a

powers,

grand expeditionswhich
and flow money,
can

church
sea

they not
west to the

compared
be
as

whose

waves

from the

the

east, to
power

broken

when
some

they

encounter

Mohammedan

against

towering and
*

stupendous rock?
'The East
184.

See

and

the

West,'p.

178.

Ibid., p.

THE

KORAN.

95

Still

more

wonderful

were

the

naval

triumphs
so

of

this

extraordinary people;
was

in the

days

of Mohammed

dreaded

the be

sea

by the Arabs, that he declared

valid
A
excuse

its intervention

would
to

for

not not

performing the pilgrimage passed

of the away

Mecca.

generationhad

when Crete

their
was

flagfloated triumphantly in
taken, and
its fate ; fell a Sicily

the

Mediterranean.

the islands in the south

prey

Archipelagoshared
of in

to the Mohammedans

northern

Africa,who
Sardinia The
and

also obtained the south

for
a

permanent

settlements

Corsica,

of

Italy.
time maintained
for
a

Saracens
in

long

naval

riority supeof

the

Mediterranean, whether
some

the

purposes of
a

war

or

of

commerce,

of

their

vessels

being

very

large size.
Sultan
or

About

the year
of the

970

Abdalrahman,
of
seen

the

Saracen
a

Caliph
any

greater part
ever

Spain,built
in

vessel

largerthan
loaded
sold in

that had

been

those

parts, and
to

her the

with

innumerable

articles

of

merchandise
on

be
a

Eastern

regions. Meeting
the Emir African
was
or

her

way

with

ship carryingdespatchesfrom
a

of

to Alnioez, Sicily

sovereignon
this

the

coast, she
also

siezed

and

it. pillaged he

On

Almoez, who
an

which sovereignof Sicily,

out
a

governed by
took
the

emir

fitted viceroy,
it for
was

fleet, that
andria, Alexuse.

great Spanish ship as

laden
with

returningfrom
own

rich
of

wares

Abdalrahman's
a

Many
been it has

other

instances

ships of
Saracens

very

large size having

recorded;
that
it
was

constructed been
of

by

the

have

been

and in

suggested
those
use

as

highly probable
the
for

imitation the

ships that large ones,

of them.
be
more

Christian which

duced Spaniards introwere

of

they

guished distin-

during
Armada"

the

reign of Philip II., whose ships much larger than

"invincible
the

consisted

English
medanism Moham-

vessels
No

opposed to
can

treatment

unjust than that which

the hands
of

has

received

at

English Mogul

writers

of

Indian

history. Thus, they

contrast

the

Emperors

96

THE

KORAN.

of

the

fourteenth progress But

century
of

with

"the
arms

victorious,
in
a

mild in

and the

merciful

the

British

the

East

nineteenth."
contrast

if their

objectwere
invasion
invasion of

fair one, Hindostan

they

should the racters chatheir the

the upon

the

Mussulman
Norman

with
"

contemporaneous
of the

of

England
with

the
of of

Mussulman
in tlie with of West
our

Sovereigns
"

those
wars
or

contemporaries
fourteenth Crusades
the
"

their French

Indian
wars

century
the of

with

effect the the

the

Mohammedan
the

conquest

character

Hindoo, with

effect of the Norman

to
"

Conquest

upon
was

Anglo-Saxon,
as a

"when

be

called
those

an

Englishman
were

considered
to

reproach

when the it

who of nounce pro"

appointed iniquity
"

administer

justicewere
the

fountains
was

all

when

magistrateswhose
were

duty
most

to

righteousjudgments
when
money it
"

cruel
such
a

robbers

the

great

men

were

inflamed
not

with

greed

for

that

they

cared

by
was

what
so

violence

they acquired
a

when

the found

licentiousness
it necessary

great that
a

princessof
in

Scotland
order The

to

wear

habit religious

to preserve

her person
the

from

violence."*

history of
is

Mohammedan
instances

dynasties in
of

India

is

it full,

said, of lamentable
the

the

cruelty and precedent,

Jerusalem
de

rapacity of
however,
was

early conquerors,

not

without when

in

contemporary
the first the
was

for Christianity,

taken the close

by

Crusadersf under
century,
to

Godfrey
without the

Bouillon

at

of

tenth

the

of consisting garrison,

40,000
arms

men,

put
the

the
nor

sword,

distinction;
timid ;
no

protectednot
Henry Huntingdon
of

brave,
Eadmer.

submission

and

Speaking reaped no benefit

t

the

Crusades, Clarke

observes armies

"

:"

Morals

certainly

of any age or nation, them from those licentiousness and to have surpassedin profligacy none seem ever on fixed a stamp of permanency The Crusades popular of the Holy Wars. the ; for of all

of fanaticism ; Yi^ar violence the utmost superstition ; they encouraged of benevolence, the and acts of instead sacred and, a duty ; prayer for offences." inculcated as an of expiation human was beings slaughter vol. i. Anglicana,' ('\'e.stigia p. 339). became

THE

KORAN.

97

age

or

sex

received

mercy

infants

perished by
streets

the

same

sword
were

that
covered

piercedtheir
with

mothers.
of

The

of Jerusalem of agony

heaps

and slain, every

the

shrieks When

and

resounded despair Soldan

of lives

from and

dwelling.

Saladin,
second showed
those

the

Egypt
were

Syria,retook
Christian

it in

the
he

Crusade, 7io

lost
to

and the sicrrender, after

the greatest kindness who

name
luere

the

giving captives,
ransom.

poor

their

without liberty
man

Before

the

and

morals

of this illustrious and

even

the

pretensions of
himself, science,

Philipof France,
fade
away.

the

renown

of Eichard
more

Possessingsome
progress he of

literature and

he ever,
arts.

during the
Whilst

of his conquests, respectedthe himself the restraint

practisedtowards
an

and

abstinence

ascetic,towards

others his and

indulgence

and
were

were liberality

unbounded.
his person,

Clemency
and have done

other virtues
a

in exemplified

his life exhibited well

to

racter cha-

which which
would

his rivals would

not
"

imitate,and
Christian
of nent emi-

have

disgracedany
was

aspirantto
a

excellence.

The

Soldan
and

doubtless he

person

wisdom bravery, the truce, at

among the

generosity ;
distinction the

died, soon
to

after

Damascus, bequeathing alms

poor,

be

distributed Christian
or

without

of Jew,

Mussulman."*

Now,

mark
a

contrast:

The

Christian
and

hero, Richard

I., was

Sovereign whose by
immense
most
an

splendour
sums

magnificencewere
from his
was

maintained
the

extorted His

subjectsby only
of to

means. unjustifiable

avarice
him
not

insatiable,and

unbridled

lust

impelled
to

neglect his
hermit

beautiful
of

Queen
but him

Berengaria,
even a

daughter
nameless

Sancho, King
A poor

Navarre,

sin.
crime

upbraided

with

his in

detestable (rod's name, Most

before
on

tlie whole

Court, conjuringhim,
of

to reflect

the destruction

Sodom.f
were dynasties

of the

of Sovereigns

the Mussulman

'

vol. i., Vestigia Anglicana,' i". 337.

Eapin,p.
H

400.

98

THE

KORAN.

men

of

extraordinary character.
Mahmoud and
the

The

prudence, activity
his encouragement He
that

and

of enterprise of literature much

of Ghizni, and
arts
were

conspicuous.
of eminence
men

showed his than

so

munificence
a

to individuals

exhibited capital
any

greater assemblage of
in Asia has
ever

of

genius
valled unriknew
were

other monarch
If

been

able to collect he
was

together.
in how
to

rapacious in acquiringwealth, judgment

it. His
and

the

grandeur with
immediate

which
successors

he

expend

four

patrons of literature,and

acceptable to
be

their

subjects as
raries, contempo?

good

governors.
William

Can
the

as

much and

said

for their

Norman,

his descendants

When

Louis
master

VII.
of

of France, in the
town of of

twelfth

century, made
it to be set

himself
on

the

Vitri, he ordered
inhuman In
war

fire; in consequence

which

command,
at
on

1,300
same so

persons

perished in
that of

the

flames.

England,
was

the

time, under
much

King Stephen, civil

the land
was

carried

with
and

fury

left

uncultivated,
or

the

implements
while
was a

husbandry
our

were
wars

destroyed
and

abandoned;
century
than had

the result of
state of

French

in the fourteenth

thingsmore
Mohammedan
more

horrible
any

destructive
The

ever

been

experiencedin
the

age

or

country.

insatiable

cruelty of
benevolence abundant

conquerors,

it is

said, stands
insatiable
We have

recorded upon

undeniable
the

authority than
conquerors.

the

of

Mohammedan
the
we

testimony of
have

cruelty of contemporary
any

tian Chrislence benevo-

conquerors;
? Feroze

evidence

of

their

Shah

III. ascended

the

throne

in

1351, and

tinguished dis-

himself of

by

many rivers

useful
to

public works, consisting

promote
hundred

fiftydams
and

across

irrigation, forty
caravansaries,
hundred
many

mosques

one thirty colleges,

one thirtyreservoirs,

hundred and

one hospitals,

public
other

baths,

one

hundred

fifty bridges,besides and,

above

edifices for

pleasureand ornament,

all,the canal

THE

KORAN.

09

from
in

the

point in

the

Jumna, where
Hissa.

it leaves the mountains

Carnoul, to Hansi

and

Baber, the first Sovereign of the Mogul dynasty,was

most

the
ever

engaging
or

of

men,

and

one

of

the

noblest with

that
as

lived

that

ever

entered

India, and

appears

much

as simplicity dignity. The

stains of vices
in

which
of
men,

disgraced by
and

his

youth

were

wiped

away,

the
to

eyes
overcome

the
to
was

moral become
an

fortitude that enabled

him

them,

distinguished by
son,
a

the

purityof

his after life.

He

obedient

kind
; he

father and
was

brother, a generous

friend

and

placable enemy
in

majestical yet affable, temperate

in

in his

skilful diet, sparing in sleep, other

and

making
arts.

gems,
was

casting
bold,
national vated, cultistances circum-

ordnance, and

mechanical

He

frank, open-handed
love of

high-minded,scorningthe
tastes
were

intrigue. His
of his birth and

refined, his mind

his

the knowledge extensive, and, considering

it training,

redounds

to his immortal

honour

that his Life was,

"

Like

Darken'd

by

shadows

rivers that water the woodlands, of earth, but reflecting an image of heaven."

Humayon, passionsand
from

his son, unstained

whose

character

was

free from and

violent driven
took

by vices, was Shah,

an

defeated

Hindoostan

by
the

Shir

Afghan Prince,

who

of possession

throne, and, after reigningfive

son

years,
a

left

the
of

crown

to his

Adil

Shah

nor

was

it tillafter
in
was

period
of

sixteen

years

that

Humayon
and

succeeded
usurper,

his recovering
a

rights. Shir Shah,

consummate

the

successful

Prince

prudence activityin
his territories

and ability,

his notwithstanding
a

constant

the

field the
into

during

short

reign,had
and duced introHe

brought
made

into

highest order,
four
months'

many
a

improvements

his civil government.

high road, extending for

to

from journey,
saries caravan-

Bengal
There

the Western
every
an

Ehotas

near

the
at

Indus, with
mile and

at
was

stage, and
imam and
a

wells

every
at

half. with

muezim

every
II

mosque,
2

100

THE

KORAN.

attendants Mohammedans.
for

of

proper
The in

castes

for

Hindoos

as

well
rows

as

for

road

was

planted
in

with the

of trees

shade, and
seen

many

places was

state

described,

when
years. It is

by travellers, after superfluousto

Akber,
who
was

it had

stood

eighty-two
character the
of

almost

dwell alike
for

upon

the
in

the and

celebrated the

great

cabinet

field, and

renowned

his

learning,toleration, industry
and

liberality, courage, magnanimity;

owes

clemency, temperance,
it that is to

but

his

internal
of

policy that
forbade

Akber

his

place in
a

highestorder
mankind. the before

princes whose
He of also

reigns by
the

have ordeal

been and

blessingto

trials

marriages
animals

age
He to

puberty, and
law. Hindoo

of slaughter
to

for sacrifice.

permitted widows
Above

marry

second

time, contrary

Hindoo

all, he

the burnings of prohibited positively

widows

againsttheir
with
as

will.

He

employed
abolished
on

his Hindoo

equally subjects
on

Mohammedans,
as

the

tax capitation

infidels

well

all taxes

and pilgrims,
taken in

the prohibited strictly

war.

making
the Shah. the each
the for

slaves

of persons which

He

perfectedaU
by Shir
within

financial
He

reforms

had

been

commenced cultivation the

caused
to

all the lands

capableof
half

empire

be

re-measured, ascertained
more

produce
the

of

begah (somewhat
to proportion
a

than

an

acre),determined
same

be

paid by

the

public,commuting
cultivator money number the

fixed money
in

rent, giving the

if he
same

option of high.
He

paying
and

kind
the

thought the
time,
a

rate too

abolished, at

vast

of vexatious

taxes

office fees. result

of the
revenue

The
amount
to

of

these

wise

measures

was

to

reduce

the

public demand
officers have
come

considerably. His
down
to us,

directions
show and

his

and

his
for his

anxiety for
the
ease

the liberal administration comfort

his of his

of his

system,
tone

and
to

subjects.
was

The

of

instructions

officers judicial

just and

benevolent.

102

THE

KORAN.

and

preciousstones
of

could that

make he

them, yet
who

we

have

the

mony testi-

Tavernier
to be

caused
at

the

celebrated

peacock throne things equal

as
a

constructed, who,
the

the

festival of his and

not

scattered accession,
to

among
own

bystandersmoney

precious
so

his his

weight, "reigned
more as a

much
his
was

king

over

but subjects, his and

father

over

family."
and

His

vigilanceover
for the

internal

government
of his

and unremitting,

order

arrangement
of every in

tory, terriof
be

the
no

good

administration
that
ever

department
India

the

State,

prince
Shah

reigned
this

could

compared
It
was

to

Jehan. the

during
Delhi of his

reign of
was

magnificentprince that
under

the

famous

canal

constructed
Murdan of the

the
After

tendence superinhaving during

a

architect,Ali
necessities

Khan.

ministered
course
was

to

the

husbandmen,

of

several

hundred
to the

miles, this

magnificentaqueduct
taste

made
A

subservient thousand

luxury and
from

of the

imperial
on

city.
into

streams

flowed

its solid bed

masonry varied in

either

side, and
every

spreading themselves
quarter
of
or jets, over

through
the fevered

channels

in Dellii,disported,

shapes,
lawns,
of the

through marble
and

cooled

limbs

sculptured
houses

baths, or trickled
terraces;

the gorgeous
flowed poor
to

flowers in harems, the humble

or,

anon,

labourers, and
poor man's

slaked

the

man's

thirst and

bathed

brow. it has rulers

Thus, although
the
Mohammedan
as

been
of

but asserted,

not
as

proved,that
from

India

wrung

much

the

inhabitants

has
of

been

taken

by
may

their
at

English

successors,

the

advocates be

the

former

least

maintain, what
full value
measure

cannot for of

advanced

by

the

latter,that

they gave
a

what

they

took and

; that

they administered
the

full

high justice,
many in

low ; that
of and

trader

could

convey

his safe

goods
and

hundreds

miles
that

along roads
whatever

at all times may

good repair ;

fault

be found those

with

this

system, the

bulk

of

the

people lived, in

THE

KORAN.

103

times,in comparativeaffluence and security. That

have been
so, the

this must

moss-grown

marble

terraces, the and

In

stagnant

water-courses,

the

owl-inhabited

mansions

the temples,

and solitary pillar be asserted,without so-called

works of barbarous

attest. arch, sufficiently fear of

fact, it
each

may

contradiction,that
as

of those money of in the

sovereignsexpended
would
have

much

as public utility

supportedany
to

standingarmies
It may noble and
not

in these be

days.
compare the
the
or,

uninstructive altogether
of these Eastern in
at
our

enduring works
made in
a

princeswith
own

progress

like

direction

country,
The

indeed,

in

any is

western

kingdom,
be

that
not

period.
bear
at

two

it pictures, In tlds

to greatly
we

would feared,
at
a

comparison.
the
our

country,
to, we

know,

any

rate, that

epoch
roads

alluded
were,

possessednot
mere exceptions,

singlecanal

; that

with few
not

cattle-tracks ; that

our

largest police empire

from

cities could

boast
to

of the

supply of water,
towns

or

of

the the

accorded protection of

the humblest
an

within

Delhi;
to

nor

had

journeying English traveller,

those

London of

Highgate,in

earlydays,so great
in
as safety,

certainty
of

reaching his
meanest

destination

had

any

Shah

Jehan's

from subjectsin travelling

or

the

Punjaub

frontier to Delhi, Mr. under Holwell

from
an

the latter
account

cityto
of

Allahabad.

gives us
it not

the

people of Bengal
be

their native

which sovereigns,
come

might
had

deemed

even

fabulous,did

from

one

who
an

been

long resident acquaintance

be

in the country, and with

"In

who

spoke from

intimate

the

subject.
says

truth,"

that

gentleman,

"it

would
in

almost
are

crueltyto
the

molest

this

for happy people, the the

as

this district

only vestigesof
the

beauty, purity,piety,regularity
ancient

equity and
Here

strictness of

Hindostan

government.
the
are people,

property,as well
Here,
no

the
are

libertyof
heard
or

inviolate.

robberies

of, either publicor

merchandise

private. The

either traveller,

with

without

104

THE

KORAN.

becomes
him
to

the immediate
any
are

care

of the

government, which
him

allots

guards,without
stage ; and
these
of his

expenses,

to conduct

from

stage
commodation ac-

accountable and

for the At

safetyand
the end
of

person

effects.
with

the

first

stage

he

is delivered

over,

certain after

benevolent

to the guards of the next, who, formalities,

interrogating journey,

the traveller dismiss

as

to

the

usage
a

he had written

received

in his

the first
and
a

guard with
the

certificate of their behaviour,

and
to

receiptfor

traveller returnable

his effects, which the

same

certificate and

receipt are Eajah.

commanding
and

officer of the first stage who

the registers

regularly

reports it
"

to the

In

this

form, the traveller is passed along through the

not

country, and if he only passes, he is

expense
or

suffered to be at any his merchandise make

for

food,accommodation,
but it is otherwise
one

or

for carriage

luggage;
in

if he is

permittedto
If

any

residence sickness
or

place above
unavoidable

three

days,unless

occasioned lost

by

any
"

accident.
of

anything is
or

in this
"

district, for instance, a bag

the person who the finds it
nearest

money
on

other valuable,

hangs

it

the

next

tree, and

gives

notice

to

choutry or

place of guard, the

the
same

officer of which beat of tom-tom,

orders
or

immediate

of publication

by

drum."*

It will state

now

be

shown, by way
and

of

contrast, what

was

the

of Christian

enlightened England during the reigns

with

of the

sovereignscontemporaneous
emperors. Insurrection the of Wat fewer

the

above-named

Mohammedan 1381.

Tyler ;
than

and

upon

its suppression

by
were

barons,

not

1500

of the

insurgents

hanged, many
1394. 1398. The

of them
of

without

trial.

followers

Wiclif, the Eeformer, persecuted.

of Eichard
II.

Tyrannicalrule
of the
*
" "

Eebellion

in

Ireland,

on

account

Kilkenny Statutes,"passed in 1367.

198.

By

Historical Events," Part I., Interesting p.

THE

KORAN.

105

these
them

Statutes, presentingIrishmen
to

to

benefices, admitting
made

monasteries, entertainingtheir bards, etc.,were

while
to tax
an

penal;
1399. Kichard the

EngHshman
and

was

declared

felony.
murder
crown

Forced
II.

abdication

subsequent

of
under

who by Bolingbroke,

usurped
Smithfield

the

title of

Henry
Wales

IV.
burnt
at

1410.

John of

Badby
of
man

for

heresy,the
thus to

Prince About

(afterwardsHenry Henry
or woman

V.) being present.

tortures
were

the
"
"

time
The laid

IV.

severe

applied: prison,and they shall

rushes
or

shall
low

be

remanded dark

the

there
on

in

some

and

house, where
any

lie naked other and

the

bare

earth, without
any

litter,

and clothing, that

without

garments about
their backs, their shall
be drawn
arm

them
....

they
house in

shall lie upon

and
a

heads
to
one

uncovered, and their feet quarter

of

one

arm

the
; and

with the

cord, etc.,the
manner

other

to another

quarter

same

shall be

done

with iron the

their
and
next

legs;

and

there
as

shall be

laid upon bear and

their bodies
more

stone,

so

much

they may
drink ; and that

; and

day followingthey
without any

shall have the

three second
to any

morsels

of

barley bread
shall drink the

day they
of bread
; and

thrice of the water

is next

the house

without prison (exceptrunning water), their diet until

to be

this shall be
torture

they be

dead."

This of
not

horrible III.

continued
at which

legaldown
the

to the time

George
been

The

date

it

was

last inflicted has

was

tained, ascer-

but

it certainly

recognisedmode

by
not

which
selves them-

charged with felonywere prisoners

on

compelled to put
Statutes,
the

their trial, by his

pleading either guiltyor

"

guilty.

Mr.
two

in Barrington, instances

Ancient in

p.

86, mentions

which

happened

reignof George II.,in

the

the year
From

1741.*
the
year

1468

until the

Commonwealth,
the
'

prac-

See the article

'

Peine

Forte

et

in Dure,'

Political Cyclopaedia,'

vol. iv. p. 500.

106

THE

KOEAN.

tice of torture
occurred
to

was

frequent.
one

The

last instance
a

on

record
was

in

1640, when
been

Archer,
in

who glover,

posed supupon in the him the

have

concerned

the

riotous
"

attack racked

Archbishop
Tower,"
confess
as

Laud's
a

palace at Lambeth,
A of

was

contemporary letter states,

copy
torture

"to

make

liis

companions."
James

the warrant, under this case,

in is in

the Privy Seal, authorising State

in

the
been

Paper Office.

IL, when
torture.

Scotland, had

present during the infliction of

1441.
astronomer Eleanor

Cobham,

Duchess

of

Gloucester, the

Eoger Bolingbroke, Canon

and
was

Southwell, Margery
for

Jourdayne
the

John

Hum,
;

condemned

Witchcraft and

Duchess

banished

Bolingbrokehanged, drawn
burnt
;

quartered ; Margery Jourdayne

Southwell

died

in

prison ;
1455. These

and

Hum

was

pardoned.
of in

Commencement
wars

the

wars

of in

"

The

Eoses."

terminated
the blood

1485, and

them

perished 12
pulated, depo-

princes of
and
common

200 royal, Ahnost

nobles, and
the whole

100,000 gentry
was

people.
and its

country

exterminated. aristocracy Kichard

V. and III. ; murder the Duke of his young in

1483.

Usurpationof
Edward of

nephews King
Tower Castle. 1485.

of York

the fret

London, and

of Lord

Ptivers and

others

in Pom

Accession

of

Henry

VII.

Immense

sums

mulated accu-

by
without the

extortion

and
or

confiscations

enabled

him He

to rule

the assistance

control of Parliament.

revived

taxes arbitrary

known

by

the

ironical

name

of benevolences.

1509.
"

Accession he
never

of

Henry VIIL,
in his

tyrant
or

who

boasted
in

that

spared man
his The
creation it. of

rage,

woman

his its

lust."

During

attained the royal prerogative reign,

of
new

greatest height.
sons

and

unheard

of trea-

also characterised 1532.

Punishment
of

boilingto

death

inflicted upon

man

convicted

poisoning seventeen

persons.

THE

KORAN.

1 U7

1535.
supremacy

Nine
of

clergymen,who
and
same

refused and

to admit

the

spiritual

Henry, hanged
Sir
reason.

quartered at Tyburn.
More

Archbishop Fisher
beheaded 1537.
for the The

Thomas

(the Chancellor)
to

revenues

of 193
to

monasteries, amounting
crown.

"2,653,000.

confiscated

the

The

abbey

lands

partitioned among
1539. The for

Henry's courtiers.
of the chester Eeading, Glastonbury and Colwere hanged and king'ssupremacy the

abbots

denying

quartered. Publication
tion," "c., "c.
seven

of

''Bloody Statue,"
Pteformers
in

or

"Six

articles in support of the

papal doctrines
of

of transubstantiaScotland
"

Persecution

burnt

for
to

heresy.
have
in the

The force

voted king'sproclamations
of law.

by
of

Parliament

Total dissolution
"

houses religious
90

England
churches

and and

Wales
free

643

monasteries,
100

2374 colleges,

chapels,and

hospitals.
1541. The of

venerable
George

Countess

of

Margaret, Salisbury,
the last of the
to

daucfhter

Duke

of Clarence, and

beheaded Plantagenets, head

on

May
The

27.
die

She
as a

refused

lay
not

her

the

block, scorningto
crime.

criminal,

being
round he in

conscious and round

of any

executioner her

pursued her
and

the scaffold, aiming at

hoary head,

which

at last struck

off,after mangling the neck

manner.

shoulders

the most
1546.

horrible Torture

and

execution with
her

of Anne for

Ascue

for

heresy;

three

men

being burned
Death
of

transubstanrejecting

tiation.

Henry VIIL, January 28, aged 56. No despoticauthority Englishsovereignever exercised a more
1547.
over

his

people.
utmost

Accession and

of Edward

VI.

1549. of the

Beggary

misery thoughout
Justices
to be

the

land.

Laws
to

severity passed. (Jor vagabond)

his slave.

empowered
or

order
upon

the letter V.
any

branded
him
to

burnt the

breast, and vagrant's

for two years
as

adjudge

serve

informer

108

THE

KORAN.

1553.
1555.

Accession Persecution
burnt

of

Mary,

who

re-establishes

Popery.
and

of Protestants.
as

Bishops Ridley
heretics. The Church Crimes

Latimer
are

at Oxford

obstinate

prisons
lands

crowded
tithes

with
"as

heretics.
to

Mary resignsthe
her
and

and

essential

salvation."

greatly
abound
of rank
;

increase ;

highway

robberies
at
one

offences disgusting
;
men

criminals hanged fifty become

1558. robbers.

assizes at Oxford

Death this

of

Queen

Mary,

November
five

17, aged

42.

During
were women

Queen's short reign of

alive
4
"

years, 285

persons

burned and

including 5 bishops,21
thousands

clergymen, 56
science con-

children, while

suffered, for

and health. sake, the loss of goods,liberty Accession of Roman

of

Queen
for

Elizabeth.

Persecution the

and

burning
to

Catholics

refusingto deny
of

Pope's power

depose the Queen.

1587.

Mary,
Dreadful

Queen

Scots, beheaded,

February 8,

aged

44. severities towards

of James I.

1588. 1601.

Irish Catholics.

Accession

Declaration

religious against

toleration. 1604. James

10

endeavours leaders

to

suppress

Presbyterianismin clergymen ejected.

and third edition of his
a

Scotland;
Other witches.
work account

imprisoned, 300
Laws

persecutionsfollow.
In

against witchcraft
he

1603

James

published the
in

upon

Demonology,
of

which

gives
of

very

formal

of the

practices and
the

illusion

evil

the spirits,

compacts
manner

witches,

ceremonies
and

used

by

them,

the

of

detecting them, passed

this
a

the

justiceof punishing
such
was was

them.

Parliament

statute, and
that
it

its servile upon

subserviencyto
*

monarch

acted

and

And

called the wisest fool yet of this royal pedant,

as

and

who,
to

Macaulay

order

show

says, the world what

was

of Canterbury, declared assistance of Ood's spirit." the special

Christendom, placed on the throne by Providence,in bishop to be, the then Archa king ought not His Majesty spoke by that " undoxihtedly
in

110

THE

KOKAN.

but

refused

to

take would

the

oath

used

in

the

Star

Chamber,
his

namely, that might replies

as

he

answer

although interrogatories
For

criminate
was

himself.

this contempt
to be

of Court,

it

was

called, he

sentenced
as, while

ried, whipped, pilloof

and he

imprisoned ;
Star

and

undergoing flagellation,
tyranny
the him ment, Governto

declaimed
the

loudly against the

Chamber,
then

ordered sitting,

be

gagged.
Williams, the
learned
him

Bishop
for

of Lincoln, whose vengeance other the

reason,

popular
bishop Arch-

preaching
of

marked

the
no

of

Laud,

was, Canterbury,

for

fined "10,000.,

committed

to from

the his

Tower

during
furniture addressed

King's pleasure,and
Nor
was

suspended during the

been
found
a

episcopalduties.
and
to

for this all,

seizure
some

of his letters

books, there
him

having
Osbaldiupon

by
was

one

stone,

schoolmaster,another
the
to pay

fine of "8000.

levied
to

him, while
sentenced
to the

poor
a

pedagogue, being brought

to have

was trial, ears

fine of "5000., and his

in
own

his

nailed

before pillory

school. and
massacre

1641. Protestants. 1649.

Eebellion

Ireland

of

40,000

Charles, arraigned as
to

"

tyrant, traitor,murderer,
was

and

public enemy
and

the

Commonwealth,"
at Whitehall Lord
on

found
30.

guilty

January 12,
1656.

beheaded

January

Cromwell

inaugurated as
26.

minster at WestProtector,
men

Hall,
executed

June

Severity of his government;

many

without

legal trial ;

prisonerstaken
were

in
to

war,

together with
to be

gentlemen, who fifty

were

disaffected

the

existingGovernment,
sold
as

transportedto Barbadoes,

there

slaves.

But, passingon
what
was our own

to

more

recent in

times, let
after

us

now

consider sessed pos-

conduct

India

we

became

of power

there. the
occurrences

Keferring to

subsequent

to

our

deposing

THE

KOKAN.

Ill

Meer

Cossim

from
"

the
that

government
such
seen a

of
scene

Bengal,
of

"

can

only-

say," writes Clive,

and
but

anarchy, corruption,
of in any

extortion

was

never

or

heard

country Orissa,
under
ever

Bengal ;
absolute
Meer

the three
revenue

provincesof Bengal,Behar
have "3,000,000. sterling,
of

and been

producing a
the since

of

management
Jaf"er's both from
Nabob

the

Company's
to

servants

restoration and
man

the

Soubahship ;
and

and

they have,
contributions from
trade the

civil
every

exacted military, of the

power lowest

levied

and

consequence

down carried the

to
on

Zemindar.

The

has

been
to

by

free

merchants

acting as
under
which

gomastahs
sanction
the
a name

Company's
have
in

servants,

who,

the
make and

of their names,

committed
the

actions

of the Englishstink
; and
revenues

nostrils
servants

of a
have
out

Gentoo

Mussulman

the

Company's
at their

interfered

with

the

of the

Nabob, and turned

and made

put

in

of the Government ofiEicers

one

and pleasure,

every

pay A

for their

preferment."*
followed upon

severe

famine

this

misgovernment,

so

that

it is not

to surprising

find the

Governor-General, Lord
as a

Cornwallis, twenty

years

afterwards, describing Bengal

These
are

country that
"

was

hastening to decay. obliged to

years, say

his words
merce com-

am

sorry

to be

that

and agriculture

have,

for

many

been

and graduallydeclining, of

that, at present, excepting the class

who

Sheefs the
a

and

Banyans,
of of

reside almost

in great towns, entirely

inhabitants

these

provinces are
almost

advancing hastilyto
In this Zemindar in the been I

general state
must
even

poverty and
include

wretchedness.
every it may

I description

Company's
afraid must defects
of

territories ;

which, though
own
a

have

partlyoccasioned
am

by

their in

indolence

and

extravagance,
attributed
to

also be
our

great

measure

the

former

system
Nor
*

of
was

mismanagement."t
it in
our own

alone territory
Lord Clive.'

that the evil of

our

See

Macaulay's Essay on

+ See

Correspondence.

112

THE

KOKAN.

misrule From

was

felt.

It

spread

into

the dominions the

Nabob

of of

our

allies.

our

first connection made

Mr.
over a carcass

with

Oude, his
upon.

was principality
"

for the

British to prey still vested

state

fear,"

said

Hastings, when
India, and
had been
a

with of
"

the

supreme

rule

describinga
party
the in insolence

things
I fear it

which that
has
our

he

himself

producing,
with
to
our

and encroaching spirit,

which
as

heen

exerted, has

caused

our

alliance
as

he
arms.

much Our

dreaded

hy

all

the powers the

of

Hindostan

encroaching spirit and

licentiousness
national

uncontrolled
have done and

and
more

even

protected
to
our

of

individuals
than it.
our

injury
the credit India with

reputation
raised with
us, to
a

arms

of

our

strength has
connection

Every they
who

person
see

in

dreads

which
those

attended availed this

our

ing mortifyof of

humiliation

have
of

themselves

it."*
measures

And

as

signal example
awakened

feeling,and

which

it,he adduces

dealingswith
the
it

Oude.
"

Before

those

dealings commenced,
"

Oude,"
of

says

historian

Mill,

was

in

high
the

state

prosperity ;
clear
an

yielded,without
of three

pressure but of of

upon

people, a
him,
distress

income
army of

millions,
a

not by quartering,

only
we

soldiers,but
the
to

host
state

civilians upon the bitterest

after

soon

reduced

Nabob

to

and

his

country
some

poverty;
he

so

that,
his

bearing

the

burthen
to

for

years, amount. amount had

found
In nine

income

reduced

half

its former
to
annum

years,

extortions, unjustifiable
of rupees

the

of
been

lacs thirty-four

("340,000) per
amount

practised in
influence and

that

t dependent province."
of the

"The

numbers,

enormous

salaries,

pensions and
and
"

encroachments
the

of the

Company's service, civil

said Mr.

military,in
become
*

Vizier's

service,"
burthen

Hastings,
and

have

an

intolerable
'

upon

the

revenue

Gleis's
'

Life

of Warren

t Mill's

History of

vol. ii. Hastings,' vol. v. p. 316. India,'

THE

KOKAN,

113

authorityof
and native

his

Excellency,and
of the whole adherents

exposed

us

to

the

enmity
the

resentment
servants

country, by
of the Vizier I to
am

excluding

and

from

the rewards
men

of their services would understand levied

and
me

attachment.
if I
on

afraid that few

were

ask

by

what
for

right or
benefit

policywe
of

tax

the Nabob fewer

upon pay

Vizier still if I
him and
an

the

patronizedindividuals, and
or

questionedthe
army for does

right
want

policy
what

of he

imposing
could
not

his
not to

which protection, ; with

'

which could

he

expressionof
want

features you

I tell him
"* for it.'

his face, You Mr.

do not did had

it,but
content

shall pay with

own

Hastings
which
a

not

himself
his

this exposure administration.

of events He
not

occurred

under

withdrew

portion of
for which

that army he
was

which

the
pay

Nabob

"

did
this

want,
was

but

obliged to again

;" but
additions

burthen Mr.

fastened

upon

him

with

by
the

Hastings' successor.
earnest

Lord

Cornwallis, in

spite of

Nabob's
our

deprecations. Having gradually increased

the
name

demands
per

under
annum,

of

subsidy from

"250,000.

to

"700,000.
further

Lord Lord
in

Teignmouth (Sir John Wellesley,under

a a

Shore)
threat of
from

increased the

it, and

seizing upon
the Nabob of annual

whole,

1801, extorted

surrender
at

of one-half
revenue,

of his

dominions, valued
a

"1,300,000.
he had did
were

in satisfaction of of

demand
our

which

imposed
not

upon

him
;

"700,000.
the
years

But

exactions and
name more

stop here
more

between
four
or,

1815 the

1825 of

extracted from the

than

millions
"as

under

loans

Nabob,
the

they might
Lord

be

justly
"as

described," says
which

Governor-General extorted

Bentinck,
our

unwilling contributions
we

for fear of
of

power,
a

for

gave

him

the

empty title

King,
a

and

territory

little better entirely unproductive,

A

than

wilderness."
to

short

will digression

here

be

necessary

complete the

to Oude. story of British injustice

*
'

Life of Warren

vol. Hastings,'

ii. p. 458.

114

THE

KOEAN.

The Lord which been

as

climax Dalhousie
he

to the in

wrongs
open
to

of

Oude
of
was

was

its annexation

by
1837,

violation declare
"

the
null

Treaty
and

of

scruplednot

void, having
of Directors

wholly disallowed by
as

the Honourable it." And the this

Court
in

soon

they received
the

defiance of the the then of the

facts"

that

treaty
Lord

bore

signatures of
and three
been

Governor-General

Auckland
;

members

Council in the usual form

to
as
a

that in
two to

it had

formallyreferred
of
was

subsistingtreaty
Governor-General
and
was

separate communications
the

from

the 1839

King
it

Oude

in

the in
a

years
volume

1847

; and

lastlythat
1845

included

which

published in
Blue
been

by
1857

the

authority of
the

Government. The
case

{SeeOude having
Travers it
as

Book.)
in
to

submitted
for his

eminent

Dr. jurist,

Twiss,
:

that opinion,

learned

man gentleable
to

gave
"

follows
best

Upon

the

consideration
am

which

I have
to
come

been

give to
not

all these facts,I that the

constrained
of

to the conclusion

Governor-General

India
to

in

Council

was

authorised
as

by

the

law

of

nations

set

aside

the treaty

of 1837 And

inoperative."
so

yet, notwithstandingthis opinion of

recent the writer who

eminent
about of

an

authority,a
much

appears
as

to

have

as

respectfor
to

Decalogue
the

for

the Law
of

Nations,
the
stet

not scruples

defend

annexation
an

Oude,

by

pro

ratione

voluntas

argument,
thus ennobled

argument
of

which

would

the equallyjustify

art
or

kleptomania whether sneaking pickpocket. province to

be

by practised
"

the

bold

brigand
Mr.

the

There

was

still," says
the British
; not

Kaye*

another under the

absorbed
of Lord been
not
or our

into

Empire, people
always

administration
ever

Dalhousie friends

by conquest, for
its had
been
to

its rulers had

our

and

recruited
a son or

armies
a

"

for by lapse,
some

there had
of

brother,

member
'

the

royal house
in

fulfil, accordingto
i. p. 112.

Kaye's History of

tlie Sepoy War

vol. India,'

THE

KORAN.

115

the

Mohammedan there

law
was

of

succession, the
a

conditions
son

of

and heirship, upon the loill

still

king,

the

of

king,
great

throne

; hut

hy
the

the

simple
heart its

assertion This of
was

of

the dominant

of

the British in
us

Government.
very

the

province of
had

Oude,

Hindostan, which
situation Hear Vattel and
and the ye

long tempted
shades
of

alike natural

hy

local

reputed loealth of
venerable

its

resources."
Puffendorf and

this,
!

Grotius,

Eead

this, ye
thereon
Lord

so-called !

princes of India, independent

meditate

Cornwallis
a

was

indisputablya
and Lord

just

man.

Lord

Teignmouth
man

religious man,
was

Wellesley a great
or

nevertheless, there
their treatment Oude. afterwards

nothing wise
their

great,just or
the
reign sove-

in religious

of

allies helpless

of princes

Mr. Dundas,
our against

Lord

Melville,bears like testimony

Indian
of

treatment

of native the House

princes. In
on

speech

delivered

by

him
:

in

Commons

April 15th,
in India Ali ; the

1782, he said
"

There

were

four

conterminous principal

powers of and

"

the

Mahratta
of the of

States ; the
Nizam Berar. of

dominions the

Hyder
the
were

dominions

Deccan,

dominions several

of the

Eajah

Besides
as

these, there
of

inferior powers,

such But the

the four
two

Nabob

Arcot, the Eajah of

had
at

Tanjore,etc.
inflamed
and the

principalpowers
of whom
we

all been
*

against us,
other of
two

with
were

were

open

war

justlyincensed
entered
had into
a

againstus.
ruler

The

Presidency Rngoba, a
Mahrattas if he the and

Bombay
who

negotiationwith
a

person

pretensionsto be
seat

of the

States, promising to

him

in the

Government,
territories to

would

give

up,

when

so

seated, certain

Company.
soon

With

this

treatythey entered

upon
a

the war,

the Presidencyof Bengal formed after,

same

treatyof

exactlythe

kind

with

Moodegee Benslah,
him in

the

Eajah
of 2

of

to l^erar, offering

seat

tlie Government
I

the

116

THE

KOEAN.

Mahrattas,

if he

would

cede

certain

districts. Benslah

This

double
it

dealing was
as

discovered,and
and unfaithful. the
north

Moodegee
The of that
our
we

resented

insidious

Nizam

of the

Deccan's

dominions
were so
our

lay

to

and possessions,

they

obnoxious

to them of him.

ought to
to

be very

careful certain
tribute. that he

in

treatment

He be
pay.
a

ceded

the
an

Company
annual
was

which districts, The

tribute the
no we

were

to

paid
The nation

for

by

failed to British rules the of

consequence which
or no

declared

to be

promises could
restrain ;
; for
no

bind, and
and he

honour justice,

faith could

invited
was

power the

of

Hyder

Ali
an

againstus
inch
of

Indian

safe while

English

had

territory

in India."

After

the

above

recorded instances, faith and

misrule

by Englishmen
in

selves, them-

of British bad and sentiments

to

India, the opinions

livered Paper, deat

expressed in
the Grand The
in

the

followingState English
Vizier, will
document in
of
on

Sir Kobert

Ainslie, the

Ambassador
appear

by Constantinople, surprising nor

read the

neither
was

unjust. Grey, M.P.,

question
Commons,
the

by
29th

Mr.

the

House

on

February, 1792, during the debate

Russian

armament.

Towards

the

close
"

of his whom

speech, Mr. Grey

we

said

"

Those but

alHes, the
afterwards abhorrence whether but
on

Turks

pretended
the

to

support,
of

betrayed
"

had

given
of
or our

highest proof
conduct. for what
the
a

their
not

and

contempt

know

I shall be blamed

ridiculed procure

I have

done,

I have

taken

the

pains to
have

best of
our

information the

the

subject, and
answer

obtained Eobert the

copy

Grand

Vizier's
at

to

Sir

Ainslie,

ambassador the
stance:* sub-

Constantinople,of
"

which

following is

vol. xxix.,p. 'Parliamentary History,' of Feb. 29, 1792. newspaper

*

933.

See

also the

Times

118

THE

KORAN.

Ms

Son,

wliom

you
can

call there
as

both be do

your upon

God
so

and

your

Prophet.
race?

Wliat Truth and

reliance you

a sacrilegious

banish,

you

virtue, from
Eead the

all your

conduct
plaints, com-

actions with

each

other.

catalogue of
who

manifestoes,
the

declarations, and
and

remonstrances

of

all

Christian
and

Kings, Monarchs,
with each

Emperors,
You find

have

lived

warred

other.

them

all

equallyblasphemous,equallyperfidious, equallycruel,equally
unjust,
ever

and

to faithless

their

engayements. Did
or

the
!

Turk Did
it do if

forfeit
a

his

promise, word,
Povjer
or

honour

Never

ever

Christian
own

keep

an

engageinent hut
?
a

while

suited his you think

avarice
are

awMtion you,
a

No

How,

then,

we

to

trust

nation

at this

moment,

the truth be told,ruled

one

by

administration perfidious the

machine of

without
The
"

grain

of

virtue
no

to

guide
for
term

State.

Grand

has Seignior
none
"

public intercourse
none.

with

your

Court

he wants
here your
as a

he
or,

wishes
as

If you

wish

to remain

spy,

you live

an yourself,

ambassador other

for

Court, you
you your
I have

may

with

those

of

Christian
we

nations, while
want

demean

with yourself
sea
or

but propriety, your for

neither

aid
no

by

land, nor
thank you

council your have

or

mediation.
because it is

order

to

offer,
I any

by

the Divan you

the you

deemed

officious, nor
naval
of

command
because into
our

to thank

for the
Porte have

offer of your
never

assistance,

it is what
sea.

dreamed

admitting
we

Wliat
care

to

do with

Eussia
we

neither
mean

know finish State

nor

our

concerns

with the the

that Court maxims

most you

to

as

suits ourselves
If
are

and
not
to

of

our

laws

and

policy.
in

you

are

profhgateChristian
are

nation, as you
boldest such other
a

charged
and
to

be,

undoubtedly the
and

presumption
as

in offering to bring effrontery,

terms.

power

Eussia

Such

as

you

some

trivial Christians
; we

united

fancy yourselvesequal
therefore this

to

command
yours

know

better, and
to

of effrontery dicta-

amounts

rather

and audacity,

to an

imbecile

THE

KORAN.

119

tion,which

must

render
your any

your

councils abroad much

at

home

mean

and

and contemptible,
or

advice power,

unworthy
less the

of

wisdom of the have

attention

from
on

regard

Porte, which
listened to you
or

all occasions

wherein

its ministers
in your

have

experienced evil
cannot

either

designs
his
so

in your "His

ignorance. Highness
be
too

Sublime

much

upon
a

guard againstthe attempts

to perfidious

and of

presumption
Princes money.

of

nation

the interests
way

its

but (or colonists), subjects

to sell and

it is the usual their

of Christian

cede

over

to subjects you,
as

each
we are

other well

for

Every
is made

peace

made
to

amongst
the

informed,
The

favourable

King
and
as

that
too

best often did

bribes.

Ottoman

Ministry have

too
as

long
often

given
so

ear

to

European councils, and

were

they

they
with been

either
your

betrayed, sold,
for the all ask

or

deceived. with and

Away, then,
It has

interference
to

Porte

Eussia, thereafter
nor

your
your

aim

embroil We
our

mankind,
not,
want

profitby

perfidy.
because

not,
been but you hear make

desire your

commerce,

merchants have
no

have

sacrificed to your

double

dealings.You
and the
for

religion
faith will
to

gain ;

avarice
as

is your
a

only God,
your

Christian We

professbut
no more

mask

hypocrisy.
you
are

from

you,

therefore

commanded

no

reply.
the view of

With influence and

proving how
Mohammedans,
a

powerful and
exert
we over

beneficial the

an

the doctrines
of

of the Koran

feelings
the entitled

actions

the

shall from
a

conclude
work

present chapter with

*

few

extracts

La

Turquie Actuelle,'written by
him

by

A.

Ubbicini,

and

lished pub-

in 1855

"

Truthfulness

and

Honesty.

"

The

aspect

of

these all the

vast

(bazaars), presenting galleries

and all the industries of

an

assemblage of

nations

120

THE

KOKAN.

Turkey,
the

offers

an

opportunity of adding
of the
the front

some

features See
him

to

physiognomy
on

Osmanli of his
; whilst

or

Turk.

there

gravely seated
or

beside stall,

his Armenian

Greek

fellow-tradesmen and

they watch
with
'
"

with
"

the
'

eye Hola

the

passing customer, Captain !

smoke
If you

invite him

the voice he

he !

Ichl^bi ! his

Signer Captain !
or

continues
of

quietly to chapter. price of

'

pipe
before

to

pass

the
and

beads
ask

his the

stop

his

berth

him

an

he object,
hundred

will

answer

but politely

laconically,
to

Fifty
"

If piastres.'
commence

unaccustomed

the habits
will

of the be
In
a

place, you
will

to

his only answer bargain,

of gentleraising you

the chin

and
not

resumption of
lower

his

pipe.
para.

vain is

he will insist, with

the

his

pricea

It
From to

quite
the

otherwise

Christians will
come

and down

the Jews.
to

hundred

piastresthey
even

eighty,

to forty, or sixty,
"

below.
to
a an

As

general rule, offer

asks,
the
the

Armenian

the

half of the
to
a

price
But

he

third

to

Greek, the fourth

want
once

Jew.

for

Mussulman,

if you

to to

get his goods, it

pay what he asks

is far better to

resign yourselfat
could
make

for them.
"

As

no

one

an

Osmanli'^ of
will
a

breah his
Make you.

word, he
an

believes that such

in implicitly
a

the

word

others. believe

oath

thing
to the

is true, he
to

French asked

officer went
for

bazaar

buy
had of

piece of cloth, and

the
went

the

same

his comrade had

no more

bought
it.

day before; but

to

the

merchant
a

He

another and

who

asked him

higher price.
pattern.
seen

The

officer

complained
the
to

showed the

his and

The the
to

merchant

having

examined
same
as

tern, pat-

that

qualitywas
his customer
his

that of his
as

own

proposed piece,
he had

make The

oath

to the

pricewhich
*

given for

cloth.

anxious officer,
"

The Othman

Persians
was

call the Turks

the true

or

and

Caliph
the

and

lawful

Koran, and

sovereign, to the deciding the difficulties which

that Osman they assert the great of Mohammed, lawful successor alone whom belonged the interpretation of

Osmanlis, because

arise in the

law."

THE

KORAN.

121

to

see

what

the

result him the

would cloth

be, did
for

so,
same

upon

which

the the

merchant other.
"

gave

the

price as

confess," says

M.

Ubbicini,

"

that

this confidence
I know

in

man's

word, this dignityand

the seller with the
us

reserve

please me.
is such

not

why
In

should

affect to there

place himself
no

so

much

below

buyer.
without
turn

In

Turkey

tion. distinchis

fact, the
sees,
'

seller troubles

himself

little about

sale, and

the greater success jealousy,

will
come

of his When

neighbour.
the voice and
comers

My

to

morrow,' he

says.

of the

Muezin

is heard, he his

performs
the
as

his prayers
of

in prosternations and
or

shop, in

middle
if he

all the
in

goers, he

as

little disturbed
to

were

the

Desert;

goes under

the

neighbouring

mosque,

leaving
the

his merchandise In this immense

are

the

guardianship of
absent
to

the

public faith.
chants mer-

where capital(Constantinople),
to

accustomed

themselves
one,
a

from the

their doors there

At

shops
of
are

at

fixed hours, known

are

every

where

houses
not

only shut
rohlerics

at

night,by
in

simple latch,
whole
year.

four

committed

the

Pera is

and
not
a

inhabited Galata, exclusively

by Christians,
of

there and

day

passes

without

hearing
be
an

robberies

murders. There
is the
same

honesty
narrative
to
a

to

found

in

the

country
a

parts ; here
letter
"

is the

of

English traveller,in
News
:
"

addressed lately hired

the

Daily

Yesterday,I
carry my

Bulgarian peasant, with

that of my

his waggon,

to

baggage

and

companion, consisting
furs, and
on

of

trunks,

portmanteaus, carpet-bags cloaks,

to

shawls.

Wishing
the

buy

some

hay

to
ever

stretch
a
man

ourselves
was,

during
to

if a Turk, polite, night,

us.

offered and left that

accompany with
was

The

peasant unyoked
the
street.

his

oxen,

them he

all

our

baggage in
away, I

When
one

I
must
'

saw

also

going

said, 'Some
with

remain
To

here.'

'Whyl'

asked

the

Turk,

surprise.

watch

122

THE

KOEAN.

over

my

goods.'
here
I

'

Oh

'

repliedthe Mussulman, night and

when I

'

they may
one

remain touch

all the week,

day,

and

no

will all

them.'
Observe

yielded,and
the
Let

returned,

found

safe.

that

Turkish

soldierywere
told
will
to

continually
from

passing the
the Let them The

spot.

this Some

be

the Christians that

pulpits of

London.
....

think

they dream.
to be

awake." the porters than bales that

of of

honesty of
upon

(hammals)
our

is

even

more

depended
who

Auvergnats.
the
;

It is

they
is is

carry the
to

spices from
vice
one versa

counting-housesof
I believe

Galata
not
a

the vessels,and
of
more

and

there It

singleexample
nation. of of
"

packet being wanting.

easy

true, this is rendered

of the whole
A

by

the

proverbialhonesty Constantinople
"

merchant
a

Galata

was

returning to
in piasters
at

with five

sack

two

thousand

bechlics

piecesof
and the

piasters
the
on

while sack

disembarking
bursts, the
; some
on

the

landing-placeat
fall out
are sea.

Topkhane,
scattered The
into

pieces
them

the
throws

quay

of the

roll into
;
some

crowd the

itself The

pavement
owner

plunge
all
sees

water. ;

alarmed
to

follows
as

these that

movements

he

begins

be

re-assured found
up

he

from

all sides the sack.

A

as they are piasters

are

replacedin
sack
on

the

hammal

then

takes the hammal

the
to

his

shoulders The
count

and

accompanies
the

merchant
for

his

house.
to

latter

having paid

his

job,hastens

his bechlics ; not

one

was

missing.

Toleration

and

Charity.

Our

negligencein observing the precepts

considerations
that interfere with

of

our

religion,
essential the
most

the human

its most it for

as
so

with parts, the facility miserable of the

which taken

we

abandon

motives,

are

by

the Turks is
on

many

proofs they

of inferiority

this

religion.It

that account

THE

KORAN.

123

call
of
us

Europe

"

the

land the

of

the

and infidels,"

that in

speaking
that

they join
this

epithet Mitlhcd
does
the

(impious) to

of

Ghaiour But

(infidel).
contempt
shown
on

not

lead

to

persecution. I
many of
to

have
how

elsewliere the
are

authority of
intolerance

examples
which
the

and of proselytism spirit

often the

Turks

accused,

is not

only contrary
Islamism.
to
renounce

the

but principle, in

to

constant
can

practiceof
an

As
his

nothing
If you

the he

world
never

cause

Osmanli the

so religion,

seeks
and
"

to

disturb
have
to

faith

of another.

please
say
"

him,
you,

if you

attracted thee
a

his affection,he which

But upon

may

to

God

grant
grace

happy end,"
a

means,

God

sive thee

to

become would

Mussulman,"
encroach

that

would divine

be all ; to go further domain."

" "

be to of Here
one,

the

"

The

conversion

souls,"say
is another and

the maxim

Mussulman
of

doctors, belongs to God."

doctors
"
"

these the

Do

good

to

every
never

dispute not
her

with

ignorant." Turkey
on

has

known
an

persecutions; religious
upon
to territory

the

contrary, she offers

victims

asylum
of

the
In

unhappy
the

of Christian

fanaticism.

Consult

history.
out

15th and

century, thousands

driven Israelites, this have

same

of

Spain
where

Portugal,found
for in those

refuge in
centuries

Turkey,
a

their descendants

four

led

quiet
the

existence,except

places(must one
of the
as

confess it

?)where

they had

to defend

themselves
aU

of the persecutions against orthodox

Christians,and

above
so

Even (Catholics).

to-day,at Athens,
show
race

long
insult

Easter In

lasts,a Jew
if the

dares

not

himself
are

in

the
to

streets.

Turkey,
the Greek

Israelitish Armenian
to

exposed

from

and

Christians,at least the

them. All side
Tlie
as religions,

local authorities

interfere

protect

well

as

all nationalities, are dominions pacific Church

to of

be

found,

by side,in
mosque,
but

the vast

and

the Sultan. the

it is true, overtops the it does

not

and

gogue, Synais freer

exclude

them.

Catholicism

124

THE

KOEAN.

at

and Constantinople
law in restrains its

at

Smyrna, than
dead
a

at Paris

and

at

Lyons.

No God

outward

manipulations and
when carried
of
to

imprisons
their last

the

sanctuary. The
followed

are resting-place,

by

long line day

walk
and in

monks, carrying
Fete

candles

and

singingpsalms.
of Pera and and

The

of the

Dieu, all

the churches

Galata

preceded procession, by
to
a

by
the

the

cross

the

banner,
Osmanlis

escorted

piquet

of

who soldiers,

obligethe
pass.

themselves

give way

for

to procession I shall be

But

told,the Catholics

of the East

are

protected
Greeks,
the
a

by
and

France

and
the

by Austria, as
Protestants. ? Four

Eussia

protects the
it
so

England
who

Well,
or

be

; but

poor

Jews,

protectsthem
was

five years
of

ago,

Jewish

muleteer of

brought before
the

the

Pasha

Mussoul, accused
had

having blasphemed
of the

Prophet,which
When he heard Pasha

excited

the

whole words

population.
to
"

the

sacrilegious
back
in

imputed spoken

the
"

accused, the
is

drew
any
man

horror, exclaiming
have head thus

It

impossible that
I cannot,

could
upon his that
me

without
of God.

immediately drawing
it would
be

the vengeance is

believe therefore,

this muleteer
to

and guilty, God

presumptuous

in

punish him
This is
a

whom

has not

condescended
! of Yet the how

to chastise."

fine

example

of tolerance the faith

in

many

people
day

in and

France

believe, upon
Athens

Augsburg Gazette,
every

the

Ohserver, that
"

Turkey they
and
to

torture
on

and

impale those
thrown
sewn

dogs of Christians,"as they believe

comic operas, in the his favourite and thrown

the faith of the

writers of dramas

handkerchief in the
women

by
up

the Sultan alive

in

slave,or
into

sacks

the

Bosphorus.
The

Turkish

Government

has when

derogated in practicefrom
seen

its tolerant

maxims
cover

only

it has

the

of spirit

pro-

under selytism, and and the

of this very
at
once

toleration, becoming aggressive,

into the

bringingtrouble
affairs of the

consciences

of

men

State.

The

Lazerists

only,who

first

126

THE

KORAN.

remotest

quarters
souls the females with far their cold who

of

the

city.

There

they
to

still

find

some

charitable assist

distribute
when

food

them

every

morning,
from their them like the

whelping,
the

save

the and
to

puppies
even

perishing humanity
a

during
in their

winter,
moments,
true

carry

so

as,

last
It is

bequeath dog,

legacy
is

for

support.

that

the unclean

pig,
much The

considered
to

by by

the its

Osmanlis

as

an

animal,

so

as

violate

presence suffered himself

the
in

state

of

legal

purity.
but the

dog
of

is, therefore,
the latter
have

never

the the

house,
natural
in

owner

regards

as

protector
the

of he

all

such

as

domiciliated
is

themselves commanded

quarter

inhabits. the all

"

Benevolence
of

by
which

the
is

Prophet,
extended

as

first

all

virtues

benevolence

to

animals.*
in

To the

sum

up,
sense

one

word,
word,
as

/ than

know
those

no

jpeojpU
Turks

more

humane,
ive

in

true

of
to

the

whom

still

to-day

continue

treat

Barbarians."

'

La Pardoe

Tvirquie
(' City

Actuelle,'
of the
;

p.

78.

"

To

all Turks
an

the

brute
are

creation,"
not

writes

Miss but

Sultan and
to

')
so

"

the

only they
not to

merciful,
carry this
un-

ministering
towards

friends
the in order

great

extent

do will

kindness weaned and

an

inferior
to

animals,
unnecessary

that

they

kill the in

an

lamb,

spare who

suffering
unsuccessful

mother the

English
on one

sportsman, occasion,
in

had off
a

been

chase,

having
from
was

firing
down

his

piece
that
as

previously
was

to

disembarking
his

his

caique,

brought by
l^een his

gull

sailing
horror

above and

head,
as

reproached
he had

rowers

with of homicide."

much

emphasis

though

guilty

PAKT

III.

CHARGES

REFUTED.

SOLE

CHAPTER

The

charges brought
as

agamst

Mohammed

are

reducible

to

four,

follows

"

I. The

promulgating
it

new

and

false but

religion
a mere

as

revelation of his

from own,

God,

being,
purpose

on

the

contrary,

invention and lust. the and

for the II. That

of

gratifying

his ambition his

Mohammed
an enormous

propagated
waste

religion by blood,

sword, thereby
a

causing
of human III. IV. The The sensual

of

human

vast

amount

misery.
character of he his has Paradise
as

described

in the

Koran.

encouragement

given

to

licentiousness

by legalizing

Polygamy.
We
our

proceed ability.

to

rebut

the

above

charges,

to

the

best

of

Charge

I.

The

promulgating
from
God,
own

neio

and
'

false religion as
contrary,
hut
a

revelation invention ambition

it

being, on
the

the

inere

of
and

his

for

purpose

of gratifying

his

lust.

That
is
more

Mohammed

was

wholly
every

free

from

the

vice

of

tion ambi-

proved by

almost the

circumstance fact

of

his

life,but

especiallyby

indisputable

that, after living to

128

CHARGES

REFUTED.

see

his

religion fullyestablished,and
jiower,

himself himself retained As

in of to to

possession
it for the the his
very-

of unlimited
purposes of

he

never

availed

but self-aggrandizement,

last his

simplicityof original appetite for

women,

manners.*

fying gratihe

his

consideringthat
obtained

when

appeared, unbounded
it must
seem certainly

polygamy
somewhat

throughout Arabia,
he should lust.
upon

parodoxicalthat
his satisfy
own

the better to restrict licentiousness,

In

addition
may

to

what be

has

been

before
in
was,

observed

this

it ")* point,

further

urged
he
; that

Mohammed's

defence,
an

that, like all his countrymen,

ardent
lover from
man

by temperament,
never

of

the

fair

sex

he

affected

to

be
"

exempt
am a

human like
unto

frailties, saying, on

the

contrary,

you,|
and

and
"

that
the

in
man

comparison
after God's

with
own

David

the
"

prophet
was
as

king,
as

heart," he

pure

is the icicle that

hangs
his

on

Dian's first

temple." Michal,
wife. he
to

Saul's
taken

second
from

daughter,was
him

David's

She

was

during
she could

disgrace ;"
restored
to

married demand

several others, successively ||and back

had
to

still continued be who

the first.
be who

Before
from
a

him, she

forced

husband
as

loved he match

her

exceedingly, and crying like

a a

followed
David

her
not

far

as

could,
with he
at

child. H of
an un

did

scrupleto
and he

daughter
children
"

circumcised

prince,**
took
of of

though

had

by
and

several

wives, yet
the
case

concubines

Jerusalem
to the

in lastly,

Bathsheba,tt he added
a

sin of

the adultery,

crime

deliberate

and

blooded cold-

murder. When

David, by
clothes

reason

of

old

age, could him

not it

be
was

warmed

by

all the
to

they
a

covered

with,

thought
care

proper

seek

for

young

who virgin,

might

take

of

Life,p. 53. Page 26. X Koran, chap. xli. " 1 Samuel, chap. xxv.
+

See

46.

||2 Samuel, chap.iii.v. 2 Samuel, chap. iii. 16. ** Talmai, King of Geshur, ft 1 Kings, chap. i.
1

ibid.

v.

3.

CHARGES

REFUTED.

129

him
most

and

lie with

him.

He

suffered
find.
man

them

to
can

bring him

the

beautiful the
action

girlthey could
of
a

Now,
?

this be said to Christian

be

very

chaste

Surely the
with who live

writers, when
should houses In the

they upbraid
not

Mohammed those

incontinence,
in

recollect the should

saying "that using power,

glass
follow the he

be the first to throw

stones." did but have

of
a

acquiringand example
of of the the

Mohammed
not

Moses, who
children

could of
a

effected

deliverance
not
or

Israel out leader and

Egypt,had
"

assumed

of authority

head
man

the maker

dispenserof
him

the

laws ; and

surelyno
the that
upon
was

ever

yet

braided up-

with

making
the

ambition

end

and he he
case

design of
could
not

that have
sent

achievement, since without

power

accomplished by
Jehovah.

mission thus it

which
in

had
of

been

And

the

Arabia,
with

which, being divided into many

one

at tribes, frequently
no

war

another, Mohammed
one

had

other way

of

unitingthem
them

into than

body, and

of

his religionamong establishing

or

by making himself their head

a circumstance leader,

which

fully exonerates
to

him

from

the

charge of personal
or

ambition. As which the

term
so

imposture, meaning falsehood

bestowed unsparingly
upon

forgery,
the

has

been

Mohammed's

the doctrine,

fact that his first principle was

the

unity of

Godhead"

Q,

preached by principle
its The injustice.
to

Jesus word"

Christ

himself"

shows sufficiently
may

ever, howimposture,
a

be

meant

apply

to

his the

pretension of being

prophet. Now,
and
a

it is certain
of the

that

of idolatry abolishing
one

the

setting up
in of

worship of
from

the

people lost
Mohammed
so

the
a

and first,

of ignorant

God, among the latter, an was

true

errand that

worthy

mission

heaven.
the

It is also certain
of
one

did

establish

worship

God

in

Arabia, and
that
one

in abolished idolatry eff'ectually

that country

it has thousand

never

in any shape, for above re-appearedthere,

no idolatry

years, whereas

sooner

got footing
K

130

CHARGES

REFUTED.

again among
had

the the

Christians, than

that

section the

of

them

that
as

gained
them.*

ascendancy

condemned

Iconoclasts

for demolishingthe idols that had been heretics,solely

set up

by

Mohammed's
of

precepts,exceptingsuch
his moral duties which towards
one

as

enjointhe objectthe
that and

pating extirthe

wherever idolatry
the

enforce prevailed, religion have

for

practiceof
men's
are

lating regu-

actions

another, and
warmth

these

recommended

with Koran

wonderful
is what

pertinacity
the

throughout the
greatest of

has been

acknowledged by

his enemies. in which, agreeably parablesand allegories

Among
to the

the many
of

custom

the Arabians
a

who

in delighted

that way

of
are

and writing, not speakii)g

few
so

of Mohammed's

doctrines
sarcasm

wrapped
of But

up,

none

has

excited
as
"

much

the

and

cule ridi-

Christian

writers

the

night journey to
have

heaven."

f
a

surely these
or

critics should
not
a

recollected that such

a

tale

legend is

whit

more

incredible,not

whit

more

preposterous than
the wilderness.
"

that of Christ's

temptationby
into

the

Devil,in

Again, the
and

devil taketh and

him

(Christ) up
him

an

exceeding
of

high mountain,
earth
"

sheweth
of

all the
The

kingdoms
fact

the the

the

glory
is
an

them,"

"c.|
easy

is that

night journey"
Barak, which
than swiftly which
"

of allegory

explanation. Thus,
moves

Al
more

which is thought, lightning, signifies

even

the and
we

and electric fluid, he ascended

up
to

the

ladder
was
"

of

lightby
to the

Gabriel

heaven,
the

contemplation by
throne of God

which
; and

pass

through all

heavens

up

the wonderful

cock, whose

crowing

Thus

the celebrated
"

Irene, Empress of the East,and wife of Leo IV.,

ihe having been declared by her husband, before Icouoclase," death, regent of the Empire for their son, Constantine,caused the the Imperialthrone,and convoked latter's eyes to be put out ; then ascended the worship of images was of Nicea in 787, by which the Council

surnamed bis

re-established. + See
+

Life,' p. 26. Gospel accordingto

'

St.

Matthew,

iv. 8.

CHARGES

REFUTED.

131

God
or

took

and delightin hearing, the

prayer

which

man
so

never on

heard with all

was regarded,

of

the

and just,

the rest.

Upon
Mohammed

this

point,moreover,
should be
most

it may the

be

asked fairly

why
and
fain
own

denied

benefit of

metaphor
their

to allegory, to have

wliicli

of the Christian

are theologians

recourse

in

order to solve many from in that the

as

thingsin

system,
would

and

escape
; as

which absurdity

otherwise

they
sents repre-

be under the God

story of the prophet who

with consulting
a

of truth

in lyingSpirit

order to deceive
"

Ahab. who said,

Eamoth

And
up

the Lord and fall at

shall

persuadeAhab
And
one

that he may

go

Gilead ?

said,in this

manner
"

; and

another
came

said,in that manner,"

forth
a

And

there will

and spirit

stood before the

Lord,

and
"

said,I
And

persuade him."
said unto I will be

the Lord
and forth,

him, Wherewith
a

And

he

said,
of all

I will go

in lyingspirit

the mouth

his
and

prophets.
the

And

He

(God) said,Thou
do so.* song Church Solomon's

shalt

persuade him,
to

also ; go forth and prevail whole

of

Is not

maintained
?
same

be

an

of allegory

Christ's love for His the

New

Thus
excuse

again,with
must

respect

to

Testament, the
he is
a

be

pleaded when
as

Christ says
says from
most

vine,a
and Wine

way,
are

door,as well
his

when

he

that the

Bread

Body
case

and

Blood, since
sprung up
a

the rejecting notorious

metaphor

in this

has

pieceof idolatry (transubstantiathe Church

of

tion) among
that it should of the

Christians
but

to belonging
an

Kome,

so

seems really

equitable request
make
use

that Mohammedans
same

be allowed

to

of the solve the

advantage might nearly

be
so

allegoryand

metaphor
of which

to

difficultiesand

seeming

absurdities which
none

otherwise
are

their system
so

charged with,

great
22.

or

Kings, chap..xxii.20, 21,

k2

132

CHARGES

REFUTED.

daiK^erous

as

that
a

which

establishes bread
or a

the wafer

doctrine
can

whereby

it is

taught that
words

piece of

be

changed
never

by

certain

pronounced by
wicked,
into

though priest,
God
that

so

stupid,ignorant or
universe.

the

created

the

It has also been

not to

objectedthat Mohammed,
new

while

pretending
but

deliver

any
one

to religion

the

Arabians,
to

only to
and their
of

revive Abraham

that old had

which

God
to
a

had

revealed

Abraham,

delivered found

Ishmael, the
new

founder

nation,

did actually which

was

and, consequently, religion,

if that in the

spake that
which and the

false.

But

only be objectof
that
M'as no

new

gion reli-

differs from moral duties

nor

the former

its

worship,

neither imposed by it,then, certainly,

of Jesus

that of Moses,
were new

that

Christ, nor
of Moses laws of

med, of Mohammore

religions.That
enforcement

than

the renewal

and

by

that

which religion

Adam,
and and

Noah, Abraham,
was

Isaac, Jacob, and

the
one

Ishmael and
Him

professed,
to

which

to

adore

only God,
to

love

obey

with

their whole the

soul, and
human

practisethose
well
Jesus
our

moral
as

duties which
will
us

of necessity upon
above law

as society

the

of God that
to

imposed
love God

mankind. all and

Thus,

Christ

tells

things and
the Israelites adoration another
not

neighbour as
is, that
which religion
of
one

ourselves
Moses

was

the whole

prophets,that
a

and

the

prophetstaught the
in

consisted entirely

the

love of

and
one

eternal
the
same

God, and
doctrine that
our

an

extensive Christ

love

; and

hence

of Jesus had duties

himself

was

new,

but

the

Moses

taught before, with

to
one

this

only difference, that

with
more

moral than

another
this

were

commanded and divine

force

before,
the

and

admirable and
most

rule

set

down, by which
mio-ht know these
unto

meanest

ignorantof
he
as

mankind

with

almost and would

when certainty when

offended

against
"do

moral others
as

duties you

not,
should

the
unto

precept,

they

do

you" clearly

shows.

134

CHARGES

REFUTED.

sciousness Mohammed
or

of

really righteousintentions
so

could

have
ever

carried ing flinchto

steadilyand
connections

without constantly
ever

wavering, without
intimate
to

betraying himself companions,

last agony
from in

his first
of

most

and
to

his
arms

revelation

Khadijah
and

his

the

Ayesha. Surely a good

Creator,who
sincere
an

man,

full of reform
in

confidence both
in hands Him.

in

his

makes

immense
instrument
a

faith and of

is trulya practice, and may

may
not

direct
to

the
from

Godj
Why
other

be

said

have
be

commission

Mohammed

recognized,no
servants

less

than
as

faithful, though
servant of may

imperfect
be believed

of

God,

truly

God, serving him

it not
a

? though imperfectly faithfully

Why
and

that

he was,

in

his

own

age
to

country,
his
own

preacher of
civil and

truth and

sent righteousness,

teach
to

people the unity and

moral

of God, righteousness
to

give

them

precepts suited

their

condition.

Mohammed,
own

then,
as

was

doubtless that in the

fully convinced
name

of his
in the

mission,
of

well

as

of

God, and

character
an

his

Apostle,he wrought
in

great, albeit perhaps

Nor
was

imperfect,reform
his
own

his

own

country.

his

belief in and
no

mission

ill founded.

Through mockery
still

persecutionthe
threats, no

his path; Prophet kept unflinchingly

him from

hinder injuries

preaching

to

his

people

the
a

unity
been

and

the and

righteousnessof God,
purer them.

and
ever

exhorting to
up
to his time

far better
set

morality than had

He

before

claimed
but

no

poral tem-

power,

no

domination, spiritual
win
men

he asked

for

simple
the

free permissionto toleration,

into by persuasion should

their will be do

way

of truth. and

He

required that
walk

men

and justice
as

love mercy, sanction the dead

of
as

humbly just and

with

before

God, and,
a

the of

he taught that there all,

resurrection

well of the Mohammed

the
own

unjust. degenerate followers,

Compare

his

CHARGES

REFUTED.

135

with

Timour

at

Ispahan,and
in
our

Nadir

Shah

at

Delhi, with
Chios
victor

the and is

wretches

who,

times, have
The

desolated
of
an

Cyprus, and
armed and
had
a

Kassandra.

entry
and

Eastern

the signal for ordinarily

murder the
to

massacre

alike of the

unarmed,
his wrongs

of

innocent avenge,
a

and

the
are

guilty.
and
It

hammed Mo-

but

they

satisfied the

by

handful
even

of

exceptions to
of

general amnesty,
he

jority, ma-

these,

are

ultimately forgiven. by idols,which

words,
"

is the
come

temple
ransom.

of God With

desecrated the sublime

he

had

to

Truth

is cortie, let

hood false-

disappear"
which his work
once were

shivers, in

succession, the 360

in

nations abomi-

standing erect,
did

the

holy place,and

accomplished, he
later
no

not, like his victorious

in the honour
to the

namesake,
won.

in

times,

fix

his his

throne
own

cityhe by
of

had

He

reared

palace for
he had

the side God-

of the The
of

temple

which

recovered

honour

cityof
his

his fathers,the

metropolisof
deserted
for

his race, the shrine

was religion,

again
had stood

his humble

dwelling

among

those who

by

him

in the

day

of trial.

Charge That Mohammed

II.
the

hy propagatedhis religion
enormous

sword, thereby
a

causing an
amount

ivaste

of

human

blood, and

vast

of

human

misery.
this to have that
been numbers

Now,
certain

even

admitting
and

the of

case

to

extent,

granting
God,
can

idolators of the God

perished for refusing to acknowledge

one

the

existence
what

and
once

only

true

it may
never

be be

that replied,

has

commanded
are

unjust
that

at

any

time, and

since Christians the Israelites to

bound

to believe

God

did command Canaanites

a

exterminate that

and Jehovah

the extirpate
even

for their in the

moon

and idolatry,

worked

miracle
sun

execution
to

of that

command,
to

by causing the
afford the

and

stand

in order still,

lightnecessary

136

CHARGES

REFUTED.

for

enablingJoshua
if

to

of complete the slaughter that Mohammed the

to
same

the enemy,

they must,
in do
was

consistent,admit
doctrines be

was

justified

his propagating

by
then
of

means,

for,if they

not, it would
more

tantamount

affirmingthat idolatry
now

hateful
to
or

to God

than

; that

it in

was

less

odious

him
in

in

the
of

time

Mohammed of

than

that of

Moses,

that

the

kings
was

Israel, whose
the

nation,

togetherwith
That Mohammed

themselves,

destroyed by
is

Almighty

for this sin alone.

waged
those of

wars

certain,but

they differed
of extermination,
were

from essentially

Moses

in not

being wars
the former reclaim
of

because unite the Arabian and idolatry

the laudable tribes in

them
one

of objects

to

empire,to
the

them
one

from

instruct

in

worship
with

the

and

only God,
Mohammed who
to

the Creator

of all

things.
open the of
arms

received submit

generously and spared the

In

all

would

to his law ;
ever

he, indeed, put

innocent

obstinate
women,

death, but he
and
never

blood

maidens followers would

infants.
to

commanded short, he strictly

but to treat
as

his

molest,

brethren,all who
on

accept and obey the Koran. nations, without

;
an

Moses,

the

contrary,

whole slaughtered conditions

of mercy in many the

or accepting offering any

example never by

followed

by Mohammed,
and
Peru be
more

although
Mexico.* attributed
human among
*

instances

Christian

Powers,
of
can

especially by

Spaniards in Deity

their conquest the

Koran

and found
to

Nowhere
to

throughout
commands mercy,

the

wholly opposed
in fact,as
the

all

ideas of
many

justiceand

following

others.

the Spaniards thought themselves justifiedby the Bible, the express purpose of which for the book wrote Sepulveda by appears in murder of the twelve millions of Indians, by the them vindicating Las Casas says in Israelites Canaan." the the towards of people example of de las Indias,' I have seen in Brevissinia relacion de la destruccion his erected all the over the islands of St. Domingo and Jamaica, gibbets to hang thirteen Indians at a time in honour of the thirteen country apostles.I have seen," continues he, " young children tlirown to the dogs to be devoured alive." That
" ' "

CHARGES

REFUTED.

137

"

And

Moses

said,

Thus
out

saith tlie

Lord, put, every

the camp, and

man

his sword

by

his side,and his

go in and
every

throughout
his

slay, every
man, his

man,

brother, and,

man,

covipanion,and

every

neigh-

bour.' "*
"

Joshua but

smote

all the country and that

all their

all destroyed utterly j-

as breathed,

ing, remainnone kings,he left God of Israel had the Lord

commanded."
"

Now

go

(saidSamuel suckling,
ox

to

Saul) and
them

smite

Amalek

and
man

destroy utterly
and woman,

all that

theyhave, and

spare and

not, but
and

slayboth

infantand
"

camel sheep,

ass."X
the Lord

But

of the cities of those

an

people
shalt

which alive

thy

God

doth

give

thee for
"

thou inheritance,

save

nothing that

breatheth.

But

thou shalt utterly them, destroy

the hath

Canaanites, the Hivites, and commanded thee." "

like
on

the Amorites, namely, the Hittites, the Lord the Jebusites, as thy God

In

manner,

where
"

is there
a

to

be

found

in

Christ's

Sermon
but

the

Mount

discourse
peace

which
"

breathes

naught
or

mercy,

and loving-kindness
the
name

the

least sanction

for authority in his revered

horrible
? ? The To

atrocities

afterwards
may
to

perpetrated
be the

whom,
answer

then, it
is easy
"

asked,

are

they

attributable

Emperor
of

surnamed Constantino, falsely

the Great. and

of

After

the death versions

Christ,
His

there

were

two

distinct

successive

of

doctrines,to which

the the

name

was Christianity

given ;
This
braced em-

introduced the first,

and John
;

by

of authority that

the

Apostles,Paul

the

second

by

of

Constantino.
had exclusively, of

emperor,

who,

from

motives political
on

but who, Christianity,

account

his

has cruelty, the famous

justlybeen
*

called
xxxi. 27.
xv.

second

Nero,1[ presided over

t Joshua
x.

Exodus
1 Samuel

40.

3.

IT He Anastasia murdered years whom

of

drowned

his wife the

his

in

" Deuteronomy xx. 17. boilingwater ; put to death his

husl)ands
of

own

son

Crispus ;

murdered
;

two
own sou

murdered

nephew age, togetherwith was Sopator,a pagan

of !

his

the

of
some

and Constantia sisters, Hercules Maxiniilian fatlier-iu-law, ; his .sister Oonstantia,a boy only twelve others not so nearly related, among his refused
to

who priest,

give him
Such
was

absolution the first

for the murder

father-in-law. his (Coustantine's)

Christian emperor

138

CHARGES

REFUTED.

Council the

of

Nicea, commonly
of

called

Nice, in

A.D.

324, in which
the first

doctrine

Christ's

divinity was,

for

time,

established.

Regarding
in disputes

the

ceaseless, bloody and

the
most to

unprofitable religious
of

which the

lives of

thousands

Christians

were

sacrificed and those St.

was

unexampled
lived
"

cruelty exercised, by
brothers and

who

ought
of

have

like

friends,
"

Hilary,who Bishop
Church,"

lived at the time

and Poictiers,

the fourth viz.,

of

century
"

one

the

early

fathers nation condem-

of

the

expresses
:
"

his

disapprovaland regret,

in these words
"

It is
are

thing, equally deplorable and

many

dangerous, that
men,
as

there

as

creeds

as

opinionsamong
as

many

doctrines
as

as
are

and inclinations, faults among

us

many

sources

of
make

blasphemy
creeds trarily, arbiyear,

there

; because

we

and nay,

explain them
moon,
we

as

arbitrarily
new

Every
to
we

every

make

creeds
of what

describe have

the

invisible
defend

mysteries. We
We
our

repent

done, we
whom others
we

those who

repent,we
condemn
own

anathematize the
of

those
of

defended.

either
in

doctrine

in

ourselves,or

that

others ; and have

been

reciprocally
the
cause

tearing one
each
It

another

to

we pieces,

of

other's ruin."*
was

at

the

Council

of Nicea

that

Constantine flowed the

invested
most

the

priesthoodwith
consequences,

that power
as

whence

astrous disshow
:

the

followingsummary
of nine mad

will

the

massacres

and

devastations

crusades

of
two

Christians hundred

against unoffending Turks, during nearly

years, in

which

many
of

millions

of

human

beings
massacres

perished;
of

the

massacres

the

Anabaptists;
the Ehine
of of

the
to

of the Lutherans
the and
'

and

from Papists,
; the
massacres

the

mities extre-

North

St. Bartholomew
massacres

in

France;!
*

fortyyears
Decline and persons

more

other

between

See Gibbon
500

t Above in Paris

alone,besides

Bohn's edition, vol. ii. p. 411. Fall,' and of inferior condition of rank, 10,000 perished thousands who were slaughtered in the many

CHARGES

REFUTED.

139

the time the

massacres

of Francis of

I. and

the entry of

Henry
are

IV.
more

into Paris ; execrable

of

tlie

which Inquisition,*
to years

still

as

committed, being judicially

schisms, and twenty

say of

nothing
popes

the

innumerable popes, the

a

against
than

tlie poisonings, assassinations, bishopsagainstbishops,

cruel

rapines and
popes,

insolent

f pretensions
a

of
a

more

dozen

who

far

exceeded vice and

Nero

or

Caligula in
to lastly, millions

every

speciesof crime,
this inhabitants
! be of

wickedness
massacre

; and

conclude of the

the list, frightful

the
new

of

twelve

world,

executed

Crucifix

in hand It

surely must

confessed
of

that

so

hideous
for

and
fourteen

almost
turies, cen-

uninterrupted a
never

chain

religious wars,
among

subsisted
nations
on

but

and Christians,

that
ever

none

of the
a

numerous

as heathen, stigmatized

spilled
truth.

drop of
"

blood

the

score

of

theological arguments.
"

We

must,"

says

M.

Jurieu,

freely declare
in the ways,

the

The the

kings of
Frisons
was

France and

planted
of

Christendom

country of
and the The Wal-

the

Saxons, by Mahometan
use

like force
same means

made
were

to

plant

it in

the
sects

Nortli. of

employed against the

the

provinces. The then Pope Gregory XIII. not only granted a plenary in the niassacre, hut concerned also ordered indulgence to all who were celebrate the and t o event muss was public rejoicings high performed ; with every circumstance of pomp and splendour. Nay, so unblushing the elfronteryof this vicar of Christ was (!) that he caused a medal to be struck in honour of the "leed, bearing on side the likeness of one of the destroyingangel, surmounted and on the other an effigy himself, by the inscription Huguenotonim strages"(the slaughter of the Huguenots).
"

According

to

the estimate

of

Llorente,who
of

wrote

the
from

historyof
1481
to

the

the aggregate Inquisition,

was

number

victims

burnt

1808

34,024.
t

In

1627

Pope

Urban

VIII.

promulgated

the famous

Bull, "In

ccena

all who dare to appeal to a futureCouncil Domini," which cxc imniunicates (hire to levy against the bulls and briefs of the Pope ; all princeswho
taxes

without with

the
Turks

permission
and

of

the

Pope

those who who

from

make the Court

successors

treaties
to

of

alliance

heretics ; and

those

complain

secular
me.

received judges against th^ wrongs and injuries it be Mohamme"l did or asked, When, may any
to

of R(

of his

arrogate

themselves

so

extensive

power

as

this ?

140

CHARGES

REFUTED.

denses

and and
it

the
were

Albigenseswho
also

had

dared
New
can no

to

condemn
From

the all

Popes,
which,
Mahomet
is

used

in that

the
we

World.

plainlyappears
for

longer reproach
force
"

having propagated his religionby

toleration
to

that argue

by denying
ad

any

other ; for
in but

he
own

might
made

thus,
can

hominem,
be

if force

be wrong
use

its

nature, it
use

never

lawfullymade
century
done

of;

you

have

of

it from

the fourth have

up

to the

present time, and yet

all

you very way

pretend you
commendable.
or means

nothing
must,
in

in

this,but
less
;

what that

is this

You
not

therefore, con
its
use own

is

wrong

nature

and,

quently, conse-

might lawfullymake
For, it would
was

of it in the absurd
to

first years that

of
a

my

vocation.

be

pretend

thing which
become the fourth

very

criminal

in
a

the

first

century should
was

justin
be

the fourth, or
not

that
be

thing which
in
new

justin
This

century should

so

the

first

one.

might
their

pretended if
The

God

had

made

laws the
to

in the fourth

century.

Mahometans,

according to
violence
now,
no

of principles

faith,are

required to employ
them
have of

destroy other
have but
to

and yet they tolerate religions,

for many

and order

done

so

ages.

The

Christians
out not

preach

and

instruct, and
sword
those

yet, time
whj
are

mind, they destroy with

fire and
The

of their

religion."
as

tolerant the

spiritof
and

Mohammedanism,
of

contrasted
thus
"

with

bigotry

fanaticism

Christianity,is
:

admirably shown
wars

by

the celebrated
were

historian, Gibbon
sanctified

The

of among

the

Mohammedans the various

the

by

the of

Prophet,
his

but the tend

was

precepts and
lessons of
of of the the

examples
toleration

life"

Caliphs
to

selected the and

that

might
Arabia
;

disarm

resistance

unbelieving.
God
of

the he

temple
beheld
of

patrimony
less The

Mohammed
the other

but

with

jealousy and might

be

affection

nations
were a

the

earth.
his
name

polytheistsand

idolators

who

ignorantof

but lawfullyextirpated, after

wise

and of justice, policysupplied the obligations

142

CHARGES

REFUTED.

The

Patent

of Mohammed,
Mount

which

he

granted to
in

the Monks

of

Sinai,
is

and

to Christians

general.
whom
no

"As

God
are

great and
for
;

governeth, from
remaineth the

all the
of justice inunto

prophets

come,

there

record
are

againstGod
men,

through
son

giftsthat
the

given
of

Mohammed,
careful

the

of Abdallah,
the

Apostle

God,
the

and

guardian
to
as religion,

of

whole that and

world, has
are

written

present instrument,
and of his

all those
a secure

his national

people,
to

promise positive
and relations

be the
the

accomplished
Nazareen,
noble thus
"

to

the

Christian

nation

of be

whosoever the

they

may

be, whether
or

they

or

vulgar, the

honourable

otherwise, saying

I. Whosoever which
acts

of my

nation in this the oath

oath of

is contained

promise and present agreement, destroysthe promise

shall presume
to

break

my

God,

coiitmiy

to

and

will be

resister of the faith

curse,

(which

God

forbid himself

!),for he
or a

becometh
man, any
or

worthy
what

of the

whether be.

he be the

king
"

poor

person

soever

he may

II. That
on

whenever

of the monks

in his travels shall in any other habitable

or

settle the

any
or

or village, mountain, hill,

happen to place,on
I

sea

in deserts, or

in any
as

convent, church,
the preserver

house

of prayer,

shall be their all my

an
"

in the midst and

of them,

and

protector of them,

goods

with effects,

my

national
to
me.

people,because
I command

with jointly soul, aid and protection, and people, they are a part of my own

honour

III. Moreover,
or

all officers not

to

requireany polltax
be forced
or

of

them
to

any

other

because tribute,

they

shall not

compelled
but

anything of
"

this kind. shall

IV.

None

presume

to

change

their

judges

or

governors,

they
"

shall remain No
one

in their office without

being deposed. they

are

V. VI.

shall molest churches

them

when
are

on travelling
one

the road.

"

Whatever

they

of, no possessed

is to

deprive

them
"

of them. VII. Who-^oever shall annul any of these my of God.

decrees,let him

know

that positively
"

lie annuls

the ordinance their

VIII.

Moreover,
any

neither

judges,governors,
them,
shall pay

monks,
any

servants,
or

or diaciples,

others

depending on

polltax,

CHARGES

REFUTED.

143

be

molested

on

that account, because land

or

am or

their protector, wheresoever

either by they shall 1)8, both

sea, east
to

west, north
are

or

south in

because my

they

and

all and

that

belong

them

included

this

promissoryoath
"

patent.
that live

IX.

And

of those shall
exact

quietlyand
nor

solitary upon
tithes from

the

tains, moun-

they
neither

neither

poll tax

their

incomes,

shall any maintain Whenever

Mussulman
themselves. the crop

partake of

what

they have, for they labour

only
"

to

X.

of the

earth

shall

be

plentifulin

its due

time, the
a

inhabitants
measure.

shall be

out obliged,

of every

bushel,to give them

certain
"

XI.

Neither

in

time

of

war

shall

they

take
nor

them
even

out

of

their

nor habitation,

requireof them

compel them to any poll tax."

eleven
; as to

go to the wars,

then shall

they

[In
to

these

chapters is
the

to

be found

whatever

relates

the monks

remaining seven

chaptersthey direct

what
"

relates to every
Those
are

Christian.]
who the
are

XII.

Christians
able
to

and

traffic

pay

and inhabitants, poll tax, shall pay

with
no

their

riches
12

more

than

drachmas. "XIII.

Excepting this,nothing
the express veneration word of
a

more

shall says
sent
:

be
'

required
Do
not

of

them,
those

according to
that have in
a

God,

that
are

molest but

for the Books

that

from

God,

rather,
with

kind and

manner,

give of
every
one

your from

good thingsto them,

and

converse

them,
"

hinder If
a

molestingthem.'
shall the the them
to

XIV.

Christian
shall
not

woman
cross

happen

to

marry his

the from
"

Mussulman her XV. XVI.

inclination

of

wife

Mussulman, to keep her

chapeland
That
no

prayers

and

practiceof
from

her

* religion.

person

hinder

repairingtheir churches.
grant,
or

"

Whosoever
to

acts

contrary

this my
an

gives credit
God and them

to

anything contrary
divine
to

it,becomes

truly

apostate

from

his

Apostle, because promise.

No
one

this protectionI have

granted to

according

this
"

XVII.

shall bear
war

arms

againstthem, but,

on

the

contrary,

the Mussulmans

shall wage

for them.

Turkish
son

lawyers give as
a

an

example
is bound
a

of this
to

of

Christian church and

mother

infirm, to
should

the

door,
possess

upon
no

beast

man point,that the Mussulwhen old or her, convey or mule, "c.) (horse ; and
to

he be poor shoulders.

he beast,

is bound

carry

her

on

his

144

CHARGES

REFUTED.

"

XVIII.
or

And

by

this I ordain
to

that

none

of my the end

nation

shall presume

to do

act

contrary

this

promise until
Witnesses
:

of the world.

Ali, the Homar,

son

of Abu
son son son son

Thaleb.

Abombaker, Ottman,
the

the
son

son

of Ambi

Kaphe.

the

of Hattavi.

of Gatas.
son

Ziphir,the Saith,the Thavitt,the

of Abuan. of Maat. of Nesis.

son

Ambtelack, Phazer, the Talat,the Saat,the Kasmer,

the
son

of Messutt.

of Abbas. of

son son

Amptonlack.
of Abid.
son

Amphachin,
Muathem,
Azur, the
"

the
son

of Hassan.

of Abbatt.
son

the
son

of Kasvi.

the

of Jassin.

Ambtullack, by
the

the

of Omar.

This of Abu

present
Thaleb of the

was

written the

leader,the
it with

successor

of hand

Ali, the
at

eon

prophet marking
whom be peace

his the
*

own

the

Mosque

Prophet (on
day

!)in

second

y^ar

of the

Hegira, the

third

of the month

of Machorem."

The
to

above

facts and
every

arguments will,it
and

is

presumed,suffice
that this of

convince

candid

unprejudiced mind
scandalous.

second

charge against Mohammed

being utterly devoid

foundation, is,therefore, both false and

Charge The
sensual character

III.
as

of his

Paradise

described

hy the
is the

Koran. sensual
to

Another character those the who

Mohammed charge brought against

of

the

joys promised by
his Law, and
;

him

in

his

Paradise

shall receive
it

conform

their lives to
will be

precepts

contains is

but,
so

upon

reflection,it
in this
as

"found

that there

nothing

absurd

is

generally
bodies
form
so

imagined by Christians, when

will,as
we are

it is considered
at

that

our

told,assume,
surpass

the

resurrection, a
we can

to as perfect infinitely
*

all that

conceive, and
sectaries to his

Mohammed

himself

had

recommended

the Christian

had confirmed and which were by captains, granted them protections Othman the third Caliph Omar, and imder preserved and continued It not being customary in those days to date documents, it is and Ali. no date,and that the one very probable that the original patent had the it in text was given assigned at a subsequent periodby the writer.

CHARGES

REFUTED.

145

that

our

senses

will
be

acquire so

extraordinaryan
the

and activity

vigour
take

as

to

of susceptible

each greatestpleasures,

to according

the difference those

of their

for,indeed,if objects,
proper

we
we

away

from

faculties their

exercise,if

deprivethem
cannot

of the

fit

and gratify to please them, objects

it

be

otherwise
us

than

supposed that they have

but
even

not

only
us

been

given
that

to

no

purpose,

to

inflict upon
in

continiial

disappointmentand
the soul
case

pain. For,
are

fact, by
to us,
as a

posing supmust

and
if

body
our

restored
are

be necessarily

the

bodies

restored in
it
can

perfect

state, it is
that
order

not

clear upon
should
not

what

grounds
of

be

supposed
upon, in

the

senses

have

to objects

exercise

to be

capable of bestowingand they may

And of

all tasting

the

sures pleabe
of

which any

be
or

capableof affording.Can degradationin

to that
sexes
"

there

sin, crime, shame

? pleasures
"

the

enjoyment

such

as

pleasuremore
did
not

particularly
tute instiever

denounced and

that

the the

the

Almighty
who had

grant
the

it to world

two

most
as

perfectcreatures
the

appeared in

? and them He

Almighty
was

and freely
for

liberally provided for

of life,so preservation
most

whatever
made
act

necessary

the the

them
and

of susceptible

rapturous delight in the

duty

of

multiplying
the

their

species.
Mohammed,
and in his

That
use

Koran, promises the faithful

of women,

mentions

delightful gardens
that he

and

other

sensual

is true, ])ut deliglits,

placesthe
For
as

chief
soul

ness happimore

in these noble
own

things is body, so

mistake.
he
was

the
allow

is

than

the

willingto
he who

the

body

its

tliat by pleasures, allure easily what

one was

the reward

promised he might tlie

more

the rude and

Arabians

thought of nothing
in his
own

but

gross

sensual, to fall into the worship of God,

as

the
But

and

only true

expounded

doctrine.

Mohammed

always assignedto

the soul its

of of

peculiar
will be \\\\\ whieli
L

the beholding the viz., pleasures, the

face

God, which

of all delights, the fulness greatest

joy,and

146

CHARGES

REFUTED.

cause

all the other

of pleasures

Paradise graze

to

be

they forgotten,
He that

being common
beholdeth his

to the

cattle which

in the field. and

gardens, wives, goods

of
a

servants,

reaching
in the

through the
lowest them

space

thousand

years' journey,is
of Paradise with It honour
morn.

but

degree among
His divine

the inhabitants

; but

among
templates con-

he is in the supreme

degree of

God,

who

countenance

every

is,therefore,
consist
; it is

false that the

of pleasures

the

Mohammedan
and the l)elieve
on use

Paradise of

in corporealthings exclusively

them

false,also,tliat
be

all Mohammedans many

those

to pleasures

for corporeal, said

contend,

the
to
as

contrary, that
be the considered Doctors

those
as

thingsare
Christian
mere

and parabolically,

are

of

in spiritual delights,

the

same

manner

of is not

the
a

Church

maintain

that is to be

"

Solomon's

Song"
in
a

Epithalamium, but
as

understood Church.*

spiritual Liturg.,'
are

sense

of typical famous

Christ's love for His

in his
'

The p.

Hyde,

Not

ad

Biboi, Turcar,

21, writes, "That

wiser

those

sensual
to

pleasuresof
be human

Paradise
"

thought by
may
as

Mohammedans
conceived

allegoricalthat they understanding, just

said after

be in

then

better

by

the of I

Holy Scripturesmany
men.

things are
the
Morocco

the

manner

For, writing to
a

ambassador,
of such
;

when

mentioned

garden pleasantlike
back the
ear

that
was

Paradise,^
a

he, checking me,

to

wrote

that

Paradise could
be

place
as

which
eye

nothing
hath
man

in

world

likened

such

neither
the the in

seen,

heard, neither
To this may

hath

it entered be

into

heart of

to conceive."

likewise after

added,

testimony of
his
'

the famous

Herbelot

who,
the of

having shown place

celestial
the

Bibliotheca

that Orientalis,'

Mohammedans

the

chief
the

good

in

the Communion
of the

God, and
Divine

joys in

fruition

light of

the

countenance

"

Moslem

of

some

the

descriptionof

Paradise
'

measure, of St. John,' and

same

like figurative,
'

learning professed to me (given in the Koran) said he, in the book those,'
'

that
to

he

considered
in
a

be,

great
of the

of the Revelationswere

he assured

me

that many

learned

Moslems

(Lane's opinion.""

Modern

Egypt,'vol. i. p. 75, note.)

CHARGES

REFUTED.

147
writes thus is, who have

which

makes

Paradise

wherever
many
"

it

"

:
"

It is

not, therefore,true Mahometans

other

which asserted Heaven

authors the the

opposed
know
no

have

that but

Mussulmans
use

happiness in
senses."

of

which pleasures

affect the From

what
been

it precedes, said and

follows

that

much

more

than

is

just has

written

about doubt

the that

sensual
from
a

character Christian
usages

of Mohammed's

religion.No
and

point of view,
the

taken

in

the

certain abstract,
to

of

peoplesof
as

the East

present themselves
as

European
with
a

cism critilittle less

real defects

and

great vices, but

should
into
account

more

of

evangelicalcharity we
should
climate

treat

them

severely. We
of

take
and

more

the

influence social

origin and

the

material

of necessity

obligations. Equallymistaken, if
in
not
are wilfully unjust,

those who
of

find
own

Mohammed's

sensual

Paradise,

reflex

his

character, and

represent the

Prophet (impostorthey
much
to the

call

him)
was

as

sensual

for,so voluptuary,

contrary,he
of what

poor,

hard-toiling, ill-provided man,

so

careless for.

vulgarmen

eagerlylabour

and

contend

Charge The

IV. has

encouragement Mohammed

givento

licentiousness

by

legalizing Polygamy. Polygamy long back

it is
as

was

custom

general throughout the East, so

Abraham,
in and

the

days

of the Patriarch

which,

certain,from
we

innumerable

passages
not

some Scripture,

of which

shall quote, could been

was

in

those

purer

ages

of

mankind, have

regardedas
detachment It
was

sinful. the ancient

men

Polygamy
in

permitted among

Greeks,

as

the

case

of the

of young

from

the army,

mentioned and Plato.

and

by

Plutarch,
ancient

also defended
were
more

by Euripides
severe

The
never

Eomans

in

their

morals,

it,although it practised

was

not
L

forbidden
2

148

CHAKGES

EEFUTED.

among who

them:

and

Marc

Antony

is mentioned
two

as

the that

first time

took

the

libertyof having
in

wives.

From

it became

pretty frequent
and
a.d.
an

the

empire
who this

till the
first

reigns of
Valen-

Theodosius, Honorius

Arcadius,
After the

prohibitedit

by
if

an

express

law,

393.

the

Emperor

tinian

permitted, by
the

edict, all

subjects of the empire,

;
nor

to they pleased,

marry

several wives

does

it appear,

from

ecclesiastical
made
any

history of
its of of

those

times, that

the

bishops
tinianus
many

objection to
son

introduction.
the

Valen-

Constantius,

Constantine

Great, had
and

wives. his

Clotaire,King
sons,

France,

and

Heribartus Add
to

Hypericus Pepin
likewise and
a

had

also. plurality

these,
nesses witas

and
that

Charlemagne, they had

of

of

whom

St.

Urspergensus
and his

several wives, Lothaire

of

son,

Arnolphus VII., Emperor

of France.

Germany

(a.d. 888),
and
race

descendant

Charlemagne, Frederic
Among
Gontran,
at
one

Barbarossa the first

PhilipTheodatus, King
the

of

Kings
his

of the

Franks,

Caribert, Sigebert and

time. Gontran had

Chilperic had
within

several

wives,

palaceVeneranda
as

and

Mercatrude
; Caribert

and had

Ostregilde,
Merflida,

acknowledged
Marconesa

his

wives legitimate

and Daniel
not

Theodogilda.
confesses the
three

Father He

the

polygamy
of

of the French

Kings.
she

denies

wives

Dagobert I., expressly

wife, named
his uncle he

assertingthat
had
He
a

Theodobert

espoused Dentary, although

another imitated

husband, and himself

that in this of he

Visigelde.
had

adds,

Clotaire, who

espoused the
three With
it has
women

widow

Creodomir,

although

already

wives.

respect
been in

to

the

reasons physiological

for

polygamy,
that
or

observed
hot of climates

by
are

the

celebrated

Montesquieu

marriageable at eight,nine
those

ten

years

age ; thus, in

countries, infancy and

are

marriage twenty.

almost Their

always
reason,

go

together. They
never

old

at

therefore,

accompanies

their

150

CHARGES

KEFUTED.

sionaries

came

among

these
held that

primitivepeople, they
the

raged encou-

and celibacy,
a

marriage of

man

with

widow

was

bigamy, and
into the monogamy, ancient

punishablecanonically.At length
as

we

subsided

appears

to

have

been

the De ('

practiceof
Moribus
As
to

Germans,

agreeably to
it will

Tacitus

Germanorum.')*
the

lawfulness
the

of

polygamy,
in

be

seen

by
was

to referring

following passages
but
even

Scripture,that
Jehovah

it

not

only approved
xxx.,
v.

blessed

by
11 ;

himself

:
"

Genesis,
V.

22 ;

Exodus, xxi.,v.
20
v., ; 1
v.

Deuteronomy, xvii.,
xxv.,
v.

17

; 1

v. 1, 2, 11, Samuel, i.,

Samuel,
13 ;

42,

43 30

; ;

v. Samuel, xii.,

8 ; 2

Samuel,

v. Judges, viii.,

Judges, X.,
St.
"

V.

4 ;

v. 9, 14. Judges, xii.,

Chrysostom, speaking things were

that
many
"

of

Abraham forbidden."

and
So

Hagar,
St.
of be

says,

These

not
was

then
a

Augustine
one man

observes

there

blameless that time

custom

having
way of

wives, which
which
now

at cannot

might
but

done

in

duty,

be done

from

ness, licentiouslaio

because, for the

sake

of

no multiplyingposterity,

of wives, f forhad a plurality

Boniface, Confessor
of Lower

Germany,
in order
to

having
to

consulted in what

Pope
cases

Gregory, in
a

the year

726,
be

know
two
same

husband

might
the
a
"

allowed
November be attacked

have
of the
a

wives,
year, which may

on Gregory replied,

22nd

in

these

words her

"

If for

wife

by

malady
husband
his

renders
marry

unfit but

conjugal intercourse,
that
case

the

another,

in

he must

allow

sick wife

all necessary

support and
have been

assistance."

Many
even

works writers of the

publishedin

defence

of

polygamy
Ochinus,
the the
on

by

Christianity. professing
Order of

Bernardo

General middle

Capuchins, published, about

century, dialoguesin
same

of the

sixteenth
about the

favour
a

of

and practice,
*

time

appeared

treatise

iixoribus contenti singulis Prope soli barbarorum vol. i. See Grotius, De Jure,' p. 268, note.
'

sunt.

CHARGES

REFUTED.

151

behalf
was

of

of plurality

wives

; the

author, whose

real

name

Lysarus,having
Selden

assumed

the

pseudo

one

of

Theophilus

Aleuthes.
proves,
not

in his

'

Uxor the

Hebraica,' Jews,
but

that

polygamy
among

was

allowed
other But

only
most

among

likewise

all

nations. the defender distinguished of

'

polygamy
on

was

the

celebrated

Jolm after

Milton, who,

in

his

Treatise
from

Christian in

Doctrine,*
defence
of

quoting

various
"

passages

the Bible
in
as an

the

practice, says

Moreover, God,

gorical alle-

fiction

(Ezekielxxiii,), represents Himself

wives, Aholah
and

having ing speakindeed,

tice pracor

espoused two
which

Aholiah,
no means

"

mode

of

Jehovali
such

would

by
even

have

employed,

especiallyat
have
taken which it

length

in
a

parable,nor,
at

upon

Himself

such

character

if the all,

impliedhad

been

dishonourable intrinsically

shameful."
"

On

what

then, gi-ounds,
or

can

be practice is

considered
no

as one

so even

dishonourable
under

shameful
for

which

prohibitedto
existed
elders

the

Gospel ;
It is from and of

that

annuls dispensation

none

of the

merely
be

civil

which regulations

to previously

its introduction. should chosen

only enjoinedthat
such
as were

and of

deacons
one

husbands

wife
to

(1 Tim.
be
the in

v. iii., 2,

Tim.
more

i., 6). This

than
one

not implies,

that be
a

husband that
on

wife

would
have been

sin,

for,

case,

the

restriction that
in

would

equally
were

imposed
for

all, but
domestic
of

proportion as
be

they
more

less leisure

entangled in
the is interdicted

affairs, they would

Church.

at

business

the

Since, therefore, polygamy

of the

in this passage
not
none on

to the ministers

Church
in

alone,

and

that,

account

of any

sinfulness
are

the

and practice, from

since

of the other members

or

precluded
it
was

it,

either

here

elsewhere,
all the

it follows

that

permitted, as

aforesaid, to
*

remaining

members

of

Page

237

et seq.

152

CIIAEGES

REFUTED.

the

Church,

and

that

it

was

adopted by
Hebrews,
or

many

without

offence."
"

Lastly,I
is

argue either

as

follows, from

xiii., v.

"

Polygamy

marriage,fornication
fourth
state.

adultery.
for
so

The

Apostle recognisesno patriarchswho

one
'

Eeverence

many every

were

polygamists will, I trust,

as

deter

from

considering it
and

fornication God
loill

or

adultery, for
the
as

whoremongers
were

adulterers

judge,'whereas

Patriarchs himself
so same

the

objects of
and

his

especialfavour,
be
:

he

witnesses.

If, then, polygamy

marriage properly according to

all and the the bed in

called,it

is also lawful
'

honourable

Apostle, marriage

is Jionourahle

undefiled.
Mohammed,
honoured
but

therefore,did
even

but

not only a practice legalize

blessed declared

by

God

Himself,
and
be

under

the

old

and dispensation,

to be

lawful
must

honourable exonerated
and

under
from

the the

new

one

he and, consequently,

charge
chief

of

having

sanctioned

polygamy,

thereby
that

encouraged licentiousness.
The

arguments
into
the

adduced

againstpolygamy
state
a

are

it introduces which that

matrmionial

despoticusurpation
the
that
sexes

of the equality destroys of

rank

between

it is destructive

real love and domestic of

a

friendship ;
of wives
a

it is

the parent of
The

jealousyand
the

dissensions.

belief that where

possessor

harem

in those

countries
sway
over

polygamy
is
one

is

permitted,exercises
errors

despotic people
Where

them,

of

those of

which

Western

adopt
marital

from

their

ignorance

Asiatic
it

manners.

prevailsin discipline
those whom

the East
condemns
are

is,on
to

the contrary,
It will Those of

amongst
often rule
who

poverty
where

monogamy.

happens
the have
which

that

there

many the

wives,

one

rest, and
looked

the
into

husband the
works

into written

bargain.
by
natives
manners,

the
will

East,
at
once

give true
that

of particulars

Oriental
of
women

perceive

the

notion

being

the

CHARGES

KEFUTEJ).

53

objects of

domestic

tyranny

in

that

part

oi

the "is

world

is

merely
in

ideal.

"Little," says
of the

Mr.

Atkinson,*
women

stood under-

England
the

real situation of their

in the East

beyond
slaves

impression of
it is this

being everywhere
and

absolute
a

to to

their tyrant husbands,

cooped
be

up

in

harem,
than

which
a

them,
But

supposed, can
he

nothing
shows

better how

prison."
and

denies, and

he

much
women

power possess.

how
So far
a

many from

privileges Mohammedan
the harem

being
his he

prison to
himself
passes foot

the

wives,
treated

it is
as an

where place of liberty,

the husband

is the

interloper.The
children,
in
servants

moment

threshold, everything reminds

and
master ;

him

that

is

no

longerlord
to

and

slaves

look alone
:

the

principallady ; good humour,

nothing
goes

short, she is paramount

on

when when
a

she
in

is in

everything goes
right.
Mirza Abu

well,
Thaleb
between
to
our

and

bad,

Khan,

Persian

nobleman,
years in ago,

who

visited

England
visit

sixty and
domestic

eighty
habits,

and

paid great attention

of his

the

account
was

which
into

he

afterwards

published,
to

and
show

which that

translated Mohammeden

English,assigns reasons
have
more

the
are

woman

power

and
pean Euroof

and liberty,
ones,

invested
he of

with

than greaterprivileges
at
once

and

annihilates

the

notion
"

the
what

marital
I
two

despotism

polygamy, by observing,
to

From

know

it is easier

live

with

two

than tigresses

with

wives." The celebrated traveller Niebuhr

"

is of mistaken

the in

same

opinion.
medans Mohamcould
of of not

"

Europeans," he observes,-f
state of

are

thinking that
the
I

the

marriage
what such
to

is

so

different

amongst
nations. The
as

from

it is with difference

Christian
in Arabia. and is

discern

any
seem

women

that

country
can

be

as

free

happy

those

Europe

possiblybe.
*
'

Polygamy
and Manners

permitted,indeed, amongst
of Persia.'

Customs

of the Women

t 'Travels.'

154

CHARGES

REFUTED.

Mohammedans,
this
idea
; but

and the

the

delicacy of

our

ladies

is shocked of

at

Arabians four number

so

rarely avail
lawful
of

themselves
and

the

privelegesof marrying
at

wives,
female

entertaining,
None but is

the

same

time,

any

slaves.
their

rich

voluptuaries marry by
all sober
men.

many Men than his

wives, and
of
sense,

conduct

blamed

indeed, think
A

the

privilege rather

troublesome
to treat

convenient.

husband
their
dition, con-

is,by law, obliged

and
to

wives favours
are

suitablyto
amongst
not
a

dispense
but

his

them

with

perfect equality!
to
are

these

duties and

agreeable little disof

most

Mussulmans,
to

such
are

modes seldom

luxury
in easy

too

expensive

the

Arabians, who

circumstances."
Then
as

to

its be

being

destructive whether whom

to

of

real

love the

and

ship, friendclasses

it may in this

doubted
to

amongst
if

higher

hemisphere,

polygamy,
the
be expense

permitted,would
it would

be

confined chiefly

(owing
would
or

entail in

there establishments),

less real

and

less

reciprocal
at

friendship in
in the money, first. the
common

second cold

third

connection

than

present

The

formalityof marriage settlements, pinand carriages, the upper

separate
among

other

domestic
must

ments arrange-

classes,
to
are

destroy

all

the

tender

sentiments
women

which
our

belong

pure,
more

disinterested

love ; and

in

fashionable

life

frequently

bought
As notion
as

and

sold

than

in

polygamic
an

countries. is
a

to

polygamy being
the

extinguisher of love, this

source

springing from
which

same

of
to

absurd
the

prejudices only
all

that

suggests Old

England polygamy
the
source
we

be

land

of

liberty and things

the said

happiness.
of of

If

deserved
of
so

the evils

hard and
it

it,if
so

it

was

many

spring

few

enjoyments,
so

should

scarcely see
the

in vogue refinement

throughout
has

large

portion of

world,

where

made

so

little progress.

PAET

IV.

BEAUTIES

OF

THE

KORAN.

SOLE

CHAPTER

Alms-giving,
Creation peers and

its of

reward world
"

"

Happiness
"

of God

true

believers the
Him

in

Paradise is without of

"

the

God,
His

no

but

One
"

who

eternal that God's

All

works from

praise
His
"

Refutation
on

the

assertion
"

Jehovah throne
not
"

rested
or

labours God's
"

the

seventh presence
or

day
"

Corsi,
It

tribunal
to

(note)
children of
man

universal of God and shall

"

beseemeth

God

beget

Path

happiness
Terrors atom's made
to

of

misery, Day
of the of
"

for whom

Ingratitude
;

towards of

of the

Judgment
Under it has
"

the

atom's

weight

good
soul

the be

weight
know
"

evil

what

circumstances
"

the

sins

committed and be
a

Accountability
respect due
but from and
"

of

irrational

animals

Infanticide
"

Kindness
not to

to

parents, Al
the
to

Forkan
"

(note
Just God's
"

The

Koran
"

touched mission
"

by
God games Justice of

purified (note)
Mohammed chance
"

balance

The

Koran

protection
Respect piety
how
"

of Mohammed love

Wine

of

forbidden

and

for parents
"

(note)

towards the

orphans
"

"

True

Prayer

enjoined
and how

Punishment lost
"

slanderer

The

soul,

preserved

Women.

Alms. Whatsoever
out

ye of ye

put

at

usury,
no

to

iucrease from

with God of

the
; but

substance whatsoever
shall

others,
shall
unto

shall

have

increase

give
you.

in

alms,

as

seeking the face

God,

be

doubled

Fear and
from

God,

then,
for

with
your

all your
own

might,
weal
;

and

hear
as

and
are

obey,
saved

give
their

alms
own

for

such

greed, shall

prosper.

156

BEAUTIES

OF

THE

KORAN.

They
and

who
in
;

give

away

their substance

in

alms, by night
with shall

day,
Lord

private and public,shall have their reward

no

their

fear

shall

come

upon

them,

neither

they
And
vow,

be put to

grief.
ye

whatsoever
of
a

shall knoweth Give

give, and
it,but
ye your

whatsoever

ye

shall

truth
no

God

they who
alms

act

unjustly
it is ?

shall well.

have
Do

helpers.
conceal will

openly ?
cleanse

ye

them

and

give them
and

to the poor

this,
of

too, is well, and

your sins. God

advantage you
your

will

you

is

cognizantof

actions.

Believers But
are

(the reward
believed
no

of).
done the

to those

who
will

have

and
a

thingswhich
his power
ever

right (we bear)

And

lay on
be

one

burden

beyond

to

these

shall

inmates

of

Paradise, for

shall

they abide
we

therein.
will
remove

whatever
at

rancour

was

in shall

their
say, had

bosoms
"

; rivers

shall flow

their feet, and

they
!
a

Praise been

be

to

God,

who
not
came

hath God
to
us

guided
with

us

hither !

We

not

guided,had
our

guided us

Of

surety the
voice

of apostles
say your
unto

Lord
"

truth,"and
as

shall
of

them,
ye

This

is

Paradise, of which,
lieirs."

the

meed

works,

are

made
who

But
are

for those

have

believed
into

and

done

the

thingsthat
which

we right,

will

bring them
to

gardens 'neath
them
will

the

rivers have

flow wives

"

therein
of

abide

eternally ; therein
and
we

shall

they

stainless

purity ;

bring into

aye-shadowingglades.
Creation.
It is God
canst
sun

who behold
moon

hath
; then

created

the

heavens He His

without

pillars
and
to to

thou
the

ascended

throne,
travelleth
He
a

and

assignedHe
He ye ordereth may have

laws, each
all firm

its

appointed goal. signs clear

your that

things.
faith in

maketh

his with

meeting

Lord.

158

BEAUTIES

OF

THE

KOKAN.

then

ascended and

the that

throne.* which from is with ye do. do

He issueth

knoweth
out

that which of

entereth
and

the earth which

the

same,

that

descendeth
He

heaven
you, His all

and

that ye

which may

ascendeth
be ; for God

thereto ; and
seeth that

wheresover is the

which
unto

kingdom
return.

of heaven He

and
the

earth, and

God the
He

things
he the

causeth
to

night
the
hearts.

to

succeed

day, and

causeth
innermost

the

day

succeed
of

night; and

knoweth

parts

men's

GOD.f
Praise be unto The

God,

the Lord

of creation,

the all-compassionate ! all-mercil'ul,

Ruler Thee do Lead The Not

we

of the

Day

of

Reckoning
Thee do
we

worship, and
us

invoke

for

help.

in the

straight path,
Thou
are

path
Or

of those

to whom

hast been of objects

gracious, wrath,

in that of those who who walk

"

the

in He

error

Say
He

is God

alone ;
!

God

! the Eternal

begettethnot
Nor
is there

and

is not

begotten,
Him."

any hands

like unto is the

Blessed All Who

be He

in whose He

kingdom,

and

over

things is
is most

potent.
Death and

hath Of you

created

Life,to

prove

which

righteousin
"

his deeds.

He Who No The

is the hath

mighty
created

the
seven

forgiving. heavens, one

above another of
; in the gaze,

defect can'st thou God Shall of

discover

creation and
it

Mercy

repeat thy

return

unto

thee dulled

and

weary. whatever
"

"

We
in

created six

the heavens

and

the

earth,and

ia between

affected us (Koran, chap. 50). days ; and no weariness " This in answer revealed to the Sale this was observes, Upon passage, creation the seventh His of work from rested God said that on Jews, who day, and reposed Himself on His throne as one fatigued." t This prayer is recited several times in each of the five dailyprayers, other occasions,as in concluding a bargain, well as on many entering as Initial Prayer,' and answers It is called ' The into an engagement, etc. them
to

the

'

Lord's

Prayer

'

of the

Christians.
it several

The other

Mohammedans honourable

hold
as titles,

it in

the utmost

giving reverence, of treasure,etc.,and of thanksgiving, chapter of prayer, of praise, of the Koran. it as the quintessence

the

ing esteem-

BEAUTIES

OF

THE

KORAN.

159

Perceivest heaven
and

thou

not

that

God is
no

knoweth

whatever

is

in

in earth ? but sixth

a

There

private discourse among

of

three persons,
but

He

is the fourth
; neither

them

;
a

nor

among

five,

he is the

of them

among

smaller

number

than
may

this,nor
be ; and

but larger, will

He

is with
unto

them, wheresoever
them that God which

they they
all

He the

declare of

have

done, on

day

for resurrection,

knoweth

things.
With None He God
are

the

keys
them

of the secret besides is

on

things;
;

knoweth

Himself the He

knoweth There

that which
a

dry land,and
knoweth it ;

in the

sea

falleth not is there

a a

leaf but

Neither

Neither But

green

singlegrain in the dark recesses thing,nor a dry thing, perspicuousBook.

!

of the

earth,

it is written

in the

Glory unto
The
seven

Him

(God)

immensely high
the earth and doth
not

is He

exalted
are

heavens is there

Neither But

praiseHim, aught which

of

all who His

therein.
;

celebrate
not.

power

their utterance

praiseye understand
of the heavens Him
many

With

Him Look

(God)
thou
no

are

the secrets hearken

but
unto

and

the earth.

and

alone ! share
in his

Man

hath

guardian

He,

nor

judgments.

Whatever And

is in the heaven whether

you

and

the earth

"

is God's ; is in your

bring forth to lightwhat

with you fur it.

minds,

Or God

conceal

the same,

will

surely reckon

Swear
virtuous

not

by God,
fear

when
and

ye

make

oath
peace

that among

ye
men

will be
; for

and who

God,

promote

God

is He

Heareth,

Knoweth. for
a

God He God

will not

punish you
you for

mistake your

in your

oaths ; but have done.

will
is

punish

that

which

hearts

Gracious, Merciful.
belong the
Him Him all
then

To

God Unto

secret

things of
;

the heavens

and

the earth ;

things return
and

Worship Thy
Lord

put your

trust

in Him

is not

of thy doings. regardless

160

BEAUTIES

OF

THE

KORAN.

Oh

men!

ye

are

paupers

in

need

of

God, but

God

is the

rich, the praiseworthy.

Who
power

suppliethyou
over

from

heaven
and

and who from say:

earth ?

Who

hath the

hearing and
the
answer

sight?

bringeth forth
the
? living will

from living

dead, and
"

the dead then

Surely,
ye
not

they

will

"God!"

"What,

therefore Doth The He of

fear Him?"
any
one

desire

greatness?
to

All

greatness is

in

God. will

good
exalt.

word But

riseth up
a

Him,

and

the

righteousdeed
the
He will

terrible the

punishment
of

awaiteth such

planner surely
have
sion occa-

and iniquity,

machinations

confound.

They
ye

say,
an

the

Merciful

hath

begotten issue.
wanteth

Now
on

uttered

impious thing; it
heavens be the mountains
a son

little but the

earth

thereof, the
asunder,
and

rent, and
in

cleave that

fall down

for fragments, when

they
not

attribute

to the God
to

of mercy,

it beseemeth is
none
as

the All-merciful heaven

servant. and in

beget children.
but

there Verily,

in

eartli

shall

approach the

Merciful

His

Happiness

and

Misery

(for whom).
veil
; ;

By By By
Of But
And

the Night the Day

Hm
a

when when

she she

her spreadeth

brightlyshineth
and do ye aim and
:

who

created

the male

female
!

truth,at
as

different ends who

for him

giveth alms
unto

feareth

God,

yieldethassent
him
as

the
easy

good
the and

Unto But And Unto

will We who

make

path

to

happiness ;
xipon

for him

is covetous

bent

riches,

who

calleth the will We

Good,

lie,
the

him

make

easy

path

of

misery.
tion, foundaand

It is God
and your is God form
over

who

hath

given you
the heavens feedeth

the

earth

as

sure

it built

and

formed

you

made This the

comely, and
Lord,

you

with be

good things.
Lord of

your

Blessed

then

God, the

BEAUTIES

OF

THE

KORAN.

161

Worlds He.

Ho

is the

livingGod.
Him and the

No

god
of

is

there, except
Him
a

Call,therefore, upon
Praise
be unto and it who

offer Lord

unto

pure ! It
a

worship.
is He

God,

the Worlds
He

giveth life
of

death
"

; and

when it is.

decreeth

He only saith thing,

Be,"

and

Ingratitude

(of man
off

to

God.)
fire !
!

By
And And And And

the

snortingchargers! sparks of
morn

the war-liorses that dash tliosc tliat rush

stir therein
to

the attack at

the dust aloft ! their

cleave therein
man

Truly
And And
Ah

to

his Lord

midway through a ungratefulis,

a

host !

of this he is himself

witness

trulyhe is keen
! wottetli

in the love of this world's

good

he not
be

that when

that which

is in the grave

Shall And that which

laid

bare,
hearts shall be that

is in men's
on shall,

brought forth

their Lord Verily,

day, be informed

Concerningthem.
Judgment
On

Day. shall be
a

that

day (the last)there

all that
are on

blast upon

the

trumpet,
save

and whom
as

earth

shall be

terror-stricken,
all shall
come

him

God

to pleaseth

deliver ; and

unto

him

suppliants.
shalt
see

And
so

thou

the

mountains, which
the all

thou
a

thinkest 'Tis

firm, dissolve
of

away

like unto ordereth

passingof
Of

cloud.

the work He

God, who

things.

all that ye do,

is well
When And And On

aware.

the Earth the Earth

men

with

her

quaking shall tremble,

aileth her 1"

shall cast forth her burdens.

"

shall cry,

What

day shall she unfold her tidings, her. the Lord shall have inspired For,verily,
that that

On

day
To

shall the behold

an

sons

of

men

come

forward

in ranks.

their works atom's

And

whosoever

weight of good
the
same

shall have

wrought
wrought

Shall behold And whosoever

an

atom's

weight
the
same,

of evil shall have

Sliall behold

162

BEAUTIES

OF

THE

KORAN.

When And And And Each when

the heavens when

the
stars

shall cleave shall be shall be

asunder,

scattered,

when

the

oceans

the graves

shall be turned its earliest and

commingled, upsidedown.
its latest deeds.

soul shall behold

But And And On

when

one

blast shall be blown the mountains

into

on

the trumpet,

the earth and shall both that

shall be
at
a

upheaved.
shall

be crushed the
woe

dust
come

singlecrushing.

day

that must
come,

suddenly
that

Suddenly
And the heaven shall cleave It shall be On Nor that

asunder,for
: fragile

on

day

day

ye shall be of your

brought
deeds

before remain

Him

shall any

hidden

concealed.

When And And And

the when when when

sun

shall be

folded

up,*

the stars shall fall, the mountains the shall be made months gone
to pass away.

camels,ten

with

young,

shall be

f neglected, And And And And when when when when the wild the
seas

beasts shall be shall

J gathered together,
their

boil. again united

to

souls shall be the female asked

bodies.
alive shall be

child that had

been

buried

For And And And And Then

what when when when when

crime

she

was

put

to

death,"
shall be laid open.

the leaves of the Book the Heaven Hell shall be

stripped away, ||
to

shall be made shall be soul know

blaze.
near,

Paradise

brought
what

shall every

it hath

wrought.

That
To

is,like
express

t with

the
most

young
For

(a

garment that is laid by. greatness of the terror of the day, the she-camels of Arabs) shall be valuable part of the substance
believe that not
on

utterlyneglected.
%
the Mohammedans animals

also,shall

be

judged
on

that tremendous

only mankind, day ; when

but irrational the unarmed

cattle shall take vengeance given to the injured.

the horned, till entire satisfaction shall be the ancient fear

should

"

For

it

was

customary
as soon as

among

Arabs
should

to

bury
become

their
poverished im-

daughters
account.

alive,

by
11 Like
a

providingfur
an

Vjorn, for them, or

when

they

suffer

disgrace on

their

skin from

animal

flayed.

beauties

of

the

koran.

163

Kindness
Be

and

Hospitality
to

(recommended).
kindred, and
to

good
to

unto

parents,*and
and
to
a

orphans,
or

and

the

poor,

to

neighbour,whether
to

kinsman the

new-comer,

and

and fellow-traveller,
your

wayfarer,
kindness him
; with

and

to the slaves which

we

right hands
on man

hold.
to

Moreover,
unto

have

enjoined

show

his she

parents. With

pain
when he

his mother his

beareth

pain
are

bringeth him
and

fortli ; and

bearing and weaning

his !
cause

months, thirty
to

he
"

attaineth

strengthand
me

attaineth

fortyyears,
favours

saith, 0, Lord
thou

to be
me

gratefulfor thy
and my

wherewith

hast

favoured

parents."
Koran

(the).
down Al

Blessed

be
unto

He

who

hath

sent

FoRKANf

(the illuminator)
be
!
a

his servant, that unto

all creatures and

he may

warner.

His No All

the
son

kingdom
hath He

of the Heavens

of the Earth He

begotten !
He

No

partner hath

in His

empire !

things hath

created,
decreed their destinies !

hath And, decreeing,

By
Your

the Star

when

it

setteth,
erreth
own a

companion
doth he is
no

Mohammed

not,

nor

is he led astray ;

Neither The One

speak

of his

will. Revelation with wisdom revealed

to

Koran

other than

him

mighty

in power

J endued

taught it him.
ye

What Do ye

think

ye?
the

the tire which

strike,
the
same.

produce
Or
are

the tree whence

ye obtain

We

thereof 1 producers

the Egyptiansor heard of among is very seldom Sons ever or the Arabians, in general. sit, eat, or smoke, in scarcely bidden to do unless of the father, so the presence ; and they often wait other occasions ; they his guests at meals, and on and upon him upon thus when do not to act (Lane's 'Modem they Viecomc men." cease
*
"

An

undutiful

son

Egypt,' vol. i.)

+

The

word

Forkmi, taken
derived in the

deliverance ; it was it to the Pentateuch it to the Koran.

in a general sense, means illumination, frimi tlie Jews, who applic(I l)yMohaiiuued the Arabian as same manner applied prophet of whose
name,
as

to the meaning angelGabriel, of God, these words probablyapply.

t The

the strong one

164

BEAUTIES

OF

THE

KORAN.

We And Wherefore

have
an

ordained

the

same

for

an

admonition,*
the desert.

advantage to
name

the

wayfarers of

praisethe Moreover, I swear (And

That it is
a

thy Lord, the Great God. of the stars, by the setting if knew it) great oath, ye Koran, preservedBook
:t is written
in the

of

this is the honourable which

The

originalof
Let It is
a

none

touch from

it but the the Lord

;t purified
of all creatures.

revelation

Measure
Woe Who when But
unto

(should
stint
measure

be

just).
or

those who take

the

measure

weight !
the

they
when

by

from
or

others exact
to

full,
!

they
no

mete

out

weigh they Day

them

minish

What,

have For

they

thought Day,

that that

shall be raised when mankind

again?

the Great stand

Shall

before the Lord

of the Worlds?

The Hath The And And

Lord

of mercy
man,

hath a:id

taught his taught him

each bend

servant

the

Koran,

created
sun

articulate their

speech.

and

the

moon

have the trees

He

times.

the

plantsand
hath

in adoration.
on

the Heaven And

hath

reared it up balance
not
:

high.

appointed a

That

in the balance

ye should

transgress;
scant not

with fairness, and Weigh, therefore,

the balance.

The Who The And Then

striking

!" what
men

is the

striking?
is? striking

shall teach thee what

the

day
as

when

shall be like scattered

moths.
wool. his

the mountains
to

shall be like flocks of carded balances

are

him
a

whose

heavy

"

Shall As

be

life that shall balances

pleaseHim
are

well ;

to him

whose

his light,

Dwelling-placeshall
*

be the

pit.
the

To

put
some

men

in mind

of the

which resurrection,

production of

fire in

sort

or resembles,

of the fire of hell.

the prototype of the Koran written down in the book kept t That is, by God himself. (See p. 62.) and body being requisite in him who should X Purity both of mind
use

this book
reason

with
these

the
words
"

respect he
are

which

"

Sometimes
to

called

The

ought, and hopes to edifyby it ; for written the cover. on iisually (See p. 67.) Bloio." This is one of the names or epithets
it will strike the hearts

given
terror.

the last

day, because

of all creatures

with

166 Recite, thou,in

Created Man Recite It is He who hath Hath

fiEAUTIES

OF

THE

KORAN.

the

name

of the

Lord, who

created

*
"

from

nought thy

but

congealed blood.
is beneficent. pen ;

! for

Lord

taught(torecord Revelation)with a what he knoweth not, taughtman

I
swear

by
and

the

decliningday,+
destruction
are

Verily,man's
Save those who And believe

lot is cast amid do the

things which

right,
to
one

enjointruth,and

recommend

steadfastness

another.

Moral Have
an

In.junctions.

nought

to do

with

for adultery,

it is

foul

thing and

evil way.

Speak
observe

unto

the

believers Thus

that will

they restrain they be

more

their eyes and pure. God is

continence. of what

well

aware

they do.
on

Walk cleave the

not

proudly
All

the
canst

earth, for thou

thou

canst

not

earth, neither

equal

the

mountains

in stature.

this is evil and

abominable

in the

sightof

the Lord.

Be and

patientwith
even,

those
His

who face
in
:

call upon and

of

the

Lord thine
of
to

at

morn

seeking
from him

let not the

pomp

eyes

be

turned neither the

away

them whose
of

quest
we

this life ;

obey

heart
and

have

caused
his

neglect
and

remembrance

Us,

who

followeth

lusts

leaveth

the truth behind

him. hath
to

Come,
upon
you

I will
:

rehearse
ye
to

what

your

Lord

made
as

binding
partner;
your

that

assign not
for

aught
them

Him
ye

that ye be children

good

your of

parents ; and

that

slaynot

because

poverty,

and

for you

will "We

The

command

delivered been

by

the

angel Gabriel

to

Mohammed. his

(See death,

p.

15.)
recited in the

t Said to have by Mohammed.

Mosque shortlybefore

BEAUTIES

OF

THE

KORAN.

167

provide ;
inward,
you,

that

ye

come

not

near

to

outward pollution,
God hath

or

and

that
for
a

ye

slay not

one

whom hath

forbidden you,

unless
intent

just cause.
may

This

He

enjoined on

to the

that ye

understand.

believers !
and work
to
sow

surely
Avoid

wine
arrows

and

games

of
an

chance,* and
of

statues

the
!

divining
hatred
and

are

al)omination
jirosper. you,

Satan's seeketh
games of

them,
and

that

ye

may

Satan

strife among
you ye

liywine

and

of

chance,
and

to turn ;

aside from not, the

the remembrance from

upon

(Jod

prayer

will

therefore,abstain

them?
vour
""

Obey
guard.
ye, who before
or

(lod,

and

obey

Apostle, and

be

0,

believe ! stand

fast to
it be

justicewhen
the

ye

bear
your
or

witness

God,
your

though
God
own

againstyourselves or
party be
than

parents,
whether

kindred, whether
is
more

rich

he be poor.
not

worthy

both ; therefore
ye

follow
swerve

your
:

lusts in
if ye
aware

lest bearing testimony,

your ye

from

truth

and

wrest

testimonyor
do.

decline

giving it,God
What
"

verilyis
is

of what

thing
is witness

weightiest in
me

bearing testimony?
thee,"and
warn

Say
hath thee

God

between
me

and

this Koran

been and

revealed

unto

that

I should

thereby both

all whom

it

mav

reacli.

Orphans. Give
unto

orphans
your
own

theii' property ; substitute

for

not

less worth-

thingsof
not

their valuable
a

ones

; and

devour

their substance, for this is

great sin.

Tlie .strictobservers

of the and
ver.se.

letter of the Indians

are

Koran

forbid

even

the game lilieral in the

of

cliess,but
t For the

the mode
see

Persians this

generallymore

their

of interpretation of

Pagan Arabs,

Sale's

much practised casting lots by arrows, among Preliminary Discourse,' sect. 5.

'

168

BEAUTIES

OF

THE

KORAN.

And

they will
"

also

enquire
them

of thee

concerning orphans.
But if ye meddle interdo

Say,
them

Fair with
no

dealing with
tlie for

is best." of what

management

belongs to them,
:

wrong,

they
the

are

your

brethren
; and

God if God

knoweth

the corrupt dealer from He

will

one righteous

please,

surelydistress you.*
Parents.

The and both them

Lord ye

hath show

ordained kindness
to

that
to your

ye

worship none
whether ])arents, thee ; and
but with
to
on

but
one

Him,
or

that

of them "Fie!" address

attain neither them

"

old

age

with

say not

to

reproach them,
Lord have I
was

respectful
them
them
out

speech

both, deferring humbly

of

tenderness
even
as

; and

say,
me

compassion
a

both,

they reared
We

when

little one

!"

Moreover
unto his

have

enjoined on pain
his I'ortli; and

man

to

show

kindness
him
;

parents. With

mother his

beareth

with his

pain

she
are

bringeth

him

bearing

and

weaning

thirtymonths.f
Piety. faces

There
or

is

no

piety in turning
; Init he

your

towards
believeth

the
in

East

towards the the

the West
last

is

pious who
the
his

God,

and
for

day, and

the

angels,and

Scriptures ; who,
to

love of

God, disburseth

wealth

his

kindred

By
"

shall have t and

mother An

his curse, which will been robbed of.

certainly bring to nothing what

the

orphans
is their advise

equally beautiful
and

feature in the character of their

words
are

of the Turks Their

reverence

respect for the author

their

being.
"

wives

reprimand, unheeded,
is
an

oracle.

She

is

consulted,confided
latest
'

bosh, nothing ; but the in,listened to with respect

and and

deference, honoured
affection

to her

beyond

' says the Osnianli ; but who shall restore

the grave. children my

to
me

the

is

seen

no

more.'

"

(' City of

with regret hour, and remembered them,' My wives die, and I can replace and others may be born to me ; perish, mother who has passed away, and who the Sultan,'by Miss Pardoe, 4th edit,

p. 3U.;

BEAUTIES

OF

THE

KOKAN.

1 ")9

and

to the

orphans
ask

and
for

the

needy
who

and

the

wayfarer,and
prayer
are

to

those who

and

ransoms,

who

observeth

and

payeth the legalalms,

to their

and

is of those who
in of
are

faithful

engagements
under patient

when

they have engaged

in times

them, and

who

are

hardships and
just and

adversity ; they who

these
fear

are

they who

are

pious, these

tlic Lord.

Prayer. Recite that

and

which

hath in

been

revealed for

unto

thee

of the

Koran,
from

be

constant

prayer,

prayer

restraineth
the

the

and filthy of God

a

the
most

and blame-worthy,

surely is

remembering
Be
ye ye

importantduty.
and

constant

in prayer, and
sent
a

give

alms

; and

whatsoever

good
find

have

done God
;

before

for your

souls, ye shall
that which

it with

for, of

surety, God

seeth

ye do. To God

belongeth both
you
turn

the

East

and

the

West, therefore,
is God
; for

whithersoever He
is the

to yourselves

pray, there

Omnipresent,the
who

Omniscient. the Book

in of

Verily,they
prayer,

recite in

God, and

observe what
we

and

give

alms

publicand
may

privatefrom
a

have

bestowed

upon

them,

hope

for

merchandise

that

shall not

perish.
Slanderers
"

Backbiters.
!

Woe Who He

to

every

.slanderer and and wealtli,

backbiter storeth it

aniasseth thinketh

the future aj^ainst with him

surelythat his wealth

that

shall abide

for

ever.

Nay;
And

he shall be for verily who

flunginto the

Al crushing

Hotoma;*
is ]

shall teach thee what

Hotoma crushing

It is God's kindled Which It shall On shall mount

fire,
above
over

the hearts

of the damned
an

verilyrise
of vast

them

like unto

arched

vault,

columns

extent.

One

of the

names

of Hell,

170

BEAUTIES

OF

THE

KORAN.

By

the

sun

and

his

! noou'day brightness

when she followeth him ! By the moon it the revealeth His glory ! when By day him ? By the night when it enshroudeth built it ! who Him the and heaven, by By who spread it forth. and by Him By the earth, Him and who soul the deftlyfashioned it. By Endowing it with knowledge to distinguish And or or righteousness, iniquity ; power to choose, Blessed And
LOST

is he who
is he who

hath hath

preservedHis
defiled it !

pure,

Women. And eyes

speak to
and

the

believing women,
;

that that

they refrain

their

observe

continence

and

they display not

or

their ornaments*
or

except

to

their

husbands
or

their fathers,
or

their

sons

or

their husband's domestics

note
not

sons,

their

women

their
;
or

male or slaves, children

not

who women's

have

no

natural power And

to

who

nakedness.
as

let them

strike their feet

so together,

to

discover

their hidden

ornaments.^
Neither may
nor

let

women

laugh to
themselves.

scorn

other women, defame

who, haply,
one

be better than call

one

Neither

another,

another

names. by opprobrious

As

their

such parts of their bodies + The

and the clothes, jewels, as ought not the Jewish

furniture
to be
seen.

of their

toilet^muchlesa
in

making a such as rings, anklets? noise with the ornaments of their feet, tinkling is severely "c.,which were usuallyof gold and silver, reprovedby the ch. iii.16, 18. prophetIsaiah, pride which
ladies of
_

took old,also,

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t)RYDEN

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