When Mohammed returned home after the angel had first spoken to
him, he told his wife of what he had seen and heard. She at once
believed and so became a convert to the new religion. She fell
upon her knees at the feet of her husband and cried out:
"There is but one God. Mohammed is God's prophet."
Mohammed then told the story to other members of his family. Some
of them believed and became his first followers. Soon afterwards
he began to preach to the people. He spoke in the market and other
public places. Most of those who heard him laughed at what he told
them; but some poor people and a few slaves believed him and adopted
the new religion. Others said he was a dreamer and a fool.
Mohammed, however, paid no heed to the insults he received. He
went on telling about the appearance of Gabriel and preaching the
doctrines which he said the angel had ordered him to teach the
people.
Often while speaking in public Mohammed had what he called a "vision
of heavenly things." At such times his face grew pale as death,
his eyes became red and staring, he spoke in a loud voice, and
his body trembled violently. Then he would tell what he had seen
in his vision.
After a time the number of his followers began to increase. People
came from distant parts of Arabia and from neighboring countries
to hear him. One day six of the chief men of Me-dï'na, one of the
largest cities of Arabia, listened earnestly to his preaching and
were converted. When they returned home they talked of the new
religion to their fellow-citizens, and a great many of them became
believers.
[Illustration: MOHAMMED PREACHING TO HIS FOLLOWER IN THE DESERT]
But the people of Mecca, Mohammed's own home, were nearly all opposed
to him. They would not believe what he preached, and they called him
an impostor. The people of the tribe to which he himself belonged
were the most bitter against him. They even threatened to put him
to death as an enemy of the gods.
About this time Mohammed's uncle and wife died, and he had then
hardly any friends in Mecca. He therefore resolved to leave that
city and go to Medina. Numbers of the people there believed his
doctrines and wished him to come and live among them. So he secretly
left his native town and fled from his enemies. With a few faithful
companions he made his escape to Medina.
It was in the year of our Lord 622 that Mohammed fled from Mecca.
This event is very important in Mohammedan history. It is called
"the flight of the prophet," or "the Hej'i-ra," a word which means
_flight_. The Hejira is the beginning of the Mohammedan era; and
so in all countries where the rulers and people are Mohammedans,
the years are counted from the Hejira instead of from the birth
of Christ.
[Illustration: THE MOSQUE OF AHMEDIEH AND THE OBELISK AT CONSTANTINOPLE]
On his arrival in Medina the people received Mohammed with great
rejoicing. He lived there the remainder of his life. A splendid
church was built for him in Medina. It was called a mosque, and
all Mohammedan churches, or places of worship, are called by this
name. It means a place for prostration or prayer.
[Illustration: MOHAMMED ENTERING MECCA, PREACHING THE UNITY OF GOD]