MAHOMET.
DESCRIPTION OF ARABIA--ARABIAN CUSTOMS--BIRTH OF MAHOMET--EARLY
LIFE--JOURNEY TO SYRIA--CHRISTIAN SECTS--DOCTRINES TAUGHT BY
MAHOMET--HIS MARRIAGE--PROCLAIMS HIMSELF A PROPHET--PERSECUTION--FLEES
TO MEDINA--BECOMES POWERFUL--SICKNESS AND DEATH--PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
Far away in the south-western part of Asia, lies a strange and peculiar
country called Arabia. It is bounded on the north by Syria, on the east
by the Persian Gulf, on the south by the Indian Ocean, and on the west
by the Red Sea, and comprises more than a million of square miles, or
about twelve times the area of Utah.
This vast region possesses a diversified landscape. In some places
vast sandy deserts stretch away farther than the eye can reach; in
others, immense piles of dark volcanic rock rear aloft their barren
peaks, around whose base the dry, hot winds have drifted the sands of
the desert for untold centuries. However, in the secluded valleys of
the mountains, and along the base of the great mountain chains, may be
found many fertile tracts, where, watered by pure and never-failing
mountain streams, and warmed by the rays of a tropical sun, the earth
produces in abundance nearly every kind of grain, vegetable, fruit,
flower and aromatic shrub that can conduce to the happiness of man.
Indeed, some portions are so wonderfully productive, that in ancient as
well as modern times it has received the significant title of "Araby
the blest."
Most of the inhabitants of this country are generally considered
to be the descendants of Ishmael, the son of Abraham. Many of them
lead a wild, nomadic life, supported by their flocks and herds and
the spontaneous productions of the soil, {21} and retain among their
laws and customs, many of the usages that prevailed in the primitive,
patriarchal times of their great ancestor.
Others live in towns and cities and engage in commerce, either with
foreign countries or with distant parts of their own land.
The usual method of transporting their merchandise is on the backs
of camels, and sometimes several hundred or even a thousand of these
animals, accompanied by their drivers, may be seen slowly wending their
way across the desert, carrying with them the coffee of Mocha and
spices of Muscat to the distant cities of Bagdad and Damascus.
As among the Jews the ruling priests were chosen from the tribe of Levi
and family of Aaron, so, among the ancient Arabs, the guardians of the
sacred things of their worship were chosen from the tribe of Koreish
and family of Haschem.
Abd-Al-Mutallib was the ruling priest in Mecca, the sacred city of
Arabia, at the time that his grandson, Mahomet, was born, which event
occurred at Mecca, in the year 570 of the Christian era.
Of Mahomet's parents, but little is recorded, except that his father,
Abdallah, was remarkable for his commanding presence and great personal
beauty. He died when his future illustrious son was only two months
old. Amina, his mother, who is said to have been of Jewish descent,
also died when Mahomet was only six years old.
The early life of Mahomet was spent in the house of his Uncle, Abou
Taleb, who had become the principal guardian of the Ca-aba, or great
temple, of ancient Arabian worship.
The ceremonies and devotions connected with this temple-worship may
have given an early bias to Mahomet's mind, and inclined it to those
speculations and ideas in which it afterwards became engrossed. His
education in childhood seems to have been neglected; for he was not
taught either to read or write. But he was a thoughtful child, quick to
observe, prone to meditate on all that he had observed, and possessed
of an imagination fertile, daring and expansive.
{22} At the age of twelve years, Mahomet solicited the privilege of
accompanying his uncle, Abou Taleb, to Syria, whither he was about to
conduct a caravan. Their route lay through regions fertile in fables
and traditions, which it is the delight of the Arabs to recount in the
evening halts of the caravan.
With an attentive ear, the youthful Mahomet listened to those tales of
enchantment and wonderful events which happened in days of old, and
doubtless imbibed ideas that had a powerful influence on him in his
after life. In this journey also he listened to the conversation of
many of those exiles from the Christian sects, who, in fleeing from
persecution had taken refuge in the wilds of Northern Arabia. Thus he
learned many facts concerning the Christian religion.
Having arrived at the city of Bozrah, which was situated on the
confines of Syria, about seventy miles south of Damascus, Mahomet was
entertained at a Nestorian convent. One of the monks named Bahira, was
very much interested by the spirit of inquiry and intelligence which
the youth manifested, especially on religious subjects, and gave him
all possible information.
Mahomet returned to Mecca, his imagination teeming with the wild tales
and traditions picked up in the desert, and his mind deeply impressed
with the teachings he had received among the Nestorians.
In order that we may understand the nature of the teachings which
Mahomet received on this and subsequent journeys to Syria, an
enumeration of the leading dogmas of the jarring sects of oriental
Christians will be necessary:
The most numerous of these sects were the Arians, so called from Arius,
a great religious teacher of Alexandria. They claimed that Jesus Christ
was the Son of God, the Father; that His existence commenced at His
advent in this world; that He was created for a special mission, but
was subject to the influences of virtue and vice like common mortals.
The followers of Nestorius, the great bishop of Constantinople, were
also very numerous; and Mahomet, in his subsequent journeys to Syria,
frequently came in contact with them. They claimed that Christ had two
distinct natures, human and divine; that Jesus was a man; that Mary
was only His {23} mother according to the flesh, and that it was an
abomination to style her "Mary the mother of God," as was and still is
the custom of the Catholic church.
Another sect was the Marianites, or worshippers of Mary. They regarded
the trinity as consisting of God, the eternal Father, Mary, the eternal
mother, and Christ, their Son.
The Valentinians were another sect, who taught that Jesus Christ was
only a wise and virtuous mortal, selected by God to reform and instruct
mankind. Their creed is still professed by some of the Unitarian sects
of the present day.
The Nazarenes were a sect of Jewish Christians, who considered Christ
as the promised Messiah, but conformed in all other respects to the
rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic law.
Many other sects might be enumerated who took their names from learned
and zealous leaders, and who were subdivided into various and opposing
parties of fanatical enthusiasts.
A glance at these dissentions which convulsed society at this period is
sufficient to acquit Mahomet of any charge of conscious blasphemy in
the opinions he taught concerning the nature and mission of our Savior.
The principal doctrines taught by Mahomet were drawn from the writings
of the Old and New Testaments. He recognized in all about three hundred
prophets. This number included all the ancient worthies of the Old
Testament, as well as the Savior and the apostles, evangelists and
martyrs mentioned in the New. However, four persons were considered as
greater prophets than the rest, and were reverenced as the founders
of four distinct dispensations. These were Abraham, Moses, Jesus and
Mahomet.
The book containing the writings and revelations of Mahomet is commonly
called the Koran. However, Mahomet should not be held responsible for
all that the Koran contains, as there is abundant evidence that it has
been changed and corrupted in many places since his death.
Prayer, fasting and acts of charity are inculcated by it. Merchants
were especially commanded to perform acts of charity, as they were the
class who were most liable to the sins {24} of deception and extortion.
The creed which all were required to believe, was simply, "There is one
God, and Mahomet is His prophet."
But little is known of Mahomet's history between his twelfth and
twenty-fifth year. He seems to have been engaged principally in
conducting caravans across the desert. He thereby gained much practical
knowledge, and became known as a young man of ability and integrity,
pleasing appearance, and engaging manners.
At the age of twenty-five, he became the steward or business agent
of a certain wealthy widow, named Cadijah; and a few years later she
married him and faithfully followed him till her death, through all the
vicissitudes of his strange and eventful life.
When Mahomet, in his fortieth year, proclaimed himself the prophet of
God, Cadijah replied, "I will be thy first believer." They knelt down
in prayer together.
Twelve centuries have passed since then, and nine thousand millions of
human beings have followed her example.
We are told that as Mahomet lay wrapped in his mantle, in the silent
watches of the night, he heard a voice calling upon him. Uncovering his
head, a flood of light burst upon him of such intolerable splendor that
he swooned away.
On regaining his senses, he beheld an angel, who, approaching him
from a distance, displayed a scroll, covered with written characters.
"Read," said the angel.
"I know not how to read," replied Mahomet.
"Read," repeated the angel, "in the name of God, who has created all
things."
Upon this, Mahomet instantly felt his understanding illumined, and read
what was written. These words were afterwards promulgated in the Koran,
which also contains many of the doctrines taught in the New Testament.
When he had finished reading, the heavenly messenger announced, "O,
Mahomet, verily thou art a prophet of God, and I am His angel Gabriel."
Mahomet, we are told, came trembling and agitated to Cadijah in
the morning, and told her what he had seen and {25} heard. She saw
everything with the eye of faith, and embraced those teachings with the
devotion of an affectionate woman.
"Joyful tidings dost thou bring!" exclaimed she. "By Him in whose hand
is the soul of Cadijah, I henceforth regard thee as the prophet of
our nation. Rejoice! rejoice! Allah will not suffer thee to come to
shame. Hast thou not been loving to thy kindred, kind to thy neighbors,
charitable to the poor, hospitable to the stranger, faithful to thy
word, and ever a defender of the truth?"
The announcement of Mahomet's message provoked bitter opposition among
his kindred. Only one of them, his cousin Ali, became his disciple.
Those who had known him from his infancy, who had seen him a boy about
the streets of Mecca, and afterwards engaged in the ordinary concerns
of life, scoffed at the idea of his assuming the prophetic character.
When he walked the streets he was subjected to jeers and insults. If
he attempted to preach, his voice was drowned by discordant noises
and ribald songs. As gradually his followers increased, so did the
opposition in bitterness and intensity.
At length he was obliged to flee from his native city and take refuge
in Medina, a city of north-western Arabia.
Space will not permit a recital of the numerous intrigues of his
enemies, or his various successes. Suffice it to say that, in a few
years he became the leader of a powerful, constantly-increasing and
enthusiastic people.
The time had at length arrived when the wild, wandering and discordant
tribes of Arabia were to be marshalled under one banner, united in one
creed and animated by one cause; when a mighty genius had arisen, who
should bring together those scattered remnants, inspire them with his
own religious zeal and daring spirit, and send them forth an invincible
host, to shake and overturn the empires of the earth.
Mahomet survived the most of his children, and died in the sixty-third
year of his age.
In his last illness, he gave his followers three parting commands:
"Expel all idolaters from Arabia; allow every believer equal privileges
with yourselves; devote yourselves to prayer and the propagation of the
faith."
{26} When the hour of death approached he feared it not, but, gazing
upwards with unmoving eyelids, he exclaimed, "O, Allah! be it so,
forever with the glorious associates in paradise."
Thus passed away the man who gave embodiment to a faith that is still
adhered to by more than 130,000,000 of the human family; and who
founded an empire that was the most extensive the world has ever seen.
In appearance, he was of the middle stature. His head was capacious,
and well set on a neck that rose like a pillar from his ample chest.
He had an oval face; dark eyes, long, wavy hair and a full beard. His
deportment was calm and dignified, and he is said to have possessed a
smile of captivating sweetness. His complexion was fairer than Arabs
usually are, and in his enthusiastic moments there was a glow and
radiance to his countenance. He was extremely cleanly in his person,
abstemious in his diet, and simple and unaffected in his dress and
manners. He seemed to have an intuitive knowledge of human nature, and
an innate power to counsel, command, reprove and inspire his followers
with his own ardent nature. Take him all in all, the race has seldom
seen a teacher more kind, more noble or more sincere.
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