solving all difficulties arising from this source, for his doctrine then was, that God had formerly sent Moses and Jesus with the power of working miracles, and yet men would not believe, and therefore he had now sent him, a prophet of another order, commissioned to enforce belief by the power of the sword. The sword accordingly was to be the true seal of his apostleship, and the remark of the historian is equally just and striking, that “Mohammed, with the sword in one hand and the Koran in the other, erected his throne on the ruins of Christianity and of Rome."* By some of the more credulous of the prophet's followers, there are, it is true, several miracles attributed to him; as that he clave the moon asunder; that trees went forth to meet him; that water flowed from between his fingers; that the stones saluted him; that a beam groaned at him; that a camel complained to him; and that a shoulder of mutton informed him of its being poisoned, together with several others. But these miracles were never alleged by Mohammed himself, nor are they maintained by any respectable Moslem writers. The only miracle claimed either by him or his intelligent votaries is the Koran, the composition of which is the grand miracle of their religion. On this point the reader will perceive that the prophet's assumptions in the following passages are high-toned indeed. "If ye be in doubt concerning that revelation which we have sent * Gibbon. 66 down unto our servant, produce a chapter like unto it, and call upon your witnesses, besides God, if ye say the truth."* "Say, Verily, if men and genii were purposely assembled, that they might produce a book like this Koran, they could not produce one like it, although the one of them assisted the other."t "Will they say, He hath forged the Koran? Bring therefore ten chapters like unto it, forged by yourselves; and call on whomsoever ye may to assist you." The infatua, tion of the Meccans in rejecting this inestimable "admonition," stamped as it was with the evident impress of the divinity, he hesitates not to ascribe to the effect of a fearful judicial obstinacy, such as the Jewish prophets frequently threaten against the perverse nation of Israel. "If we had revealed the Koran in a foreign language, they had surely said, Unless the signs thereof be distinctly explained, we will not receive the same; Answer, It is unto those who believe a sure guide and a remedy; but unto those who believe not, it is a thickness of hearing in their ears, and it is a darkness which covereth them."§ "As for the unbelievers, it will be equal unto them whether thou admonish them or do not admonish them; they will not believe. God hath sealed up their hearts and their hearing; a dimness covereth their sight, and they shall suffer a grievous punishment."|| "There is of them who hearkeneth unto thee when thou readest the Koran; but we have cast * Koran, ch, ii. † Ch. xvii. † Ch xi, veils over their hearts, that they should not understand it, and a deafness in their ears; and though they should see all kinds of signs, they will not believe therein; and their infidelity will arrive to that height, that they will even come unto thee to dispute with thee."* Still his preaching prevailed. He became more and more popular; proselytes flocked around him; and, as Gibbon remarks, "he had the satisfaction of beholding the increase of his infant congregation of Unitarians, who revered him as a prophet, and to whom he seasonably dispensed the spiritual nourishment of the Koran."t * Koran, ch. vi. †Dec. and Fall, ch. 1, CHAPTER VI. The Koreish exasperated and alarmed by Mohammed's growing suc cess-Commence persecution-Some of his followers seek safety in flight-New converts-The Koreish form a League against himAbu Taleb and Cadijah die-He makes a temporary Retreat from Mecca-Returns and preaches with increased zeal-Some of the Pilgrims from Medina converted. THE zeal of the prophet in proclaiming his doctrines, together with the visible increase of his followers, at length alarmed the fears of the head men of the tribe of Koreish; and had it not been for the powerful protection of his uncle, MohamImed would doubtless at this time have fallen a victim to the malice of his opponents. The chief men of the tribe warmly solicited Abu Taleb to abandon his nephew, remonstrating against the perilous innovations he was making in the religion of their fathers, and threatening him with an open rupture in case he did not prevail upon him to desist. Their entreaties had so much weight with Abu Taleb, that he earnestly dissuaded his relative from prosecuting his attempted reformation any farther, representing to him in strong terms the danger he would incur both for himself and his friends by persisting in his present course. But the ardent apostle, far from being intimidated by the prospect of opposition, frankly assured his uncle, "That if they should set the sun against him on his right hand, and the moon on his left, yet he would not relinquish his enterprise." Abu Taleb, seeing him thus determined, used no farther arguments to divert him, but promised to stand by him against all his enemies; a promise which he faithfully kept till he died, though there is no clear evidence that he ever became a convert to the new religion. The Koreish, finding that they could prevail neither by fair words nor by menaces, had recourse to violence. They began to persecute his followers; and to such a length did they proceed in their injurious treatment, that it was no longer safe for them to continue at Mecca. Mohammed therefore gave leave to such of them as had not friends to protect them, to seek refuge elsewhere. Accordingly sixteen of them, among whom was Mohammed's daughter and her husband, fled into Ethiopia. These were afterward followed by several others, who withdrew in successive companies, till their number amounted to eighty-three men, and eighteen women, with their children. These refugees were kindly entertained by the king of Ethiopia, who peremptorily refused to deliver them to the emissaries of the Koreish sent to demand them. To these voluntary exiles the prophet perhaps alludes in the following passage: As for those who have fled from their country for the sake of God, after they had been unjustly persecuted, we will surely provide them an excellent habitation in this world, but the reward of the next life shall be greater, if they knew it.” * * Koran, ch. xvi. |