The present condition of Mahometanism in Turkey- The doctrines believed there-Their forms of devotion- Lustrations Prayer - Mahometan_Sabbath-Fast of Ramadan ---Meccan Pilgrimage-Proselytism-Maho- metan hierarchy-Islamism in Tartary-In Hindustan— THE LIFE OF MAHOMET. CHAPTER I. Importance of the Inquiry into the History of the Country of Mahomet.-Imperfect knowledge of it.-Great interest of the events that have occurred in Arabia.-Description of Arabia.-Mecca and Medina.-Manners of the different classes of Inhabitants.-Bedouins.-The Arabs of the Cities.-Commerce of Arabia.-Pride of the Arabs.-Their strifes.-Government. -Independence.-Classification.-Reflections. IN reviewing the life of Mahomet, one of the most extraordinary of men, it is desirable first to have some account of the country which gave him birth, and of the circumstances which, in all probability, exercised a considerable influence upon his education, mind, and habits. The physical and moral condition of a country contribute, in no small degree, to form the character of men, and especially of men of an ardent, ambitious, enterprising disposition, and of a gloomy, morose, and superstitious temperament. Perhaps, in some respects, these various elements, widely different as they are, will be found to have existed in the subject of the following pages; and certainly no individual whose life and actions common history records, ever exercised an influence, B or produced an effect on the condition and destiny of nations at all approaching to that of which Mahomet was the author. Even down to this day, a large portion of the human family (considerably more than one-eighth) in various countries are familiar with his name, and devotedly follow the doctrines and precepts which he taught-a number nearly as great as that which has professedly embraced the Christian Faith. His system has interwoven with the polity of large and flourishing communities-not of the barbarous and half-civilized of mankind only-but of those from which much of our own refinement and civilization have been derived. It were an affectation, therefore, as great as that which would blot Greece and Rome from the map of the world, that should profess indifference to the history of so remarkable a person, or gratulate itself upon ignorance of the singular country from which he sprung. Still we must be content with but an imperfect acquaintance with that country. Its physical features are little known; its civil and moral history are still less understood. Perhaps the extravagancies of oriental fable, and the natural and just contempt with which, as a religious system, the dogmas of the prophet and his followers have been regarded in better instructed countries, may have greatly contributed to this ignorance; perhaps it may have resulted partly from the inscrutable dealings of that Providence which permits a people who love error to remain in darkness, and almost decrees that they who will not know God shall themselves be disesteemed and unknown. Nevertheless, Arabia has been the scene of events too interesting in the religious history of mankind to be contentedly shrouded in obscurity from these western nations. Here our first parents were planted here have occurred some of the most memorable of all the dispensations of divine providence that have arrested the attention of mankind, and shed light and counsel over future times. It was in this land that the ark of Noah rested safely, after the awful wonders of the deluge. Here Job was tried-the faith of the Patriarchs was exhibited-Moses, the servant of God, received his divine commission, and the posterity of Abraham wandered for forty years in the wilderness. Had Mahomet never lived, it would have been unphilosophical in the student of national annals to be indifferent to the history of this country; but now that he has secured to his native land so wide a civil as well as religious renown, it will be difficult to find an apology for the general neglect with which, till of late, Arabia has been treated in our educational course. Το account for this neglect, something may be said concerning the almost inaccessibility of the language of the country, the worthlessness of much that is opened when this language is overcome, and the unsettled and apparently unsocial character of the institutions and habits of the peoplea character with which we have almost nothing in common but if there be any thing to admire in poetic fiction and imagery—any thing attractive in the noble virtues of unflinching fidelity, ardent gratitude, and generous hospitality, or any thing to repay our toil in innumerable and beautiful illustrations to holy writ, this neglect cannot be suffered to continue. "In order," says the learned Michaelis, "to understand properly the writings of the Old Testament, it is absolutely necessary to have an acquaintance with the natural history, as well as the manners of the east." And the intelligent Burckhardt says, to the same effect, that "the sacred historian of the children of Israel will never be thoroughly understood as long as we are not minutely acquainted with every thing relating to the Arabian Bedouins, and the countries in which they move and pasture." 66 Arabia, a name derived from a Hebrew word, denoting a wilderness, or a land of deserts and plains, comprehends, as commonly used, a much larger territory than that to which, in the most authentic records, it was first applied. Moses uses it for the western wilderness, which he describes as over against the Red Sea, between Paran and Tophel, and by the way of Elath and Ezion-gaber." Deut. i. 1, ii. 8. This was the country between the 29° and 31° of north latitude, and the 51° and 53° east longitude, a mountainous land, over which the Israelites journeyed during a considerable part of their wanderings in the wilderness; and here, probably, some of the earliest colonies of men fixed their habitation. The tribes of wandering Ishmaelites would sojourn here, and, as their conquests extended, the name by which their country was distinguished would also extend. From this, or from some other cause not now to be ascertained, the denomination of this compara * It must not be understood, however, that Europe has no scholars in Asiatic literature. France has produced many; and England may be justly proud of the proportion she has added to the number. Pococke, and Sale, and Lee, and some others, stand very high in the list. |