CHAPTER III.

Embassies from princes to the Prophet-King of Abyssinia's letter-The Prophet's seal-Letter to the King of Persia, who insults the ProphetMohammed's denunciation of him-Expedition against Besra-Merciful injunctions of the Prophet-Heroic deaths of Zeid, Jauffer and Abdoollah -Khaled the "Sword of God"-The Koreish violate the treaty-Expedition against Mecca-The city surrenders at discretion-Idols demolished by Mohammed's own hand-His clemency to the conqueredRestitution of spoil-Proposal of Moseilama, Prince of Yemen-The Prophet's indignant reply-Idolatry extirpated throughout Arabia-Successful expedition against Syria-Death of the Prophet's only sonEclipse of the sun--Mohammed rebukes the superstition of his foilowers -Particulars of Mohammed's death-Story respecting his coffin refuted -The number of the Beast, 666, applied to Mohammed-Thos. Carlyle's view of Mohammed's character--The vastness of the Empire founded by him, and rapid progress of his religion-Christian relics replaced by Mohammedan ones-Omar in the Church of St. Sophia (note).

In the ninth year of the Hegira embassies arrived at Mecca and Medina from all parts to tender the submission of various princes to the Prophet. The king of Abyssinia, to whom Mohammed had despatched a special messenger, replied, "Peace be to God, the Holy King, the faithful, true, powerful and mighty Saviour! I attest that there is but one God, and that Mohammed is his prophet. The Apostle of God hath written to me to ask, in marriage, my daughter, Omome Hababa. I joyfully fulfil his wish, and give, as her dower, 4,000 gold crowns."

About this time, also, Mohammed had a seal made, bearing this inscription, "Mohammed, the Apostle of God." This was to be used in sealing the letters written by him to divers princes, inviting them to embrace Islam. His first letter to this effect was sent to Badham, Viceroy of Yemen.

to be forwarded to Khosroes, King of Persia. Khosroes tore the letter in pieces, ordering Badham either to restore the Prophet to his right mind, or to send him his head. As soon as this insult was made known to the Prophet, he exclaimed, "Thus shall Allah tear asunder the kingdom of Khosroes, and reject his supplications." Khosroes was soon after murdered by his son Sirses. Badham, with his people became Mussulmans, and Mohammed continued him in his government. Herodius, the Roman Emperor, who, as Arab historians assure us, received an epistle addressed to him by Mohammed, with the utmost respect, placing it under his pillow, despatched an embassy to the Prophet, with rich presents. Two other sovereigns, Hawansa and Elmonda had come, of their own accord, to visit Mohammed, and embrace Islam at his feet. Such success is easily accounted for by the fact that in Mohammed was to be found united, not only great elevation of character and a mighty power of the sword, but also a rich persuasive eloquence, so that words falling from his lips having all the force of inspiration, made the deepest impression upon the imagination of the Arabs, and being repeated from mouth to mouth, reached the remotest parts. The Book, also, which Mohammed offered to them and to the whole Eastern world, was full of magnificent promises; a book, moreover, which exacted little but rewarded much, and whence emanated an irresistible authority attracting everything to itself.

While establishing a sovereignty at Mecca and Medina, the Prophet had endeavoured to extend the revolution to the people and princes of the adjacent countries; but the messenger to the Governor of Bossa, near Damascus, was taken prisoner and murdered by Sherheil, an emir of a Christian and Arabian tribe, tributary to Heraclius, the Greek emperor. The injury was trifling, but the insult was great. Three thousand men were immediately equipped; the Prophet exhorted them to display their courage in the

cause of the Most High, and painted to them, in glowing colours, the joys of an earthly and heavenly paradise, the reward of such Moslems who were victorious or were slain. At the same time, however, he enjoined them to collect their booty not from the tears of the provincials, but from the public treasuries of the conquered state: “In avenging my injuries," said he, "molest not the harmless votaries of domestic seclusion; spare the weakness of the softer sex, the infant at the breast, and those who, in the course of nature, are hastening from this scene of mortality. Abstain from demolishing the dwellings of the unresisting inhabitants, and destroy not the means of subsistence; respect their fruit trees, nor injure the palm, so useful to Syria for its shade and so delightful for its verdure.”*

The Greeks being vastly superior in number (for, including the auxiliary Arabs, they had an army of about a hundred thousand men), the Moslems were repulsed in the first attack, and lost successively three of their generals, Zeid, Jauffer and Abdoollah, appointed by Mohammed to replace each other in case of loss. Zeid fell like a soldier in the foremost ranks. The death of Jauffer was heroic and memorable; his right hand being severed from the arm, he shifted the standard to his left, and upon losing this his remaining hand, he embraced the sacred banner with his bleeding stumps until transfixed with fifty honourable wounds. Abdoollah, filling up the vacant place, cried aloud, "Forward; and victory or Paradise is our own!" A Greek lance determined the alternative, but the falling standard was seized by Khaled, a new proselyte; nine swords were broken in his hand, and his valour withstood and repulsed the almost overwhelming forces of the Christians. Victory at length declared itself for the Moslems, and Khaled, whose skill and intrepidity had so greatly contributed to

* "Revere," says the Koran, "your aunt, the palm tree; for it is made of the remainder of the clay of which Adam was formed."

insure it had, as a reward, the honourable title of "The sword of God," conferred upon him by Mohammed.

The Koreish had broken the treaty entered into, as above narrated, by affording aid to the enemies of Mohammed, and it therefore became necessary to reduce them to subjection. After making the requisite preparations, Mohammed left Medina at the head of ten thousand men ; but the success of the expedition was nearly compromised by private treachery. Sarah, a female servant had been sent by her master, Haleb, to convey a letter to the Meccans, in which he informed them of the danger that threatened them, but Ali having learnt the circumstance just in time, mounting his horse, pursued and overtook the messenger. stoutly denied having any letter about her, nor, upon searching her was it to be found. Ali, enraged at being thus baffled, drew his scimitar, and was brandishing it over the girl's head, when, trembling with terror, she loosened her long tresses, from which fell a letter containing these words:"Haleb, son of Batten, to the Meccans-health! The apostle of God is preparing to attack you! To

arms!"

She

Such was the celerity of Mohammed's movements that he was at the gates of Mecca before the Koreish had any idea of his approach. The city surrendered at discretion, and Mohammed, clad in a scarlet robe and mounted on his favourite camel, Al Kaswa, entered it in triumph. Abu Sophian being brought before him, purchased life upon the condition of embracing Islam. Mohammed next proceeded to demolish, with his own hand, the idols in the temple, and having ridden seven times round the Kaaba, promulgated the sacred formula, "There is but one God, and Mohammed is his prophet!" He then went to quench his thirst at the well of Zamzam, the same which the angel had shown to Hagar in the wilderness, after which he read to the assembled people the 48th chapter of the

Koran.* Then, when he heard the Muezin for the first time call the people to prayers, when the fragments of the broken idols had been removed, and all the multitude pressed around him: "What," said he, "do you ask of me ?" "That you treat us as a father," replied a thousand suppliant voices. "Go," was the answer, "go; and may the blessing of Allah rest upon you!"

In the meantime the Havazen and Koreish tribes commanded by Abalak, being deeply incensed at seeing their sacred idols demolished, took up arms and appeared in battle array in the valley of Honain, about three miles from Mecca. Twelve thousand men, including two thousand Meccans, recently converted, promised themselves an easy victory over those tribes so inferior in numbers; but, being unexpectedly assailed with a storm of darts, the Mussulman army, terrified by so sudden an attack, was about to make a disgraceful retreat. Under such circumstances something more was necessary than to invoke the name of Allah, or call for angelic aid. The active arm, as well as the directing head was required. Mohammed, therefore, rushed into the thickest of the fight, and by his personal intrepidity and valour arrested the flight of his troops, and ultimately defeated his foe. After a long and vigorous pursuit, the Havazens tendered their submission, and Abalak set the example to his people of embracing the new faith. Six thousand prisoners, twenty-four thousand horses, four thousaud mouhars, and the like number of ounces of silver, fell into the victor's hands. The division of this rich spoil was

* "VERILY, We (God) have won for thee (Mohammed) a manifest VICTORY

"In token that God forgiveth thy earlier and later sins, and fulfilleth His goodness to thee, and guideth thee on the right way,

"And that God succoureth thee with a mighty succour.

"He it is who sendeth down a spirit of secure repose into the hearts of the faithful that they might add faith to their faith (for God's are the armies of the heavens and of the earth); and God is knowing and wise," etc., etc.