Mahomet

or Mohammed , the titular name taken by Halaibi, founder of Islam (570-632.) Adopted Son : Usma, son of Zaid, his freed-man. (See below, “Zainab.”) Angel , who revealed the Koran to Mahomet: Gabriel. Banner : Sanjak-sherif, kept in the Eyab mosque at Constantinople. Birthplace : Mecca, A.D. 570. Bow : Al Catûm (“the strong”), confiscated from the Jews. In his first battle he drew it with such force that it snapped in two. Camel : Al Adha (“the slit-eared”) the swiftest of his camels. One of the ten dumb animals admitted into paradise. Concubines : Marīyeh, mother of Ibrahim, his son, was his favorite; but he had fourteen others. Cousins : Ali, his best friend: Abû Sofiân ebn al Hareth. Cuira : Al Fadha. It was of silver, and was confiscated from the Jews. Daughters by Kadijah ; Zainab, Rukaijah, Umm Kulthûm, and Fâtim a, his favorite (called one of the “three perfect women”). Defeat : At Ohud, where it was reported that he was slain ( A.D. 623). Died at Medīna, on the lap of Ayishah, his favorite wife, 11 Hedjrah (June 8, 632). Father : Abdallah, of the family of Hâshim and tribe of Koreish. Abdallah was a small merchant, who died when his son was five years old. At the death of his father, his grandfather took charge of him; but he also died within two years. He then lived with his uncle Abu Taleb (from the age of 7 to 14). (See Zesbet ). Father-in-law : Abû Bekr, father of his favorite wife, Ayishah. Flight : Hedjrah or Heg´ira, July 16, 622. Followers : called Moslem or Mu ulmans. Grandson : Abd-el-Motalleb. Horse : Al Borak (“the lightning lightning ”), brought to him by Gabriel, to carry him to the seventh heaven. It had the wings of an eagle, the face of a man, with the cheeks of a horse, and spoke Arabic. Journey to Heaven ( The ), on Al Borak, is called Isra. Mother : Amina or Aminta, of the family of Zuhra, and tribe of Koreish. (See Zesbet ). Nickname in Boyhood : El Amin (“the safe man”). Personal Appearance : Middle height, rather lean, broad shoulders, strongly built, abundance of black curly hair, coal-black eyes with thick lashes, nose large and slightly bent, beard long. He had between his shoulders a black mole, “the seal of prophecy.” Poisoned by Zainab, a Jewe , who placed before him poisoned meat, in 624. He tasted it, and ever after suffered from its effects, but survived eight years. Scripture : Al Korân (“the reading”). It is divided into 114 chapters. Sons by Kadijah : Al Kâsim and Abd Manâf; both died in childhood. By Mariyeh (Mary) his concubine: Ibrahim, who died when 15 months old. Adopted son: Usma, the child of his freedman, Zaid. (See “ Zainab ”). Standard : Bajura. Succe or , Abû Bekr, his father-in-law (father of Ayishah). Swords : Dhu´l Fakâr (“the trenchant”); Al Batter (“the striker”); Hatel (“the deadly”); Medham (“the keen”). Tribe : that of the Koraichites or Koraich or Koreish, on both sides. Uncles : Abu Taleb, a prince of Mecca, but poor; he took charge of the boy between the ages of 7 and 14, and was always his friend. Abû Laheb, who called him “a fool,” and was always his bitter enemy; in the Korân , exi., “the prophet” denounces him. Hamza, a third head of Islam. Victories : Bedr (624); Muta (629); Taïf (630); Honein (630 or 8 Hedjrah). White Mule : Fedda. Wives : Ten, and fifteen concubines. (1) Kadijah, a rich widow of his own tribe. She had been twice married, and was 40 years of age (Mahomet being 15). Kadijah was his sole wife for twenty-five years, and brought him two sons and four daughters. (Fâtim a was her youngest child). (2) Souda, widow of Sokran, nurse of his daughter Fâtim a. He married her in 621, soon after the death of his first wife. The following were simultaneous with Souda. (3) Ayishah, daughter of Abû Bekr. She was only nine years old on her wedding day. This was his favorite wife, on whose lap he died. He called her one of the “three perfect women.” (4) Hend, a widow, 28 years old. She had a son when she married. Her father was Omeya. (5) Zainab, divorced wife of Zaid, his freed slave. Married 627 (5 Hedjrah). (6) Barra, a captive, widow of a young Arab chief, slain in battle. (7) (7) Rehana, a Jewish captive. Her father was Simeon. (8) Safīya, the espoused wife of Kenāna. This wife outlived the prophet for forty years. Mahomet put Kenana to death in order to marry her. (9) Umm Habība (mother of Habiba), widow of Abû Sofian. (10) Maimuna, who was 51 when he married her, and a widow. She survived all his ten wives. ⁂ It will be observed that most of Mahomet’s wives were widows. Mahomet. Voltaire wrote a drama so entitled in 1738; and James Miller, in 1740, produced an English version of the same, called Mahomet the Impostor . The scheme of the play is this: Mahomet is laying siege to Mecca, and has in his camp Zaphna and Palmira, taken captives in childhood and brought up by him. They are really the children of Alcanor, the chief of Mecca, but know it not, and love each other. Mahomet is in love with Palmira, and sets Zaphna to murder Alcanor, pretending that it is God’s will. Zaphna obeys the behest, is told that Alcanor is his father, and is poisoned. Mahomet asks Palmira in marriage, and she stabs herself.