MOHAMEDANISM. 137 



CHAPTER II. 



MOHAMEDANISM. 



IN the branch of Mohamedanism, we shall treat briefly of the spu- 

 rious religion established by Mohamed, or Mahomet, the self-styled 

 prophet of the Arabians. His name is often written Mahomet, and 

 his religion styled Mahomet anism ; but the former orthography now 

 generally prevails, as the most correct. This religion is also called 

 Islamism ; the world Islam signifying devotion or piety; and its 

 followers style themselves Moslems, ot Mussulmans, that is, the de- 

 voted or obedient. This religion, which superseded the Sabianism 

 or star worship, as well as the idol worship, of the ancient Arabians, 

 is but a corrupt mixture of Judaism and Christianity, with doctrines 

 more indulgent to the human passions : and its rapid diffusion is due 

 in part to this feature ; but still more to the force and violence with 

 which it was propagated. We shall first speak of its History ; next, 

 of its Doctrines ; and, finally, of its Practice ; referring, therein, to 

 the different Sects, into which its followers are divided. 



1 . The most important part of the History of Mohamedanism, 

 is that of its founder. Mohamed, (or Mahomet), was born at Mecca, 

 in Arabia, about A. D. 569 ; and belonged to the tribe of Koreish, or 

 the Koraishites ; his ancestors having been the guardians of the idol 

 temple, called the Kaaba. He is said to have twice visited Syria, as 

 a merchant ; and probably learned, from the Nestorian monks, some 

 of the doctrines of Christianity. His marriage with the rich widow 

 Khadijah, (or Kadijah), placed him in easy circumstances, and en- 

 abled him to indulge in almsgiving and speculative retirement. 



In 609, Mohamed first announced to his wife that God had sent 

 the angel Gabriel, to commission him as a prophet, to restore the true 

 religion, and overthrow the prevailing idolatry. His first converts 

 were his wife Khadijah, and her cousin Wardkah, who was a 

 Christian and Hebrew scholar; to whom were soon added Zeid, 

 Moharned's servant ; and Mi, who was Mohamed's cousin, and 

 who styled himself the first of believers. Mohamed soon began to 

 announce the pretended revelations which compose the Koran; in 

 composing which he was probably assisted by Warakah ; by Sergius, 

 a Nestorian monk ; and by Salon or Salem, a Persian Jew. After the 

 conversion of Mu-beker and six others, Mohamed, in 612, announced 

 his mission to his relatives, at a special banquet ; when Mi declared 

 himself the champion of the new faith. But the converts, being per- 

 secuted by the Koreishites, dispersed ; and July 16, 622, Mohamed 

 himself, after the death of Abu-Taleb his protector, and Khadijah 

 his wife, was obliged to fly to Medina, where he was triumphantly 

 received by converts who had previously been nominal Christians. 

 This event, called the Hegira, or Flight, is the Mohamedan Era. 



Mohamed now assumed the sacerdotal and regal dignity ; married 

 three wives, of distinguished family, one of whom was a daughter of 

 Abu-beker ; and after this, it was, that he proclaimed his authority, by 

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