224 LIFE of Mohammed. 



Turks celebrate the 20th night of Rajeb by a grand 

 festival, in commemoration of this event.* 



While Mecca was filled with disputes on the 

 nocturnal voyage, and ridiculing its author as a 

 dreamer and a visionary, the streets of Medina re- 

 sounded with his praises. The zealous converts 

 there, twelve of whom had been vested by ?iIoham- 

 med with apostolical authority, had animated others 

 with their own enthusiasm, and considerably multi- 

 plied the number of proselji;es. 



Mosaab their chief repaired to Mecca, at the time 

 of the pilgrimage, with seventy-three men and two 

 women, all eager to do obeisance at the feet of their 

 master, and proffer him their assistance. At a pri- 

 vate conference Al Abbas explained to them the 

 persecutions his nephew had suffered on account of 

 his opinions ; the necessity of abandoning his native 

 place to seek protection elsewhere ; and the favour- 

 able asylum which seemed to present itself in their 

 generous proposal. " And what wiU be our recom- 

 pense should we fall in the quarrel ?" " Paradise !" 

 This single word fixed their determination. They 

 expressed their resolution to defend, and never to 

 betray him ; and took an oath to commit no vice, 

 and to protect him with life and fortune, " as they 

 Avould their wives and children, against all nations, 

 black and red, who should dare to oppose the faith 

 and the apostle of the Koran." To this solemn 

 pledge of mutual fidelity, called the Women's Oath, 

 may be traced the first vital spark of the Saracen 

 ernpire. 



The altered fortunes of the impostor changed the 

 course of his pohcy, and his ambition seemed to 

 drop its veil in proportion as the means of support 

 increased. Hitherto his pretended revelations had 

 spoken nothing but the language of peace and for- 



* Vide Mod. Univ. Hist. vol. i. p. 80, and authorities quoted 

 there. Koran, chap. xvii. liii. 



