242 l-^^E OF MOHAMMED. 



The Koreish foresaw the danger of wantonly pro- 

 voking hostilities. They restored Othman to liberty, 

 und sent a commissioned agent, Sohail, to propose 

 conditions of peace. The preliminary words of the 

 treaty were offensive to the idolaters ; and in con- 

 sentino- to waive his usual title, Mohammed displayed 

 weakn°es3 rather than policy. " In the name of God 

 and his apostle," was the formula with which Ah 

 commenced. Sohail remonstrated : " Had we ac- 

 knowledged you to be the apostle of God," said he, 

 " we had offered you no resistance." Ali was re- 

 quested to efface the obnoxious words, and substitute, 

 " the son of Abdallah." " No, by God !" cried this 

 first of believers, " I shall never obliterate that 

 o-lorious title. How should I be guilty of such pro^ 

 fanation V The Prophet, less scrupulous, with his 

 own hand (and the assistance of a miracle) removed 

 the objection, by writing his simple designation. 



The conclusion of this truce filled the Mussul- 

 mans with shame and sorrow. They had left Me- 

 dina on the faith of assured victory, and compassing 

 the sacred enclosure of the temple ; but, instead of 

 triumph, their visit had ended in an ignominious 

 peace. They could not conceal their chagrin, and 

 for the first time the voice of their chief was disre- 

 garded. Part of the plain on which they were 

 encamped lay within the sacred territory, and the 

 apostle, willing to cover this disgrace with the 

 solemnity of a pilgrimage, ordered his companions 

 to slay their victims. The command was heard in 

 mournful silence, and disobeyed. Three times the 

 order was repeated, but the Moslems remained inu 

 moveable. The same presence of mind that had 

 extricated him from other difficulties, did not fail 

 him in this. Passing along the ranks without utter, 

 ing a word, he seized the first camel, and with his 

 own hand performed the rite of immolation. Tho 

 force of example overcame their obstinacy. In an 

 instant every victim was sacrificed, and evevy soldiep 



