93 
famous night dates the aera of the Mahometans; the 
Arabians call it El Hojera, and the Christians Hegira, 
which signifies flight. It corresponds with the year 
631 of Christ. 
The prophet repaired to Medina, where his doctrine 
had spread already with the greatest enthusiasm, and 
where his most intimate disciples had assembled. He 
settled there, and began to support his mission by the 
force of arms; and his enterprizes succeeded. 
After many battles Mecca was subjected to the do- 
minion of the prophet; and he made his entry there as 
a conqueror, at the head of ten thousand men, on Fri- 
day 20th of Ramadan of the year 8 of the Hegira (22 
January 639). He threw down all the idols and stat- 
ues which were worshipped at El Kaaba, and cleansing 
it from their fragments, he restored the temple to the 
object of its primitive institution, which tended to the 
adoration of the one and invisible Deity. 
After having made himself master of Mecca, the 
prophet extended his faith and his dominion over the 
neighbouring countries; but he made the revelations 
from heaven to descend at different periods; and accor- 
ding to him the divine will was communicated by his 
mouth upon the occasions on which he thought it ne- 
cessary. In this manner Mahometanism was diffused; 
it consolidated itself with the power of the prophet to 
the time of his death, which took place at Medina, on 
a Monday of the month of Saffar in the 63d year of his 
age, 641 of Christ. His body was buried in an open 
grave in his own house, and covered with earth; no 
coffin was used. The house was afterwards converted 
into a temple. 
As the prophet left no male child, and had not dis- 
posed of the succession of his supreme dignity, discus- 
