Mahomet And His Successors

MAHOMET AND HIS SUCCESSORS. WASHINGTON IRVING - PREFACE. SOMEap ology may seem necessary for presenting a life of Ma hornet at the present day, when no new fact can be added to those already known concerning him. Many years since, dur ing a residence in Madrid, . the-author projected a series of writings illustrative of the domination of the Arabs in Spain. These were to be introduced by a sketch of the life of the founder of the Islam faith, and the first mover of Arabian conquest. Most of the particulars for this were drawn from Spanish sources, and from Gagniers translation of the Arabian historian Abulfeda, a copy of which the author found in the Jesuits Library of the Convent of St. Isidro, at Madrid. Not having followed out in its extent, the literary plan devised, the manuscript life lay neglected among the authors papers until the year 1831, when he revised and enlarged it for the Family Library of Mr. John Murray. Circumstances prevented its publication at the time, and it again was thrown aside for years. During his last residence in Spain, the author beguiled the tediousness of a lingering indisposition, by again revising the manuscript, profiting in so doing by recent lights thrown on the subject by different writers, and particularly by Dr. Gustav Weil, the very intelligent and learned librarian of the University of Heidelberg, to whose industrious researches and able disquisitions, he acknowledges himself greatly indebted. Such is the origin of the work now given to the public on which the author lays no claim to novelty of fact, nor profundity of research. It still bears the type of a work intended for Q a family library in constructing which the whole aim of the Mob.ammed der Prophet, sein Leben und seine Lehre. Stuttgart, 1843. 4 PE ETA CE. writer has been to digest into an easy, perspicuous, and flowing narrative, the admitted facts concerning Mahomet, together with such legends and traditions as have been wrought into the whole system of oriental literature and at the same time to eve such a summary of his faith as might be sufficient for the more general reader. Under such circumstances, he has not thought it worth while to incumber his pages with a scaffolding of references and citatioils, nor depart from the old English no menclature of oriental names. W. I. SUNNYSID 18 E 49, . MAHOMET AND HIS SUCCESSORS. CONTENTS. PART I. PAGE PREFAC . E .. ....................................................................... 3 CHAPTER I. Preliminary notice of Arabia and the Arabs.. ................................... 15 CHAPTER 11. . P Birth and parentage of Mahomet.-His infancy and childhood.. ................ 25 CHAPTER 111. Traditions concerning e c caan d the Caaba ..................................... 29 CHAPTER TV. First journey of Mahomet with the caravan to Syria.. ........................... 32 CHAPTER V. Commercial occupations of Mahomet.-His marriage with Cadijah.. ............ 36 CHAPTER VI. Conduct of Mahomet after his marriage.-Becomes anxious for religious reform.-His habits of solitary abstraction.-The vision of the cave.-His annunciation as a prophet.. .................................................... 39 CHAPTER VII. nlahomet inculcates his doctrines secretly and-slowly.-Receives further revelations and commands.-Announces it to his kindred.-Manner in which it was received.-Enthusiastic devotion of A1i.-Christian portents.. ..........44 CHAPTER VIII. Outlines of the Mahometan faith.. .............................................. 48 CHAPTER IX. Ridicule cast on Mahomet and his doctrines.-Demand for miracles.-Conduct of Abu Ta1eb.-Violence of the Koreishites...