Nora, with a little pride; "because, thank | not one to be saved unless she pleases. heaven, he never knew that he had me in And if she should like Mr. Erskine — his power! But you must think more, "My father will kill her!" Lady Caronot less, of his discrimination, Carry; for line cried. if he never had any eyes for me, it was for the excellent good reason that he had seen Edith before. So my pride is saved quite saved," the girl cried.

"Edith!" repeated Carry again. Nora was half satisfied, half disappointed, to find that her own part of the story faded altogether from her friend's mind when this astonishing piece of intelligence came in. Then she whispered in an awestricken voice, "Does my mother know of it?"

Nobody knows - not even Edith her self. I saw it because, you know And of course," cried Nora, in delightful self-contradiction, "it does not matter at all when I meet him now; for he is not thinking of me any longer, but of her. Oh, he never did think of me, except to say to himself, There is that horrid girl again!'"

·

From The Nineteenth Century. MUHAMMAD AND HIS TEACHING.

THE Muhammadan religion has been so much written about that it would be difficult to enliven by a single new idea or fresh fact the mass of information which any one curious on the subject will find scattered on the shelves of the most ordinary library. The supply is more than sufficient to satisfy the most eager inquirer, and is embarrassing not only from its amplitude, but from the opposite views of Muhammad's character which compete for acceptance, ranging between the two extremes of scathing denunciation and extravagant praise.

One writer, for example, invites us to identify the Arabian prophet with Antichrist; makes him out to be no other than the Man of Sin; a third compares him to Gog or Magog. According to some he is a monster, a beast, a fiend, an emissary of the devil, a ruler of the darkness of this world, a scourge of the human race.

To others, again, he appears in the light of a foolish driveller, an arch-hypocrite, a dastardly liar, an arrant impostor, an incarnation of vice, sensuality, and ambition.

Then, as if by the stroke of an enchanter's wand, we find him transformed into the perfection of humanity, the ideal of everything good and generous, a Godinspired prophet, a hero of heroes, a prince of benefactors, a regenerator and revivifier of mankind, deserving of elevation to a platform little lower than that occupied by the Founder of Christianity himself.

This time Nora's laugh passed without any notice from Carry, whose thoughts were absorbed in her sister's concerns. "Was not I right," she said, clasping her hands, "when I said I was frightened for John Erskine? I said so to my mother to-day. What I was thinking of was very different that he might quarrel with Mr. Torrance that harm might come in that way. But oh, this is worse, far worse! Edith! I thought she at least would be safe. How short-sighted we are even in Perhaps, therefore, another attempt to our instincts! Oh, my little sister! What give a clear and impartial outline of a can I do, Nora, what can I do to save character capable of being viewed under her?" such wholly opposite aspects and of a reNora received this appeal with a coun-ligion which has undoubtedly worked vast tenance trembling between mirth and vexation. She did not think Edith at all to be pitied. If there was any victim and the whole matter was so absurd that she felt it ought not to be looked at in so serious a light, but if there was a victim, it was not Edith, but herself. She could only reply to Carry's anxiety with a renewed outbreak of not very comfortable laughter. "Save her! You forget," she said, with sudden gravity, "that Edith is

changes both for good and for evil in the moral, political, and even physical condition of a large proportion of the human race, may still be welcome. And the more so, as a conviction is daily taking firmer hold of the minds of thoughtful Christians, that it is their duty to study non-Christian systems more fairly and judicially, not with any wish to exalt them unduly, nor with any idea of detracting one iota from the admitted superiority of

Christianity, but with a determination to | existed among the Arab tribes long before do justice to the amount of truth they that event. Nor must it be forgotten that contain, and a desire to estimate correctly the Arabs and Jews were kindred races, the nature of the influence they are still exerting in the world.

it was originally erected by Abraham over | low-countrymen wholly given up to superthe spot where he was about to sacrifice stitious and immoral practices was inexIshmael.* pressibly distressing. Having abundant On the death of the grandfather of leisure at his command, he was able to Muhammad, while he was still a boy, his indulge his passion for solitary contemuncle Abu Talib became his guardian, plation. Day after day, and often for and during all his difficulties never de- many days together, he was accustomed serted him. His family, though noble, to retire to a lonely spot in a neighboring was poor, and the boy Muhammad was mountain. There, after long fasting, obliged to earn his livelihood by tending prayer, and communing with the unseen sheep in the wilderness; thus from his world, his over-excited brain became liaearliest years resembling his great proto- ble to hallucinations which made him type Moses, who had to act as shepherd fancy himself the medium of divine comto his father-in-law Jethro.t munications, and the subject of special It was not till Muhammad was twenty-spiritual enlightenment. In this respect five years of age that he married his rich he resembled the Indian Buddha. kinswoman Khadijah. She was a widow It was not, however, till Muhammad lady who had acquired great wealth by was forty years of age that the impulse trading transactions, and was fifteen years to attempt the delivery of his country his senior. She had entrusted the man- from its wretched condition of moral, agement of her affairs to Muhammad, and, | social, and religious degradation became having found him eminently trustworthy, an irresistible force. He was in a lonely gave proof of her gratitude by offering cave (such is the tradition) when suddenly him her hand. It is remarkable that he a voice broke upon his ear and thrilled remained faithful to Khadijah till her through every nerve of his frame. And death, which did not occur till he was in the voice said: " Cry!" and he answered his fifty-first year. During the period of "What shall I cry?" and the voice said their union, she bore him four sons and Cry,* in the name of the Lord the Creafour daughters, of whom only one daugh- tor." ter (Fatimah) outgrew youth, while all the sons died in childhood. Nor was it till some time after her death, that, in conformity with the customs of his country, and in accordance, be it remembered, with the practice of the Jewish patriarchs and with the law of Moses, he permitted himself to take more than one wife, thus unhappily giving sanction to polygamy and concubinage and encouraging facilities for divorce, the degradation of women, and similar evils, which to this day are the bane of every Muhammadan country, poisoning the springs of national life and impeding all social and political progress. It is only fair, however, to add that in nearly every other respect Muhammad was a pattern of self-denial and abstemiousness. Probably the wealth he acquired through his first wife, her devotion to him, and entire faith in his inspiration were the most important factors in determining the direction and ultimate issue of his extraordinary career. He was by nature a man of deep religious feeling and reflectiveness. To such a man, so circumstanced, the spectacle of his fel

The Arabs believe that Abraham was commanded to sacrifice Ishmael, not Isaac.

† Mr. Bosworth Smith in his brilliant lectures men

tions a tradition that Muhammad once drove his camels to the very place where Moses tended Jethro's flocks.

* At least nine legitimate wives are named, which exceeded the limit he himself had fixed for others.

The first person to believe in his supposed prophetic mission was his wife Khadijah; the second was 'Alī, who afterwards became his son-in-law; the third was his own slave Zaid; and the fourth was Abu-bakr, who afterwards became his father-in-law, and was a man of great influence in Muhammad's own tribe.

that

After a short interval Othman, who also in time became his son-in-law, was induced to join the little band. It is a remarkable testimony to the greatness of Muhammad's personal character those who lived in the closest family relationship and intimacy with him were the first to believe in him. And this, too, without the attestation of signs and wonders. For Muhammad had no power of working miracles like his great exemplar, Moses. No wonder that in three years he had only gained fourteen converts. Finding that he made little progress outside his own immediate circle, he began to preach boldly to the throng of people who collected every day round the temple, denouncing their idolatry in scathing lan guage, and calling upon them to adopt the true religion of God. Such a daring onslaught on the cherished ideas of centuries had only one immediate result. It

"Recite" or "read" is perhaps a truer transla tion of the Arabic than " cry.'

I am

brought upon him insults and persecu- will judge between you and me.
tion, especially from the members of his
own tribe, whose interests were involved
in the maintenance of Meccah as a centre
of superstitious practices. The Kuresh
were incensed that any member of their
own body should act the part of a pesti-
lent innovator, and often tried to lay
violent hands on him. Frequently his
preaching lashed them to fury. Several
times his life was in jeopardy and would
have been sacrificed to their malignity,
had not his uncle Abū Talib, the father of
'Ali, faithfully and courageously sheltered
him in his own house.

but a man like yourselves, but I bring
you hopeful tidings."

The death of his uncle Abū Talīb and of his wife Khadijah were severe blows to Muhammad's cause. From that time forward he became exposed to the full force of his enemies' ferocity. History scarcely affords a more sublime spectacle than that of this resolute reformer, cut off from all external aid, thrown back wholly on his own unassisted energies, yet rising nobly to the occasion, strong in the strength of his own superiority, doing battle single-handed with the combined His disciples, when they began to mul- forces of jealousy, superstition, rage, and tiply, became the mark for even worse fanaticism. At length, spurned by his persecutions. Some had to fly into Abys-own tribe and threatened with destruction sinia.* Even there, they were followed by emissaries from the Kuresh who demanded their extradition. The fugitives were questioned by the king as to the cause of their flight, and are said to have replied:

We were plunged, O King, in the depth of ignorance and barbarism; we adored idols; we knew no law but that of the strong. Then God raised up among us a man of truthfulness, honesty, and purity. He taught us the Unity of God; he ordered us to abstain from sin, to offer prayers, to give alms, to observe the fast. We have believed in him, we have accepted his teachings. For this reason, our people have persecuted, tortured, and injured us, until, finding no safety among them, we have come to thy country, and hope thou wilt protect us from their oppression.

at their hands, he turned to the strangers who flocked periodically to Meccah. His first converts were six men who had come there as pilgrims and traders from Yathrib (afterwards called Medinah, "the city" of the prophet). The following year these also succumbed to Muhammad's burning men brought with them six others, who words. They all became members of the Muslim fraternity, and together took what is called the first pledge of Islam: "We will not associate any other being with God; we will not steal, nor commit adultery, nor fornication; we will not kill our children; we will abstain from calumny and slander; we will obey the prophet in eveything that is right; we will be faithful to him in weal and in woe." Returning to Yathrib (Medinah) these twelve men became ardent propagators of the new faith among the people of their own city. The doctrines they preached atFinding that Muhammad was safe un-tracted so many adherents that, in the der his uncle's guardianship, the Kuresh tribe resorted to other tactics. They offered him honors and wealth if he would desist from preaching. His answer is said to have been: "If they placed the sun on my right hand, and the moon on my left, to induce me to renounce my work, verily I would not desist therefrom until God made manifest his cause, or I perished." On another occasion they called upon him to give proof of his prophetic mission by miracles. His reply is said to have been: "God has not sent me to work wonders. He has sent me to preach to you. If you will accept my message you will have happiness in this world and the next. If you reject my admonitions, I shall be patient, and God

And the king did protect them, and refused to deliver them into the hands of their persecutors.

This is called the first Muhammadan flight, and took place A.D. 615.

year following, seventy-five men journeyed
to Meccah, and there took an oath of
allegiance to the prophet, swearing to
defend him and his followers from the
attacks of his enemies. When this fact
became known among the people of
Meccah so terrible a persecution ensued
that all Muhammad's adherents had to
take refuge at Medinah. There they met
with a warm welcome from increasing
numbers of enthusiastic converts. The
prophet himself had more difficulty in
eluding his enemies. For several days,
in company with Abu-bakr, he hid himself
in a mountain cavern.
"What can we

66

66

do?" said his timid companion; we are but two against a host." Nay," said Muhammad, "we are three, for God is with us." It is related that a spider wove its web before the mouth of the cavern, and this providential circumstance led his

trate, lawgiver, statesman, general, and, to all practical purposes, king.

pursuers to believe it empty. After many | no longer a simple prophet and religious such hair-breadth escapes he made good teacher charged with the delivery of a his flight to Medinah (about three hun- divine message. He was to be magisdred and seventy-five miles distant), thus instituting the well-known epoch called Hijrah (Hegira), or "the departure." This era, still used everywhere throughout the Muhammadan world, dates from A.D. 622, or about the fourteenth year of the proph et's career, when he was fifty-two years of age.

out

We need not dwell on subsequent events. No founder of any religion has ever appeared in the world, every detail of whose life is so well known. Every minute circumstance has been repeatedly described; his attempt to conciliate the Jews and Christians; his constituting Jerusalem his first Kiblah or point to which every believer was to turn in prayer, not, however, without guarding himself by the declaration that "to God belong the east and the west; therefore, whithersoever ye turn in prayer, there is the face of God;" his subsequent repudiation of both Jews and Christians; the consequent substitution of the Ka'bah or temple of Meccah as the Kiblah; the building of a mosque at Medinah, in which Muhammad himself led the devotions and repeated portions of the Kuran; the battle of Badr in which three hundred and thirteen Muslims were victorious over about one thousand of the Kuresh, and which advanced the cause of Islām as Constantine's victory did that of Christianity; the subsequent defeat of Muhammad at Mount Ohod; his taking part in nine other battles and sieges; his pacific pilgrimage in company with about two thousand followers to, Meccah in the sixth year after his flight to Medinah; his final triumphant entry into that town in the eighth year after his flight, and the consequent complete destruction of its three hundred and sixty idols.

Up to this time Muhammad had fought his way through unparalleled difficulties with no other weapons but his own indomitable will, confidence in the righteousness of his cause, and power of persuading others to believe in it. We have seen him first as a thoughtful youth, tending sheep on his native hills; then as the upright man of business, managing the affairs of his future wife Khadijah; next as the reflective and introspective recluse, communing in solitude with his own spirit, and asking himself those same tremendous questions which have agitated the minds of thinking men in every age: What am I? Where am I? Who created me? Why am I here? Whence have I come? Whither am I going? then as the dauntless and heroic reformer, not only holding his own against crushing opposition, but engaging for ten years in a death-struggle with falsehood and superstition ten long years of weary strife and hopeless anxiety, fears within and fightings withtill the culminating point of crucial trial was reached. And now on a sudden the whole scene is changed; the striking figure, indeed, of the prophet is still seen as before, erect and fearless, but no longer advancing with doubtful footsteps, as if And here to the honor of the Arabian on the brink of a volcano. His counte- prophet be it recorded, that on that great nance is still the foremost object in the day of his triumph the lustre of his vicpicture, but no longer haggard. and care- tory was not tarnished, as on former worn, as if looking earnestly into futurity, occasions, by the blood of his enemies. and anticipating a martyr's death. We Rather was it intensified by the noblest see him, on the contrary, in a friendly of all gifts, the gift of good for evil. The city, surrounded by enthusiastic and de- people of Meccah, at whose hands Muvoted adherents men of unflinching hammad had suffered so much injustice, intrepidity, overflowing with chivalrous were generously forgiven, the city was ardor, accustomed to warlike expeditions, peacefully occupied, and Muhammad himbent on defending him from violence, self marching in person to the Ka'bah eager to display their valor in advancing their leader's cause. His chief difficulty now was to restrain their impetuosity; he had to accustom them to patience, discipline, union, and organization. He had to teach them that as they had one God, and one creed, so they were to become one brotherhood, one army, one nation. He had to train himself also to assume new duties and functions. He was to be

and pointing towards the only objects of his implacable hatred - the idols of his native city is reported to have given orders for their utter annihilation in these grand words: "Truth is come; let falsehood be abolished."

This remarkable pilgrimage was undertaken during a truce which had been agreed upon between Muhammad and the Meccans. Under a solemn compart the latter withdrew from the city for three days, and gave up possession of the sacred soil to the returned exiles..