Mahomet and Mohammedanism, Part 1
In the beginning of the seventh century, when the Jews had for the most part departed from the worship and service of the one true God, and when the Christians of the east had almost universally forsaken the simple doctrines, and discipline of Jesus Christ, there sprung up, in the city of Mecca, in Arabia, one of the most extraordinary enterprising false prophets the world had ever, or would ever witness.
His name was Mahomet, or Mohammed: he was born in the year 571 A.D. of poor parents, but of many rich and respectable connections. His father died before he was two years old, and all the power and wealth of his family went to his uncles; especially to Aba Taleb who afterward gained a great deal of influence and power in the city, and surrounding country of Mecca.
After the death of Mahomet’s father, Abu Taleb undertook the care of Mahomet’s education; although he refused to listen to his nephew’s false claims of being a prophet, Abu had manifested a great deal affection for him, and more than once protected him against the anger of his enemies.
Mahomet remained employment to his uncle, who being a merchant, traded principally with Syria until the age of 25. About that time one of the chief men of the city died, leaving a widow named Cadiga, who, without a husband now required an agent to manage her stock.
Mahomet soon entered into her service and traded for her in Damascus and surrounding areas. He conducted himself with so much propriety, that he not only merited her respect, but actually won her affections. Even though she was twelve years older than himself; he being 28, he marriage her and suddenly became elevated in status with some of the richest men of the city.
Whether this unlooked-for elevation in wealth and influence inspired Mahomet with this extraordinary ambition, or whatever other motive may have prompted him, he soon began to manifest symptoms of appearing to be a man of a predominant character; and as one with a divine commission from God to reform the world by the introduction of a new system of religion.
He proceeded, however, with a great deal of caution and care; so at the age of 28 he retired from the business of the world, commencing to be a hermit in the cave of Hira, in which, as he said, he continued all day, exercising himself in prayer, fasting, and meditation. He pursued this appearance of holy-ness for 2 years, and not long after, his wife began to look upon him in the light of an apostle, and soon became converted to her husband’s new faith and mode of life.
Mohomet after 14 years took upon himself the style and title of an apostle of God. At first this was done to only a very few who had attached themselves to his cause. But four years afterwards, he openly declared himself, in the city of Mecca, a prophet sent by God, to convert the people from the errors of Paganism meaning Judaism and Christianity to this new and falsely claimed true religion.
This declaration was, at first, greatly derided by many. As his disciples continued to increase, his enemies began a plot to put an end to his career by putting him to death; but the plot having come to the knowledge of his uncle Abu Taleb, Mohomet was saved from this end.
The main arguments Mahomet used to delude men into a belief of this deception were promises and threats, which he knew would work mostly in the hearts and minds of the common, unlearned people. His promises were chiefly of Paradise, which with great art he framed agreeably to the taste of the Arabs of that day.
They lived within the torrid zone, and because of the nature of this climate; their corrupted manner; their great love of women; and because of the scorching heat and dryness of the country, he made Paradise to look like it flowed with rivers of water, cooling drinks, shaded gardens, and pleasant fruits, things most agreeable, refreshing and delightful to this people. From this time forward the people would place their highest delight and love in these things, and their loyalty to this new supposed prophet of God.
For this reason, Mohomet made the joys of his Paradise to consist totally in these particulars; which is promised his followers in abundance in many places of the Koran. But on the opposite side, he also described the punishments of hell, which he threatened to all who would not believe in him. These to consist of such torments as would appear to them the most afflicting and grievous, “that they should drink nothing but boiling and stinking water, nor breathe any thing but exceedingly hot winds, things most terrible in Arabia; that they should dwell for ever in continual fire, excessively burning, and be surrounded with a black hot salt smoke having a cover-lid upon it, etc. “
Mohomet claimed to receive all his revelations from the angel Gabriel, who, he claimed was sent from God for the purpose of delivering these new revelations to him. He was subject to the falling-sickness (epilepsy) so that whenever this condition was upon him, he would pretend to be in a trance, and while in this condition, the Gabriel would come to him.
These revelations he put into several chapters; the collection of which makes up the Koran, the Bible of the Muslims today. The original of this book was laid up, as he claimed to his followers, in the archives of heaven; and the angel Gabriel brought him the copy, chapter by chapter when needed, and that they should be published to the people; that is, as often as any new revelation should be pronounced. All objections against him or his religion were to be answered; that any difficulty was to be solved, any discontent among his people to be quieted, any offence was to be removed, or any thing and everything should be done for the furtherance of his false claims and schemes.
But what perplexed him the most was, when those who opposed him demanded to see a miracle from him; “for,” they said, “Moses and Jesus, and the other prophets, according to thy own doctrine, worked miracles to prove their mission from God; and therefore, if thou be a prophet, and greater than any that were sent before thee, as thou boasteth thyself to be, do thou work the like miracles to manifest it unto us.”
This objection he endeavored to evade by several answers; all of which amount only to this one, “That God had sent Moses and Jesus with miracles, and yet men would not be obedient to their word; and therefore he (God) had now sent him, in the last place and time, without miracles, to force them (the people) by the power of the sword to do his will.”
“In these last days (the Father has) spoken unto us by his Son (Jesus,) whom He hath appointed heir of all things.”
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com