Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-01-29
ltst0rscal.
From the Baiumore Emerald.
THE sANDIEAK SHERIFF,


or, SACRED STANDARD OF aosAMsEp.
By George Bethune English.
Since the affairs OF the East have Gre
led greatinterest ia tins country, our
swspapers nave more than once made
kasnton of the Standard of Muham-
hsd.p lhave therefore thought it pro-
liable that description and short hlsto-
by of this most extraordinary palladium,
cr rather sy mbol of islamism, might be
scee ptable to the public. [ call it most
extrao, binary, for it certainly is so,
since nothing parallel to it has ever ex-
bsted. Its antiquity dates from the He
gira, i e. twelve hundred and forty four
{ years ago. Il has been carried victori-
& GUS over Arabia, Palestine, Egypt, sy.
ria, Asia Minor, Persia, Khofassan,
and even to the frontiers OF Indis on the
East. aud over Hungary, Poland, Aus
tia, to the very walls OF Veuns on the
+ West; and during the vicissitudes of. it
is said, more than four hundred battles,
has never been protaned by the touch of
an enemy.
Its origin was as singular as lis history
has been remarkable According to
Mohamme9 dan history, it has happened
10 the following manner: After Moham-
med had lain concealed for three DAYS
10 cave near Mecca. together with Abu
Bekr and his son AbdatIah, (says the
historian .3amsd Efendy) he quilted his
Ri retreat on the fourth, aad followed by
# hi, t,vo fo,fhfnI cnmnautons tacL sha
n road to Medina, working at every step
Il new mericals. His cnun.enanee alone
xastonished and dispersed various parties
HCf the koreish, ii his feilo~ clt,zens
OF Mecca, who had plotted to ssssssInata
him, which occasioned bis fl ghtl who,
with arms ia their hands sought him on
all sides. Some missed aim some fed
from him; others, enlightened BY the
first words he addressed to them, fell at
his knees, embraced his doctrine, and
followed bin 10 the Medina OF tina
1 number was Buriede Schny, who was
4 sent in pursuit of him at the head of Sc
j venty Meccans From a cruel enemy.
\ this officer became one of his most zeal
Gus partizans. La the ecstscy ot bis ioy.
Sehmy unwound the shawl IF bis tor
ban, attached it to lance, and made of
1t a banner, which be consecrated to the
& glory of the prophet. This was the first
y standard of islamism. The standard
d bearers of all the Mussulman monarchs
have since held il as AR honour to deco
rate themse YES with The name of Sehmy,
rs having oeen the first standard bearer
OF toe celestial apostle" So says the
historian.
During the life time Of Mohammed.
n his generals alone carried the military
n standards. the delivery of which into
their hands was the symbol OF Invests
ture. They fought each at the head of
his troops, the standard in one hand, and
B the sciusetar in the other, In the 6rst
expedition, that Of Beder, made by
Mohammed in person two years after
: bis flight trsm Mecca, Hsmza, his ua-
Gle, carried bis banner; and after him
Ali, his son-in. law, had the same hon
our on the day of the conquest Of Mecca,
and the triumphial entry OF Mobammed
into that first of the Mussulman cities
After his death Abu Rekir, his success
sor, showed great honour to this sacred
banner When he sent bis armies into
syria, be delivered the sacred standard
into the hands of bis general Ussome,
WIN great ceremony, aud to show bis
respect tor it, accompanied his officer
i"r some distance on foot. walking By
the side of bis horse. "This trait of bu-
mani'y' (says history these demon
STATIONS ofrespeci for the sacred flag
under which the Mussulmans ought to
Il march in the way OF the Lord to CON-
# hat the enemies of the faith, increased
q extremely the love and veneration Of
r. the people for this FIRST Of the Khaliphs"
III Since his time, and under the reigns
OF ms successors, It was carried into bat
Tie by one of the generals or chief off
n GERS of the army, and has always been
reVerenced under the title Of Sondtsak
sasrY IL has passed successfully from
TIE hands of the four FIRST successors of
~ Oh mined to the Ommiadss who reign
su at Damascus, from them 20 the A.
assides Of Bagdad aud Cairo, and final.
J to the Ottoman Emperors, since the
conquest OF Egypt under Selirn the first
Ahe oandjeak sheriff, in its present
'Sle' is rolled up in another flag which