The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1851-01-17

an after thought, produced by SUCCESS
The momentl,e proclaimed the religion
Of the sword, and gave the predatory
Arabs taste ofioTeign plumber, that mo-
mont he was launched in q career Of con.
quest, which carried him forward with
It's own irresistible impetus. The fanatic
zeal with which he had inspired his fol-
lowers, did more for his success than
his military science; their belief in his
doctrines Of predesiination produced vic
tories which no military calculation could
have anticipated. In his dubious outset
as prophet, he had been encouraged by
the crafty couDsels Of his Scriptural ora
Gle, Waraka; in his career as conque-
ror, be had Omar, Khaled, and other
fiery spirits by his side to urge him on,
and to aid him in managing the trcmen-
dous power which hs had evoked into
action. Even with their aid, he tai oc-
casionalIy 10 avail himself Of his super
natural machinery as prophet, and in
80 doing may have reconciled himself to
the fraud by considering the plous end
to be obtained.
His military triumphs awakened no
pride nor vain glory, as they would have
done, had they been effected for selfish
purposes. In the time Of his greatest
power he maintained the same simplici--
" Of manners and appearance as in TIE
DAYS Of his adversely. So far from af-
fecting regal slate, he was displeased il,
on entering q loom, any unusual testi-
moniai Of respect we're shown him. If
he aimed at universal dominion, il was
the dominion Of the faith; as to the tenn
poral rule which grew up in his hands, as
he used il without os.entation, SO he took
no step to perpetuate il in his family.
The riches which poured in upon him
from tribute and spoils Of war, were ex-
pended in promoting the victories Of the
faith, and in relieving the poor among its
voiaries, insomuch that his treasury was
often drained Of its last coin. Omar Ibn
AL Hareth declares that Mahemet, al his
death, did not leave golden dinar nor q
silver dirhcm, slave nor slave girl,
nor any thing but his grey Daldal, his
arms, and the ground which he bestowed
upon his wives, his children and the
poo. "Allah," says an Arabian writer,
''offered him the keys Of oil tho treas.
ures Of the earth, but he refused 10 ac-
cept them"
1t is this perfect abnegation Of self,
connected with his apparently heartfelt
piet,, running throughout the various
phases of his fortune, which peTplex one
il forming Just estimate of Mahomet's
character. However he betrayed the al.
l,y Of earth after he had worldly power
st his command, the early aspirations of
b spirit continually returned and bore
him above ali earthly things. Prayer,
that vital duty Of Islamism, and that in
fallible purifier Of The soul, was his con-
slant preacher. "Trust in God" was his
comfort and support in times Of trial and
despondency. On the clemency Of God,
we are told, he reposed all his hopes Of
supernal happiness. Ayesha relates that
on one occasion she inquired Of him.
"Oh, prophet, does no one enter Para
disc but through Gods mefcyi" 'Nonc
none-noner' replied he, with earnest
and emphatic repetition. "But you, oh,
prophet, will not you enter excepting
through His compassionf Then Maho-
met put his hand upon his head, and
replied three times, with great So
lemnity, "Neither shall enter Paradise
unless God cover me with his mercym
When lie hung over the death-bed Of
his infant son Ibrahim, resignation TO the
will Of God was exhibited in his conduct
under his kcenest Of affections; and the
hope of soon rejoining his child in para
disc was his CT nsolation. When he fol-
lowed him 10 the grave, he invoked his
spirit in the awful examination Of the
tomb, TO hold fast 10 the foundations of
the faith, the unity Of God, and his own
mission as prophet. Even in bis own
dying hour, where there could be no
longer a, worldly motive for deceit, he
still breathed The same religious devo-
ton, and the same belief in his apostolic |
mission. TIE last words that trembled
on bis lips calculated trust Of soon en-
tering into blissful companionsbip with
the prophets who had gone before him.
Ii is difficult to reconcile such ardent,
persevering piety, with an incessant sys-
tenn Of blasphemous imposture; nor such
pure and elevated and benignant preceps
as are contained in the Koran, with a
mind haunted by ignoble passions, and
devoted 10 the groyelling interests Of
mere mortality; and we find no other
mode of solving the enigma
OF his character and conduct, than by
supposing that the way Of mental halla-
cination which flashed upon his enthusi-
as.ic spirit during his religious ecstacies
in the midnight cavern Of MountHara, con-
tinued more or less TO bewilder him with
a species OF monomania TO the end of his
career, and that he died in the dslusive
belief Of bis mission as prophet.
Kinkel, The German Poet and Liberal,
= rr,,Gra1i ~. tha Cnrfraua of Snanadan