The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1857-12-25
MistsIIantous.
The Death OF Mohammed.

The Death Of Mohammed.
Ten ears after the Heriga, he made
a pilgrimage to Mecca. with splendid
retinue Of more than one hundred ihous.
and followers. This was his last jour.
ney. The ply steal strength which had
endured so much hardship, turmoil and
battle, had been failing for the last few
years, in consequence OF eating nut.
ton, supposed TO have been poisoned by
Jewish woman, in revenge for the in.
juries inflicted on her people.
Soon after his return for Mecca he
was seized by fever, which at intervals
deprived him Of reason. He said TO
Ali:--"Gabriel has every year reci,ed
the Koran to me once; but this year he
has done it twice. think this is a
sign that departure is snear." He enan.
ohiated all his slaves,and gave direc.
tons concerning his funeral. He was
SO poor that he literally possessed but
one camel; but he charged Ali TO see
that every debt was paid.
Until three days before his death, he
continued his usual practice Of public
exhortaton and prayer. Weakness
then led him to ask his friend Abubcker
TO perform the duty for him. With a
bandage bound tightly around his lhrob.
bing head, and leaning on the shoulder
OF Ali, he went to the mosque to bid his
people fare we'll.
"Oh, my companion" said he,"what
a prophet | have been unto you! Did
y ou not break my front teeth, throw
dust on my farehead, and cause blood
to flow from my face, ill my head was
dy ed with III Have not suffered dis
tfess and calam,ies through the ignor.
ance Of my people? Did | not bind q
stone on my stomach to allay the tor.
ment Of hunger, while aiding my fol.
lowers!"
They replied, Eyes, oh prophet OF
God. Verify you have endured much
for Gods sake, and you have prohibi.
ted what was wrong. May God reward
y ou with the best Of rewards on our &C.
count"
He answered, "May God grant y ou
the same. The time is now very near
when | shall be concealed from you.-
Therefore, il any man has a claim on
me. let him declare il now"
A voice from the crowd:-"You owe
me three drachms."
He ordered them to be paid. and ad.
ded: "lf have done injury to any one.
| adjure him TO rise and tell me-"
A man stood up and said.-"Your
stall struck me one day; but whether it
was done intentionally on your part. |
do not know"
He replied:-"God forbid that should
have done il inten.ionally;" and he Of.
iered the man his staff, that he nigh,
return the blow, saying, ait is better TO
be in shame now than at the day OF
judgment" But he kissed the prophets
body and forgave the accident,
Mahommed said TO the people:-"No
one can hope for favor from God. but
by obedience. That alone can save
US from the wrath OF God. Verify. il |
should, sin should 60 to hell. Oh Lord.
| have delivered thy message"
He descend d from the pulpit, and
after Offering a brief prayer with the
people he returned to his house. Dur.
ing his illness he expressed undoubtlng
confidence in favor Of God, and often
repe ,ted consolIng messages brought by
the angel Gabriel, who was said to visit
him every day and night. The only
child he had left was Fatima, who had
married her cousin Ali. He manifest.
ed the strongest affection for them. fer.
vently blessed them and their children,
and charged Ali to be always kind TO
his family. He had previously y declar.
ed that the Angel OF Death would never
be allowed to take his soul from the body
ill he had received permission from
himself. Gabriel informed him lha,
the angel was now in tendance. and
would either take him or 60 AWAY
whichever he chose. adding:-"Verily
the Most High is desirous to meet y ou,.
whereupon Mahommed replied,"l have
finished my mission, and am ready to
Join my fellow prophets in Paradise -
Oh, Angel OF Death execute your or.
ders!" He died with his head reclin
ing in Ayesha's lap. His last broken
words were:-"Oh God--pardon my
sins-yes, my companion--l come"
, The announcement Of his departure
! was met with an outburst OF clamor.
Gus grief. His friends exclaimed, ,"How
E can he be dead? He was our wines:
and intercessor with God. By Allah
he is not dead! He is only wrapped
in a trance, like Moses and Jesus; and
I he will Immediately return TO his faith
!. lul people," Omar. in his frenzy, un
she athed his scimitsr and declared ht
|. would strike off tho head OF any infde
who said the prophet was dead. Blu
Abubekea rebuked him. saying: "ls !
:. Mahommed you worship, or Him WHIT
created Mahommed! Verify Allal
}! live.h forever; but his apostle was ,
: mortal like ourselves; and ho has ex
q perienced the common fate Of mortali
/ ty, according to his prediction"
0 He died in the eleventh year OF III,
/. Hegirs, when he was sixty three } ear
4 Of age. People came from the sur
:. rounding country and pronounced bIes
!. ssngs over his bier. This ceremon,
q lasted from Monday to Tuesday night
He had instructed Ali to build a yer.
simple tomb, and enclose il with
wall. The possession Of it rendere
), Medina sacred city, thenceior,h rs
|" sorted to by many pilgrims.-Mr'
q Child.
IL A Solemu Ioke