The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-22
acknowledgement:
MAHOMET'S FAITH.
Origin, Growth and Spread OI
MOhummcIlnniSnI.

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unfurling the flag Of the Prophet, makes
the relations that these nations sustainto
Christian nations, and the characteristics
or speeiSf features Of the Mohammedan
religion, questions OF present and vital
interest. The people at large have
always held vague notions as TO the real
character OF Mohammsd, the founder Of
l-laInism, and have hesIta!ed to admit
that the religion was anything more than
idolatry, or that the Moslems were ever
more than an ignorant. and superSttious,
people. In both cases the opposite is
true. MOhammedanism has always been
the inveterate foe Of idolatry, and Moslem
learning and art had at one time great in.
iluence in Europe.
Mohammed, or Mahomet, the founder
Of the Mussulman religion, was born in
Mecca, Arabia, November 10, $40, and
died at Medina, June S, G32. His family
belonged to the distinguished tribe Of
Koreish, who claimed to be directly de
scended from Abraham by his son Ish.
mqcl. Before he was twelve years old the
boy Mohammed made journeys through
Syria and other countries, and became nc
Quainted with Christian monks. lie also
travelled extensively in Arabia. At the
age Of twenty-five he married, and for ten
years lived quiet. commonplace life.
When thirty.five or forty years OF age,
Mohnmmed gave himself up to religious
contemplation. lie wa1 in the habit OF
retiring to 4 cave Of Mt. lIarn, and there
amid spasmOdiC commissions he had, uc.
CUrding TO the Mohammedan story, his
first vision. The angel Gabriel appeared
and commanded him to reCite what he
1.-THE angel) said. He was much troubled
about this, and on consultation with an
old Arab, who knew the Scriptures OF the
Jews and Christians, he was informed
that "God had chosen him to be the
prophet Of his people" The revelations
continued from that time to the end OF
his life, were committed 10 memory By
his alhtrents, and after hi' death col.
lected and written dOwn.
His first convert was his vile. II the
end Of three years his adherents numbered
only forty. When he declared his mis-.
sion "a the Prophet Of God, his own tribe
0ulawed him, and ior some years he was
prosecuted. lie fled from Mecca in G62
the date Of the lIegira the beginning OF
the MosIem era) TO Medina, and Cstab.
li4hed hi4 religion.
In the succeeding years he returned to
Mecca, oYcrcamc The korcshites, and was
acknowledged rs sovereign aud Prophet,
and in 4 lew years subjected Arabia TO
his rule. In the ninth year OF the lie.
gira he proclaimed his first holy war
against the Byzantine or Greek Empire.
This was complete failure. The next
year he made his celebrated pilgrimage
10 Mecca, at the head OF forty thousand
pilgrims. Three months after his return
to Medina he wnI taken seriously i'll.
lie announced his own death in the
mosque, and prayed that God might sup
port him in the agony Of death. lie left
only one child, Fatima, who became the
wife Of Ali.
Students OF Moslem literature concede
that Mohammed was a man of great pow.
er. lie was acquainted with the doc.
lrines of both Jews and Christians, but
in his lectures to his followers misrepre.
sented both. His visions we're received
in a state similar to that made so iamil.
iur by clairvoyants and spirilualists.
The spaamOdic commissions which attend.
ed every manifestation OF revelation, as
described in the records were very SINH.
lar to the phenomena connected with
clairvOyant speaking, etc. lie announced
himself az the Teslorer Of the pure relig.
ion revealed by God to Abraham. lie
required Plgans to leave their idols and
worship the one true God; required Jews
to exchange the law OF Moses for what
lie claimed was the neg and final reyela.
lion given to him; and required Chris.
tans TO cease wOrshippiUg Christ as God,
claiming that this was inconsistent with
the doctrine taught by Christ himself.
Many trace the religion OF Mohammed
to the ferns Of Judaism and Christianity
existing in Arabia ut the time, which he
inlermingIed with the traditions and al.
legnrieS Of his race.
The fundamental doctrine OF the Koran,
or Of Mohammedanism is this: "There
il but one God, and Mohammed Is his
Prophet" The idea Of God does not
differ in material points from that held
by Christians, except that they reject en-.
lirely the doctrine Of the Trinity. The
Mohammedans believe that Adam, Noah,
Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed
we're diyinely commissioned to proclaim
new laws and dispensationi; that to the
prophets were revealed certain scriptures
inspired by God; that all these laws per.
iahed except the Pentatcuch, the psalms,
the Gospel, and the Koran; that the first
three have been falsilied and mutilated,
and that the Koran supersedes them all.
They regard Christ as next TO Mohammed,
but deny that he wna the Son OF God, and
that he was crucifed, believing that some
other person suffered in his place, while
lie was taken up to God. They believe
in the second coming Of Christ, as herald.
ing the approach Of the last judgment
IA to future life, they believe that God
will Judge men by their acls in this life:
that the time Of resurrection ia known
only to God; that after Judgment, all
men must pass over bridge, "iiner than
hair and sharper than sword" the
good passing over easily, the wicked fall.
ing headlong TO hell; that all who believe
in the unity OF God will finally be re.
leased from punishment and enter para.
disc, while idolatcrs and hypocritcs suffer
eternally.
The Mohammcdans observe strictly the
outward forms Of their religion, regard.
ing the Koran rs the rule Of their re.
ligiOu,, civil and social life. The Koran
iorbid' gambling, intemperance and
nsnry; charity, and provides for the
punishment Of crimes; condemns pride,
avaricc, debRuchery' and insists on sub.
mission to the will Of God, on iorbear.
ance, love Of peace, sincerity, truthful.
ness and benevolence. 1t restricts, but
does not prohibit polygamy, and presents
a sensual idea Of heaven.
After the death Of Mohammcd the
promulgAtion Of HE doctrines spread
with amazing rapidity. The Mosiem,
conquered Syria (naking Jerusalem ono
Of their holy cities), Persia, ARyfia and
all Of Northern Africa, before The begin