73

BIOGRAPHIES OF MOHAMMED

Considerable pains are then taken to prove from the Coran and tradition, that the mention of the Prophet is equal to the mention of God, and that it is lawful to invoke the Prophet in prayer, saying, "O Mohammed!" a practice reprobated apparently by these Wahâby (Protestant) Moslems.1

The Moslems are as proud of their victories as they are sensitive of their disasters; we therefore give an example of each. And first the grand field of Bedr. The accounts of this battle are singularly inaccurate both in Irving and in the other biographies. It is assumed that the Medina force interposed between the caravan of Abu Sofiân and the Meccan army; while, in reality, the caravan had already passed safely some days before either of the armies reached Bedr. The following paragraph is full of errors:—

In conclusion, we would earnestly press the necessity which lies upon all of removing, as far a

The spies of the Prophet informed him that their rich and apparently easy prey was within his grasp. He advanced with a few followers, in pursuit of it; but before he could overtake the unprotected band, Abu Sofiân had despatched a message to his brethren at Mecca, for a reinforcement . . . . Mohammed was posted between the caravan and the approaching succour with only 313 soldiers . . . . The troops were persuaded to engage the superior forces of the enemy, abandoning, for the present, the tempting prize of Abu. Sofiân's wealthy caravan . . . . A slight entrenchment was formed, to cover the flank of his troops, and a rivulet flowing past the spot he had chosen for encampment, furnished his army with a constant supply of water . . . . At the commencement of the battle, the Prophet, together with Abu Bekr, mounted a kind of throne or pulpit, earnestly asking of God the assistance of Gabriel, with 3000 angels; but when his army appeared to waver he started from his place of prayer, threw himself upon a horse, and casting a handful of sand into the air, exclaiming, "confusion fill their faces! " rushed upon the enemy . . . . This sum (the ransom of the prisoners) would compensate, in a measure, for the escape of the booty; for, notwithstanding the defeat, Abu Sofiân managed

1 The people here reprehended are called Wahâbies, and their origin is no doubt connected in some way with the Wahâbies of Arabia. Equally with them, they reject much of the marvellous foolery and superstitions of the modern Moslems, and have learnt to submit the current notions received from their fathers to the judgment of reason. Are they not hence prepared, in some measure, to appreciate and to welcome our criticism of the early historical sources? It would be interesting to know something more of these Dehli Wahâbies.