[Footnote85:Koran，c。3，p。40，c。4。p。80。D'Herbelot，p。
　　399，&c。]
　　[Footnote86:SeetheGospelofSt。Thomas，oroftheInfancy，intheCodexApocryphusN。T。ofFabricius，whocollectsthevarioustestimoniesconcerningit，p。128—158。ItwaspublishedinGreekbyCotelier，andinArabicbySike，whothinksourpresentcopymorerecentthanMahomet。YethisquotationsagreewiththeoriginalaboutthespeechofChristinhiscradle，hislivingbirdsofclay，&c。Sike，c。i。p。168，169，c。36，p。198，199，c。46，p。206。Cotelier，c。2，p。160，161。]
　　[Footnote87:ItisdarklyhintedintheKoran，c。3，p。39，
　　andmoreclearlyexplainedbythetraditionoftheSonnites，Sale'sNote，andMaracci，tom。ii。p。112。Inthexiithcentury，theimmaculateconceptionwascondemnedbySt。Bernardasapresumptuousnovelty，FraPaolo，IstoriadelConciliodiTrento，l。ii。]
　　[Footnote88:SeetheKoran，c。3，v。53，andc。4，v。156，ofMaracci'sedition。Deusestpraestantissimusdoloseagentiumanoddpraise……neccrucifixerunteum，sedobjectaesteissimilitudo；anexpressionthatmaysuitwiththesystemoftheDocetes；butthecommentatorsbelieveMaracci，tom。ii。p。113—
　　115，173。Sale，p。42，43，79thatanotherman，afriendoranenemy，wascrucifiedinthelikenessofJesus；afablewhichtheyhadreadintheGospelofSt。Barnabus，andwhichhadbeenstartedasearlyasthetimeofIrenaeus，bysomeEbioniteheretics，Beausobre，Hist。duManicheisme，tom。ii。p。25，Mosheim。deReb。Christ。p。353。]
　　[Footnote89:ThischargeisobscurelyurgedintheKoran，c。3，p。45；butneitherMahomet，norhisfollowers，aresufficientlyversedinlanguagesandcriticismtogiveanyweightorcolortotheirsuspicions。YettheAriansandNestorianscouldrelatesomestories，andtheilliterateprophetmightlistentotheboldassertionsoftheManichaeans。SeeBeausobre，tom。i。p。291—
　　305。]
　　[Footnote90:AmongthepropheciesoftheOldandNewTestament，whicharepervertedbythefraudorignoranceoftheMussulmans，theyapplytotheprophetthepromiseoftheParaclete，orComforter，whichhadbeenalreadyusurpedbytheMontanistsandManichaeans，Beausobre，Hist。CritiqueduManicheisme，tom。i。
　　p。263，&c。；andtheeasychangeoflettersaffordstheetymologyofthenameofMohammed，Maracci，tom。i。parti。p。
　　15—28。]
　　ChapterL:DescriptionOfArabiaAndItsInhabitants。
　　PartIV。
　　Thecommunicationofideasrequiresasimilitudeofthoughtandlanguage:thediscourseofaphilosopherwouldvibratewithouteffectontheearofapeasant；yethowminuteisthedistanceoftheirunderstandings，ifitbecomparedwiththecontactofaninfiniteandafinitemind，withthewordofGodexpressedbythetongueorthepenofamortal!TheinspirationoftheHebrewprophets，oftheapostlesandevangelistsofChrist，mightnotbeincompatiblewiththeexerciseoftheirreasonandmemory；andthediversityoftheirgeniusisstronglymarkedinthestyleandcompositionofthebooksoftheOldandNewTestament。ButMahometwascontentwithacharacter，morehumble，yetmoresublime，ofasimpleeditor；thesubstanceoftheKoran，^91accordingtohimselforhisdisciples，isuncreatedandeternal；subsistingintheessenceoftheDeity，andinscribedwithapenoflightonthetableofhiseverlastingdecrees。Apapercopy，inavolumeofsilkandgems，wasbroughtdowntothelowestheavenbytheangelGabriel，who，undertheJewisheconomy，hadindeedbeendespatchedonthemostimportanterrands；andthistrustymessengersuccessivelyrevealedthechaptersandversestotheArabianprophet。Insteadofaperpetualandperfectmeasureofthedivinewill，thefragmentsoftheKoranwereproducedatthediscretionofMahomet；eachrevelationissuitedtotheemergenciesofhispolicyorpassion；
　　andallcontradictionisremovedbythesavingmaxim，thatanytextofScriptureisabrogatedormodifiedbyanysubsequentpassage。ThewordofGod，andoftheapostle，wasdiligentlyrecordedbyhisdisciplesonpalm—leavesandtheshoulder—bonesofmutton；andthepages，withoutorderorconnection，werecastintoadomesticchest，inthecustodyofoneofhiswives。TwoyearsafterthedeathofMahomet，thesacredvolumewascollectedandpublishedbyhisfriendandsuccessorAbubeker:theworkwasrevisedbythecaliphOthman，inthethirtiethyearoftheHegira；andthevariouseditionsoftheKoranassertthesamemiraculousprivilegeofauniformandincorruptibletext。Inthespiritofenthusiasmorvanity，theprophetreststhetruthofhismissiononthemeritofhisbook；audaciouslychallengesbothmenandangelstoimitatethebeautiesofasinglepage；andpresumestoassertthatGodalonecoulddictatethisincomparableperformance。^92ThisargumentismostpowerfullyaddressedtoadevoutArabian，whosemindisattunedtofaithandrapture；whoseearisdelightedbythemusicofsounds；andwhoseignoranceisincapableofcomparingtheproductionsofhumangenius。^93Theharmonyandcopiousnessofstylewillnotreach，inaversion，theEuropeaninfidel:hewillperusewithimpatiencetheendlessincoherentrhapsodyoffable，andprecept，anddeclamation，whichseldomexcitesasentimentoranidea，whichsometimescrawlsinthedust，andissometimeslostintheclouds。ThedivineattributesexaltthefancyoftheArabianmissionary；buthisloftieststrainsmustyieldtothesublimesimplicityofthebookofJob，composedinaremoteage，inthesamecountry，andinthesamelanguage。^94IfthecompositionoftheKoranexceedthefacultiesofamantowhatsuperiorintelligenceshouldweascribetheIliadofHomer，orthePhilippicsofDemosthenes?Inallreligions，thelifeofthefoundersuppliesthesilenceofhiswrittenrevelation:thesayingsofMahometweresomanylessonsoftruth；hisactionssomanyexamplesofvirtue；andthepublicandprivatememorialswerepreservedbyhiswivesandcompanions。Attheendoftwohundredyears，theSonna，ororallaw，wasfixedandconsecratedbythelaborsofAlBochari，whodiscriminatedseventhousandtwohundredandseventy—fivegenuinetraditions，fromamassofthreehundredthousandreports，ofamoredoubtfulorspuriouscharacter。EachdaythepiousauthorprayedinthetempleofMecca，andperformedhisablutionswiththewaterofZemzem:thepagesweresuccessivelydepositedonthepulpitandthesepulchreoftheapostle；andtheworkhasbeenapprovedbythefourorthodoxsectsoftheSonnites。^95
　　[Footnote91:FortheKoran，seeD'Herbelot，p。85—88。
　　Maracci，tom。i。inVit。Mohammed。p。32—45。Sale，PreliminaryDiscourse，p。58—70。]
　　[Footnote92:Koran，c。17，v。89。InSale，p。235，236。InMaracci，p。410。
　　Note:CompareVonHammerGeschichtederAssassinenp。11。—
　　M。]
　　[Footnote93:YetasectofArabianswaspersuaded，thatitmightbeequalledorsurpassedbyahumanpen，Pocock，Specimen，p。
　　221，&c。；andMaraccithepolemicistoohardforthetranslatorderidestherhymingaffectationofthemostapplaudedpassage，tom。i。partii。p。69—75。]
　　[Footnote94:ColloquiawhetherrealorfabulousinmediaArabiaatqueabArabibushabita，Lowth，dePoesiHebraeorum。
　　Praelect。xxxii。xxxiii。xxxiv，withhisGermaneditor，Michaelis，Epimetroniv。YetMichaelisp。671—673hasdetectedmanyEgyptianimages，theelephantiasis，papyrus，Nile，crocodile，&c。ThelanguageisambiguouslystyledArabico—Hebraea。Theresemblanceofthesisterdialectswasmuchmorevisibleintheirchildhood，thanintheirmatureage，Michaelis，p。682。Schultens，inPraefat。Job。
　　Note:TheageofthebookofJobisstillandprobablywillstillbedisputed。Rosenmullerthusstateshisownopinion:
　　"Certeserioribusreipublicaetemporibusassignandumesselibrum，suaderevideturadChaldaismumvergenssermo。"YettheobservationsofKosegarten，whichRosenmullerhasgiveninanote，andcommonreason，suggestthatthisChaldaismmaybethenativeformofamuchearlierdialect；ortheChaldaicmayhaveadoptedthepoeticalarchaismsofadialect，differingfrom，butnotlessancientthan，theHebrew。SeeRosenmuller，Proleg。onJob，p。41。Thepoetryappearstometobelongtoamuchearlierperiod。—M。]
　　[Footnote95:AliBocharidiedA。H。224。SeeD'Herbelot，p。
　　208，416，827。Gagnier，Not。adAbulfed。c。19，p。33。]
　　Themissionoftheancientprophets，ofMosesandofJesushadbeenconfirmedbymanysplendidprodigies；andMahometwasrepeatedlyurged，bytheinhabitantsofMeccaandMedina，toproduceasimilarevidenceofhisdivinelegation；tocalldownfromheaventheangelorthevolumeofhisrevelation，tocreateagardeninthedesert，ortokindleaconflagrationintheunbelievingcity。AsoftenasheispressedbythedemandsoftheKoreish，heinvolveshimselfintheobscureboastofvisionandprophecy，appealstotheinternalproofsofhisdoctrine，andshieldshimselfbehindtheprovidenceofGod，whorefusesthosesignsandwondersthatwoulddepreciatethemeritoffaith，andaggravatetheguiltofinfidelityButthemodestorangrytoneofhisapologiesbetrayshisweaknessandvexation；andthesepassagesofscandalestablished，beyondsuspicion，theintegrityoftheKoran。^96ThevotariesofMahometaremoreassuredthanhimselfofhismiraculousgifts；andtheirconfidenceandcredulityincreaseastheyarefartherremovedfromthetimeandplaceofhisspiritualexploits。Theybelieveoraffirmthattreeswentforthtomeethim；thathewassalutedbystones；thatwatergushedfromhisfingers；thathefedthehungry，curedthesick，andraisedthedead；thatabeamgroanedtohim；thatacamelcomplainedtohim；thatashoulderofmuttoninformedhimofitsbeingpoisoned；andthatbothanimateandinanimatenaturewereequallysubjecttotheapostleofGod。^97Hisdreamofanocturnaljourneyisseriouslydescribedasarealandcorporealtransaction。Amysteriousanimal，theBorak，conveyedhimfromthetempleofMeccatothatofJerusalem:withhiscompanionGabrielhesuccessivelyascendedthesevenheavens，andreceivedandrepaidthesalutationsofthepatriarchs，theprophets，andtheangels，intheirrespectivemansions。Beyondtheseventhheaven，Mahometalonewaspermittedtoproceed；hepassedtheveilofunity，approachedwithintwobow—shotsofthethrone，andfeltacoldthatpiercedhimtotheheart，whenhisshoulderwastouchedbythehandofGod。Afterthisfamiliar，thoughimportantconversation，heagaindescendedtoJerusalem，remountedtheBorak，returnedtoMecca，andperformedinthetenthpartofanightthejourneyofmanythousandyears。^98
　　Accordingtoanotherlegend，theapostleconfoundedinanationalassemblythemaliciouschallengeoftheKoreish。Hisresistlesswordsplitasundertheorbofthemoon:theobedientplanetstoopedfromherstationinthesky，accomplishedthesevenrevolutionsroundtheCaaba，salutedMahometintheArabiantongue，and，suddenlycontractingherdimensions，enteredatthecollar，andissuedforththroughthesleeve，ofhisshirt。^99
　　Thevulgarareamusedwiththesemarvelloustales；butthegravestoftheMussulmandoctorsimitatethemodestyoftheirmaster，andindulgealatitudeoffaithorinterpretation。^100
　　Theymightspeciouslyallege，thatinpreachingthereligionitwasneedlesstoviolatetheharmonyofnature；thatacreeduncloudedwithmysterymaybeexcusedfrommiracles；andthattheswordofMahometwasnotlesspotentthantherodofMoses。
　　[Footnote96:See，moreremarkably，Koran，c。2，6，12，13，17。
　　PrideauxLifeofMahomet，p。18，19hasconfoundedtheimpostor。Maracci，withamorelearnedapparatus，hasshownthatthepassageswhichdenyhismiraclesareclearandpositive，Alcoran，tom。i。partii。p。7—12，andthosewhichseemtoassertthemareambiguousandinsufficient，p。12—22。]
　　[Footnote97:SeetheSpecimenHist。Arabum，thetextofAbulpharagius，p。17，thenotesofPocock，p。187—190。
　　D'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，p。76，77。VoyagesdeChardin，tom。iv。p。200—203。MaracciAlcoran，tom。i。p。22
　　—64hasmostlaboriouslycollectedandconfutedthemiraclesandpropheciesofMahomet，which，accordingtosomewriters，amounttothreethousand。]
　　[Footnote98:ThenocturnaljourneyiscircumstantiallyrelatedbyAbulfedainVit。Mohammed，c。19，p。33，whowishestothinkitavision；byPrideaux，p。31—40，whoaggravatestheabsurdities；andbyGagniertom。i。p。252—343，whodeclares，fromthezealousAlJannabi，thattodenythisjourney，istodisbelievetheKoran。YettheKoranwithoutnamingeitherheaven，orJerusalem，orMecca，hasonlydroppedamysterioushint:LausilliquitranstulitservumsuumaboratorioHaramadoratoriumremotissimum，Koran，c。17，v。1；inMaracci，tom。ii。
　　p。407；forSale'sversionismorelicentious。Aslenderbasisfortheaerialstructureoftradition。]
　　[Footnote99:Inthepropheticstyle，whichusesthepresentorpastforthefuture，Mahomethadsaid，Appropinquavithora，etscissaestluna，Koran，c。54，v。1；inMaracci，tom。ii。p。
　　688。Thisfigureofrhetorichasbeenconvertedintoafact，whichissaidtobeattestedbythemostrespectableeye—witnesses，Maracci，tom。ii。p。690。ThefestivalisstillcelebratedbythePersians，Chardin，tom。iv。p。201；andthelegendistediouslyspunoutbyGagnier，ViedeMahomet，tom。i。
　　p。183—234，onthefaith，asitshouldseem，ofthecredulousAlJannabi。YetaMahometandoctorhasarraignedthecreditoftheprincipalwitness，apudPocock，Specimen，p。187；thebestinterpretersarecontentwiththesimplesenseoftheKoran。AlBeidawi，apudHottinger，Hist。Orient。l。ii。p。302；andthesilenceofAbulfedaisworthyofaprinceandaphilosopher。
　　Note:CompareHamakerNotestoInc。Auct。Lib。deExped。
　　Memphides，p。62—M。]
　　[Footnote100:Abulpharagius，inSpecimenHist。Arab。p。17；andhisscepticismisjustifiedinthenotesofPocock，p。190—194，fromthepurestauthorities。]
　　Thepolytheistisoppressedanddistractedbythevarietyofsuperstition:athousandritesofEgyptianoriginwereinterwovenwiththeessenceoftheMosaiclaw；andthespiritofthegospelhadevaporatedinthepageantryofthechurch。TheprophetofMeccawastemptedbyprejudice，orpolicy，orpatriotism，tosanctifytheritesoftheArabians，andthecustomofvisitingtheholystoneoftheCaaba。ButthepreceptsofMahomethimselfinculcatesamoresimpleandrationalpiety:prayer，fasting，andalms，arethereligiousdutiesofaMussulman；andheisencouragedtohope，thatprayerwillcarryhimhalfwaytoGod，fastingwillbringhimtothedoorofhispalace，andalmswillgainhimadmittance。^101I。Accordingtothetraditionofthenocturnaljourney，theapostle，inhispersonalconferencewiththeDeity，wascommandedtoimposeonhisdisciplesthedailyobligationoffiftyprayers。BytheadviceofMoses，heappliedforanalleviationofthisintolerableburden；thenumberwasgraduallyreducedtofive；withoutanydispensationofbusinessorpleasure，ortimeorplace:thedevotionofthefaithfulisrepeatedatdaybreak，atnoon，intheafternoon，intheevening，andatthefirstwatchofthenight；andinthepresentdecayofreligiousfervor，ourtravellersareedifiedbytheprofoundhumilityandattentionoftheTurksandPersians。Cleanlinessisthekeyofprayer:thefrequentlustrationofthehands，theface，andthebody，whichwaspractisedofoldbytheArabs，issolemnlyenjoinedbytheKoran；andapermissionisformallygrantedtosupplywithsandthescarcityofwater。Thewordsandattitudesofsupplication，asitisperformedeithersitting，orstanding，orprostrateontheground，areprescribedbycustomorauthority；buttheprayerispouredforthinshortandferventejaculations；themeasureofzealisnotexhaustedbyatediousliturgy；andeachMussulmanforhisownpersonisinvestedwiththecharacterofapriest。Amongthetheists，whorejecttheuseofimages，ithasbeenfoundnecessarytorestrainthewanderingsofthefancy，bydirectingtheeyeandthethoughttowardsakebla，orvisiblepointofthehorizon。TheprophetwasatfirstinclinedtogratifytheJewsbythechoiceofJerusalem；buthesoonreturnedtoamorenaturalpartiality；andfivetimeseverydaytheeyesofthenationsatAstracan，atFez，atDelhi，aredevoutlyturnedtotheholytempleofMecca。YeteveryspotfortheserviceofGodisequallypure:theMahometansindifferentlyprayintheirchamberorinthestreet。AsadistinctionfromtheJewsandChristians，theFridayineachweekissetapartfortheusefulinstitutionofpublicworship:thepeopleisassembledinthemosch；andtheimam，somerespectableelder，ascendsthepulpit，tobegintheprayerandpronouncethesermon。ButtheMahometanreligionisdestituteofpriesthoodorsacrifice；andtheindependentspiritoffanaticismlooksdownwithcontemptontheministersandtheslavesofsuperstition。II。Thevoluntary^102penanceoftheascetics，thetormentandgloryoftheirlives，wasodioustoaprophetwhocensuredinhiscompanionsarashvowofabstainingfromflesh，andwomen，andsleep；andfirmlydeclared，thathewouldsuffernomonksinhisreligion。^103Yetheinstituted，ineachyear，afastofthirtydays；andstrenuouslyrecommendedtheobservanceasadisciplinewhichpurifiesthesoulandsubduesthebody，asasalutaryexerciseofobediencetothewillofGodandhisapostle。DuringthemonthofRamadan，fromtherisingtothesettingofthesun，theMussulmanabstainsfromeating，anddrinking，andwomen，andbaths，andperfumes；fromallnourishmentthatcanrestorehisstrength，fromallpleasurethatcangratifyhissenses。Intherevolutionofthelunaryear，theRamadancoincides，byturns，withthewintercoldandthesummerheat；andthepatientmartyr，withoutassuaginghisthirstwithadropofwater，mustexpectthecloseofatediousandsultryday。Theinterdictionofwine，peculiartosomeordersofpriestsorhermits，isconvertedbyMahometaloneintoapositiveandgenerallaw；^104andaconsiderableportionoftheglobehasabjured，athiscommand，theuseofthatsalutary，thoughdangerous，liquor。Thesepainfulrestraintsare，doubtless，infringedbythelibertine，andeludedbythehypocrite；butthelegislator，bywhomtheyareenacted，cannotsurelybeaccusedofalluringhisproselytesbytheindulgenceoftheirsensualappetites。III。ThecharityoftheMahometansdescendstotheanimalcreation；andtheKoranrepeatedlyinculcates，notasamerit，butasastrictandindispensableduty，thereliefoftheindigentandunfortunate。
　　Mahomet，perhaps，istheonlylawgiverwhohasdefinedtheprecisemeasureofcharity:thestandardmayvarywiththedegreeandnatureofproperty，asitconsistseitherinmoney，incornorcattle，infruitsormerchandise；buttheMussulmandoesnotaccomplishthelaw，unlesshebestowsatenthofhisrevenue；andifhisconscienceaccuseshimoffraudorextortion，thetenth，undertheideaofrestitution，isenlargedtoafifth。^105
　　Benevolenceisthefoundationofjustice，sinceweareforbidtoinjurethosewhomweareboundtoassist。Aprophetmayrevealthesecretsofheavenandoffuturity；butinhismoralpreceptshecanonlyrepeatthelessonsofourownhearts。