Mohammed's first convert was his wife, Kadijah, to whom he told the particulars of an interview which he claimed to have had in a vision with the angel Gabriel, who declared him to be the apoitle of God. He was passing, as was his custom, the month of Ramadan in the cave of Mount Hara after fasting, prayer and meditation, when the angel Gabriel appeared to him, displaying a silken cloth covered with writing. °Read P said the angel.
know not how to read replied Mohammed. '
Mohammed confided his revelations only to members of his household for a time, and was laughed at bp some and reproached by others — Abu Lahah, an uncle, called him a fool, and Abu Talib, his adoptive father, while always protecting him, never actually confessed belief in his works. Mohammed personally instructed all his early converts in the doctrines of the new faith of Islam. After four years Mo hammed's converts numbered but 40, and they were obliged to hold their meetings in secret in a cave near Mecca. Even here they were discovered and attacked by a rabble. Mo hammed had much to contend with in these early days; many members of his tribe were against him, and Abu Lahib, his uncle, a rich and influential man, openly opposed what he called Mohammed's heresy.
In answer to a vision Mohammed now began to preach publicly, and summoned all the Koreishites of the line of Hashim to meet him on the hill of Safa. Scarcely had he begun his discourse when Abu Lazib attempted to hurl a stone at him. Mohammed turned, cursing the hand thus raised against him and predicting his doom, with the further assurance that his wife, Omm Jemil, would help build his death-fire. Mohammed soon called another meeting and this time boldly announced his divine command to impart his revelations received from heaven. At this meeting he called for a vizier or vice gerent; All was selected as he alone volun teered. He soon found a following among the people at large, threw off all reserve, proclaim ing himself a prophet sent by God to put an end to idolatry. His favorite places of preach ing were the sanctified hills of Safa and Ku beis; Mount Hara was his Sinai, whither he retired for contemplation and fresh revelations. He was often attacked with open force by his enemies, and in the 10th year of his prophetic office was deprived by death of his faithful wife, Kadijah, and Abu Talib. He then retired to the city of Taif but kept gaining numerous follow ers, among others many inhabitants of Medina. About this time occurred his famous vision in which he claimed to have made a nocturnal journey to heaven on the beast Al Borak, as referred to in the Koran. Shortly after, a con
spiracy to murder him was set on foot, and he was obliged to flee to Medina. This took place in 622 A.u., and is known as the Hegira ("flight))) and marks the beginning of the Mo hannedan era.
Mohammed was accorded a warm reception in Medina. He organized his followers and provided set forms of worship and religious observances; he proselytized the Jews and other sects in the neighborhood and made many con cessions to draw them to the new faith. As a result he was made judge 'and then ruler of Medina, and boldly assumed regal authority and dignity. After marrying Ayesha, the daughter of Abu Bekr, he announced his determination to take up the sword in furtherance of his doc trines. The hope of plunder thus held out brought him hordes of followers. His first ex pedition attacked a Koreishite caravan led by Abu Sofian, and rich booty was secured and divided. But Abu Sofian returned shortly with 3,000 soldiers and utterly routed Mohammed who had but 1,000. Mohammed, badly wounded, managed to escape. He rallied his troops, however, and gained new followers, by seductive promises, explaining that the defeat was due to the sins of his adherents. In 627 Abu Sofian again brought an expedition against him and laid siege to Medina with a force of 10,000 men. After 20 days, however, his forces broke and dispersed on account of internal dis cord. Mohammed then led his army against the Jews who had sided with the Koreishites, and took a bloody revenge. Over 700 men were massacred, and the women and children were carried into slavery. From this time on Mo hammed's thirst for warfare and blood seemed to be insatiable. His whole nature apparently underwent a change. He introduced a special chapter in the Koran to give himself permission to marry Zainab, the wife of his former slave Zaid. He followed this from time to time with numerous other marriages and amours and multiplied them to such an extent that at the time of his death he had no less than nine wives. All these affairs he explained by his divine mission, although diametrically opposed to his own laws as set forth in the Koran. His ambition and his views continued to expand with numerous successes in warfare and the tremendous growth in the number of his con verts. He gradually conquered all the small surrounding tribes of Arabia; and then becom ing still more ambitious and arrogant, sent dep utations as missionaries beyond the frontiers. He sent to Khosrau Parviz, king of Persia; Heraclius, emperor of Constantinople; Mokaw kas, ruler of Egypt; the king of Ethiopia, and the princes of various districts of Arabia, to embrace the new revelation of the divine law made through him. The stronger and more remote principalities rebelled, hut the weaker at once adopted the faith of Islam. The king of Persia and Amru, the Ghassamide, rebelled, and Amru had the ambassador from Mohammed executed. This caused the first war between the Moslems and the Christians; the Moslems were beaten with great loss.