The life and death of Mahumed, the author of the Turkish religion being an account of his tribe, parents, birth, name, education, marriages, filthiness of life, Alcoran, first proselytes, wars, doctrines, miracles, advancement, &c. / by L. Addison ... author of The present state of the Jews.

CHAP. XIV. (Book 14)

Of Mahumeds first Wars.

THe first year of Mahumeds new Aera, was signalized with the White Banner which he gave to his Unkle Hamza, whom he sent with thirty Musulmin to propagate his Doctrine. This first Essay of his Milita∣ry attempts came to nothing. And we read not of any more till the Battle of Bader, where several of the chief of the Koraishites were cut off. This hapned upon the 17th of Ramadan, being Friday, in the later end of the second of the Hegira. While the more war∣like of Mahumeds Proselytes thus followed the field, he himself omitted noartifice to gather Proselytes at home; and the number of these increased according to the Succes∣ses of the other. When he found any of his Converts flag in their zeal, or question

either his actions or Doctrine, he actuated the one, and silenced the other, with such Chapters as he pretended to be sent him from Heaven; all which were afterward in∣serted in the Alcoran, and they bear the Title of Chapters made at Medina. Thus Mahumed feigned Revelations according to his purpose, and had a Verse from Ga∣briel always ready to adjust his Enterpri∣zes.

As he was zealously proselytizing at Me∣dina, news came that Abusophian Ben-Ha∣reth was going into Syria with a considera∣ble Caravan of the Goods of the Korai∣shites: upon tidings whereof, 319 Musulmin were instantly dispatcht to encounter and plunder them. And the Infidels (as the Ma∣humedists call them) though a thousand in number, were totally discomfited, seventy being slain upon the place, as many more ta∣ken Prisoners and the rest put to flight, lea∣ving their Goods a Booty to the Musulmin, whereof only fourteen were slain, or fell Mar∣tyrs (for, for Martyrs, all are accounted, who die in defence of that Religion.) This Victo∣ry is highly celebrated in the Arabian Chro∣nicles; and in the Alcoran is produced as a signal testimony of Gods approbation of the justice of Mahumedism: for the Musulmin are bid to consider, That though their Bre∣thren were far inferiour in number to the In∣fidels,

yet they overcame them, because they fought in the way of the Lord.

But no less than a Miracle assisted the Mu∣sulmin in this Battel; for their Enemies eyes are said to have seen double, and thereup∣on to have thought the Mahumedans thrice as many as they were, and of larger stature than ordinary. From which imagination they suffered more, than from their adver∣saries. It is very observable, that many of, if not all, those parcels of the Alcoran where the fight of the Infidels is spoken of, and how God fought for the Believers, are by the Commentators on the Alcoran generally un∣derstood of this Victory gained over the Ca∣ravan. But after this, we hear no more of Mahumeds Battels, till the fifth of his Hegira, when no less than ten thousand Jews and Ko∣raishites set upon the Mahumedans, who with an inconsiderable loss, gave them a total overthrow. In the same year hapned also the Battel with the Koraidae, whom Ma∣humed Besieged twenty five days; who at last, oppressed with want, surrendred them∣selves up to Saad Ben Maad (who was yet scarce recovered of the Wounds he received in the former Battel.) The Koraidae being now wholly at Saads disposal, he command∣ed all the Men to be put to death, and the Women and Children to be made Slaves. Whereupon, between six or seven hundred

persons were slain; among whom was Ha∣hibus, the Son of Ahtab, who was General. And all the Men being thus destroyed, the Children, Women, and Goods, were divided among the Musulmin. This Battel is cal∣led Praelium Fossae, because the slain were cast into the ditches digg'd in the field of Medina for that purpose.

In the sixth year of the Hegira, Mahumed had several conflicts with his Enemies; the chief whereof was the Battel with the Mu∣stalaki, whom he utterly vanquisht, taking the Women and Children captive. Among whom was Gjuweira, the Daughter of Ha∣rith, whom Mahumed afterward Married, and for her Dowry he released all her Kindred whom he had taken Prisoners. In the same year likewise fell out the Battel of Haditia, a place near Mecca, in the way to Gjudda; which proved so advantageous to Mahumed, that his Enemies (the Koraishites) sought his friendship. A League was concluded be∣twixt them for ten years, upon these Articles. 1. That during that time the Koraishites should have free liberty to follow their Tillages. 2. That any (who had a minde) of the Koraishites, might go to Mahumeds party; and likewise those of the Mahume∣dans, who desired, had, during the making of the Truce, leave to join themselves to the Koraishites. 3. That after the Truce was

made, if any of the Koraishites fled to Ma∣humed, without leave of the Governour, he should be sent back unto him: but if any of the Mahumedans revolted, he should not be sent back. 4. That if Mahumed with his Souldiers should that year return to Mec∣ca, they were not to enter with more Arms than was usual for Travailers, nor to stay there above three days.

This League, on Mahumeds side, was effected by Sahlus the Son of Omar, and committed to writing by Ali the Son of Abu∣talib. The same year (saith Elmacinus, in Hist. Sarac. p. 7.) Mahumed was inaugurated (what he means by it I know not) under a Tree, which afterward was swept away, as they report, by a great flux of water.

On the seventh year of the Hegira, one of Mahumeds Wives having a Son that was a Carpenter, she moved her Husband that he should make him a Pulpit. To which he readily consented, having before leaned up∣on a staff while he officiated in the Tem∣ple they had built. This Pulpit was made of white Tamarisk, and ascended by two steps, and had in it a convenient seat. In which condition it remain'd until the Reign of Muavias the Son of Abusofian, who raised it six steps higher; in which sort it continu∣ed until Osman the Son of Affan covered it with Tapestry. Elmacinus Hist. Sarac. lib. 1.

In this year hapned the Battel of Chaibar, where Mahumed was absolute Victor; and pursuing his Conquest, took several Forts and Castles. His personal valour and danger were here very remarkable. Watiha and Selalima, two great Cittadels, cost him no small hazard and loss to subdue them. But having made himself Master thereof, with vast stores of Riches, he spared the Besieged, upon condition that they should annually pay him considerable Tributes, and that it should be at his pleasure to turn them out of their Countrey when he thought fit. The Inhabitants of Badra were taken into the same League, as also many Jews, who all enjoyed the benefit of the Truce until the Reign of Omar the Son of Alchitab; who understanding how Mahumed had said upon his death-bed, Let not two Religions concur in Arabia, interpreted the words of the ejecti∣on of those Inhabitants who were not Ma∣humedans. But to return: Mahumed by his successes in the fore-mentioned Battels was grown so formidable, that his Adversa∣ries despaired to prevail against him by open War; whereupon, they had recours to stratagem. And here Elmacinus tells us, how one Zainab, the Daughter of Alharit a Jewess, attempted to take away Mahumeds life, with a joint of Mutton exquisitely poysoned. But Mahumed tasting thereof, instantly spit it

out, saying, This Mutton tells me that it is poysoned. And his deliverance herein is reckoned among his Miracles, as shall be shown in a Chapter of that Subject.

This year Mahumed proved so succesful in Arms, that all the Country about Mecca and Medina were subject to, or in League with him. And he had propagated his Victories (which were now become the chief method of proselytizing) the eighth of the Hegira, had not the Meckezes diverted him, who all on the suddain violated their Faith with Mahu∣med, and became Truce-breakers, to their utter overthrow. For Mahumed finding them to have broken their Articles, came against them with ten thousand Men, who were suffered to enter Mecca, upon con∣dition that they should put none to the Sword: which was granted to all except a few, whom he chose rather to kill, than to survive to the disturbance of his new King∣dome. Elmacinus saith, that all the people of Mecca at this time turn'd Musulmin, fol∣lowing therein the example of Abbas the Son of Abdulmutalib, and Abusofian the Son of Harith.

But his success at Mecca was greatly cloud∣ed by the overthrow he suffered in the vale of Honani; where the Pagan Arabians under the command of Melick, Son of Ausi, put the Musulmin to flight, and pursued them to the

Gates of Mecca, where Mahumed with a Javelin in his hand opposed their entrance, upbraiding them with Cowardice, and bid∣ing them restore the Battel, promising them the assistance of many Myriads of Angels. Whereupon, returning, and coming unawares upon the Enemy, who were now careless through success, they utterly overcame them: and taking Captive the Women and Chil∣dren, the Men that escaped afterward became Musulmin, upon condition their Wives and little ones should be restored them.

The last Battel that hapned in Mahumeds lifé-time, was that of Tebuc, with the Prin∣ces of Dauma and Eila; whom having over∣come, he received to peace, upon condition of receiving from them a yearly Tribute. Here great rewards were bestowed upon the Army by Osman, and a numerous company of Proselytes came in unto Mahumed. This hapned the ninth of the Hegira, in which year Mahumed went to Mecca, where having spent some time in teaching and instructing the people in his Law, he returned to Me∣dina, where he died: of which in the next Chapter.