Page:History of Mahomet, the great imposter.pdf/3



, or, according to the true pronunciation of the word Muhammad, was born at Mecca, a city of Arabia, of the tribe of the Korashites, which was reckoned the noblest in all that country, and was descended in a direct line of primogeniture from Pher Koraish, the first founder of it, from whom they derive his pedigree.

By this, it appears Mahomet was not of such mean, parentage as some have attested; for, being a Korashite, he was of the noblest tribe of all Arabia: and the family he was of was the most considerable of that tribe, as being that which for several descents together, had borne the chief rule over it.

However, in the beginning of his life he was in a very poor and despicable condition; for his father dying before he was two years old, and while his grandfather, Abdol Motallah, was still living, all the power and wealth of his family descended to his uncles, especially to Abu Taleb, who, after the death of Abdol Motallah his father, bore the chief sway, in Mecca as long as he lived, which was to a very great age; and under his protection, chiefly, was it that Mahomet, when he first broached his imposture, was supported against all his opposers and grow up to that height thereby,