Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/17



1. The parentage and traditions about the birth of Mohamet.—Mohamet was born in Mecca, Arabia, 569 A.D., of a noted parentage belonging to the tribe of Koreish. His father was called Abdullah "the Servant of Allah" (God), and his mother Emineh, "the faithful woman." So remarkable was Abdullah for his personal beauty and other qualities that, according to the Arabic traditions, on the day of his marriage with Emineh 200 virgins of the tribe of Koreish died of broken hearts.

Mohamet was the only child of this most envied family. His birth is related to accompany wonderful events. At the moment of his coming into the world a heavenly light enlightened the surrounding regions, and the new-born babe, raising his eyes to heaven, exclaimed: "Alláhu ékber; la iláhe íllallah, ve énna resúluhu." "Allah is the greatest; there is no deity but Allah, and I am his apostle." In that remarkable night the sacred fire of Zoroaster, which, under the care of Persian magi had burnt without ceasing for more than a thousand years, was said to have been extinguished suddenly, and all the idols in the world and the demons among the stars fell down. The river Tigris bursting its bounds,