Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis II 1921 1.djvu/48

40 Another notable point of similarity between these two great reformers is that both of them suffered from periodical attacks of a paroxysmal kind, thus indicating an indubitable neuropathic temperament.

Strange and graphic accounts of these attacks have been preserved to us by Ayesha, the girl-wife of Mohammed, in which she describes the physical phenomena attending these seizures. Ayesha records of the prophet that, "he heard as it were the ringing of a bell; he fell down as one dead; he sobbed like a camel; he felt as though he were being rent in pieces, and when he came to himself he felt as though words had been written on his heart".

Sprenger, the author of "Das Leben und die Lehre des Mohammed", has described these fits most minutely and with a great deal of curious learning. He thinks that Mohammed, "suffered from hysteria, followed by catalepsy rather than epilepsy".

In regard to their married life both Amenhotep and Mohammed were exceptional. The young Pharaoh, contrary to established custom, clung passionately to a single wife throughout his short reign; while Mohammed lived for twenty-five years a life of punctilious fidelity to the elderly Khadijah, although the customs and traditions of his race permitted the grossest license as regards sexual intercourse.

Now Mohammed was the only and posthumous child of Abd-ullah, the son of Abd-ul-Muttalib. Abd-ullah was one of the most beautiful and refined youths of his time, and his name, Abd-ullah "Servant of God", was not an uncommon one among ante-Mohammedan Arabs. His family belonged to the most ancient and illustrious tribe of the Corcish, whose strength and influence had been established by his ancestor, at the fourth remove, the famous Cossai, Abd-ullah's father, Abd-ul-Muttalib, held the coveted office of entertaining all pilgrims to Mecca, a position which carried with it great power and influence.

When Abd-ullah was twenty-four years of age his father married him to Amina, the niece of Wuheib, who was a descendant of the famous Cossai, founder of the fortunes of the Coreish. At the same time Abd-ullah's father, Abd-ul-Muttalib, in spite of his advanced age, married Halah the cousin of Amina and daughter of Wuheib.

Shortly after his marriage with Amina, Abd-ullah set out on