Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis II 1921 1.djvu/51

 A SHORT STUDY OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF MOHAMMED 43

dition of Mohammed's early life may have been to evoke that desire, which is very common in children, namely to become the parents of their own parents. This curious construction of the imagination is closely connected with incestuous wishes, since it is an exaggerated form of the commoner desire to be one's own •father. »

In this connection we may note that Mohammed was always very particular in his numerous references to Mary the mother of Jesus, and the doctrine of the immaculate conception was strongly upheld by him. The conception of Mary and the birth of Jesus are de- scribed in detail in the Koran and the calumny of the Jews that Mary was guilty of fornication is denounced in Chapter IV, v. 156.

Finally Mary is placed by Mohammed among the four perfect women of the world — the other three being Miriam (Mary) the sister of Moses, Khadijah his wife, and Fatima his eldest daughter by Khadijah.

The guardianship of Abd-ul-Muttalib lasted only two years. At his death the charge of the orphan Mohammed was taken over by his uncle Abu Talib, elder brother of Mohammed's father. Abu Talib was no less zealous in his devotion to the child than his father had been. He made him sleep by his bed, eat by his side and go with him whenever he walked abroad.

About this time Mohammed began to employ himself in tend- ing the flocks of sheep and goats on the neighbouring hills, and it was while thus occupied that his love of brooding in retirement began to develop into a passion. In adopting this attitude towards the world in which he Uved, that is to say towards the world of reality, we can discern a further manifestation of Mohammed's neuropathic disposition, as well as the lines along which his phantasy formation was beginning to urge him.

In the words of Rank: "Der Neurotiker lebt dann nicht mehr in der Welt der wirklichen Geschehnisse, sondem in einer anderen, von seiner Phantasie geschaffenen".

Among the many subjects that occupied his attention at this time, there was one above all' on which it appears that he dwelt in wrapt contemplation, and that was the life and character ol Moses.

With the story of the great Hebrew law-giver the Arabs had

1 See Ernest Jones: Papers on Psycho-Analysis pp. 653 and 234, and Rank: op. cU.