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BIOGRAPHIES OF MOHAMMED

On his deathbed, Gabriel comes with messages of condolence and inquiry from the Lord, and offers him life and health, should he desire it. Again he comes, accompanied by Azrael the angel of death, whom Fatima, taking to be an Arab, refuses to admit. Gabriel tells the Prophet that Azrael was to obey his every order, and either take his spirit or retire at once, as he preferred. Mohammed, in consternation, applies for counsel to Gabriel, who pictures to him the glories of Paradise, "the black-eyed houries adorned from head to foot, waiting in expectation of his glorious approach." Mohammed, re-assured by these exciting prospects, gives command to Azrael, and dies.

Till the hour of his burial, a thick darkness overspread Medina, so that one could not see his hand or his neighbour's face.1 When Abbas lifted up the winding sheet, the lips of the deceased were seen to move and to repeat the same prayer for his people, as that which issued from his lips when newly born. The angels offered to convey his body to Paradise, but Mohammed preferred not to be separated from his fellows whom he had come to save; a fact which is thus improved:—

Ye lovers of Mohammed! consider for a moment the wonderful compassion and grace which showered such favours upon us, unworthy handfuls of the dust! verily, it is incumbent upon us to sacrifice our very selves for the sake of such a compassionate Intercessor, and to become ennobled by visiting his glorious tomb and sacred resting-place.

We have already trespassed too far, but one other extract we must add:—

In his last illness Mohammed entered the Mosque of Medina, which was filled to overflowing; and as his final request, besought that if any one had suffered wrong or injury at his hands, he would there without ceremony declare it, and taking retribution for the injury done, thus enable him to go to heaven with an easy conscience. Hearing this, Okâsha exclaimed, "Oh Prophet of the Lord, on a certain stage when marching with thee, thou once without due cause scourgedst my back. I should never


1 The traditions of Wâckidi speak of the gloom (social) cast over Medina by Mohammed's death: this was transformed into a physical gloom; and that again magnified into thick darkness. "Anis (Mohammed's servant) said that no day was so light as that in which Mohammed entered Medina, and none so dark and dismal as that in which he died." The metaphor grew to be a fact.