Mohammed Throws Idols out of Kaaba

Having alighted, he went into the Kaaba, where he found images of angels and a figure of Abraham holding in his hand a bundle of arrows.

Continuing Mohammed,
our selection from The History of the Saracens by Simon Ockley published in1718. The selection is presented in 10.5 easy 5 minute installments. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Previously in Mohammed.

Time: 630
Place: Mecca

One of the articles of the peace being, that any Muslim might be permitted to perform his pilgrimage at Mecca, the prophet went to that city to complete the visitation of the holy places, which he could not do as he intended when at Hodaiba. Hearing, upon this occasion, the Meccans talking of his being weakened by the long marches he had made, to show the contrary, in going round the Kaaba seven times, he went the first three rounds in a brisk trot, shaking his shoulders the while but performed the four last circuits in a common walking pace. This is the reason why Muslims always perform seven circuits round the Kaaba in a similar manner.

In the eighth year of the Hegira, Kaled son of Al Walid, Amru son of Al As and Othman son of Telha, who presided over the Kaaba, became Muslims; this was a considerable addition to Mohammed’s power and interest. The same year Mohammed, having sent a letter to the governor of Bostra in Syria, as he had to others and his messenger being slain there, sent Zaid, son of Hareth, with three thousand men to Muta in Syria, against the Roman army, which, with their allies, made a body of nearly one hundred thousand men. Zaid being slain, the command fell to Jaafar and, upon his death, to Abdallah son of Rawahas, who was also killed. * Thereupon the Muslims unanimously chose Kaled for their leader, who defeated the enemy and returned to Medina with a considerable booty, on which account Mohammed gave him the title of the “Sword of God.”

[* “The death of Jaafar was heroic and memorable; he lost his right hand, he shifted the standard to his left, the left was severed from his body, he embraced the standard with his bleeding stumps, till he was transfixed to the ground with fifty honorable wounds. ‘Advance,’ cried Abdallah, who stepped into the vacant place, ‘advance with confidence; either victory or paradise is our own.’ The lance of a Roman decided the alternative; but the falling standard was rescued by Kaled, the proselyte of Mecca; nine swords were broken in his hand; and his valor withstood and repulsed the superior numbers of the Christians. To console the afflicted relatives of his kinsman Jaafar, Mohammed represented that, in paradise, in exchange for the arms he had lost, he had been furnished with a pair of wings, resplendent with the blushing glories of the ruby and with which he was become the inseparable companion of the archangel Gabriel, in his volitations through the regions of eternal bliss. Hence, in the catalogue of the martyrs he has been denominated Jaaffer teyaur (‘the winged Jaaffer’).” — Milman’s Gibbon, 1.]

The same year the Koreishites assisted some of their allies against the Kozaites, who were in alliance with Mohammed. This the latter resented as an infraction of the peace. Abu Sofian was sent to try to make up matters but Mohammed would not vouchsafe to receive his explanation. But having made his preparation to fall upon them before they could be prepared to receive him, he advanced upon Mecca with about ten thousand men. Abu Sofian having come out of the town in the evening to reconnoitre, he fell in with Al Abbas, who, out of friendship to his countrymen, had ridden from the army with the hope of meeting some straggling Meccans whom he might send back with the news of Mohammed’s approach and advise the Meccans to surrender. Al Abbas, recognizing Abu Sofian’s voice, called to him and advised him to get up behind him and go with him and in all haste make his submission to Mohammed. This he did and, to save his life, professed Islamism and was afterward as zealous in propagating as he had hitherto been in opposing it.

Mohammed had given orders to his men to enter Mecca peaceably but Kaled meeting with a party who discharged some arrows at him, fell upon them and slew twenty-eight of them. Mohammed sent one of his helpers to bid him desist from the slaughter; but the messenger delivered quite the contrary order, commanding him to show them no mercy. Afterward, when Mohammed said to the helper, “Did not I bid you tell Kaled not to kill anybody in Mecca?”

“It is true,” said the helper, “and I would have done as you directed me but God would have it otherwise and God’s will was done.”

When all was quiet, Mohammed went to the Kaaba and rode round it upon his camel seven times and touched with his cane a corner of the black stone with great reverence. Having alighted, he went into the Kaaba, where he found images of angels and a figure of Abraham holding in his hand a bundle of arrows, which had been made use of for deciding things by lot. All these, as well as three hundred and sixty idols which stood on the outside of the Kaaba, he caused to be thrown down and broken in pieces. As he entered the Kaaba, he cried with a loud voice, “Allah acbar,” seven times, turning round to all the sides of the Kaaba. He also appointed it to be the Kebla, or place toward which the Muslims should turn themselves when they pray. Remounting his camel, he now rode once more seven times round the Kaaba and again alighting, bowed himself twice before it. He next visited the well Zem-zem and from thence passed to the station of Abraham. Here he stopped awhile and ordering a pail of water to be brought from the Zem-zem, he drank several large draughts and then made the holy washing called wodhu. Immediately all his followers imitated his example, purifying themselves and washing their faces.

Washington Irving begins here. Simon Ockley begins here.

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