Butthecommandsofthecaliph，orhislieutenant，weresternandabsolute；andHoseinwasinformedthathemusteithersubmitasacaptiveandacriminaltothecommanderofthefaithful，orexpecttheconsequencesofhisrebellion。"Doyouthink，"
repliedhe，"toterrifymewithdeath?"And，duringtheshortrespiteofanight，hepreparedwithcalmandsolemnresignationtoencounterhisfate。HecheckedthelamentationsofhissisterFatima，whodeploredtheimpendingruinofhishouse。"Ourtrust，"saidHosein，"isinGodalone。Allthings，bothinheavenandearth，mustperishandreturntotheirCreator。Mybrother，myfather，mymother，werebetterthanme，andeveryMussulmanhasanexampleintheprophet。"Hepressedhisfriendstoconsulttheirsafetybyatimelyflight:theyunanimouslyrefusedtodesertorsurvivetheirbelovedmaster:
andtheircouragewasfortifiedbyaferventprayerandtheassuranceofparadise。Onthemorningofthefatalday，hemountedonhorseback，withhisswordinonehandandtheKoranintheother:hisgenerousbandofmartyrsconsistedonlyofthirty—twohorseandfortyfoot；buttheirflanksandrearweresecuredbythetent—ropes，andbyadeeptrenchwhichtheyhadfilledwithlightedfagots，accordingtothepracticeoftheArabs。Theenemyadvancedwithreluctance，andoneoftheirchiefsdeserted，withthirtyfollowers，toclaimthepartnershipofinevitabledeath。Ineverycloseonset，orsinglecombat，thedespairoftheFatimiteswasinvincible；butthesurroundingmultitudesgalledthemfromadistancewithacloudofarrows，andthehorsesandmenweresuccessivelyslain；atrucewasallowedonbothsidesforthehourofprayer；andthebattleatlengthexpiredbythedeathofthelastcompanionsofHosein。
Alone，weary，andwounded，heseatedhimselfatthedoorofhistent。Ashetastedadropofwater，hewaspiercedinthemouthwithadart；andhissonandnephew，twobeautifulyouths，werekilledinhisarms。Heliftedhishandstoheaven；theywerefullofblood；andheutteredafuneralprayerforthelivingandthedead。Inatransportofdespairhissisterissuedfromthetent，andadjuredthegeneraloftheCufians，thathewouldnotsufferHoseintobemurderedbeforehiseyes:ateartrickleddownhisvenerablebeard；andtheboldestofhissoldiersfellbackoneverysideasthedyingherothrewhimselfamongthem。
TheremorselessShamer，anamedetestedbythefaithful，reproachedtheircowardice；andthegrandsonofMahometwasslainwiththree—and—thirtystrokesoflancesandswords。Aftertheyhadtrampledonhisbody，theycarriedhisheadtothecastleofCufa，andtheinhumanObeidollahstruckhimonthemouthwithacane:"Alas，"exclaimedanagedMussulman，"ontheselipshaveI
seenthelipsoftheapostleofGod!"Inadistantageandclimate，thetragicsceneofthedeathofHoseinwillawakenthesympathyofthecoldestreader。^179Ontheannualfestivalofhismartyrdom，inthedevoutpilgrimagetohissepulchre，hisPersianvotariesabandontheirsoulstothereligiousfrenzyofsorrowandindignation。^180
[Footnote*:AccordingtoMajorPrice'sauthoritiesamuchlongertimeelapsedp。198&c。—M。]
[Footnote179:IhaveabridgedtheinterestingnarrativeofOckley，tom。ii。p。170—231。Itislongandminute:butthepathetic，almostalways，consistsinthedetailoflittlecircumstances。]
[Footnote*:TheaccountofHosein'sdeath，inthePersianTarikhTebry，ismuchlonger；insomecircumstances，morepathetic，thanthatofOckley，followedbyGibbon。Hisfamily，afterhisdefenderswereallslain，perishedinsuccessionbeforehiseyes。
Theyhadbeencutofffromthewater，andsufferedalltheagoniesofthirst。Hiseldestson，AllyAkbar，aftertendifferentassaultsontheenemy，ineachofwhichheslewtwoorthree，complainedbitterlyofhissufferingsfromheatandthirst。"Hisfatherarose，andintroducinghisowntonguewithintheparchedlipsofhisfavoritechild，thusendeavoredtoalleviatehissufferingsbytheonlymeansofwhichhisenemieshadnotyetbeenabletodeprivehim。"Allywasslainandcuttopiecesinhissight:thiswrungfromhimhisfirstandonlycry；
thenitwasthathissisterZeynebrushedfromthetent。Therest，includinghisnephew，fellinsuccession。Hosein'shorsewaswounded—hefelltotheground。Thehourofprayer，betweennoonandsunset，hadarrived；theImaunbeganthereligiousduties:—asHoseinprayed，heheardthecriesofhisinfantchildAbdallah，onlytwelvemonthsold。Thechildwas，athisdesire，placedonhisbosom:asheweptoverit，itwastransfixedbyanarrow。HoseindraggedhimselftotheEuphrates:
asheslakedhisburningthirst，hismouthwaspiercedbyanarrow:hedrankhisownblood。Woundedinfour—and—thirtyplaces，hestillgallantlyresisted。AsoldiernamedZeraiahgavethefatalwound:hisheadwascutoffbyZiliousheng。Price，p。
402，410。—M。]
[Footnote180:NiebuhrtheDaneVoyagesenArabie，&c。，tom。ii。
p。208，&c。is，perhaps，theonlyEuropeantravellerwhohasdaredtovisitMeshedAliandMeshedHosein。ThetwosepulchresareinthehandsoftheTurks，whotolerateandtaxthedevotionofthePersianheretics。ThefestivalofthedeathofHoseinisamplydescribedbySirJohnChardin，atravellerwhomIhaveoftenpraised。]
WhenthesistersandchildrenofAliwerebroughtinchainstothethroneofDamascus，thecaliphwasadvisedtoextirpatetheenmityofapopularandhostilerace，whomhehadinjuredbeyondthehopeofreconciliation。ButYezidpreferredthecouncilsofmercy；andthemourningfamilywashonorablydismissedtomingletheirtearswiththeirkindredatMedina。
Thegloryofmartyrdomsupersededtherightofprimogeniture；andthetwelveimams，^181orpontiffs，ofthePersiancreed，areAli，Hassan，Hosein，andthelinealdescendantsofHoseintotheninthgeneration。Withoutarms，ortreasures，orsubjects，theysuccessivelyenjoyedthevenerationofthepeople，andprovokedthejealousyofthereigningcaliphs:theirtombs，atMeccaorMedina，onthebanksoftheEuphrates，orintheprovinceofChorasan，arestillvisitedbythedevotionoftheirsect。Theirnameswereoftenthepretenceofseditionandcivilwar；buttheseroyalsaintsdespisedthepompoftheworld:submittedtothewillofGodandtheinjusticeofman；anddevotedtheirinnocentlivestothestudyandpracticeofreligion。ThetwelfthandlastoftheImams，conspicuousbythetitleofMahadi，ortheGuide，surpassedthesolitudeandsanctityofhispredecessors。HeconcealedhimselfinacavernnearBagdad:thetimeandplaceofhisdeathareunknown；andhisvotariespretendthathestilllives，andwillappearbeforethedayofjudgmenttooverthrowthetyrannyofDejal，ortheAntichrist。^182Inthelapseoftwoorthreecenturies，theposterityofAbbas，theuncleofMahomet，hadmultipliedtothenumberofthirty—threethousand:^183theraceofAlimightbeequallyprolific:themeanestindividualwasabovethefirstandgreatestofprinces；
andthemosteminentweresupposedtoexceltheperfectionofangels。Buttheiradversefortune，andthewideextentoftheMussulmanempire，allowedanamplescopeforeveryboldandartfulimposture，whoclaimedaffinitywiththeholyseed:thesceptreoftheAlmohades，inSpainandAfrica；oftheFatimites，inEgyptandSyria；^184oftheSultansofYemen；andoftheSophisofPersia；^185hasbeenconsecratedbythisvagueandambiguoustitle。Undertheirreignsitmightbedangeroustodisputethelegitimacyoftheirbirth；andoneoftheFatimitecaliphssilencedanindiscreetquestionbydrawinghiscimeter:
"This，"saidMoez，"ismypedigree；andthese，"castingahandfulofgoldtohissoldiers，—"andthesearemykindredandmychildren。"Inthevariousconditionsofprinces，ordoctors，ornobles，ormerchants，orbeggars，aswarmofthegenuineorfictitiousdescendantsofMahometandAliishonoredwiththeappellationofsheiks，orsherifs，oremirs。IntheOttomanempiretheyaredistinguishedbyagreenturban；receiveastipendfromthetreasury；arejudgedonlybytheirchief；and，howeverdebasedbyfortuneorcharacter，stillasserttheproudpreeminenceoftheirbirth。Afamilyofthreehundredpersons，thepureandorthodoxbranchofthecaliphHassan，ispreservedwithouttaintorsuspicionintheholycitiesofMeccaandMedina，andstillretains，aftertherevolutionsoftwelvecenturies，thecustodyofthetemple，andthesovereigntyoftheirnativeland。ThefameandmeritofMahometwouldennobleaplebeianrace，andtheancientbloodoftheKoreishtranscendstherecentmajestyofthekingsoftheearth。^186
[Footnote181:ThegeneralarticleofImam，inD'Herbelot'sBibliotheque，willindicatethesuccession；andthelivesofthetwelvearegivenundertheirrespectivenames。]
[Footnote182:ThenameofAntichristmayseemridiculous，buttheMahometanshaveliberallyborrowedthefablesofeveryreligion，Sale'sPreliminaryDiscourse，p。80，82。IntheroyalstableofIspahan，twohorseswerealwayskeptsaddled，onefortheMahadihimself，theotherforhislieutenant，JesusthesonofMary。]
[Footnote183:IntheyearoftheHegira200，A。D。815。SeeD'Herbelot，p。146]
[Footnote184:D'Herbelot，p。342。TheenemiesoftheFatimitesdisgracedthembyaJewishorigin。YettheyaccuratelydeducedtheirgenealogyfromJaafar，thesixthImam；andtheimpartialAbulfedaallowsAnnal。Moslem。p。230thattheywereownedbymany，quiabsquecontroversiagenuinisuntAlidarum，hominespropaginumsuaegentisexactecallentes。HequotessomelinesfromthecelebratedScheriforRahdi，Egonehumilitateminduaminterrishostium?IsuspecthimtobeanEdrissiteofSicily，
cuminAegyptositChalifadegenteAlii，quocumegocommunemhabeopatremetvindicem。]
[Footnote185:ThekingsofPersiainthelastcenturyaredescendedfromSheikSefi，asaintofthexivthcentury，andthroughhim，fromMoussaCassem，thesonofHosein，thesonofAli，Olearius，p。957。Chardin，tom。iii。p。288。ButIcannottracetheintermediatedegreesinanygenuineorfabulouspedigree。IftheyweretrulyFatimites，theymightdrawtheiroriginfromtheprincesofMazanderan，whoreignedintheixthcentury，D'Herbelot，p。96。]
[Footnote186:ThepresentstateofthefamilyofMahometandAliismostaccuratelydescribedbyDemetriusCantemirHist。oftheOthmaeEmpire，p。94andNiebuhr，Descriptiondel'Arabie，p。9
—16，317&c。Itismuchtobelamented，thattheDanishtravellerwasunabletopurchasethechroniclesofArabia。]
ThetalentsofMahometareentitledtoourapplause；buthissuccesshas，perhaps，toostronglyattractedouradmiration。Arewesurprisedthatamultitudeofproselytesshouldembracethedoctrineandthepassionsofaneloquentfanatic?Intheheresiesofthechurch，thesameseductionhasbeentriedandrepeatedfromthetimeoftheapostlestothatofthereformers。
Doesitseemincrediblethataprivatecitizenshouldgrasptheswordandthesceptre，subduehisnativecountry，anderectamonarchybyhisvictoriousarms?InthemovingpictureofthedynastiesoftheEast，ahundredfortunateusurpershavearisenfromabaserorigin，surmountedmoreformidableobstacles，andfilledalargerscopeofempireandconquest。Mahometwasalikeinstructedtopreachandtofight；andtheunionoftheseoppositequalities，whileitenhancedhismerit，contributedtohissuccess:theoperationofforceandpersuasion，ofenthusiasmandfear，continuallyactedoneachother，tilleverybarrieryieldedtotheirirresistiblepower。HisvoiceinvitedtheArabstofreedomandvictory，toarmsandrapine，totheindulgenceoftheirdarlingpassionsinthisworldandtheother:therestraintswhichheimposedwererequisitetoestablishthecreditoftheprophet，andtoexercisetheobedienceofthepeople；andtheonlyobjectiontohissuccesswashisrationalcreedoftheunityandperfectionsofGod。Itisnotthepropagation，butthepermanency，ofhisreligion，thatdeservesourwonder:thesamepureandperfectimpressionwhichheengravedatMeccaandMedina，ispreserved，aftertherevolutionsoftwelvecenturies，bytheIndian，theAfrican，andtheTurkishproselytesoftheKoran。IftheChristianapostles，St。PeterorSt。Paul，couldreturntotheVatican，theymightpossiblyinquirethenameoftheDeitywhoisworshippedwithsuchmysteriousritesinthatmagnificenttemple:atOxfordorGeneva，theywouldexperiencelesssurprise；butitmightstillbeincumbentonthemtoperusethecatechismofthechurch，andtostudytheorthodoxcommentatorsontheirownwritingsandthewordsoftheirMaster。ButtheTurkishdomeofSt。Sophia，withanincreaseofsplendorandsize，representsthehumbletabernacleerectedatMedinabythehandsofMahomet。TheMahometanshaveuniformlywithstoodthetemptationofreducingtheobjectoftheirfaithanddevotiontoalevelwiththesensesandimaginationofman。"IbelieveinoneGod，andMahomettheapostleofGod，"isthesimpleandinvariableprofessionofIslam。TheintellectualimageoftheDeityhasneverbeendegradedbyanyvisibleidol；thehonorsoftheprophethavenevertransgressedthemeasureofhumanvirtue；andhislivingpreceptshaverestrainedthegratitudeofhisdiscipleswithintheboundsofreasonandreligion。ThevotariesofAlihave，indeed，consecratedthememoryoftheirhero，hiswife，andhischildren；andsomeofthePersiandoctorspretendthatthedivineessencewasincarnateinthepersonoftheImams；buttheirsuperstitionisuniversallycondemnedbytheSonnites；andtheirimpietyhasaffordedaseasonablewarningagainsttheworshipofsaintsandmartyrs。ThemetaphysicalquestionsontheattributesofGod，andthelibertyofman，havebeenagitatedintheschoolsoftheMahometans，aswellasinthoseoftheChristians；butamongtheformertheyhaveneverengagedthepassionsofthepeople，ordisturbedthetranquillityofthestate。Thecauseofthisimportantdifferencemaybefoundintheseparationorunionoftheregalandsacerdotalcharacters。Itwastheinterestofthecaliphs，thesuccessorsoftheprophetandcommandersofthefaithful，torepressanddiscourageallreligiousinnovations:
theorder，thediscipline，thetemporalandspiritualambitionoftheclergy，areunknowntotheMoslems；andthesagesofthelawaretheguidesoftheirconscienceandtheoraclesoftheirfaith。FromtheAtlantictotheGanges，theKoranisacknowledgedasthefundamentalcode，notonlyoftheology，butofcivilandcriminaljurisprudence；andthelawswhichregulatetheactionsandthepropertyofmankindareguardedbytheinfallibleandimmutablesanctionofthewillofGod。Thisreligiousservitudeisattendedwithsomepracticaldisadvantage；
theilliteratelegislatorhadbeenoftenmisledbyhisownprejudicesandthoseofhiscountry；andtheinstitutionsoftheArabiandesertmaybeilladaptedtothewealthandnumbersofIspahanandConstantinople。Ontheseoccasions，theCadhirespectfullyplacesonhisheadtheholyvolume，andsubstitutesadexterousinterpretationmoreappositetotheprinciplesofequity，andthemannersandpolicyofthetimes。
HisbeneficialorperniciousinfluenceonthepublichappinessisthelastconsiderationinthecharacterofMahomet。
ThemostbitterormostbigotedofhisChristianorJewishfoeswillsurelyallowthatheassumedafalsecommissiontoinculcateasalutarydoctrine，lessperfectonlythantheirown。Hepiouslysupposed，asthebasisofhisreligion，thetruthandsanctityoftheirpriorrevolutions，thevirtuesandmiraclesoftheirfounders。TheidolsofArabiawerebrokenbeforethethroneofGod；thebloodofhumanvictimswasexpiatedbyprayer，andfasting，andalms，thelaudableorinnocentartsofdevotion；
andhisrewardsandpunishmentsofafuturelifewerepaintedbytheimagesmostcongenialtoanignorantandcarnalgeneration。
Mahometwas，perhaps，incapableofdictatingamoralandpoliticalsystemfortheuseofhiscountrymen:buthebreathedamongthefaithfulaspiritofcharityandfriendship；
recommendedthepracticeofthesocialvirtues；andchecked，byhislawsandprecepts，thethirstofrevenge，andtheoppressionofwidowsandorphans。Thehostiletribeswereunitedinfaithandobedience，andthevalorwhichhadbeenidlyspentindomesticquarrelswasvigorouslydirectedagainstaforeignenemy。Hadtheimpulsebeenlesspowerful，Arabia，freeathomeandformidableabroad，mighthaveflourishedunderasuccessionofhernativemonarchs。Hersovereigntywaslostbytheextentandrapidityofconquest。ThecoloniesofthenationwerescatteredovertheEastandWest，andtheirbloodwasmingledwiththebloodoftheirconvertsandcaptives。Afterthereignofthreecaliphs，thethronewastransportedfromMedinatothevalleyofDamascusandthebanksoftheTigris；theholycitieswereviolatedbyimpiouswar；Arabiawasruledbytherodofasubject，perhapsofastranger；andtheBedoweensofthedesert，awakeningfromtheirdreamofdominion，resumedtheiroldandsolitaryindependence。^187
[Footnote187:ThewritersoftheModernUniversalHistoryvols。
i。andii。havecompiled，in850foliopages，thelifeofMahometandtheannalsofthecaliphs。Theyenjoyedtheadvantageofreading，andsometimescorrecting，theArabictext；
yet，notwithstandingtheirhigh—soundingboasts，Icannotfind，aftertheconclusionofmywork，thattheyhaveaffordedmemuchifanyadditionalinformation。Thedullmassisnotquickenedbyasparkofphilosophyortaste；andthecompilersindulgethecriticismofacrimoniousbigotryagainstBoulainvilliers，Sale，Gagnier，andallwhohavetreatedMahometwithfavor，orevenjustice。]
ChapterLI:ConquestsByTheArabs。
PartI。
TheConquestOfPersia，Syria，Egypt，Africa，AndSpain，ByTheArabsOrSaracens。—EmpireOfTheCaliphs，OrSuccessorsOfMahomet。—StateOfTheChristians，&c。，UnderTheirGovernment。
TherevolutionofArabiahadnotchangedthecharacteroftheArabs:thedeathofMahometwasthesignalofindependence；
andthehastystructureofhispowerandreligiontotteredtoitsfoundations。Asmallandfaithfulbandofhisprimitivediscipleshadlistenedtohiseloquence，andsharedhisdistress；
hadfledwiththeapostlefromthepersecutionofMecca，orhadreceivedthefugitiveinthewallsofMedina。Theincreasingmyriads，whoacknowledgedMahometastheirkingandprophet，hadbeencompelledbyhisarms，oralluredbyhisprosperity。ThepolytheistswereconfoundedbythesimpleideaofasolitaryandinvisibleGod；theprideoftheChristiansandJewsdisdainedtheyokeofamortalandcontemporarylegislator。Thehabitsoffaithandobediencewerenotsufficientlyconfirmed；andmanyofthenewconvertsregrettedthevenerableantiquityofthelawofMoses，ortheritesandmysteriesoftheCatholicchurch；ortheidols，thesacrifices，thejoyousfestivals，oftheirPaganancestors。ThejarringinterestsandhereditaryfeudsoftheArabiantribeshadnotyetcoalescedinasystemofunionandsubordination；andtheBarbarianswereimpatientofthemildestandmostsalutarylawsthatcurbedtheirpassions，orviolatedtheircustoms。TheysubmittedwithreluctancetothereligiouspreceptsoftheKoran，theabstinencefromwine，thefastoftheRamadan，andthedailyrepetitionoffiveprayers；andthealmsandtithes，whichwerecollectedforthetreasuryofMedina，couldbedistinguishedonlybyanamefromthepaymentofaperpetualandignominioustribute。TheexampleofMahomethadexcitedaspiritoffanaticismorimposture，andseveralofhisrivalspresumedtoimitatetheconduct，anddefytheauthority，ofthelivingprophet。Attheheadofthefugitivesandauxiliaries，thefirstcaliphwasreducedtothecitiesofMecca，Medina，andTayef；andperhapstheKoreishwouldhaverestoredtheidolsoftheCaaba，iftheirlevityhadnotbeencheckedbyaseasonablereproof。"YemenofMecca，willyebethelasttoembrace，andthefirsttoabandon，thereligionofIslam?"AfterexhortingtheMoslemstoconfideintheaidofGodandhisapostle，Abubekerresolved，byavigorousattack，topreventthejunctionoftherebels。Thewomenandchildrenweresafelylodgedinthecavitiesofthemountains:thewarriors，marchingunderelevenbanners，diffusedtheterroroftheirarms；andtheappearanceofamilitaryforcerevivedandconfirmedtheloyaltyofthefaithful。Theinconstanttribesaccepted，withhumblerepentance，thedutiesofprayer，andfasting，andalms；and，aftersomeexamplesofsuccessandseverity，themostdaringapostatesfellprostratebeforetheswordoftheLordandofCaled。InthefertileprovinceofYemanah，^1betweentheRedSeaandtheGulfofPersia，inacitynotinferiortoMedinaitself，apowerfulchiefhisnamewasMoseilamahadassumedthecharacterofaprophet，andthetribeofHanifalistenedtohisvoice。Afemaleprophetesswasattractedbyhisreputation；