Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis II 1921 1.djvu/43

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A SHORT STUDY OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF MOHAMMED
35

the god of his father, and turned to the cult of Aton, he nevertheless resuscitated the worship of the Sun, which had been peculiar to Lower Egypt from time immemorial.

Similarly, Mohammed attempted on two notable occasions compromises with the past. The first compromise concerned itself with the worship of the ancient idols, Al-lat, Al-Uzza, and Manah, to which reference has already been made, for, although Mohammed ended by casting them all out, he was impelled originally to except them from expulsion from the new régime.

The story goes that one day at a gathering of the chief men of Mecca, Mohammed appeared and seating himself by them in a friendly manner began to recite in their hearing Chapter LIII of the Koran. The chapter opens with a description of the first visit of Gabriel to Mohammed and then unfolds a second vision of that angel, at which certain heavenly mysteries were revealed. The passage is as follows:

“ 'He also saw him (Gabriel) at another descent,
By the Lote-tree at the furthest boundary,
Near to which is the Paradise of rest.
When the Lote-tree covered that which it covered,
His sight turned not aside, neither did it wander.
And verily he beheld some of the greatest Signs of his Lord
And see ye not Lat and Ozza,
And Manat the third besides?'

"When he had reached this verse, the devil suggested to Mahomet an expression of thoughts which had long possessed his soul; and put into his mouth words of reconciliation and compromise such as he had been yearning that God might send unto his people, namely:

"These are exalted Females,
And verily their intercession is to be hoped for.

"The Coreish were astonished and delighted with this acknowledgment of their deities; and as Mahomet wound up the Sura with these closing words,

"Wherefore bow down before God, and serve Him,'

the whole assembly prostrated themselves with one accord on the ground and worshipped, Walid alone, unable from the infir-