CHAPTER II

THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND INFLUENCE OF ISLAM

Comparative Religion, its Interest as a Study--The Benefits of Islam--Arabia at the Birth of Mohammed--Condition of Christendom and the Byzantine Empire--Popular Idea of the Prophet--His Family--His Early Life--The First Revelation--Persecution of the New Sect--The Hegira--Growing Prosperity of Islam--Character of Mohammed--Causes of His Success--Polygamy--The Koran--Its Arrangement, its Legends, its Sublime Maxims, its Absurdities--Its Obligations to other Creeds--The Kiblah--The Pilgrimage and its Ceremonies--Reforms accomplished by Islam--Universal Worship of Force--Corruption of the Religion of Mohammed--Its Wonderful Achievements--Mohammed the Apostle of God 57