and planting it upon the roof of the Kaaba; and he gave the glad tidings to every place on the face of the earth that the Light of Mohammed had taken up its abode in Amina, in order that the foremost of the creatures should come forth from her, and receive a mission to the foremost one of the nations.'

(4.) As before the birth of Jesus, so also before that of Mohammed, an Angel announced THE NAME he was to receive.

a. In Matt. i. 21, it is written 'The angel of the Lord said unto Joseph, She (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins.'

b. Ibn Hisham narrates: 'When Amina was pregnant with the Apostle of God, a spirit appeared to her, saying, Thou art bearing the Lord of this people; say at his birth "I place him under the protection of the One that He may protect him against the envious;" and call his name "Mohammed."'

(5.) The birth of both was distinguished by the glory of a heavenly Light, the appearance of Angels, and by signs on the earth and in the starry sphere.

a. 'And Mary brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men' (Luke ii. 7-14). 'When Jesus was born in Beth-

lehem of Judaea, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him' (Matt. ii. 1, 2).

b. 'Abd ur Rahman Ibn Awf narrates that his mother, Shefa, declared as follows: I was Amina's midwife: in the night when labour-pains seized her, and Mohammed Mustapha fell into my hands, at his birth, a voice reached my ears from the unseen world, saying, "Thy Lord shew mercy unto thee!" and the face of the earth became so illuminated, from the east to the west, that I could see some of the palaces of Damascus by that light. Soon after that, darkness, fear, and trembling came upon me; and then there appeared a light on my right hand, and in that state I heard some one from the invisible world say, "Whither didst thou take him?" Another answered, "I have taken him westward to all the blessed and holy places, and I have presented him to Abraham, the Friend of God, who pressed him to his bosom, purified, and blessed him." It is also recorded that in the same night the Most High sent down a host of angels upon the earth, in order that they should guard Amina, and keep her from the eyes of the demons. Again, it is reported that Amina said: "In that night a flight of birds turned into my house, in such numbers as to fill the whole house. Their beaks were of emerald and their wings of ruby. The Most High took off the veil from my eyes, so that I saw the entire east and west of the earth; and I beheld how they planted three standards, one in the east, one in the west, and one on the flat roof of the Kaaba."'

Abdu-l-Mottaleb, after narrating marvellous things which he saw and heard in the Kaaba, continues thus: 'I was astonished and knew not what to say, and, putting my hand to my eyes, I said to myself, "Am I asleep or awake? " and I saw that I was awake. The same moment I arose and turned towards Amina's dwelling; and, when I came near her door, I found that house adorned with sundry lights and sweet-smelling scents. Knocking at the door, Amina answered with a feeble voice. I said, "Open the door quickly, or else my gall-bladder will burst." Amina opened the door with haste. I looked in her face; and when I did