asking him why he laughed, he answered, "I laugh, because though I let myself down from so great a height, yet no harm has happened to me." The Prophet rejoined, "O Ali, how could any harm have come to thee, seeing that he who held thee was Mohammed, and he who let thee down, Gabriel." Mohammed also sent Omar and Othman into the Kaaba, to efface the figures of angels, prophets, etc. which the infidels had drawn on its walls. But on afterwards entering himself, with some companions, and observing that Omar had not ventured to efface the images of Abraham and Ishmael, he ordered that these should likewise be obliterated, adding these words, "Let God's curse be on that (= any) people who make figures of those things which they cannot create."

When he again came out of the Kaaba, and found the people of Mecca standing and waiting for a declaration from him, as to how he intended to treat them, he addressed this question to them, "What do you yourselves think and say, as to how I should deal with you?" They answered, "We speak of thee and hope from thee nothing but what is good thou art our kind brother and our kind brother's son, who hast now obtained power and dominion over us." With these words they referred to the story of Joseph and his brethren. His Excellency replied, "Inasmuch, then, as your thoughts concerning me are such, I also say to you what Joseph said to his brethren, 'No censure and reproof shall be on you to-day: may God forgive you, for He is the Most Merciful."'

cc. 'The biographers record that A.H. 10, that is, in the year of his death, that prince performed the pilgrimage to Mecca which is called "The Farewell Pilgrimage," on account of his taking leave of his friends in his addresses during that pilgrimage, saying, "I shall perhaps not see you again after this year." But it is affirmed, on the authority of Abbas, that his Excellency disliked that appellation and preferred to call it "The Pilgrimage of Islam." He sent news to all the surrounding tribes of Arabs that he had decided on making the pilgrimage, and invited them to join; and God afflicted with measles and small-pox those who did not wish to join him in the pilgrimage. On that journey so many people

came together that none but God can know their number. Another account, however, states their number at 114,000, and still another at 124,000 persons.

'His Excellency entered the sacred mosque, saluted the Black Stone, and went seven times round the Kaaba, the first three times in haste and the last three times slowly, saluting the Black Stone and touching the Yemenite pillar each time. He also went to the place of offering, in order to slay his sacrifices. The camels brought by him from Medina, and by the well-beloved Ali from Yemen, amounted to 100. Of these camels his Excellency slaughtered 63 with his own blessed hand, in correspondence with the number of the years of his age; and the remaining 37 he ordered Ali to slay. On having his blessed head shaved, he distributed his sacred hair, giving one half of it to the Ansar Abu Talha, and the other half to his chaste wives, and also one or two hairs each to every one of his friends, according to their different rank. After that, faithful Aisha anointed that prince with an ointment in which there was musk, ¹ where upon he put off his pilgrim dress, and rode into Mecca before the noonday prayers.' (R.)

(49.) Both Jesus and Mohammed continued up to the close of their career, and with death already at the door, in the zealous discharge of their respective life-work.

a. 'And Jesus taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests, and the scribes, and the chief of the people, sought to destroy him, and could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him' (Luke xix. 47,48).
'And in the day-time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the Mount of Olives. And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him' (Luke xxi. 37, 38).
Compare also, in illustration of Christ's wonderful activity