that person?' Ibad Ibn Bishr answering, 'O Apostle of God, we were looking to the corner of thine eye for a sign, and if there had been one, we should have cut off his head at once,' the Prophet rejoined, 'It does not become any prophet that his look should convey treachery.' If, then, Mohammed regarded it treachery to give a sign with his eye, which would only have had the appearance of treachery, as the matter had been approved by him from religious motives, how can it be fit for Mussulmans to suppose that he allowed himself to look upon another man's wife? On the contrary, it is proper to believe that the desires of that prince remained within the bounds of what was right, and that lust had no power over him. His companion from amongst the Genii was subject and obedient to him, and did not impel him to any but good things. But as in the time of ignorance Zeid was called 'Zeid Ibn Mohammed,' because Mohammed had adopted him for a son; and as it was considered unlawful to marry the divorced wife of an adopted, no less than a natural, son, it behoved Divine Wisdom to forbid those views, and to overthrow those rules and customs in a more efficacious manner. It was for this purpose that, when Zeinab had been separated from Zeid, God married her in heaven to that Excellency and gave her to him. For if the early Mussulmans had not seen that prince marry the divorced wife of his adopted son, they would have been left in doubt and perplexity respecting such marriages.'

8. Jowairia was married by Mohammed A.H. 5, during his return from the Moreisi expedition, her husband having fallen in a fight against the Moslems. Her name was changed from Bere (= a wound), which was disliked by the Prophet. One morning he left her room whilst she was saying her prayers; and on coming back in the course of the forenoon, he still found her engaged in prayer. He asked her, whether she had been praying ever since he left, and on her answering in the affirmative, he said, ' Since I left, I have only spoken three times four words, but if they were put into a balance, they would outweigh all that thou hast been saying to-day.' Another time the Prophet went to her on a Friday, and finding her fasting, he asked her whether she had also fasted the day before, and intended to do so the next day. On her answering in the negative, he said to her, 'Then break fast at once.' From this the Ulemas infer, that it is not good to fast on Fridays only. She died in Medina, A.H. 50 or 56, being 65 years old. The honoured books contain seven traditions from her, of which four are genuine.

9. Om Habiba (also called Ramla and Hind) was first married to Obeid Allah, with whom she embraced Islam at an early period, and emigrated to Abyssinia, where she bore him the daughter Habiba. She narrates: 'Whilst in Abyssinia, I one night saw Obeid Allah, in a dream, exceedingly ill-favoured and unsightly. In the morning he said to me, 'O Om Habiba, I have examined all religions and not found a better one than Christianity. I also formerly held that religion, though afterwards chose Mohammed's; and now I wish to return to the religion of the Christians.' I replied, 'O Abd Allah, do not say so, for I saw a strange dream concerning thee to-night.' I told him the dream, but he gave no heed, and became a renegade to Christianity, took to drinking wine, and died in that state. Afterwards I had again a dream in which I saw some one who addressed me, 'O mother of the believers.' On waking I interpreted it to myself as an intimation that the Prophet was going to marry me. When my legal time of mourning was over, a female domestic was one day sent to me from the Abyssinian king, with the message I have received a letter from the Apostle of God in which he asks thee in marriage.' On hearing this, I was exceedingly delighted, and took off ornaments from my hands and feet to reward the messenger. Then I appointed Khalid Ibn Said for my Vakil, and was married to the Prophet by the Abyssinian king, receiving as my dowry 400 gold pieces (or, according to another account, 1000 dirhems)'.

When Om Habiba reached Medina, she became ennobled with the nobility of that Excellency's bed. She was at that time thirty odd years of age. It is reported that when her end approached, she asked pardon of Aisha and of Om Selma, saying, 'Amongst a man's wives discord will naturally arise: forgive all that happened to you through me.' They answered, 'May God reconcile us to each other! We have forgiven all that has happened.' Om Habiba rejoined, 'May God gladden you, as you have gladdened me!' She died A.H. 42 or 44, in Medina. The books of authority contain sixty-six traditions from her, of which two are generally received.

10. Safia (= Sophia) Bent Hoyyai, a Jewess of the tribe of Aaron. She belonged to the Nadhir kabile; and after having been separated from her first husband, Sallam Ibn Mishkam, she became the wife of Kinana Ibn er Rabbi, who was slain at the conquest of Khaibar. From amongst all the other captives the Prophet chose her for himself. As soon as she was brought before him, he ordered her to be taken to his tent. He soon went there himself to see her; and on saying to her, 'Thy father has always been hostile to me,