Abubeker.

the prophet's last days, the perfuaded him to ap point Abubeker, her father, to say public prayers, and do the other functions of the priesthood, which, 'till then, Mahomet had always executed himself. After his death, Aiefa and her friends endeavoured to perfuade the people, that the prophet intended Abubeker for his fucceffor. This opinion gained ground; Aiefa's most zealous partifans took the oaths to her father, without waiting for an unanimous confent. Omar and his friends declared themfelves likewife for Abubeker: in less than two days, all the Medinese, and all the ftrangers that were in the city, ranged themselves under his standard: they called him caliph; this title, in Arabic, fignifies vicar. Ali himself fubfcribed afterward to this choice; he acknowledged his rival for his mafter. But fince, his followers regard this election, and the two fubfequent ones, as fo many ufurpations. This is ftill the ground of a great fchifm among the Muffulmen. The Perfians, and several other people, regard Ali as the immediate fucceffor of the prophet.

Abubeker knew how to use the two fwords which Mahomet had left in his hands: he carefully collected the fcattered chapters of the Alcoran, which the prophet feemed to have abanboned as foon as they had produced the defired effect. The caliph arranged them as we see them

at

at this day, without any chronological order or analogy of matter. The Arabians were incapable of fo much method; the confufion which reigns in each of these chapters prevails likewife in their arrangement. This book, full of bold images, fage precepts, puerile ftories, and falfe ideas, bespeaks the work of divers hands, and that its authors have rather endeavoured to beguile enthufiafts, than to enlighten mankind. Abubeker, in order to give greater credit to his religion, refolved to collect the memorable fpeeches and remarkable actions of Mahomet. This book, which, after the Alcoran, is the most respected among the Muffulmen, is called the Sunna.

Whatever might be the glory which the prophet enjoyed during his life, his fucceffors found means to make it ftill greater after his death. The fole name of Mahomet raised in the hearts of all his followers an ardour, and a courage, which rendered them invincible. Abubeker, by putting the Muffulmen in mind of their having heard the voice of the prophet from that fame pulpit from whence he was speaking, rendered them as many heroes. With this precious enthufiafm, he destroyed the party of Mozoléima, the laft of his mafter's rivals. He completed the fubjection of Arabia; conquered the kingdom of Irac, and Syria beyond Damafcus; and defeated, in perfon, or by his lieutenants, feveral numerous armies of the emperor Heraclius. Abubeker

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bubeker reigned only two years and four months. During this fhort space, he reduced more countries to the Muffulman law, than its founder had in all his life. The empire of the caliphs, already formidable to the Greeks and all Asia, paffed without oppofition into the hands of Omar, whom Abubeker, at his death, chofe for his fucceffor. This last joined to the title of caliph, that of commander of the Faithful, which his fucceffors retained.

Contented with the

The new caliph faw, in his reign, the Muffulman power grow up. He never appeared at the head of the army. functions of the priesthood and the throne, he remained quiet at Medina, giving law to his empire, whilft his generals conquered Paleftine, the rest of Syria, all Egypt, Tripoli in Africa and its territory, and a great part of Barca, of Korazan, of Armenia, and of Perfia. No one knew better than Omar, how to take advantage of this blind obedience which the Muffulmen had devoted to their caliphs. The generals that Omar fuperfeded at the head of numerous armies, refpectfully obeyed the orders from Medina, and became the lieutenants of their fucceffors. The caliph, thoroughly perfuaded that ignorance and error could alone retain this obedience, burnt the famous library of Alexandria, which owed its foundation to the Ptolomys. If thefe books, faid Omar, contradict

the

the Alcoran and Sunna, they fhould be de-
ftroyed; if they be conformable thereto, what
occafion have we for them? our law is fufficient
for us.
After a reign of ten years, Omar was
affaffinated by a flave whofe complaints he had
refused to hear. The murderer killed himself to
avoid a more cruel death. Omar did not expire
till three days after he received his wound. He
refused to name his fucceffor; but he remitted
his right to fix companions of the prophet, who
were still living around him. Ali was of this
number; he tried in vain to obtain from the
five others, what he believed to be his heritage.
The enemies that Aiefa had raised againft him,
the veneration which the Múffulmen fhewed for
her of all the prophet's widows whom he had
most loved, the daughter of their firft caliph,
kept, once more, from the fee of Mahomet, him
of all his difciples who had beft ferved his master.
Ali joined, againft his will, the five who refufed him
the fupreme power, to confer it on Othman, like
himself, a companion of the prophet, but whom
Omar had declared unworthy of the califate to
every one who had propofed him for his choice.

Othman imitated his predeceffor in not ap- Othman. pearing at the head of the army. His generals completed the conqueft of Korazan and Perfia; they overturned the throne of the latter, and had the last of its kings put to death; took the ifle of Rhodes; entered into Nubia; carried on a war

against the Greek emperor, and drove him out of Alexandria, which he had retaken. But whilft they were extending the bounds of the empire, the caliph gave himself up to a fhameful effeminacy, and to all the excess of defpotic government: inftead of imitating his predeceffors, who led a fimple, frugal life, and distributed every Friday to the Muffulmen what was left of the treasure, referving for themselves only about a fhilling of our money a day, Othman fuperfeded provincial governors, appointed by Omar, by Abubeker, and even by Mahomet himself, to provide for his flatterers, on whom he lavished treasures, the fruits of conquefts that neither he nor they had inade.

This conduct raifed up malecontents, who in a little time became rebels and fcattered fedition throughout the empire. The Arabians came in a great number to encamp near Medina, from whence they sent their chiefs to the caliph, to fignify to him, that he muft either re-inftate the fuperfeded governors and, banish his favorites, or refign the fceptre. The unhappy caliph, trembling for his life, obeyed thefe rebels, whom it would have been neceffary to chaftife; he mounted the pulpit, promised to reform his conduct, depofed the governors who difpleased, and named the chiefs of the fedition to replace them. This condescension seemed to appease the storm; the malecontents difperfed, each with an intention

to