word.

"It was," writes Dr. Marcus Dods, "certainly no hopeful task which
Mohammed undertook when he proposed by the influence of religion to
combine into one nation tribes so incapable of being deeply
influenced by any religion, and so irreconcilably opposed to one
another; to abolish customs which had the sanction of immemorial
usage; and to root out an idolatry, which, if it had no profound
hold upon the spiritual nature, was at least bound up with old
family traditions and well-understood tribal interests."[127]

The sacrifices made to, and the requirements essential to Islam, its
numerous positive prohibitions, the immediate repudiation of old
prejudices, the renunciation of all sorts of idolatry and superstition,
the throwing aside of favourite idols and the abandoning of licentious
rites and customs, the total abstinence from much-relished vices, the
demand for producing practical effect on the will and character, and the
reaping of material fruits from holy and religious life--were barriers
insurmountable for the speedy progress of Islam.

Notwithstanding these impediments Mohammad succeeded, by the influence
of his religion, in combining into one nation the wild and independent
tribes, and putting a stop to their internecine wars; in abolishing the
custom which had the sanction of immemorial usage; and in rooting out
the national idolatry of indigenous growth, without compromising his
inflexible principles of truth and sincerity and honesty; and without
adopting the superstitions and vices of the people.

Dr. Mosheim thinks that, "the causes of this new religion's rapid
progress are not difficult to be discovered: Mahomet's law itself
was admirably fitted to the natural disposition of man, but
especially to the manners, opinions and vices prevalent among the
people of the East; for it was extremely simple proposing few
things to be believed; nor did it enjoin many and difficult duties
to be performed, or such as laid severe restraints on the
propensities."[128]

It is manifest from the history of religions that the people generally
try their best to obtain religion's sanction for the vices prevalent
among them. But there is no doubt in this that Mohammad never sanctioned
the idolatries and superstitions of the Arabs, nor he framed his
doctrines according to the opinions and fancies of the people. He
preached vehemently against