tes, for besides the considerable revenue in
lands which was provided by its founder, a wealthy citizen of Malaga,
who had been governor of the city under the Almohades, pious men are
continually adding to the funds either by bequests in land or by
donations in money."

The resemblance between these faquirs and Christian monks is
sufficiently obvious, and need not be dilated upon: and though this
particular convent was established at a later time, we cannot doubt that
the influence, which produced such a modification of the very spirit of
Islam, must have made itself felt much earlier. This is apparent in the
analogous case of Moslem nuns, as a passage from an Arab writer seems to
shew,[11] where it is said that the body of the Moorish king, Gehwar
(1030-1043), was followed to the grave even by the damsels who had
retired into solitude.

[1] Mohammedanism is even called a _heresy_ by a writer quoted
by Prescott, "Ferdin. and Isab.," p. 244.

[2] Kor. v. 85--"Thou shalt find those to be most inclinable to
entertain friendship for the true believers who say, We are
Christians. This comes to pass, because there are priests and
monks among them." Kor. lvii. 27--"As to the monastic state
(Deus loquitur), the Christians instituted the same (we did not
prescribe it for them) only out of desire to please God, yet
they observed not the same as it ought truly to be observed."
See also Kor. ix. 34--"Verily many of the priests and monks
devour the substance of men in vanity, and obstruct the way of
God;" and Kor. xxiii. 55.

[3] Kor. v. 89. Sale's note.

[4] So Almanzor spared the monk of Compostella. Al Makkari, ii.
209.

[5] See the interesting account, _ibid._, i. 114.

[6] Al Makkari.

[7] Al Makkari, i. 115.

[8] _Ibid._, i. p. 406, note.

[9] In the fourteenth century.

[10] ? Chapter 67.

[11] Conde, ii. 154. Unless the writer is referring to
Christian nuns.

But over and above copying the institutions of Christianity, Islam
shews signs of having become to a certain extent pervaded with a
Christian spirit. It is easy to be mistaken in such things, but the
following anecdotes are more in keeping with the Bible than the Koran.
Hischem I. (788-796) in his last words to his son, Hakem I., said:
"Consider well that all empire is in the hand of God, who bestoweth it
on whom He will, and from whom He will He taketh it away