and saw many visions. Once when almost discouraged he waited for
further enlightenment in visions to qualify him for the duties of his
office as prophet--if not to commit suicide--when suddenly Gabriel, at
the end of the horizon appeared, saying: "I am Gabriel and thou art
Mohammed the prophet of God, fear not." After this assurance he
commenced his career as a prophet and founder of a new religion. His
doctrines were gathered from three religions, the Jewish, Christian and
Arabic. He taught that there is only one Allah--Almighty God,
ever-present and working will. Henceforth the revelations came from
time to time, sometimes like the sound of a bell conversing with him;
at other times Gabriel came down and spoke to him. For the first three
years he worked among his family. Kadijah was his first believer. His
father-in-law, Abi-Baker, Omar, a young energetic man, his daughter
Fatima, his son-in-law Ali and other faithful followers to the number
of forty, were the first disciples of this new religion, and were very
influential in spreading the same. Then he publicly announced that he
had a command from God, and had been given the divine office as prophet
and lawgiver. As his notoriety spread, pilgrims flocked to Mecca and he
preached to them attacking the idolatry of Mecca. When his enemies
demanded a miracle from him, he responded by producing the Koran leaf
by leaf as occasion demanded. He provoked persecution; and civil war
followed. In A.D. 622 he was forced to flee for his life from Mecca to
Medina, a distance of 250 miles. This flight is called Higira, meaning
the flight, (July 15, 622) from which the era of Islam begins.

In Medina he was generally accepted as a prophet of God. His method was
at first toleration. He said: "Let there be no compulsion in religion,"
but afterwards said: "All infidels must accept one God and Mohammed his
prophet. If men refuse, kill them, plunder their property and their
wives and daughters are for you." The wild Arabs were kindled by this
command. His followers were all robbers except some of the leaders. In
624 with an army of 305, all citizens of Medina, he gained a victory
over his strong enemy, Koreish, whose army was double the size of
Mohammed's. By other engagements he rapidly conquered Jews and
Christians. After one battle 600 Jews were massacred at his order and
their wives and daughters were made slaves. In 627 he triumphantly
entered Mecca and in 630 he demolished 360 idols