posterity of the half-naked banditti that swarmed around the banner of Mohammed to accomplish results worthy of the most exalted genius, and in every department of knowledge to ascend to the highest rank of those celebrated for their literary and scientific attainments in the most polished communities of Asia and Europe. CHAPTER II THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND INFLUENCE OF ISLAM 614–712 Comparative Religion, its Interest as a Study--The Benefits of Islam--Arabia at the Birth of Mohammed--Condition of Christendom and the Byzantine Empire--Popular Idea of the Prophet--His Family--His Early Life--The First Revelation--Persecution of the New Sect--The Hegira--Growing Prosperity of Islam--Character of Mohammed--Causes of His Success--Polygamy--The Koran--Its Arrangement, its Legends, its Sublime Maxims, its Absurdities--Its Obligations to other Creeds--The Kiblah--The Pilgrimage and its Ceremonies--Reforms accomplished by Islam--Universal Worship of Force--Corruption of the Religion of Mohammed--Its Wonderful Achievements--Mohammed the Apostle of God. The study of Comparative Religion is one of the most fascinating, but at the same time one of the most unsatisfactory, of human employments. In historical research, in mathematical calculation, in chemical analysis, in the investigation of natural phenomena, either absolute certainty or an approximate degree of accuracy is attainable. This, however, is obviously impossible in the consideration of questions with which the eternal happiness or misery of mankind may be concerned. Who is competent to determine the relative value of the various religious systems,--always mutually antagonistic, often irreconcilable,--yet all alleged to have proceeded alike from the fiat of Almighty God? Who is to judge of the peculiar qualifications of those who have arrogated to themselves the important office of passing upon their respective merits? Why should certain doctrines be accepted and others repudiated by zealous but uncritical sectaries?, Where does this presumed inspiration begin and end? To use the words of the Koran, “What is the infallible? And who shall cause thee to understand what the infallible is?” Who, in short, possesses the touchstone of truth?