of its adherents were persecuted by other Meccans for their belief in the new teachings, and this "martyrdom" acted as oil upon fire—as it has acted in similar movements since the world began. His most important convert was Omar-ibn-el-Hattab, a warrior-chieftain who had been one of his bitterest enemies, but later became the strongest factor in spreading the new religion. (The Christian Church has an exact counterpart of this Omar, in Saul—Paul, who also changed from a persecutor to a defender.)
Mohammed's teachings will be found in the various chapters following. Here it may be said that the chief reason why they first found so great an opposition and later so strenuous a defense, was the doctrine of UNITY in God, which doctrine overthrew all of the 365 gods, idols and minor deities, then controlling the Arabs' life from cradle to grave. He would undoubtedly have been killed early in his life of preaching, as Christ was killed—and for exactly the same reason, namely, the attack on long-standing customs which interfered with the prerogatives and income of the priests!—had he been an insignificant or poor man. But, while Christ came from a poor carpenter's family of no influence whatever, Mohammed was related to one of the most powerful and noble famillies of Mecca! To kill him would have started a blood-feud with some of the fiercest warriors of the Arab tribes, and the priests and chiefs of Mecca dared not undertake such an attack. When they endeavored to have him silenced by the head of his own
