William Muir

“ But underlying is the dogma, founded on the supposed dying behest of Mohammad—In Arabia there shall be no faith but the faith of Islam. The recruiting field of Islam must be sacred ground.1
Arabs share in spoil of war and revenues of conquered lands.
The Arabian nation was the champion of Islam; and to fight its battles every Arab was jealously reserved. He must be a soldier, and nothing else. He might not settle down in any conquered lands as owner of the soil; while for merchandise or other labour, a warlike life offered little leisure. ”

“ And although wives of Arab blood took precedence in virtue of rank and birth, the children of every Arab father, whether the mother were slave or free, Muslim, Jew, or Christian, were equal in legitimacy. And so the nation multiplied. Looking also to the further drain upon Arabia to meet continuing war, we shall not greatly err if we assume that before 'Omar's death the Arabs beyond the limits of Arabia proper numbered half a million, and before long were doubled, and perhaps quadrupled. ”

“ The Nation was, and continued to be, an army mobilised; the camp, and not the city, their home; their business, arms;—a people whose calling it was to be ready for warlike expedition at a moment's notice. ”

“ We are not told the number enrolled on the Diwan of 'Omar, but the population of Al-Kufa and Al-Basra may give us some idea of the vast exodus in progress from Arabia, and the rapid strides by which the crowded harims, multiplied the race. Arab ladies, as a rule, married only Arab husbands ”

“ Syria and Al-'Irak were measured field by field; and the assessment established on a uniform basis. In AI-'Irak, the agency of the great landholders was taken advantage of as under the previous dynasty, for the maintenance of order and collection of the revenue. ”

“ The grandsons had 5000 each.
2 Life of Mohammad, p. 234.
3 Ibid. pp. 358, 416.
4 Ibid. p. 473. 149
brotherhood, is a spectacle probably without parallel in the world. The distinction also of early conversion was well conceived. In no other way could the susceptibilities of tribal rivalry have been reconciled. The proud chiefs of Koreish, who did not join the Prophet till after the fall of Mecca, refused any allowance but the highest: "We know of none nobler than ourselves," they said; "and less than other we will not take." "Not so," answered 'Omar ”