Studies in a Mosque - The Search For Mecca

THE PERSIAN MIBACLE PLAY. 213
the House of 'Aly. It is an affecting story, which
moves us more in its simple outline than in the
mythical dress with which adoring ages have wrapped
it round, and whence modern writers have drawn
their imaginary ideals of the martyrs' conduct and
character. Little as Eastern history has entered
into the ordinary circle of reading, we have most of
us heard of the lion-hearted 'Aly, the Bayard of
Islam, nephew of Mohammad and adopted by him as
his own son,—the second convert to the new faith, and
from first to last the staunchest friend and valiantest
warrior that ever stood at the Prophet's right hand.
It was the common report that 'Aly would succeed
Mohammad as the leader of Islam, and when the
Prophet died it was a surprise to the Muslims that
he had not named 'Aly as the first Khalif. Without
such express appointment the post was sure to be
contested ; and the jealousy of certain families and
political parties, the seniority of other chief men, and
the hatred of 'Aisha, Mohammad's favourite wife,
whom 'Aly with some reason had suspected of an
intrigue, combined to exclude him from the supreme
power, which had not been specially intrusted to
him by the Prophet, and for which his near kinship
with Mohammad constituted no claim. It is a mistake
into which many writers, following Shi'y legends,
have fallen, to compassionate 'Aly as the lawful Khalif
deprived of his rights by usurpers. There were no
rights in the case. However much a sentiment of
reverence for the family of their prophet may have
inclined the early Muslims to prefer them to other