Thereafter Mahomet rested in his own city, where he lived in potential kingship, receiving and sending out embassies, administering justice, instructing his adherents, but still keeping his army alert, his leaders well trained to quell the least disturbance or threatenings of revolt.  The conquest of Mecca and the victory of Honein had rendered him secure from all except those abortive attacks that were instantly crushed by the marching of the force that was to subdue them.

The year 680-681 was spent in the receiving and sending out of embassies, alternating with the organising of small expeditions to chastise recusants, but to Mahomet himself there came besides the flower of an idyll, the frost of a grief.

Mary, the Coptic maid, young, lovely, and forlorn, the helpless barter of an Egyptian king, reached Medina in the first year of embassies and was reserved for the Prophet because of her beauty and her innocence.  She had become long since a humble inmate of his harem, and would have ended her days in the same obscurity if potential motherhood had not come to her as an honour and a crowning.  When Mahomet perceived that she was with child he had her removed from the company of his other wives, and built for her a “garden-house” in Upper Medina, where she lived until her child was born.  Mahomet, returning from his campaigns, sought her in her retreat and gave her his companionship and his prayers.

In April of 630 she bore a son to her master, who could hardly believe that such a gift had been granted him.  Never before had his arms held a man-child of his own begetting, and the honours lavished upon the slave-mother showed his boundless gratitude to Allah.  A son meant much to him, for by that was ensured his hope for a continuance of power when his earthly sojourn was over.  The child was named Ibrahim, and all the lawful ceremonies were scrupulously observed by his father.  He sacrificed a kid upon the seventh day, and sought for the best and most fitting nurses for his new-born son.  Mary received in full measure the smiles and favour of her master, and the Prophet’s wives became jealous to fury, so that their former anger was revived—­the anger that also had its roots in jealousy when Mahomet had first looked upon Mary with desiring eyes.  Then they had gained their lord’s displeasure as far as to cause a rebuke against them to be inscribed in the Kuran, but now their rage, though still smouldering, was useless against the triumph of that long-looked-for birth.

But Mahomet’s joy was short-lived.  Scarcely had three months passed when Ibrahim sickened even beneath the most devoted care.  His father was inconsolable, and the little garden-house that had been the scene of so much rejoicing was now filled with sorrow.  Ibrahim grew rapidly worse, until Mahomet perceived that there was no more hope.  Then he became resigned, and having closed the child’s eyes gave directions for its burial with all fitting