* These are the two grand parties into which the Mussulmans
     are divided.  The Turks have embraced the second, the
     Persians the first.

At the sound of these names a terrible schism arose among the Mussulmans themselves.  The partisans of Ali and those of Omar, calling out heretics and blasphemers, loaded each other with execrations.  The quarrel became so violent that neighboring groups were obliged to interfere, to prevent their coming to blows.  At length, tranquillity being somewhat restored, the legislator said to the Imans: 

“See the consequences of your principles!  If you yourselves were to carry them into practice, you would destroy each other to the last man.  Is it not the first law of God that man should live?”

Then, addressing himself to the other groups, he continued: 

“Doubtless this intolerant and exclusive spirit shocks every idea of justice, and overturns the whole foundation of morals and society; but before we totally reject this code of doctrine, is it not proper to hear some of its dogmas?  Let us not pronounce on the forms, without having some knowledge of the substance.”

The groups having consented, the Iman began to expound how God, having sent to the nations lost in idolatry twenty-four thousand prophets, had finally sent the last, the seal and perfection of all, Mahomet; on whom be the salvation of peace:  how, to prevent the divine word from being any longer perverted by infidels, the supreme goodness had itself written the pages of the Koran.  Then, explaining the particular dogmas of Islamism, the Iman unfolded how the Koran, partaking of the divine nature, was uncreated and eternal, like its author:  how it had been sent leaf by leaf, in twenty-four thousand nocturnal apparitions of the angel Gabriel:  how the angel announced himself by a gentle knocking, which threw the prophet into a cold sweat:  how in the vision of one night he had travelled over ninety heavens, riding on the beast Borack, half horse and half woman:  how, endowed with the gift of miracles, he walked in the sunshine without a shadow, turned dry trees to green, filled wells and cisterns with water, and split in two the body of the moon:  how, by divine command, Mahomet had propagated, sword in hand, the religion the most worthy of God by its sublimity, and the most proper for men by the simplicity of its practice; since it consisted in only eight or ten points:—­To profess the unity of God; to acknowledge Mahomet as his only prophet; to pray five times a day; to fast one month in the year; to go to Mecca once in our life; to pay the tenth of all we possess; to drink no wine; to eat no pork; and to make war upon the infidels.* He taught that by these means every Mussulman becoming himself an apostle and martyr, should enjoy in this world many blessings; and at his death, his soul, weighed in the balance of works, and absolved by the two black angels, should pass the infernal pit on the bridge as narrow as a hair and as sharp as the edge of a sword, and should finally be received to a region of delight, which is watered with rivers of milk and honey, and embalmed in all the perfumes of India and Arabia; and where the celestial Houris—­virgins always chaste—­are eternally crowning with repeated favors the elect of God, who preserve an eternal youth.