severely felt in the early days of the faith; but it was not long before the universal sentiment (though eluded in some quarters) supported it.  The embargo upon games of chance was certainly unpopular; and the prohibition of the receipt of interest was also an important limitation, tending as it did to shackle the freedom of mercantile speculation; but they have been partially evaded on various pretexts.  The fast throughout the month of Ramzan was a severer test; but even this lasts only during the day; and at night, from sunset till dawn, all restrictions are withdrawn, not only in respect of food, but of all otherwise lawful gratifications.[60]

[Sidenote:  Little that is unpopular in these ordinances.] There is nothing, therefore, in the requirements and ordinances of Islam, excepting the fast, that is very irksome to humanity, or which, as involving any material sacrifice, or the renunciation of the pleasures or indulgences of life, should lead a man of the world to hesitate in embracing the new faith.

[Sidenote:  Indulgences allowed in the matter of wives and concubines.] On the other hand, the license allowed by the Koran between the sexes—­at least in favor of the male sex—­is so wide that for such as have the means and the desire to take advantage of it there need be no limit whatever to sexual indulgence.  It is true that adultery is punishable by death and fornication with stripes.  But then the Koran gives the believer permission to have four wives at a time.  And he may exchange them—­that is, he may divorce them at pleasure, taking others in their stead.[61] And, as if this were not license enough, the divine law permits the believer to consort with all female slaves whom he may be the master of—­such, namely, as have been taken in war, or have been acquired by gift or purchase.  These he may receive into his harem instead of wives, or in addition to them; and without any limit of number or restraint whatever he is at liberty to cohabit with them.

[Sidenote:  Polygamy, concubinage, and divorce.  Practice at the rise of Islam.] A few instances taken at random will enable the reader to judge how the indulgences thus allowed by the religion were taken advantage of in the early days of Islam.  In the great plague which devastated Syria seven years after the prophet’s death Khalid, the Sword of God, lost forty sons.  Abdal Rahman, one of the “companions” of Mohammed, had issue by sixteen wives, not counting slave-girls.[62] Moghira ibn Shoba, another “companion,” and governor of Kufa and Bussorah, had in his harem eighty consorts, free and servile.  Coming closer to the Prophet’s household, we find that Mohammed himself at one period had in his harem no fewer than nine wives and two slave-girls.  Of his grandson Hasan we read that his vagrant passion gained for him the unenviable sobriquet of The Divorcer; for it was only by continually divorcing his consorts that he could harmonize his craving for fresh nuptials with the requirements