[361] Vide Mizán, by Zahabí.
[362] "An eclipse of the sun occurred on the same day, and the people spoke of it as a tribute to the death of the Prophet's son. A vulgar impostor would have accepted and confirmed the delusion; but Mahomet rejected the idea."—"The Life of Mahomet" by Sir W. Muir, Vol. IV, page 166.
[363] "Meaning the company of his female slave."
[364] Muir's Life of Mahomet, Vol. IV, pp. 161 and 162.
Taking concubine-slaves was an established and recognized institution of the Arab society, until Mohammad abolished it. Practically the custom has prevailed up to the present time. No blame attached to such alliances in the social system of the Arabs. "The Caliphs of the House of Abbas were all of them the children of concubines except as—Saffah, Al-Mahdi, and Al-Amin" (History of Caliphs. By Sayúte. Translated by Major Jarret, page 20, Calcutta, 1880). If the story regarding Mohammad be true, there was no fear of exposure or offending the wives.
[365] Muir's Life of Mahomet, Vol. I, Introduction, page ciii.
[366] "The Calcutta Review," Feby. 1868, page 374.
[367] The Life of Mahomet, Vol. IV, page 160.
[368] Zeid bin Aslam (in Tabrani), who narrates the story, though he does not mention Maria, is a Tábaee (died A.H. 136), and does not quote his authority. Besides, his authority itself is impeached; vide Ibn Adi in his Kámal.
Masrook (in Saeed bin Mansoor) only came to Medina long after Mohammad's death; therefore his narration, even if it be genuine, is not reliable.