[319] See Margoliouth’s Mahommedanism and his Life of Mahomet.—E. B.
[320] Should be spelt Mădina and Măkka.—H. H. J.
[321] Mark Sykes.
[322] Should be spelt and pronounced Hijra.—H. H. J.
[323] From the year of this flight (= Hegira) from Mecca through the desert to Medina, the Moslem world dates its era. The Moslem year is a year of twelve lunar months (354 days), and is therefore shorter than the year of Western chronology by eleven days. A.H. (the Moslem reckoning) gains a year on A.D. once in every 33 years (about). A.D. 1920 is A.H. 1338 until September 15, when A.H. 1339 begins. A.D. 20,526 and A.H. 20,526 will be partly coincident.
[324] Published by the Islamic Review.
[325] But Schurtz, in Helmolt’s History of the World, says that the private life of the gallant Khalid was a scandal to the faithful. He committed adultery, a serious offence in a world of polygamy.
[326] At Ctesiphon.
[327] Paraphrased from Schurtz in Helmolt’s History of the World.
[328] Mark Sykes.