Paul Barlow (talk | contribs) |
source dont match |
||
Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
[[Gilbert Keith Chesterton|G.K. Chesterton]] also refers to this idea in his poem the ''Battle of Lepanto''<ref>G.K. Chesterton, [[s:Lepanto|Lepanto]]</ref>. More recently, [[Salman Rushdie]], in his novel ''[[The Satanic Verses]]'', chose the name Mahound to refer to Muhammad. However, he is not identified as Satan in that work. |
[[Gilbert Keith Chesterton|G.K. Chesterton]] also refers to this idea in his poem the ''Battle of Lepanto''<ref>G.K. Chesterton, [[s:Lepanto|Lepanto]]</ref>. More recently, [[Salman Rushdie]], in his novel ''[[The Satanic Verses]]'', chose the name Mahound to refer to Muhammad. However, he is not identified as Satan in that work. |
||
==Mahāmada== |
|||
Similar derogatory references to Muhammad appear in some [[Hindu]] [[purana|Puranic]] writings. Texts of parts of the [[Bhavishya Purana]], which appear to have been written in the 19th century, mention Muhammad as "Mahāmada", in III.3.3.5-27. The passage is aware of Muhammad's Arabian origin, and portrays him as a dharmadūṣaka ("polluter of righteousness"), a preceptor of paiśācadharma ("ghoulish religion"), and a reincarnation of Tripurāsura, a demon whom Lord Shiva will destroy again.<ref>Ramanujan, A. K., "Folk Mythologies and Purāṇas" in: Doniger (1993), ''Purāṇa Perennis: Reciprocity and Transformation in Hindu and Jaina Texts''. Albany, New York: State University of New York. ISBN 0-7914-1382-9, p. 105.</ref> |
|||
==See also== |
==See also== |
Revision as of 02:11, 22 May 2008
Mahound or Mahoun is a variant form of the name Muhammad, often found in Medieval and later European literature. This version of the name, or variants of it, came to be strongly associated with anti-Muslim attitudes in Western Christendom.[1] It was especially connected to the belief that Muhammad was a god worshipped by Muslims, or that he was a demon who inspired a false religion.[2][3]
Not all usages of this variant are pejorative; this version of the name still exists as a spelling among some Muslims.
Pejorative Connotations
The belief that Muslims worshipped Muhammad was common in Medieval Europe. According to Bernard Lewis, the "development of the concept of Mahound started with considering Muhammad as a kind of demon or false god worshipped with Apollyon and Termangant in an unholy trinity [in the song of Roland]. Finally after reformation, Muhammad was conceived as a cunning and self-seeking imposter." [4]
A variant of this belief was the claim that the Knights Templar worshipped a god called Baphomet, also widely interpreted as a variant of the name "Mahommet".[5]
The name acquired the connotation of "devil" or "spirit of darkness" in colloquial usage.
In literature
The name appears in various medieval mystery plays, in which Mahound is sometimes portrayed as a generic "pagan" god worshipped by villains such as Herod and the Pharaoh of the Exodus. One play depicts both Herod the Great and his son Herod Antipas as worshipping Mahound[6], while in another play Pharaoh encourages the Egyptians to pursue the Israelites into the Red Sea with the words: Heave up you hearts ay to Mahound.[7]
In Scottish popular culture the variant form "Mahoun" was also used as the name of the devil, who was called Old Mahoun.[8] Robert Burns wrote
"The Deil cam fiddlin thro' the town,
And danc'd awa wi' th'Exciseman;
And ilka wife cries auld Mahoun,
I wish you luck o' the prize, man."[9]
G.K. Chesterton also refers to this idea in his poem the Battle of Lepanto[10]. More recently, Salman Rushdie, in his novel The Satanic Verses, chose the name Mahound to refer to Muhammad. However, he is not identified as Satan in that work.
See also
References
- ^ John Esposito (1999), p.250[clarification needed]
- ^ Annemarie Schimmel, Islam: An Introduction, 1992.
- ^ William Montgomery Watt,Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman, Oxford University Press, 1961, p. 229
- ^ Bernard Lewis (2002), p.45.
- ^ Barber, Malcolm, The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple, Cambridge University Press, 1994, p.321
- ^ N-Town Cycle: The Death of Judas, and the Trials of Christ Before Pilate and Herod, line 165
- ^ The York Cycle: The Israelites in Egypt, the Ten Plagues, and Passage of the Red Sea, line 404
- ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Mahoun
- ^ Robert Burns, The Deil's Awa Wi' Th' Exciseman
- ^ G.K. Chesterton, Lepanto