Mahound

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Mahound is a given name for some males of Muslim origin ^{[citation needed]}.

Contents 1 Pejorative Connotations 1.1 Mystery plays 2 See also 3 References

[edit] Pejorative Connotations

The name Mahound has been used pejoratively in reference to Muhammad, the prophet of Islam ^[1], with the connotation of devil or 'spirit of darkness', ^[2] This hostile view of Muhammad was associated with the name Mahound in the medieval west ^[3]. For some usage of this term in literature see for example William Shakespeare (1832) "Hamlet: And As You Like It." p.80, or Dante who uses this term in his Divine Comedy. Bernard Lewis ^[4] states that "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. Finally after reformation, Muhammad was conceived as a cunning and self-seeking imposter." In recent times Salman Rushdie, in his book "The Satanic verses", chose the name Mahound to refer to Muhammad, however, he is not identified as Satan in that work.

[edit] Mystery plays

In more than one medieval mystery play ^[5] both Herod the Great and Herod Antipas are portrayed as worshiping Mahound. This shows double confusion in the thinking of the day: Muhammad was not born until five hundred years after the Herods and Muhammad is emphatically not god.

Continuing the inaccuracy even further back into history, another play ^[6] has King Pharaoh encourage his people to pursue the Israelites in the Passage of the Red Sea with the words: Heave up you hearts ay to Mahound.

[edit] See also

• Non-Islamic views of Muhammad

[edit] References

1. ^ John Esposito (1999) p.250
2. ^ Watt, Montgomery,Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman. Oxford University Press, 1961. fromm pg. 229 [Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman.]
3. ^ Schimmel, Islam: An Introduction, 1992
4. ^ (2002) p.45. Bernard Lewis
5. ^ for example N-Town Cycle, Play 30, The Death of Judas, and the Trials of Christ Before Pilate and Herod, line 165
6. ^ The York Hosiers' Play: The Israelites in Egypt line 404