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tion of the new Faith which he founded, and the last made him famous throughout the land. He had seldom any money in his house, and kept no more than was just sufficient to maintain his family.
Mahomed had a contemplative mind; he was fond of seclusion. He often retired to a cave in Mount Hira, and there suffered himself to be lost in meditation. The state of religion prevailing in the country did not satisfy the inner longing of his soul for happiness. He wanted to think for himself, to get at the inner meaning of Life. Probably he came across some ancient Cabalist who imparted to him some of the true secrets of Judaism; perhaps he was also initiated into some sort of mysteries.' That he received inner illumination of some kind is beyond dispute.
What took place in Mount Hira is not known; it might be that the veil was partially lifted from his eyes, before he set out to preach the doctrine of Islam; but the probability is that this did not happen till some time afterwards. Our opinion is supported by the fact that the miracle of the splitting of the Moon took place some time after he had set himself up as a public preacher. We may here point out that the significance of this miracle has been entirely misunderstood by the world. It does not mean the dividing of the sphere of the moon into two halves; it has no concern with the planet of that name, but refers to what is known to Occultists as the Astral Plane. It is wellknown in Esoteric circles that the matter of the Astral Plane largely enters into the composition of the moon, hence the penetration of gaze beyond that plane, that
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