| ||
|---|---|---|
Career Views and Perspectives | ||
Mahound andMahoun are variant forms of the name "Muhammad", often found in medieval and later European literature.[1] The name has been used in the past by Christian writers to vilify theIslamic prophetMuhammad.[2] It was especially connected to thedemonization of Muhammad as inspiring afalse religion.[3][4][5]
According toBernard Lewis, the development of the concept started with ademonization followed bypagans. In the late medieval and early modern period around theReformation, Muhammad was accused by Christians of being a cunning imposter.[6]
A similar belief was the claim that theKnights Templar worshipped anidol called "Baphomet", which was attached to the generic transliteration of the Muslim name "Mahomet" (itself, a version of "Muhammad", still used in French).[7]
The name appears in various medieval mystery plays, in which Mahound is sometimes portrayed as a genericdemonworshipped by villains such asHerod and thePharaoh of theExodus. One play depicts bothHerod the Great and his sonHerod Antipas asworshipping Mahound,[8] while in another playPharaoh encourages theEgyptians to pursue theIsraelites into theRed Sea with the words:Heave up your hearts ay to Mahound.[9]
In Scottish popular culture, the variant form "Mahoun" was also used as the name of thedevil, who was called Old Mahoun.[10]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.Robert Burns, [The Deil's Awa Wi' Th' Exciseman]
G. K. Chesterton uses "Mahound" rather than "Mohammed" in his poemLepanto.[11] More recently,Salman Rushdie, in his novelThe Satanic Verses, chose the name Mahound to refer to Muhammad as he appears in one character's dreams. In reference to the Burns' poem, the novelChild of the Moon features a character named "Mahoun" who is responsible for seducing others into satanic rituals.[12]
Mahound.
