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Mahomet (Mahomet, ou le fanatisme) aka "Fanaticism, or Mahomet" is a play in 5 acts written by French philosopher Voltaire in 1741 AD which he described as "written in opposition to the founder of a false and barbarous sect to whom could I with more propriety inscribe a satire on the cruelty and errors of a false prophet"

The play is a direct assault on the moral character of Muhammad , with the characters of Seid and Palmira representing Muhammad's adopted son Zayd ibn Harithah and his wife Zaynab bint Jahsh over whom Muhammad's lechery prompted him to invent a commandment from Allah stating that Allah ordered Zeid to divorce Zaynab and that is was divinely allowed for Muhammad to marry his daughter-in-law.(Koran, Sura 33:37).

Behold! Thou didst say to one who had received the grace of Allah and thy favour: "Retain thou (in wedlock) thy wife, and fear Allah." But thou didst hide in thy heart that which Allah was about to make manifest: thou didst fear the people, but it is more fitting that thou shouldst fear Allah. Then when Zaid had dissolved (his marriage) with her, with the necessary (formality), We joined her in marriage to thee: in order that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the Believers in (the matter of) marriage with the wives of their adopted sons, when the latter have dissolved with the necessary (formality) (their marriage) with them. And Allah's command must be fulfilled. Sura 33:37

Presentation

This play is the third Mohammed-like tragedy that Voltaire wrote. It was finished on 1740 and presented by Lanoue and company in 1741 in Lille. Voltaire dedicated the play to the Pope Benedict XIV to avoid censorship, however it was later censored on and off between 1741 and 1748. It at one point has the heads of all the gods on the stage.

In 2005, a production of the play in Saint-Genis-Pouilly, Ain, France, resulted in Islamic demands for cancellation and street disturbances outside the performance itself.

Like his other work, Voltaire would use these plays to support his opinions by using a skeptical view.

Reference

1. Voltaire Letter to Benedict XIV written in Paris on August 17,1745 AD

External links

• Mahomet play full text

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