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Mahomet (Mahomet, ou le fanatisme) aka "Fanaticism, or Mahomet" is a five act play by Voltaire that was written in 1736 with its debut performance at Lille on 25 April 1741 and then at Paris on 9 August 1742. The play uses the Islamic prophet Muhammad to attack not only Islam but all other religions, especially monotheistic ones.

Plot

Voltaire indicated that the play was not to be interpreted historically bur rather as a tragedy and satire.

The play is a direct assault on the moral character of Muhammad, who functions as a surrogate for Jesus. 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).

Presentation

The play was poorly received by its audiences when it first debuted for its strong anti-Christian attitudes. Voltaire, under pressure from the state stopped productions of the play until 1751. The ban on the play was not lifted until Pope Benedict XIV gave his approval. Voltaire, in this letter, described his play 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"

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.

Reference

1. François Busnel, "Voltaire, le retour," Lire (juillet 2004 / août 2004) http://www.lire.fr/critique.asp/idC=47034/idTC=3/idR=213/idG=8
2. François Busnel, "Voltaire, le retour," Lire (juillet 2004 / août 2004) http://www.lire.fr/critique.asp/idC=47034/idTC=3/idR=213/idG=8
3. Rebecca Joubin, Islam and Arabs through the Eyes of the Encyclopedie: The "Other" as a Case of French Cultural Self-Criticism, International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 32, No. 2. (May, 2000). 198.
4. Letter to FRÉDÉRIC II, King of Prussia written by Voltaire in 1740
5. Ronald W. Tobin, "The Sources of Voltaire's "Mahomet"," The French Review, 34 (Feb. 1961). 372.
6. Paul M. Bondois, "Le procureur-général Joly de Fleury et le Mahomet de Voltaire," Revue d'Histoire Littéraire, XXXVI (1929). 246-259.
7. Voltaire Letter to Benedict XIV written in Paris on August 17,1745 AD
8. Ronald W. Tobin, "The Sources of Voltaire's "Mahomet"," The French Review, 34 (Feb. 1961). 372-373.
9. Voltaire Letter to Benedict XIV written in Paris on August 17,1745 AD

External links

• Mahomet play full text

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