美国学生人类历史 第124期:穆罕默德(3)

 In Medina, Mohammed, who was a stranger, found it easier to proclaim himself a prophet than in his home city, where every one had known him as a simple camel-driver. 在故乡麦加城，人人都知道穆罕默德是一个赶骆驼者。而在麦地那，他完全是一个陌生人，因此他作为先知的传道事业顺利了许多。

Soon he was surrounded by an increasing number of followers¹, or Moslems, who accepted the Islam, "the submission² to the will of God," which Mohammed praised as the highest of all virtues³. 不久之后，他身边便聚集起越来越多的追随者，即穆斯林，意为"顺从神旨"的信徒。而"顺从神旨"正是穆罕默德赞美的最高品德。

For seven years he preached to the people of Medina. 随着事业的发展，穆罕默德积聚了足够的力量，

Then he believed himself strong enough to begin a campaign against his former neighbours who had dared to sneer⁴ at him and his Holy Mission in his old camel-driving days. 强大到足以对那些敢于嘲笑的他本人和他的神圣使命的邻居开战了。

At the head of an army of Medinese he marched across the desert. 他率领一支麦地那人组成的军队，自己走在前头，浩浩荡荡地穿越沙漠。

His followers took Mecca without great difficulty, and having slaughtered⁵ a number of the inhabitants, 他的追随者没费多大力气就拿下麦加，并杀死了许多当地居民。

they found it quite easy to convince the others that Mohammed was really a great prophet. 这样一来，要让其他人相信穆罕默德真的是一位伟大先知，就变得相当容易了。

From that time on until the year of his death, Mohammed was fortunate in everything he undertook. 从那以后，一直到穆罕默德逝世，他所进行的一切事业都非常顺利。

There are two reasons for the success of Islam. 伊斯兰教的成功有两个主要原因。

In the first place, the creed⁶ which Mohammed taught to his followers was very simple. 首先，穆罕默德教导追随者们的教义非常简单明了。

The disciples⁷ were told that they must love Allah, the Ruler of the World, the Merciful and Compassionate⁸. 信徒们被告知，他们必须热爱宇宙的主宰，仁慈而怜悯的神安拉。

They must honour and obey their parents. 他们必须敬奉父母，顺从父母的命令。

They were warned against dishonesty in dealing⁹ with their neighbours and were admonished¹⁰ to be humble¹¹ and charitable, to the poor and to the sick. 他们在交往时不得欺诈邻居，要温 顺谦卑，对穷人和病人乐善好施。

Finally they were ordered to abstain¹² from strong drink and to be very frugal¹³ in what they ate. 最后，禁止饮用烈酒，在吃用方面不得奢侈浪费。

That was all. There were no priests, who acted as shepherds of their flocks and asked that they be supported at the common expense. 就是这些。伊斯兰教里没有像基督教的"看护羊群的牧人"，即那些需要众人掏腰包供养的教士和主教们。

1 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

2 submission   

n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出

参考例句：

• The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
• No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。

3 virtues   

美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处

参考例句：

• Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
• She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。

4 sneer   

v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语

参考例句：

• He said with a sneer.他的话中带有嘲笑之意。
• You may sneer,but a lot of people like this kind of music.你可以嗤之以鼻，但很多人喜欢这种音乐。

5 slaughtered   

v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The invading army slaughtered a lot of people. 侵略军杀了许多人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Hundreds of innocent civilians were cruelly slaughtered. 数百名无辜平民遭残杀。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 creed   

n.信条；信念，纲领

参考例句：

• They offended against every article of his creed.他们触犯了他的每一条戒律。
• Our creed has always been that business is business.我们的信条一直是公私分明。

7 disciples   

n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一

参考例句：

• Judas was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. 犹大是耶稣十二门徒之一。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• "The names of the first two disciples were --" “最初的两个门徒的名字是——” 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

8 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。

9 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

10 admonished   

v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责

参考例句：

• She was admonished for chewing gum in class. 她在课堂上嚼口香糖，受到了告诫。
• The teacher admonished the child for coming late to school. 那个孩子迟到，老师批评了他。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

12 abstain   

v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免

参考例句：

• His doctor ordered him to abstain from beer and wine.他的医生嘱咐他戒酒。
• Three Conservative MPs abstained in the vote.三位保守党下院议员投了弃权票。

13 frugal   

adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的

参考例句：

• He was a VIP,but he had a frugal life.他是位要人，但生活俭朴。
• The old woman is frugal to the extreme.那老妇人节约到了极点。