--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mahomet now proceeded to execute the…" description: "\"“Mahomet now proceeded to execute the great object of his religious aspirations, the purifying of the sacred edifice from the symbols of idolatry, with..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/washington-irving-1386_beautiful-women_mahomet-now-proceeded-to-execute-the-gre_363625.jpg" --- # Mahomet now proceeded to execute the great object of his… ![“Mahomet now proceeded to execute the great object of his religious aspirations, the purifying of the sacred edifice from the symbols of idolatry, with which it was crowded. All the idols in and about it, to the number of three hundred and sixty, were thrown down and de-stroyed. Among these, the…” quote by Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/washington-irving-1386_beautiful-women_mahomet-now-proceeded-to-execute-the-gre_363625.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/washington-irving-1386_beautiful-women_mahomet-now-proceeded-to-execute-the-gre_363625.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/washington-irving-1386_beautiful-women_mahomet-now-proceeded-to-execute-the-gre_363625.jpg) > ““Mahomet now proceeded to execute the great object of his religious aspirations, the purifying of the sacred edifice from the symbols of idolatry, with which it was crowded. All the idols in and about it, to the number of three hundred and sixty, were thrown down and de-stroyed. Among these, the most renowned was Hobal, an idol brought from Balka, in Syria, and fabled to have the power of granting rain. It was, of course, a great object of worship among the inhabitants of the thirsty desert. There were statues of Abraham and Ishmael also, represented with divining arrows in their hands ; "an outrage on their memories," said Mahomet, "being symbols of a diabolical art which they had never prac-ticed." In reverence of their memories, therefore, these statues were demolished. There were paintings, also, depicting angels in the guise of beautiful women. " The angels," said Mahomet, indignantly, " are no such beings. There are celestial houris provided in paradise for the solace of true believers ; but angels are ministering spirits of the Most High, and of too pure a nature to admit of sex." The paintings were accordingly obliterated. Even a dove, curiously carved of wood, he broke with his own hands, and cast upon the ground, as savoring of idolatry.”” [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mahomet destroyed idols and images he deemed idolatrous, aiming to purify worship and eliminate polytheistic practices. **In simple terms:** He removed symbols he thought were false worship. Key Takeaway Eliminate false symbols to focus on true belief. Themes religion iconoclasm purity power conflict Mood reflective critical historical Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - historical religious reform - modern religious debates - interfaith dialogue - art preservation - cultural heritage protection Key Concepts monotheism iconoclasm religious reform cultural change Questions to Reflect On - What defines true worship? - How do we balance heritage with belief? A Different Perspective Interpretations of religious intent vary; some view it as cultural loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-women/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Hobal Idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobal-idol-3333369/) [Idolatry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idolatry/) [Mahomet Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mahomet-symbols-3333368/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Statues Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statues-abraham-3333370/) [Symbols Idolatry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols-idolatry-3333367/) ## Related quotes > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [Idolatry is permissible in Hinduism when it sub serves an ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/idolatry-is-permissible-in-hinduism-when-it-sub-serves-an-ideal/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [We need a critical theory that seeks to change the world by challenging the world - including the world of evangelicals - in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-r-trueman/we-need-a-critical-theory-that-seeks-to-change-the-world-by/) [Carl R Trueman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-r-trueman/) > [I loved him as we always love the first time: with idolatry and wild passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/i-loved-him-as-we-always-love-the-first-time-with-idolatry-and-wild/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [The heart clings to collected treasure. Stored-up possessions get between me and God. Where my treasure is, there is my trust, my security, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-heart-clings-to-collected-treasure-stored-up-possessions-get/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The authors challenge that the marriage in which one cannot express disappointment has become an idol – The Thing that Cannot Be Questioned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/the-authors-challenge-that-the-marriage-in-which-one-cannot-express/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [Worship of society and popular opinion is idolatry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/worship-of-society-and-popular-opinion-is-idolatry/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The universe shudders in horror that we have this infinitely valuable, infinitely deep, infinitely rich, infinitely wise, infinitely loving God, and instead of pursuing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/the-universe-shudders-in-horror-that-we-have-this-infinitely-valuable/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [“Idolatry is not the use of images, but confusing them with what they represent, and in this respect mental images and lofty abstractions can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-wilson-watts/idolatry-is-not-the-use-of-images-but-confusing-them-with-what-they/) [Alan Wilson Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-wilson-watts/) > [“When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an ‘idol,’ something you are actually worshiping. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/when-anything-in-life-is-an-absolute-requirement-for-your-happiness/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Jim Crow repeated the old strategies of the reptilian powers of the air: to convince human beings simultaneously and paradoxically that they are gods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-d-moore/jim-crow-repeated-the-old-strategies-of-the-reptilian-powers-of-the/) [Russell D. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-d-moore/) > [And your Highnesses, as Catholic Christians and Princes, devoted to the holy Christian faith and the propagation thereof - and enemies of the sect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/and-your-highnesses-as-catholic-christians-and-princes-devoted-to-the/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [“‎A careful reading of the Old and New Testaments shows that idolatry is nothing like the crude picture that springs to mind of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-keyes/a-careful-reading-of-the-old-and-new-testaments-shows-that-idolatry/) [Richard Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-keyes/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [When I see that the nineteenthcentury has crowned the idolatry of Art with the deification of Love, so that every poet is supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/when-i-see-that-the-nineteenthcentury-has-crowned-the-idolatry-of-art/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) ## More by Washington Irving > [Some minds corrode and grow inactive under the loss of personal liberty; others grow morbid and irritable; but it is the nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/some-minds-corrode-and-grow-inactive-under-the-loss-of-personal/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Language gradually varies, and with it fade away the writings of authors who have flourished their allotted time; otherwise, the creative powers of genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/language-gradually-varies-and-with-it-fade-away-the-writings-of/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's life is a history of the affections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Over no nation does the press hold a more absolute control than over the people of America, for the universal education of the poorest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/over-no-nation-does-the-press-hold-a-more-absolute-control-than-over/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [I have never found, in anything outside of the four walls of my study, an enjoyment equal to sitting at my writing desk with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/i-have-never-found-in-anything-outside-of-the-four-walls-of-my-study/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is no character in the comedy of human life more difficult to play well than that of an old bachelor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-no-character-in-the-comedy-of-human-life-more-difficult-to/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [He who thinks much says but little in proportion to his thoughts. He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/he-who-thinks-much-says-but-little-in-proportion-to-his-thoughts-he/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-whole-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections-the-heart-is-her/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Redundancy of language is never found with deep reflection. Verbiage may indicate observation, but not thinking. He who thinks much says but little in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/redundancy-of-language-is-never-found-with-deep-reflection-verbiage/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/history-fades-into-fable-fact-becomes-clouded-with-doubt-and/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is a majestic grandeur in tranquillity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-a-majestic-grandeur-in-tranquillity/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There rise authors now and then, who seem proof against the mutability of language, because they have rooted themselves in the unchanging principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-rise-authors-now-and-then-who-seem-proof-against-the-mutability/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is nothing in England that exercises a more delightful spell over my imagination than the lingerings of the holiday customs and rural games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-nothing-in-england-that-exercises-a-more-delightful-spell/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [It is but seldom that any one overt act produces hostilities between two nations; there exists, more commonly, a previous jealousy and ill will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/it-is-but-seldom-that-any-one-overt-act-produces-hostilities-between/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) [Explore all 244 Washington Irving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## More Beautiful women quotes > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [There is nothing touches our imagination so much as a beautiful woman in a plain dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-nothing-touches-our-imagination-so-much-as-a-beautiful-woman/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [A beautiful woman, if poor, should use double circumspection; for her beauty will tempt others, her poverty herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-beautiful-woman-if-poor-should-use-double-circumspection-for-her/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [I was in the South of France, in Saint-Tropez and I met her when it was totally unexpected. I was very lucky because she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-stern/i-was-in-the-south-of-france-in-saint-tropez-and-i-met-her-when-it/) [Bert Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-stern/) > [Two beautiful women crashing and burning for the sake of the Women's Championship!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/two-beautiful-women-crashing-and-burning-for-the-sake-of-the-women-s/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [Women who are stunningly beautiful are women who... love truly and honestly without demanding that they be loved in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stasi-eldredge/women-who-are-stunningly-beautiful-are-women-who-love-truly-and/) [Stasi Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stasi-eldredge/) > [I think all beautiful women have a clean look. They like things that are simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-de-givenchy/i-think-all-beautiful-women-have-a-clean-look-they-like-things-that/) [Hubert de Givenchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-de-givenchy/) > [“Take me as I am Take me, baby, in stride Only you can save me tonight There's nowhere to run Nowhere to hide You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/take-me-as-i-am-take-me-baby-in-stride-only-you-can-save-me-tonight/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [It is only possible to succeed at second-rate pursuitslikebecoming a millionaire or a prime minister, winning a war, seducing beautiful women, flying thought the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/it-is-only-possible-to-succeed-at-second-rate-pursuitslikebecoming-a/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [“Amongst all the beautiful women in this world.. there always an idiot ex-boyfriend, who still expects her love again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/69rascal/amongst-all-the-beautiful-women-in-this-world-there-always-an-idiot/) [69rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/69rascal/) > [“This man was gorgeous. I'm mentioning this because women live their lives secretly waiting for their lives to become movies. We act like men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-yuknavitch/this-man-was-gorgeous-i-m-mentioning-this-because-women-live-their/) [Lidia Yuknavitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-yuknavitch/) > [You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and that's not saying much for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/you-re-the-most-beautiful-woman-i-ve-ever-seen-and-that-s-not-saying/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Of all the jaw-droppingly beautiful women who've become genuine movie stars, none has had a longer film career (62 years), has been filmed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-osborne/of-all-the-jaw-droppingly-beautiful-women-who-ve-become-genuine-movie/) [Robert Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-osborne/) > [One frequently only finds out how really beautiful a women is, until after considerable acquaintance with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/one-frequently-only-finds-out-how-really-beautiful-a-women-is-until/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A beautiful woman looking at her image in the mirror may very well believe the image is herself. An ugly woman knows it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/a-beautiful-woman-looking-at-her-image-in-the-mirror-may-very-well/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) [Browse all 556 Beautiful women quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-women/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Mahomet now proceeded to execute the great object of his religious aspirations, the purifying of the sacred edifice from the symbols of idolatry, with which it was crowded. All the idols in and about it, to the number of three hundred and sixty, were thrown down and de-stroyed. Among these, the most renowned was Hobal, an idol brought from Balka, in Syria, and fabled to have the power of granting rain. It was, of course, a great object of worship among the inhabitants of the thirsty desert. There were statues of Abraham and Ishmael also, represented with divining arrows in their hands ; \"an outrage on their memories,\" said Mahomet, \"being symbols of a diabolical art which they had never prac-ticed.\" In reverence of their memories, therefore, these statues were demolished. There were paintings, also, depicting angels in the guise of beautiful women. \" The angels,\" said Mahomet, indignantly, \" are no such beings. There are celestial houris provided in paradise for the solace of true believers ; but angels are ministering spirits of the Most High, and of too pure a nature to admit of sex.\" The paintings were accordingly obliterated. Even a dove, curiously carved of wood, he broke with his own hands, and cast upon the ground, as savoring of idolatry.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Washington Irving" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/mahomet-now-proceeded-to-execute-the-great-object-of-his-religious/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beautiful women" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/mahomet-now-proceeded-to-execute-the-great-object-of-his-religious/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/washington-irving-1386_beautiful-women_mahomet-now-proceeded-to-execute-the-gre_363625.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/washington-irving-1386_beautiful-women_mahomet-now-proceeded-to-execute-the-gre_363625.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/washington-irving-1386_beautiful-women_mahomet-now-proceeded-to-execute-the-gre_363625.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mahomet now proceeded to execute the great object of his religious aspirations, the purifying of the sacred…” — Washington Irving", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Washington Irving", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Mahomet now proceeded to execute the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/mahomet-now-proceeded-to-execute-the-great-object-of-his-religious/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/mahomet-now-proceeded-to-execute-the-great-object-of-his-religious/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```