After her death, he placed her in the rank of the four perfect women, with the sister of Moses, the mother of Jesus, and Fatima, the best beloved of his daughters.

"Was she not old ?" said Ayesha, with the insolence of a blooming beauty; "has not God given you a better in her place ?" "No, by God," said Mahomet, with an effusion of honest gratitude, "there never can be a better! She believed in me when men despised me; she relieved my wants, when I was poor and persecuted by the world." In the largest indulgence of polygamy, the founder of a religion and empire might aspire to multiply the chances of a numerous posterity and a lineal succession.

The hopes of Mahomet were fatally disappointed.

The virgin Ayesha, and his ten widows of mature age and approved fertility, were barren in his potent embraces.

The four sons of Cadijah died in their infancy.