126
ʿOMAR
[CHAP. XVI.
A.H. 16.
scandal. The people grew petulant and factious; and both Cities became hotbeds of turbulence and sedition. The Bedawi element, conscious of its strength, was jealous of Ḳoreish, and impatient at whatever checked its own capricious humour. Thus factions sprang up which, controlled by the strong and wise arm of ʿOmar, at length broke loose under weaker Caliphs, rent the unity of Islām, and brought on disastrous days which, but for its marvellous vitality, must have proved fatal to the Faith.
