[Footnote 66: The safest aeras of Abulfeda, (in Vit. c. i.
p. 2,) of Alexander, or the Greeks, 882, of Bocht Naser, or
Nabonassar, 1316, equally lead us to the year 569. The old
Arabian calendar is too dark and uncertain to support the
Benedictines, (Art. de Verifer les Dates, p. 15,) who, from
the day of the month and week, deduce a new mode of
calculation, and remove the birth of Mahomet to the year of
Christ 570, the 10th of November. Yet this date would agree
with the year 882 of the Greeks, which is assigned by
Elmacin (Hist. Saracen. p. 5) and Abulpharagius, (Dynast. p.
101, and Errata, Pocock's version.) While we refine our
chronology, it is possible that the illiterate prophet was
ignorant of his own age.
Note: The date of the birth of Mahomet is not yet fixed with
precision. It is only known from Oriental authors that he
was born on a Monday, the 10th Reby 1st, the third month of
the Mahometan year; the year 40 or 42 of Chosroes Nushirvan,
king of Persia; the year 881 of the Seleucidan aera; the
year 1316 of the aera of Nabonassar. This leaves the point
undecided between the years 569, 570, 571, of J. C. See the
Memoir of M. Silv. de Sacy, on divers events in the history
of the Arabs before Mahomet, Mem. Acad. des Loscript. vol.
xlvii. p. 527, 531. St. Martin, vol. xi. p. 59. - M.
Dr. Weil decides on A.D. 571. Mahomet died in 632, aged 63;
but the Arabs reckoned his life by lunar years, which
reduces his life nearly to 61 (p. 21.) - M. 1845]