Mahomet (play)
| Mahomet | |
|---|---|
Frontispiece of the 1753 edition | |
| Written by | Voltaire |
| Characters | Mahomet, founder of Islam Zopir, leader of Mecca Omar, general and lieutenant to Mahomet Seid, Zopir's son, abducted and enslaved by Mahomet Palmira, Zopir's daughter, abducted and enslaved by Mahomet Phanor, senator of Mecca Meccan tribes Mahomet's followers |
| Date premiered | 25 April 1741 |
| Place premiered | Lille, France |
| Original language | French |
| Subject | Religious fanaticism |
| Genre | Tragedy |
Mahomet (French: Le fanatisme, ou Mahomet le Prophète, literally Fanaticism, or Mahomet the Prophet) is a five-act tragedy written in 1736 by French playwright and philosopher Voltaire. It received its debut performance in Lille on 25 April 1741.
The play is a study of religious fanaticism and self-serving manipulation based on an episode in the traditional biography of Muhammad, in which he orders the murder of his critics. Voltaire described the play as "written in opposition to the founder of a false and barbarous sect".