[Wikipedia-l] [FR 07] Fundraiser 2007 - Responsiveness ofCommunity

[Mark Clements]

"Thomas Dalton" wrote
> On 17/09/2007, Mark Clements wrote:
> > "Sabine Cretella" wrote
> > ... don't know if this translation of a saying is
> > > correct in English: when the prophet does not come to the mountain,
> > > take the mountain to the prophet ... have a great Sunday!
> > >
> >
> > Pretty close.  In English it is "If the mountain won't come to Mohammed,
> > Mohammed must go to the mountain".
>
> Almost... try it the other way around. ;)

A common misconception...

IF THE MOUNTAIN WILL NOT COME TO MOHAMMED, MOHAMMED WILL GO TO THE
MOUNTAIN - "If one cannot get one's own way, one must adjust to the
inevitable. The legend goes that when the founder of Islam was asked to give
proofs of his teaching, he ordered Mount Safa to come to him. When the
mountain did not comply, Mohammed raised his hands toward heaven and said,
'God is merciful. Had it obeyed my words, it would have fallen on us to our
destruction. I will therefore go to the mountain and thank God that he has
had mercy on a stiff-necked generation.' The saying has been traced back in
English to 'Essays,' (1625) by English philosopher Frances Bacon
(1561-1626). It was included in John Ray's book of English proverbs in 1678.
First attested in the United States in 'Jonathan Belcher Papers' (1733). In
German, the phrase translates as 'Wenn der Berg nicht zum Propheten kommt,
mu?der Prophetzum Berg kommen." From "Random House Dictionary of Popular
Proverbs and Sayings" (1996) by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York,
1996).

- Mark Clements (HappyDog)