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

[Thomas Dalton]

On 17/09/2007, Mark Clements <gmane at kennel17.co.uk> wrote:
> "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)

Interesting. However, the commonly used saying is the other way
around. Perhaps it doesn't accurately describe the Islamic story, but
that is the saying.