500
SCHOLAR: This scholar wrote this of the Dawat Zul Asheera:
He invited 40 of his chief kindred to a dinner; and there stood up and told them what his mission was: that he had to preach to all men; that it was the highest thing, the one thing: which of them would second him in that? Amid the doubt and silence of all, young Ali, as yet a lad of 16, impatient of the silence, started up, and exclaimed in passionate fierce language, That he would! The assembly, because of the presence of Abu Thaleb, could not be cruel to Mahomet but the sight of one unlettered elderly man, with a lad of 16, deciding on such an enterprise against all mankind, appeared ridiculous to them; the assembly broke up in laughter. Nevertheless it proved not a laughable thing; it was a very serious thing! (hint: this scholar was of Scottish ethnicity)
Who is Thomas Carlyle?