A Double for Mohammed
The story revolves around a man who discovers that he has an identical duplicate. The duplicate's existence raises questions about identity and the nature of self. As the protagonist navigates his relationship with the duplicate, he begins to question whether he is the original or the copy. The narrative explores themes of identity, duality, and the blurring of lines between reality and fiction.
By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1951 · Genre: Religious Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Speculative Fiction · 272 words
First lines
Since the idea of Mohammed is so closely associated with religion in the minds of Muslims, the Lord has ordained that they should be presided over in Heaven by someone impersonating Mohammed. This delegate is not always the same person. A native of Saxony who in earthly life was taken prisoner by the Algerines and became a Muslim once held this position. Having been a Christian, he was moved to speak to them of the Lord, and to say that He was not Joseph's son but the Son of God; it was found advisable to have this man replaced. The office of the representative Mohammed is marked by a torchlike flame, visible only to Muslims.
What this Textopian page supports
A Double for Mohammed is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, dated 1951 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Jorge Luis Borges
- Date: 1951 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Historical Fiction, Metafiction
- Length: 272 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Double for Mohammed by Jorge Luis Borges
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Double for Mohammed?
- How does this short story by Jorge Luis Borges fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Religious Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Tom Castro The Implausible Impostor by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Anthropologist by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Sect Of The Thirty by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Double by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Bribe by Jorge Luis Borges
- The End Of The Duel by Jorge Luis Borges
Genres
- Religious Fiction — The narrative revolves around religious themes, particularly the depiction of Mohammed and his representation in the afterlife.
- Philosophical Fiction — The story explores philosophical ideas about identity, representation, and the nature of religious belief.
- Speculative Fiction — The text imagines a speculative scenario involving religious figures and their roles in the afterlife.
- Historical Fiction — The narrative references historical and religious figures, blending them into a fictional context.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Short Story Collection · Literary Experimentation · Metafiction · Parody · Satire · Existentialism · Absurdism · Postmodernism · Identity Crisis · Duality · Mirroring