4.  But Mahomet’s highest heaven was reserved for those who fought his battles or expended their fortunes in his cause:  “Those believers who sit still at home, not having any hurt, and those who employ their fortunes and their persons for the religion of God, shall not be held equal.  God hath preferred those who employ their fortunes and their persons in that cause to a degree above those who sit at home.  God had indeed promised every one Paradise; but God had preferred those who fight for the faith before those who sit still, by adding unto them a great reward; by degrees of honour conferred upon them from him, and by granting them forgiveness and mercy.” (Sale’s Koran, c. iv. p. 73.) Again; “Do ye reckon the giving drink to the pilgrims, and the visiting of the holy temple, to be actions as meritorious as those performed by him who believeth in God and the last day, and fighteth for the religion of God?  They shall not be held equal with God.—­They who have believed and fled their country, and employed their substance and their persons in the defence of God’s true religion, shall be in the highest degree of honour with God; and these are they who shall be happy.  The Lord sendeth them good tidings of mercy from him, and good will, and of gardens wherein they shall enjoy lasting pleasures.  They shall continue therein for ever; for with God is a great reward.” (Sale’s Koran, c. ix. p. 151.) And, once more; “Verily God hath purchased of the true believers their souls and their substance, promising them the enjoyment of Paradise on condition that they fight for the cause of God:  whether they slay or be slain, the promise for the same is assuredly due by the Law and the Gospel and the Koran.” (Sale’s Koran, c. ix. p. 164.)*

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* “The sword,” saith Mahomet, “is the key of heaven and of hell; a drop of blood shed in the cause of God, a night spent in arms, is of more avail than two months’ fasting or prayer.  Whosoever falls in battle, his sins are forgiven at the day of judgment; his wounds shall be resplendent as vermilion, and odoriferous as musk; and the loss of his limbs shall be supplied by the wings of angels and cherubim.”  Gibbon, vol. ix. p. 256. _________

5.  His doctrine of predestination was applicable, and was applied by him, to the same purpose of fortifying and of exalting the courage of his adherents.—­“If anything of the matter had happened unto us, we had not been slain here.  Answer; If ye had been in your houses, verily they would have gone forth to fight, whose slaughter was decreed, to the places where they died.” (Sale’s Koran, c. iii. p. 54.)