George Sale, The Koran, commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed, translated into English immediately from the original Arabic; with Explanatory Notes, taken from the most approved Commentators. To which is prefixed A Preliminary Discource (1734)
to enhance the value of paradise with his Arabians, chose rather to imitate the indecency of the Magians, than the modesty of the Christians in this particular, and lest his beatified Moslems should complain that any thing was wanting, bestows on them wives, as well as the other comforts of life; judging, it is to be presumed, from his own inclinations, that like Panurgus’s ass 1, they would think all other enjoyments not worth their acceptance if they were to be debarred from this.
Had Mohammed, after all, intimated to his followers, that what he had told them of paradise was to be taken, not literally, but in a metaphorical sense, as it is said the Magians do the description of Zoroastres 2) this might, perhaps, make some atonement; but the contrary is so evident from the whole tenor of the Korân, that altho’ some Mohammedans, whose understandings are too refined to admit such gross conceptions, look on their prophet’s descriptions as parabolical, and are willing to receive them in an allegorical or spiritual acceptation 3, yet the general and orthodox doctrine is, that the whole is to be strictly believed in the obvious and literal acceptation; to prove which I need only urge the oath they exact from Christians (who they know abhor such fancies) when they would bind them in the most strong and sacred manner; for in such a case they make them swear that if they falsify their engagement, they will affirm that there will be black-eyed girls in the next world, and corporeal pleasures 4.
Whether women are excluded paradise.
Before we quit this subject, it may not be improper to observe the falsehood of a vulgar imputation on the Mohammedans, who are by several writers 5 reported to hold that women have no souls, or, if they have, that they will perish, like those of brute beasts, and will not be rewarded in the next life. But whatever may be the opinion of some ignorant people among them, it is certain that Mohammed had too great a respect for the fair sex to teach such a doctrine; and there are several passages in the Korân which affirm that women, in the next life, will not only be punished for their evil actions, but will also receive the rewards of their good deeds, as well as the men, and char in this case God will make no distinction of sexes 6. It is true,
1 V. Rabelais, Pantagr. l. 5. c. 7. A better authority than this might however be alledged in favour of Mohammed’s judgment in this respect; I mean that of Plato, who is said to have proposed, in his ideal common-wealth, as the reward of valiant men and consummate soldiers, the kisses of boys and beauteous damsels. V. Gell. Noct. Att. l. 18. c. 2.
2 V. Hyde, de rel. vet. Pers. p. 266.
3 V. Eund: in not. ad Bobov. Lit. Turcar. p. 21.
4 Poc. ad port. Mos. p. 305.
5 Hornbek, Sum. Contr. p. 16. Grelot, Voyage de Constant. p. 275. Ricaut’s Present state of the Ottoman empire, l. 2. c. 21.
6 See Kor. c. 3. p. 58. c. 4. p. 76. And also c. 13, 16, 40, 48, 57, &c. V. etiam Reland. de Rel. Moh. l. 2. §. 18. & Hyde, in not. ad Bobov, de Visit. ægr, p. 21.
