12. To curse a believer, though he may not have been guilty of anything meriting a curse; because that Excellency's curse is an act of mercy. This is supported by a tradition derived from. Abu Harira to this effect: 'That Excellency addressed a petition to the Almighty, saying, "O God, I am nothing but a man, if therefore I hurt, or revile, or curse, any one of the believers, turn it all into an act of mercy to him, and into a means of approach, so that on the day of the resurrection he may thereby approach to thee."'
13. To unite to himself in marriage more than four ladies. The proof of this is based on the unanimous opinion of the doctors of the Law and on the practice of the Prophet. In this particular privilege also other prophets were that prince's partners. For it is established that Solomon had taken 100 ladies at once, and David 99 ladies.
14. That he could contract a marriage on the strength of the word 'gift.' This is proved by the noble verse of the Koran: 'And if a believing woman gives herself to the Prophet, and the Prophet be so minded, he can marry her. She has acted with purity of mind towards him, above the believers.'
15. That his marriage was valid, even if contracted without any relative or any witness being present. This is natural, because that prince is above any sureties or witnesses, and would never deny a marriage he had entered;' but if the woman were to deny it, and thus contradict the Prophet's affirmation, her word could not be accepted against his; and some Imams have declared that she would have become an unbeliever by that very contradiction. His companions were in doubt as to whether he had taken Safia by way of marriage or by way of concubinage. The marriage of Zeinab also proves this particular privilege.

V. — MOHAMMED'S EXCELLENCIES AND MIRACLES.

(1.) His Excellencies.

In point of purity and goodness God has created the souls as three different classes: highest, lowest, and middle. The souls of the prophets are the purest and best; and

Mohammed is the purest, best, and noblest amongst them. To enumerate and detail all his excellencies would require a book, so they are here given in an abridged form.
1. His spirit was created first, and the spirits of all other beings were derived from his. Mohammed said, ' I am the first of the prophets as to creation, and the last as to mission.
2. God took a covenant and promise from all the other prophets, that if they attained to the time of Mohammed's mission, they would believe in him, and aid him. The prophets are, therefore, placed in the position of followers with regard to Mohammed.
3. Whilst God, in the Koran, addresses every prophet simply by his name — e.g. 'O Adam, dwell thou with thy wife in Paradise;' 'O Jesus, son of Mary, remember my grace towards thee and towards thy mother,' — He addresses our own Prophet by honouring attributes and epithets, e.g. O thou Apostle, O thou Prophet, O Mohammed the Apostle.
4. To the former nations it was lawful to address their prophets simply by their names, but to the people of this prince, this is not lawful. They have to say, O Apostle of God, or O Prophet of God.
5. In the glorious Koran God swears by Mohammed's life, his city, his apostolic mission, and his religion (lit. guidance), whereas, according to Ibn Abbas' statement, God has never sworn by the life of any other prophet.
6. God gave to Mohammed 'concentration of speech (lit. collection of words), i.e. such speech whose expressions are short and their meaning comprehensive.
7. Mohammed was granted victory in such a degree that his enemies at a month's distance feared on account of the dreadness of that prince.
8. The possession of booty was made lawful for him and his people, whereas when the former people made booty, they had to bring it before their prophet, to be consumed by fire from heaven.
9. The whole face of the earth was given him and his people for a place of worship, and for purification, so that they can perform their services where they like; and if they find no water, they can use earth instead, whilst the former