is Most Great.’

As soon as we uttered it he exclaimed, “By God—He knows—the room has just trembled!” Lifting his head toward us he asked, “That very phrase which made the chamber shake—whenever you pronounce it in your own homes, do your houses quake around you as well?”

We answered, “No. We have never seen it act so except here with you.”

He replied, “I would have wished that every time you said it everything around you collapsed and that I myself were deprived of half my kingdom.”

We asked, “Why?”

He said, “Because then its affair would be easier to dismiss and it would be more likely not to be a matter of prophethood but merely the craft of men.”

He questioned us further about whatever else he desired, and we informed him. Then he said, “Describe for me your prayer and your fasting.” We did so. He said, “Rise.” We stood, and he ordered that we be given a fine residence and abundant provisions. We stayed three days.

That night he sent for us. We entered, and he asked us to repeat what we had said before. Then he called for a large gilded coffer resembling a great chest divided into small compartments, each with its own door. He opened one compartment, unlocked it, took out a piece of black silk, and spread it open. Inside was a reddish image: a man with enormous eyes and very large buttocks, the longest neck I have ever seen, clean-shaven yet with two braids that were the most beautiful Allah has created.

He asked, “Do you know who this is?” We said, “No.” He said, “This is Adam, peace be upon him.”

He opened another compartment, produced another piece of black silk, and there appeared a fair-complexioned figure: hair like tightly coiled wool, reddish eyes, a large head, and a handsome beard. He asked, “Do you know who this is?” We said, “No.” He said, “This is Noah, peace be upon him.”

He opened a third compartment, drew out a black silk cloth, and there emerged a man of intense whiteness, with beautiful eyes, a smooth prominent brow, long cheeks, and a white beard, as though he were smiling. He said, “Do you know who this is?” We said, “No.” He said, “This is Abraham, peace be upon him.”

Then he opened yet another compartment, brought forth a black silk cloth, and behold—by Allah, it was the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him! He asked, “Do you recognize this one?” We said, “Yes—Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him,” and we wept.

By God, the emperor rose to his feet and then sat back down, saying, “By God, is it really he?” We replied, “Yes, it is truly he, as though you were looking right at him.” He fell silent for a while, gazing at the image, and then said, “Although it was the last of the compartments, yet I …”