Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ - Shams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi - (سيرة 1/198)

Siyar Aʿlām al-NubalāʾShams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi

and we remounted. He then said to me, “You just prayed in Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born.”

We continued on until we entered the city through its Yemeni gate. He went to the qiblah-side of the mosque, tethered his mount there, and we entered the mosque through a gate over which the sun and the moon seem to incline. I prayed inside the mosque wherever Allah willed. A thirst overtook me—more severe than any I had ever felt. Two vessels were brought to me, one filled with milk and the other with honey, both sent to me together. I weighed the two, and Allah guided me to choose the milk. I drank until its coolness reached my forehead. In front of me sat an elderly man reclining on a cushion; he said, “Your companion has chosen the fitrah (the natural way); he is indeed rightly guided.”

He then took me on until we reached the valley that lies within the city, and suddenly Hell was laid bare before me, appearing like spread-out carpets. I asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what was it like?” He replied, “Like boiling mud.”

He then brought me back, and we passed a caravan of Quraysh at such-and-such a place. They had lost one of their camels, which so-and-so had gathered together. I gave them the greeting of peace, and some of them said, “That is the voice of Muhammad.”

I returned to my Companions in Mecca before dawn. Abū Bakr came to me and said, “Where were you last night? I looked for you in all the places you frequent.” I said, “You should know that I reached Bayt al-Maqdis last night.” He replied, “Messenger of Allah, it is a month’s journey away; describe it for me.” A pathway was opened before my eyes so that I could see it clearly; whatever he asked me about I informed him. He said, “I bear witness that you are truly the Messenger of Allah.”

The idolaters exclaimed, “Look at Ibn Abī Kabshah—he claims he went to Bayt al-Maqdis last night!” The Prophet said, “I passed by a caravan of yours at such-and-such a place. They had lost a camel, which so-and-so had collected for them. Their route is such-and-such: they will camp here, then here, and they will arrive on such-and-such a day. At their head is a tawny camel draped with a black cloth and carrying two black sacks.”

When that day came, the people climbed high places to keep watch. It was not long before midday when the caravan appeared, led by that very camel.

Al-Bayhaqī said: “This chain of transmission is sound.”

وركبنا. فقال لي: صليت ببيت لحم حيث ولد عيسى. ثم انطلق بي حتى دخلنا المدينة من بابها اليماني، فأتى قبلة المسجد فربط فيه دابته، ودخلنا المسجد من باب فيه تميل الشمس والقمر، فصليت من المسجد حيث شاء الله، وأخذني من العطش أشد ما أخذني، فأتيت بإناءين لبن وعسل، أرسل إليَّ بهما جميعا، فعدلت بينهما، ثم هداني الله فأخذت اللبن، فشربت حتى قرعت به جبيني، وبين يدي شيخ متكئ على مثراة له، فقال: أخذ صاحبك الفطرة إنه ليهدى. ثم انطلق بي حتى أتينا الوادي الذي في المدينة فإذا جهنم تنكشف عن مثل الزرابي". قلت: يا رسول الله، كيف وجدتها؟ قال: "مثل الحمأة السخنة. ثم انصرف بي، فمررنا بعير لقريش، بمكان كذا وكذا، قد ضلوا بعيرا لهم، قد جمعه فلان، فسلمت عليهم، فقال بعضهم: هذا صوت محمد. ثم أتيت أصحابي قبل الصبح بمكة، فأتاني أبو بكر فقال: أين كنت الليلة، فقد التمستك في مظانك؟ قلت: علمت أني أتيت بيت المقدس الليلة، فقال: يا رسول الله إنه مسيرة شهر، فصفه لي. قال: ففتح لي صراط كأني أنظر إليه، لا يسألني عن شيء إلا أنبأته عنه. قال: أشهد أنك رسول الله. فقال المشركون: انظروا إلى ابن أبي كبشة، يزعم أنه أتى بيت المقدس الليلة. فقال: إني مررت بعير لكم، بمكان كذا، وقد أضلوا بعيرا لهم، فجمعه فلان، وإن مسيرهم ينزلون بكذا، ثم كذا، ويأتونكم يوم كذا، يقدمهم جمل آدم، عليه مسح أسود، وغرارتان سوداوان. فلما كان اليوم، أشرف الناس ينظرون حتى كان قريبا من نصف النهار، حين أقبلت العير يقدمهم ذلك الجمل". قال البيهقي: هذا إسناد صحيح.