‘I do not know.’ He said, ‘You prayed in Yathrib; you prayed in Taybah.’ Then the mount sped onward, its hoof landing as far as its gaze reached, until we came to another place. He said, ‘Dismount and pray.’ I dismounted, and he then said, ‘Pray,’ so I prayed. Then he asked, ‘Do you know where you prayed?’ I replied, ‘Allah knows best.’ He said, ‘You prayed in Midian; you prayed beside the tree of Moses—peace be upon him.’

“Then it sped onward with us, its hoof landing as far as its gaze reached, until we reached a place whose palaces came into view. He said, ‘Dismount.’ I dismounted, and he said, ‘Pray,’ so I prayed. Then we mounted, and he asked, ‘Do you know where you prayed?’ I replied, ‘Allah knows best.’ He said, ‘You prayed in Bethlehem, where Jesus the Messiah, son of Mary, was born—peace be upon them both.’

“Then he took me onward until we entered the city through its southern gate, and I found myself facing the mosque. He tethered his mount there, and we entered the mosque through a gate bearing representations of the sun and moon. I prayed in the mosque as Allah Most High willed. Then I was overcome by the most intense thirst I had ever experienced. Two vessels were brought to me, one containing milk and the other wine; both had been sent to me. I weighed the choice between them, and then Allah, Mighty and Majestic, guided me: I took the milk and drank until I experienced [jī’atī: reading unclear]. Before me was an elderly man [shakā ‘alā mithrān lahu: wording unclear]. He said, ‘Your companion has chosen the natural disposition, that he may be guided.’ Then he took me onward until we reached the valley containing the city. There was Hell, opening to reveal what looked like hills (.”

He said: I asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what was it like?” He replied:

“Like a hot spring. Then he took me back, and we passed a caravan belonging to Quraysh at such-and-such a place. They had unharnessed a camel of theirs which so-and-so had brought in. I greeted them, and one of them said, ‘That is the voice of Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.’ Then I returned to my Companions shortly before dawn. Abū Bakr came to me and asked, ‘Where were you tonight? I looked for you in the places where I expected to find you.’ I said, ‘Know that I went to Jerusalem tonight.’ He said, ‘O