Messenger of Allah, it is sabīn; describe it to me.’ A path was opened before me, as though I were looking at it. Whatever he asked me about, I described to him. Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—said, ‘I testify that you are the Messenger of Allah.’”

The polytheists said, “Look at Ibn Abī Kabshah! He claims that he went to Jerusalem last night.” He said, “Innī sarābihi. What I tell you is that I passed a caravan of yours at such-and-such a place. They had lost a camel, and so-and-so rounded it up. Their journey will be such-and-such, then such-and-such, and they will meet you at such-and-such, led by a brown camel carrying black sackcloth and two black sacks.”

When that day came, the people looked out expectantly. Shortly before noon, the caravan arrived, led by the very camel the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—had described.

This is how I found it in al-Bayhaqī’s narration, after which he stated, “This chain of transmission is authentic.” I also found this hadith in the book Fadl al-Khayl (The Merits of Horses), quoted from the narration of al-Tabarī and others. Its wording is “a white mount,” without any expression of doubt. Earlier in that version, it reads:

“Until we reached a land with palm trees. He said, ‘Dismount,’ so I dismounted. Then he said, ‘Pray,’ so I prayed.”

Then, after the words “as far as its gaze reached,” it reads:

“Until we reached a white tract of land. He said, ‘Dismount,’ so I dismounted. Then he said, ‘Pray,’ so I prayed.”

It also reads:

“Then we passed through a land whose palaces came into view. He said, ‘Dismount,’ and I dismounted there. 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, son of Mary, was born—peace be upon him.’”