When a group of the Companions entered upon al-Muqawqis, the Christian ruler of Egypt, he questioned them about their religion and they explained it to him. Beside him stood something like a great square coffer, gilded all over, with several small doors set into it. He opened one of those doors, drew out a piece of black silk on which a white image was woven, and there appeared a very tall man, the hairiest of people.

He asked, “Do you recognize him?”

We answered, “No.”

He said, “This is Adam.”

Then he closed it, opened another door, and produced another black silk cloth bearing a white image: a man with an enormous head and a powerful build, his hair like that of the Nabataeans and his eyes reddish.

He asked, “Do you recognize him?”

We replied, “No.”

He said, “This is Noah.”

Again he opened another door and brought out a black silk cloth with a white image: a man whose hair and beard were completely white, as though he were smiling.

He asked, “Do you recognize him?”

We replied, “No.”

He said, “This is Abraham.”

Then he opened yet another door and produced a black silk cloth with a white image upon it.

He asked, “Do you recognize him?”

We replied, “It is the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.”